Design and Construction
The 22.1 marks a deliberate break from its predecessor’s shape. The new hull is rounded forward, with pronounced chines running into the bow and continuous chines along the sides of the hull.
Schöchl builds the hull in GRP sandwich laminate with a foam core, reverting to solid laminate only around the keel. The deck is also a foam sandwich, with a clean inner shell that provides thermal and visual insulation below.
A swing keel is the only configuration offered. Its 230-kilogram cast-iron fin extends to give a draft of 1.40 metres and retracts to reduce draft to 0.60 metres. It can fold under the hull when needed or upon grounding. A further 200 kilograms of lead-plate ballast lies between the centreboard box and the bow. A centreboard-style pendant with a 4:1 reduction raises and lowers the keel.
The attached rudder also swings up and is held by two gas-pressure springs. Developed with J&J Design as a retractable, pre-balanced unit, its narrow “bionic” fin was modelled on baleen-whale flippers. Three tennis-ball-sized knobs sit on the lower leading edge.
Rig and Handling
The defining feature is the backstay-free, self-trimming Bergström rig. The yard routes the upper shrouds without spreaders, while diamonds with spreaders control mast bend and provide rig stability.
The square-top mainsail measures about 17 square metres. A slightly overlapping 11-square-metre jib sheets to short, 24-centimetre tracks on the coachroof. Halyards and headsail sheets lead to large, self-tailing Harken winches. Owners can also add a retractable sprit with a furling gennaker or choose a conventional spinnaker.
The builder claims that the narrow waterline keeps wetted area low in light winds and when the boat heels. As heel increases, the hull engages its chines to gain stability. Test sailors found that the boat accelerates very well, makes good speed in light airs, and holds a decent course upwind. However, the narrow keel needs some way on before it generates lift; until then, leeway increases. The reefing limit is between 12 and 15 knots.
Cockpit and Accommodation
The distinctive bow shape creates a notably large forward double berth. It’s 2.12 metres long and 1.77 metres wide at the shoulders, tapering to about 50 centimetres at the foot. The open-plan interior provides four berths in total, with 1.93-metre saloon settees once lockers are fitted.
The companionway is wide, and a large forward hatch provides ventilation. Two fixed windows in the superstructure bring in more light, though they don’t open.
The cockpit benches are a generous two metres long. Large, removable stowage boxes measure 1.30 metres and can be lifted out to clear the sole for regatta sailing. This configuration has been seen when the boat is campaigned in the Austrian sailing league.
Equipment and Propulsion
Standard equipment is practical and includes bow and stern rails, lifelines, a bathing ladder, and self-tailing winches on the coachroof.
Propulsion options include:
- A conventional outboard bracket
- A customised rail bracket that folds the motor up and slides it aft into a box
- A foldable outboard bracket
- A permanent E-Pod with a removable lithium battery
The Verdict
The Sunbeam 22.1 is a thoughtfully engineered small cruiser. It trades the simplicity of a conventional fixed keel and rudder for a sophisticated swing-keel and bionic-rudder package, combined with a chined hull and a Bergström rig that uses only diamond spreaders.
It can be launched behind a car yet sleeps four, with a genuinely large forward double berth. Its removable cockpit boxes also underline its dual cruiser-racer character. The main handling qualification is that the narrow keel needs boat speed to limit leeway. Fixed side windows are a smaller compromise.
Pros
- Pivoting 230 kg iron keel and 200 kg of internal lead ballast; draft is 1.40 m with the keel extended and 0.60 m when raised for trailering
- Backstay-free Bergström rig, with diamonds controlling mast bend, simplifies the deck
- Forward double berth measures 2.12 m long and 1.77 m wide at shoulder height
- Removable cockpit boxes clear the sole for racing; this configuration is used in the Austrian sailing league
Cons
- The narrow keel produces marked leeway until the boat builds way
- Superstructure windows are fixed and don’t open
- Reefing limit is reached at 12–15 knots
