Design and Construction
At 17 feet 2 inches overall with a maximum beam of a full eight feet, the Nomad is a broad, stable platform for its length flat hull dimensions. The hull owes its relatively light weight of 550 pounds to cored construction, and the deck is built the same way, keeping the rigged weight to 650 pounds — light enough for easy trailering behind a family vehicle but too heavy to cartop cored construction keeps weight down. A flared deck reminiscent of the RS300 gives the topsides visual and practical volume, while the retractable centerboard and kick-up rudder make launching, retrieving, and storing the boat a simple proposition. The well-finished hull and clean engineering extend to the deck hardware, which is from Harken, and the aluminum mast and boom from Proctor.
Rig and Handling
The Nomad is a sloop carrying a 174-square-foot sailplan that one person can raise and rig in about 20 minutes, with the mast stepped solo and all controls laid out cleanly single-handed rigging in 20 minutes. The jib rolls in and out on a furler, and the mainsheet is led away from the passengers toward the helmsman so the crew sits clear of the working end of the boat. The halyards, sheets, and sail controls are clean and well engineered. An 180-square-foot asymmetrical spinnaker — set from a retractable sprit on the early show boats — is easily deployed, handled, and doused, and its size and power are matched to the broad, stable hull to generate real offwind speed. A fast, experienced sailor can singlehand the boat, though it is realistically a crewed daysailer.
Accommodations
The cockpit is broad and uncluttered, with comfortable seats adequate for four adults or two adults and a covey of kids — and the boat is rated to carry up to six people. Four large cockpit lockers provide ample stowage, and two forward watertight compartments add a measure of security at the bow. There are no trapeze wires or hiking straps; this is a daysailer built around sitting in rather than hanging off the side. The standard galvanized trailer completes the package, making the boat ready to move from driveway to ramp.
Equipment and Standard Sail Plan
Every Nomad comes with a set of North 3DL sails built using North's Rotary Molding technology, derived from the brand's successful big-boat racing 3DL sails — a notable level of sailmaking for a 17-footer. The mainsail and jib combine for 172 square feet of area, and the standard deck hardware from Harken supports the furler and sheet systems. The spinnaker, where fitted, adds the offwind dimension that the stable hull invites.
Known Constraints
Vanguard stated there were no immediate plans for a one-design racing component to the program. Buyers seeking a class circuit should note that gap from the outset.
The Verdict
The Vanguard Nomad is a thoughtfully engineered small daysailer that takes the stability and beam of a family boat and dresses it with race-derived sails and a solo-riggable sloop rig. It rewards the sailor who wants quick setup, easy trailering, and lively offwind performance without the athleticism of a skiff.
Pros
- Beamy, stable 17-foot hull with cored construction keeping weight trailerable
- Solo rigging in roughly 20 minutes with furling jib and clean controls
- Broad, uncluttered cockpit with generous lockers and watertight bow compartments
- Standard North 3DL sails and galvanized trailer
Cons
- Not legal for PHRF racing in most areas
- No one-design racing program planned at introduction
- Too heavy at 650 rigged pounds to cartop
