Conceived in the early 1960s as a small fibreglass cruiser, the Wing 25 combines heavy displacement, substantial ballast, and a conventionally proportioned masthead-sloop rig. By modern standards, she favors stability and a damped motion over speed.
Design and Construction
The Wing 25 has a solid fibreglass hull and solid fibreglass deck. A. V. Robertson Ltd. built the boat in Britain, but production wasn’t exclusive to that company; the Wing 25 was built at other yards as well.
She measures 25 feet overall, with an 18.5-foot waterline and an 8-foot beam. Displacement is 6,500 pounds, including 2,250 pounds of iron ballast. Her fin keel draws 3.58 feet.
These proportions put the Wing 25 firmly in the heavy-cruiser category. A displacement-to-length ratio of 423 classifies her as an ultra-heavy cruiser, while her length-to-beam ratio is 3.12 and her ballast-displacement ratio is 34.62. Together, the figures describe a narrow, deeply ballasted hull. The bottom’s wetted surface is about 161 square feet, consistent with a modest 25-foot fin-keeled hull.
Rig, Performance, and Handling
The Wing 25 carries a masthead-sloop rig. Her standing and running gear follow period specifications: the jib and genoa sheets are 25 feet long and 3/8-inch in diameter, the mainsheet is 62.5 feet long at the same diameter, and the spinnaker sheets are 55 feet long, according to the sheet dimensions in the rig plan.
The fin keel’s standard draft is 3.58 feet, although loaded draft can reach 3.88 feet. A capsize screening value of 1.76 and a motion comfort ratio of 28.2 indicate a stable, damped motion profile for a boat of this size.
The Wing 25’s theoretical hull speed is 5.8 knots. Her sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 12.35 makes her moderately powered for her weight. An immersion rate of 516 pounds per inch means she sits relatively deep for each unit of load brought aboard.
Refits and Ownership
The Wing 25’s simple fibreglass hull and deck, masthead-sloop rig, and straightforward fin keel make for an uncomplicated ownership profile. The boat was built at several yards, but the core design parameters remained consistent.
The 2,250 pounds of iron ballast present a known corrosion consideration when assessing any used example.
Verdict
The Wing 25 is a seriously built small cruiser from the early fibreglass era, with a heavy-displacement hull and a recognized Dutch-British design lineage. She is stable and slow by modern standards, but her construction is straightforward and her rig is conventionally proportioned.
Pros
- Solid fibreglass hull and deck from a recognized 1960s design
- Stable motion profile, with a capsize screening value of 1.76 and a comfort ratio of 28.2
- Fin keel with a moderate 3.58-foot draft for a 25-footer
Cons
- Ultra-heavy displacement, with a displacement-to-length ratio of 423, limits performance
- Iron ballast requires inspection for corrosion
