Design and Construction
Tom Wylie designed this sleek, cat-rigged boat with an emphasis on simplicity and ease of handling. The hull reflects that philosophy, combining short ends and moderate beam with good form stability. Overall length is 30 feet 5 inches, with a 25-foot waterline. A fin keel carries external lead.
The builder cites a high ballast ratio and exceptional form stability as reasons the design is a joy to sail in any wind condition. The review record also notes a high ballast-to-displacement ratio, which contributes to stiffness.
Construction is solid fiberglass with unidirectional roving over PVC and balsa coring. The boat is engineered and built to American Bureau of Shipping specifications.
Rig and Handling
The rig is central to the Wyliecat concept. It’s unstayed with a wishbone boom, so it needs neither a vang nor a traveller. The only lines are a 2:1 mainsheet, halyard, reef line, topping lift, and choker.
The 46-foot carbon-fiber mast was designed to bend, allowing the top of the sail to depower as the wind increases. The result is a simple, effective self-reefing system that lets almost anyone sail the boat.
The 100 percent sail area is 400 square feet, while the actual area is near 530 square feet with roach and luff round. That large cat rig drives a light hull. Perry’s review calls the Wyliecat 30 an ideal singlehander, able to get underway in less than three minutes.
Accommodations
Belowdecks, the accommodations are complete enough for weekend cruising. There’s a double berth aft and a large double forward, with an enclosed head separating the two sleeping spaces.
The layout is compact but functional. It trades the interior volume of a conventional sloop for the openness permitted by a single large sail and an unstayed mast.
Verdict
The Wyliecat 30 succeeds as a minimalist performance cruiser. Its cat rig depowers itself, its hull is stiff enough to remain comfortable, and its belowdecks layout supports short coastal trips without pretense. It will appeal most to sailors who value getting underway quickly over carrying a locker full of gear.
Pros
- Unstayed wishbone cat rig with self-reefing depower and only five control lines
- High ballast ratio and form stability for a stiff, forgiving ride
- Quick to launch and friendly to singlehanders, getting underway in under three minutes
- ABS-spec construction with solid fiberglass and cored structure
Cons
- Cat rig limits downwind and light-air sail options compared with a sloop
- Compact interior is better suited to weekends than liveaboard use
