Yachting World Catamaran Information, Review, Specs

Sailing Performance & Handling

The Yachting World Catamaran was designed to be a high-performance dayboat capable of exceeding the speeds of contemporary monohull dinghies. With a length of 15 feet 6 inches and a beam of 7 feet 6 inches, it offered a significantly larger platform than the Laser or GP14, providing a stable yet exhilarating ride. The boat features a generous sail area of approximately 160 square feet, which, when combined with its lightweight plywood or early GRP (glass-reinforced plastic) construction, results in a high power-to-weight ratio.

In terms of handling, the Y.W. Catamaran is known for its "twitchy" but rewarding nature. Unlike modern catamarans with high-buoyancy bows, the Y.W. Cat has relatively fine entries that require careful longitudinal trim. Technical archives from early multihull trials suggest that the boat is prone to "pitch-poling" if the crew does not move aft quickly during a sudden gust on a reach. However, its tracking is surprisingly modern thanks to the use of pivoting centerboards in each hull, allowing it to point higher than many of its 1960s contemporaries. Tacking requires more finesse than a monohull; the boat lacks the momentum of a heavy keel, necessitating a "roll-tack" technique or back-mowing the jib to ensure the bows pass through the wind.

Popular Mentions & Media

The vessel's primary claim to fame is its status as the catalyst for the "Multihull Revolution" in the United Kingdom. As detailed by Yachting World, the magazine used the design to challenge the sailing public's perceptions of catamarans, sponsoring various trials and races that eventually led to the 1967 international "B" class trials. It was these very trials, organized in part to find a successor or peer to the Y.W. Catamaran's spirit, that gave birth to the Tornado. The boat was a fixture in nautical publications throughout the 1960s, often appearing in "how-to" build guides that empowered a generation of amateur boatbuilders.

Known Issues & Buyer’s Checklist

Because the Yachting World Catamaran was frequently built from kits or home-plans, the build quality varies significantly between hulls. Prospective buyers should focus on the following technical areas:

• Plywood Delamination: For wooden versions, the most critical area is the "stitch and glue" or framed joints within the hulls. Inspect the stem and the area around the centerboard trunks for soft spots or water ingress that indicates the marine plywood has reached the end of its structural life.
• Mast Step Compression: The mast is stepped on a bridge deck beam. Over decades of high rig tension, this beam can sag or develop hairline fractures. Check the alignment of the bridge deck to ensure the hulls remain parallel and the structural "box" is intact.
• Rudder Gudgeon Stress: The rudders on early catamarans were often under-engineered for the lateral loads generated at high speed. Look for elongated bolt holes or cracking in the transom where the rudder hardware attaches.
• Centerboard Trunk Leaks: The centerboard cases are high-stress points. Any movement in the trunk while the boards are down can lead to leaks that are difficult to seal without stripping the interior of the hull.

Community & Resources

The legacy of the Yachting World Catamaran is maintained primarily through the British Catamaran Association (BCA), which grew out of the early racing fleets established by this model and its successors. While there is no longer a dedicated factory support network, technical diagrams and original build articles from the early 1960s are often archived by amateur yachting research groups. The spirit of the boat also lives on through the International Tornado Association, as the two boats share a direct ancestral line through designers Macalpine-Downie and Rodney March.

The Verdict

The Yachting World Catamaran is a piece of maritime history that offers a raw, analog sailing experience for those who appreciate the origins of the multihull.

Pros

• Historic Significance: Owning a Y.W. Cat is owning the progenitor of the modern racing catamaran.
• Light-Air Performance: Extremely fast in light to moderate winds due to low wetted surface area.
• Trailering: Its narrow beam (by modern standards) and light weight make it exceptionally easy to transport compared to modern 16-footers.

Cons

• Low Buoyancy: Fine bows make it susceptible to nose-diving in heavy seas or high winds.
• Maintenance: Wooden hulls require significant upkeep; GRP versions from this era are often heavy due to early layup techniques.
• Complexity of Tacking: Requires a higher skill level to maneuver through stays compared to modern wide-beam catamarans.