Description
Arctic Tern Sailboat by Iain Oughtred Overview
The Arctic Tern is a graceful, double-ended beach boat designed by Scottish naval architect Iain Oughtred, introduced in the 1990s as a refined evolution of his earlier Jeanie II (inspired by Shetland yoals, traditional Norse-influenced fishing boats). Named for the agile Arctic bird, it embodies Oughtred's philosophy of elegant, versatile small craft that prioritize sailing and rowing in coastal or sheltered waters. At 18'2" (5.54 m), it's part of Oughtred's family of glued-lapstrake plywood double-enders, ranging from the compact 15'2" Whilly Tern to the spacious 19'6" Caledonia Yawl. Built for day sailing, occasional camp cruising, or as a tender, the Arctic Tern excels in simplicity and seaworthiness—rows effortlessly, sails responsively with a balanced lug rig, and trailers easily. Its lapstrake hull offers a smooth ride through chop, while the open design suits solo or small crews (2–4). A longer variant, the Sooty Tern (19'8" / 6 m), adds a raised sheer line and more sail area for enhanced stability and power.
