Description
The Caledonia Yawl, designed by Iain Oughtred, is a popular small sailboat known for its seaworthiness, versatility, and elegant traditional design. Introduced in 1988, it draws inspiration from the double-ended fishing boats of the Shetland Islands, particularly the sixareens and foureens, and is widely used for coastal cruising, rowing, and multi-day "raid" events. Built primarily by amateur constructors using glued-lapstrake plywood, it has become one of Oughtred’s best-selling designs. This particular rig features a balanced lug mainsail and a leg o'mutton mizzen sail.
Iain Oughtred's Caledonia Yawl design offers multiple rig options, specifically:
Balanced Lug: A simple, self-vanging rig that sets on an unstayed mast, making it easy to raise and strike.
Gunter Yawl: A rig with a high-peaked gunter mainsail, often paired with a mizzen and jib, providing versatility for coastal sailing.
Gaff Yawl: A traditional rig with a gaff-headed mainsail, also typically including a mizzen and jib, noted for its classic look and seaworthy performance.
These three rig configurations are explicitly mentioned across sources for the Caledonia Yawl.
