O'Day Tempest

Description

The O'Day Tempest (also known as the Tempest 23) is an American-built racing sailboat designed by Philip L. Rhodes (design #756, with input from Richard D. Carlson) and first produced in 1964 by O'Day Corp. in Fall River, Massachusetts, as a high-performance one-design racer prioritizing exhilarating speed, responsive handling in varied conditions, and simple trailerability for club racing or spirited day sails by duos or small crews on protected bays or coastal waters. Constructed from fiberglass with a fixed fin keel and skeg-hung rudder for stable tracking and protection, it displaces 3,000 pounds with 1,250 pounds of iron ballast, measures 23.17 feet LOA, 17 feet LWL, 7.67 feet beam, and 3.67 feet draft, achieving a hull speed of about 5.5 knots and 228 square feet of sail area under a masthead sloop rig featuring anodized aluminum spars and wire standing rigging, typically without a standard engine but compatible with a small outboard for auxiliary power. Renowned for its medium-displacement hull that's easily driven, spooned raked stem for wave-piercing, self-bailing 8-foot cockpit with storage seats, and minimalistic cuddy cabin offering two berths, forepeak locker, and basic headroom under 5 feet for overnighting, plus a full complement of lightweight blocks and optional spinnaker gear, the O'Day Tempest was produced through 1968 with 390 units built amid the booming 1960s sailboat market, enduring as an affordable, low-maintenance classic for enthusiasts valuing Rhodes' balanced lines, forgiving stability, and pure racing thrill in a compact 23-foot package over cruising comforts.