Pearson Invicta (yawl rig)

Description

The Pearson Invicta (Yawl Rig) is a groundbreaking fiberglass ocean racer-cruiser designed by William H. "Bill" Tripp Jr. for Pearson Yachts, produced from 1961 to 1969 as a masthead yawl with a keel/centerboard hull emphasizing balanced sail handling, light-air speed, and offshore stability. Featuring a divided rig for reduced weather helm in gales, a skeg-hung rudder for protection, and a flush-deck layout optimized for racing crews, it sleeps four to six in a spartan yet functional interior, powered by a Universal Atomic 4 gasoline inboard. At around $20,000–$25,000 new, the yawl variant (~10–15 of 28 total Invictas) targeted ambitious sailors, with its tank-tested hull proving revolutionary—Burgoo became the first fiberglass boat to win the Newport to Bermuda Race in 1964 (first in Class E, second overall corrected). Tripp, a Sparkman & Stephens protégé, developed the Invicta in 1960 at Stevens Institute, refining a lightweight, fine-ended hull for CCA rules to excel in midget ocean racing while offering cruising versatility; the yawl rig was a factory option for better balance and easier reefing. Debuting in 1961 from Pearson's Portsmouth, Rhode Island facility (Grumman-owned), production totaled 28 units through 1969, hand-laid in solid fiberglass with mahogany trim for durability amid the wood-to-composite shift. The yawl Burgoo etched history: first in Class E (second overall) at the 1962 Bermuda Race, third in the 1963 Halifax Race, and outright winner of the 1964 Newport-Bermuda (also transatlantic in 1966)—validating fiberglass for elite offshore events. A refined Invicta II followed in 1964 with an extended coach roof, but the original yawl remains a collector's prize via the Pearson Yachts Owners Portal.