Penguin Yawl

Description

The Penguin Yawl refers to the yawl-rig variant of the Penguin trailer yacht (also known as the Welsford Penguin), designed by New Zealand naval architect John Welsford (JW Boat Designs). Originally conceived around the early 2000s to meet a magazine competition brief for a family-oriented cruising trailer yacht of about 6–6.5 m long, it was built for easy amateur construction using plywood/epoxy stitch-and-glue methods (with plans offering mix-and-match options like centerboard, bilge keels, or leeboards; gaff, Bermudan, or yawl rigs; and even a stretch version). The yawl configuration (added later in response to builder inquiries, such as from Derek Bates) features a gaff mainsail on a tabernacle mast (for easy raising/lowering) plus a smaller leg-o'-mutton or gaff mizzen (offset to clear the tiller), providing balanced handling, excellent heavy-weather control, easy reefing, and strong performance on most points of sail (noted as noticeably faster than Bermudan in many conditions except hard upwind). The design emphasizes traditional character, spacious interior comfort (4 berths, headroom ~1.45 m / 4'9", room for galley/head), seaworthiness, and trailerability for coastal/family cruising rather than racing. Production is plans-based (available from JW Boat Designs or outlets like Fyne Boat Kits), with many hulls built worldwide by home builders (popular success despite not winning the original competition outright—often ranked high in Welsford design polls), and remains available today.