Unicorn
Description
The Unicorn is a classic high-performance single-handed catamaran designed specifically to fit the International A-Class "box rule" (a development class for 18-foot catamarans). It was one of the earliest boats built to this rule, pioneered in the 1960s with innovative lightweight construction. The design is attributed to John Mazzotti (who developed the unique "tortured ply" hot-molded plywood technique in 1964 for perfect high-strength, lightweight hulls). Early boats were built using this method by small yards or amateurs; later versions shifted to fiberglass or composite builds by various custom builders (no single mass-production factory). The class remains active in the UK, US, and elsewhere as a superb light-wind performer with a trapeze and una (cat) rig (single mainsail, no jib), known for speed, excitement, and demanding handling—often described as a "superb boat in light winds with high performance." Production is scattered and limited (hundreds built historically across wooden and modern variants, with ongoing amateur/custom builds; exact totals untracked due to development-class nature).
Construction Details
| Designer | John Mazzotti |
|---|---|
| Builder | Home Built |
| Length | 18.000 ft |
| LOA | 18.000 ft |
| LWL | 18.000 ft |
| Beam | 8.000 ft |
| Displacement | 349 lb |
| Max Draft | 3.000 ft |
| Year Built | 1964 |
The standard boat dimensions
| i | - |
|---|---|
| j | - |
| p | 26 ft |
| e | 8 ft |
| p2 | - |
| e2 | - |
| i2 | - |
| j2 | - |
| I | J | P | E | P2 | E2 | I2 | J2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| - | - | 26 ft | 8 ft | - | - | - | - |
Documents
Sails
Unicorn - MAINSAIL
| Luff | * 26 ft - (7925 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | * 8 ft - (2438 mm) |
| Leech | * 26.83 ft - (8178 mm) |
| Tack Angle | * 88 ° |
| Diagonal | * 26.93 ft - (8208 mm) |
| Head (inches) | * 4.5 in - (114 mm) |
| Area | * 108.759 ft² |
| Edit in Calculator |
Disclaimer. Boats are not all the same -- even when produced in the same factory of the same model. Sailrite does its best to publish accurate dimensions, but we often find it worthwhile to have our customers measure their boats carefully before we produce kits for them. You should take the same precautions, especially when the data is not from Sailrite. The information on this site is not guaranteed to be accurate. Sailrite offers this content as a service to our community, but takes no responsibility for the reliability of the data provided.
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