Description
The Welsford Sweet Pea Lug Yawl refers to the cruising yawl rig variant (specifically with lug sails) of John Welsford's popular Sweet Pea design—a lightweight, trailerable 17½-foot sports cruiser/racer with a small cuddy cabin, blending excellent performance, simplicity, and practical overnight capability for estuary, harbor, and short coastal adventures.
Designer: John Welsford (New Zealand naval architect known for practical, good-looking plywood boats that balance fun, speed, and ease of build; Sweet Pea is part of his "boats with cabins and sails" lineup, inspired by earlier designs like the Navigator but scaled up with cruising accommodations).
Year of Introduction: Around 2010–2012 (developed as a club racer with added cruising features; updated plywood bulkhead/stringer versions released later for easier solo builds).
Production History / Availability: Plans-only for amateur or small-shop builders using plywood bulkheads, stringers, and 9mm plywood skin (glued construction, no complex framing). Two build methods available: original club-oriented hull/deck sets or simplified solo-build version. Plans sold via jwboatdesigns.co.nz, Duckworks, Fyne Boat Kits, or Boatplans.cc (around NZ$325–400). Many built worldwide (US, UK, NZ, Australia), with strong owner communities sharing logs on forums like WoodenBoat and Facebook groups. The lug yawl rig (standing lug main + lug mizzen) is the "cruising" option—popular for its short, manageable spars, easy reefing, balance, and self-steering.
