A member’s boat described

A fibreglass trailer-sailer designed by Ian Proctor and made mainly by Westerly yacht builders since about the late 1960s. I have owned one since early 1980s using it mainly for South Coast DCA rallies that coincide with bank holiday weekends.

LOA 17’ 9” LWL 15’ 6”

Beam 6’ 6” Weight 950 Ib

Draught — plate up 8” — plate down 4’ 0”

Sail areas:

Main 100 sq ft Jib 45 sq ft

Genoa 77 sq ft Spinnaker — not owned

PERFORMANCE A stable boat with heavy iron 287 lbs centreplate that is winched up or down and should make the boat self-righting even with the plate up. It performs like a racing dinghy with a planing hull and so benefits from being sailed upright. I start reefing in a Force 5 and try not to sail in Force 6/7. I find rough seas limit it more than wind strength. It has roller reefing on the main operated by turning a handle at the gooseneck. Mine would be a better boat if it had a jib furling system — especially for sailing single-handed.

The PY is not known but I am told that with a spinnaker it can compete with an Enterprise.

BUOYANCY Has built in tanks

STOWAGE Good with the cabin reached through a lockable hatch with washboards — always a dry berth and a tall crew can just sit inside. Large cockpit lockers are fitted and two more crew could sleep under a boom tent.

Still lacks the cabin height and comfort to be found on other designs of trailer-sailers. I’m told it has a ‘bubble’ cabin.

COMFORT Good rolled side decks are comfortable to sit on and the boom sets high enough to avoid the crew’s head. The boat is as wet as an open dinghy. I find sometimes that spray that would have passed right over an open boat gets caught by the cabin side and sent sluicing back along the weather side deck and over the crews’ trousers. Effective cockpit coamings do not come with this model.

POINTS AGAINST This heavy boat requires a good launch and recovery system. I think it is best to float it up to a semi-submerged trailer, winch it on and then drive it up a smooth slipway with a car whose engine needs to be a minimum size of 1800 cc to make it easy.

You are limited to launch sites where you can take the car to the water’s edge. You spend more money maintaining the trailer.

POINTS FOR Safety in knowing the boat is self-righting. Let me say I’ve never been capsized or knocked down in this boat.

The boat will lie hove to in a big sea very well.

It can be left on a mooring uncovered as any rain water falling into the open cockpit will drain out through cockpit drains if one is left open.

PERSONAL COMMENTS The Nimrod looks bland — it does not turn any heads

COST AND AVAILABILITY On prices, I saw an advertisement in 1987 from Anglo Marine, who also build the Wanderer class dinghy, selling the boat now renamed the Nomad including sails for £4,960 including VAT. An outboard, trailer, anchor and spinnaker would cost extra and a few years inflation adjustment is needed to bring the price up to the date.

I think very few boats have been made in recent years so members are most likely to find them second-hand. I saw one last year complete for £1,400. Apparently neither racing fleets nor sailing schools use them — which is their loss.