The Ness Yawl is one of a series of small boats designed by Iain Oughtred, the Scottish boat designer who has become well known for his elegant traditional designs suitable for amateur construction. The Ness Yawl takes its name from the Ness of Brodgar in Orkney, and reflects the Norse heritage of the Scottish islands in its lines.

The boat is 19 feet long overall, with a beam of 5 feet 6 inches. She is a double-ended clinker-built boat, constructed using the glued-lapstrake method that Oughtred has made his own. This involves building the planking over a series of temporary moulds, with the planks glued together at the overlaps rather than fastened with copper nails in the traditional manner. The result is a hull that is lighter, stiffer and more watertight than a conventionally-built clinker boat.

The rig is a standing lugsail yawl, with a large mainsail and a small mizzen. This arrangement gives the boat excellent balance and makes her easy to handle single-handed. The sails are traditionally cut and set on wooden spars, giving the boat a handsome traditional appearance that belies her modern construction methods.

For cruising, the Ness Yawl offers comfortable accommodation for one or two people. The boat is fitted with a boom tent that covers the entire cockpit, creating a snug sleeping space. There is good stowage under the side decks and in the bow, and the boat's easy motion in a seaway makes her pleasant to live aboard for short periods.

Under sail, the Ness Yawl is a delight. She rows easily when the wind fails, and her fine entry and sweet lines give her good speed under sail. The lugsail rig is simple and reliable, with no complicated running rigging to worry about. Reefing is straightforward, and the boat can be sailed comfortably in a wide range of conditions.

I have sailed Lowly Worm III extensively on the South Coast, and she has proved to be an excellent cruising boat. Her stability and seakindliness give confidence in rough conditions, while her performance under sail means that passages can be made in reasonable time. For the dinghy cruiser who wants something a little larger and more comfortable than the typical 14-footer, the Ness Yawl is well worth considering.