The Presto design was a sailing yacht developed by “Commodore” Ralph M. Munroe in the 1880s in New York [1] as a radical evolution of the flat-bottomed sharpie. The boats sailed up and down the Atlantic coast some distance offshore and were confronted by the frontal weather systems and the influence of the Gulf Stream […]

Inverted stability applies when a yacht remains upside down. It is a rare, but not unknown event and one situation where some understanding of yacht design and stability can become of crucial importance at sea. Two main scenarios lead to capsize: Loss of the keel or ballast Yacht rolled by a breaking sea and remaining […]

The sloop Nordkyn is a 13-metre (43′) round-bilge alloy yacht with a displacement of about 8600kg half-loaded in cruising trim. It features a fixed bulb keel with a draft of 2.35m (7′ 9”) and a single deep spade rudder. The alloy construction is very robust without being heavy and the deck is integral to the aluminium […]

Hull shape is the largest contributor to success or failure in yacht design. Appendages can be replaced, rigs modified, but a bad hull is usually where the buck stops. It is just as true for motor vessels. The design of the Nordkyn hull was underpinned by two key objectives: exceptional seakeeping properties and excellent light […]

The 13-metre alloy sloop Nordkyn is the outcome a personal design and build project. In short, I wanted a new ocean cruising and voyaging yacht suitable for the type of sailing illustrated by the voyage of the sloop Yarra. The project had a long gestation period and involved development far beyond what would have been […]