Zephyr (dinghy)

The Zephyr is a New Zealand one-design 3.6 metre sailing dinghy. It is a national class, administered by the Zephyr Owners' Association. Hull form and sail plans are restricted, to ensure all boats have the same potential speed.

History

The Zephyr was designed by Auckland designer Des Townson, in 1956. Townson built the first hulls himself (numbers 1 to 233) in plywood, off the same mould. All sails for this series of boats were made by Auckland sailmakers Boyd & McMaster. In fact the original class rules stipulated that sails must be "strictly to a pattern lodged with Boyd and McMaster sailmakers. No alterations permitted"

cite news
url=http://hyc.org.nz/zephyr/navigation/History/SeaSprayBoatTest.html
publisher=Zephyr Owners' Association
title=Sea Spray Boat Test
date=November, 1957] . During the 1970's, two more building jigs were constructed, one in Christchurch and the other in Auckland, and a number of new boats were built

cite news
url=http://hyc.org.nz/zephyr/navigation/History/Introduction.html
publisher=Zephyr Owners' Association
title=About The Zephyr
date=] . This system remained in use until the advent of cedar glass boats, when a new jig was built,for the production of "250" series hulls.

References

ee also

* Grahame Anderson (1999) FAST LIGHT BOATS, a Century of Kiwi Innovation. [http://boatbooks.co.nz/yachthist2.html]
* Harold Kidd and Robin Elliott (1999) Southern breeze. A history of yachting in New Zealand.