.jpg)
The Sunbeam Today
The beautiful Sunbeam is truly Alfred Westmacott's masterpiece and a joy to the eye both from the water and on board, and of course a joy to sail across the wind spectrum.
Today’s Sunbeams combine the best of traditional racing day boat design with a modern rig that is a joy to sail across a wide wind spectrum. A 1920’s design which has adapted well to the needs of the 21st Century. Their beauty is such that they may have been shaped by the waves themselves.
Why the lasting popularity as the boats continue to flourish and a new building programme is under way?
Probably mainly the genius of the 1923 design, and the highly competitive one-design racing (Illustrated here with photos of Fay, Clary, and Bryony Racing off Cowes 1929 and Trilby in 1923) and the friendships now forged at the home clubs of Itchenor and the Royal Cornwall.
They enjoy a classic wooden yacht with controlled development of a modern rig.
The Sunbeam appeals particularly to the dinghy sailor who no longer enjoys the thrill of capsizing and the cruising man who does not want the high costs and the difficulty of organising large crews.
The Sunbeam gives them big boat feel at small boat cost.
History – Social and People
The designer chosen was Alfred Westmacott, born in 1868. He became a famous naval architect designing all kinds of boats from steam yachts, electric launches and pure sailing boats both large and small. Four of his designs are still keenly raced in the Solent. The Sunbeams have a fleet at Itchenor (Sussex) and another in Falmouth (Cornwall). Every year, they compete against each other either in Chichester Harbour, Falmouth Harbour, or at Cowes Regatta. The wonder of the design is that the first boat which was built in 1923, called Dainty, is as fast as Milly, which was built in 2000. It all depends on who is sailing them!
In 1926 at a class meeting, the thirteen owners decided to limit the total number of Sunbeams to twenty-four boats. Did they want to keep them exclusive? This rule has since changed. There are now forty-seven Sunbeams and more being built. Another rule is that all the boat names should end in a ‘y’. Dainty, Joy, Gwennny and Judy were the first four names used. The subscription was two guineas a season (£2.10). One paid hand was permitted. You also had to register and fly your personal racing flag (now you can choose the colour of your spinnaker and put your badge on it). You paid 10 shillings (50p) to lodge a protest.
The social conditions which produced small keel boats were very different from today. Then, there were rich ladies and gentlemen who’s recreation was ‘pure sport’. Yachting was gamesmanship with a difference. The skilled older person had an advantage over the brawny young. Ladies could compete equally at the helm against the gents, supported by a ‘paid hand’ and they did! Sunbeams were designed to provide keen racing, and viewing, at regattas around the Solent at less expense and preparation than the large yachts with their enormous crews, but with just as much fun and excitement.
By restricting the number of boats did the officer of the class want to keep it exclusive? Then, you were invited to join. Now anyone who can afford a boat is welcomed into the class! Then the skipper wore a white topped yachting cap and often a collar and tie. Now you dress for warmth and comfort. Then the ‘hand’ rigged and prepared the boat. Now the owner and crew rig and usually do all the maintenance that a wooden boat requires.
Sunbeam with the Great Classic Yachts in the Mediterranean
You can read the full story of the Sunbeam heritage in our book,
Supported by 
