Swallows

Designed by Tom Thorneycroft for the 1948 Olympic Games in which the sailing events were held in Torbay. The Swallow was the two man keelboat and the Gold Medal was won by Itchenor yachtsman Stewart Morris. The Original boats were conventionally built in wood, progressing through an era of cold moulded Mahogany diagonal planking through to the GRP boats of today. During transition a number of boats have retained the original wood and lead ballast keels.Although designed for a crew of two they are more frequently sailed three up. The Swallow fleet races three times weekly through the season of March to October with Annual National Championships attracting visitors from other fleets around the country.In 2010 a new sail plan was trialled and adopted and Haines have provided several boats with revised sail control systems designed to take the best advantage of the modern materials.The Swallow is a light displacement planing hull and maintaining minimum weight is crucial to remaining competitive. The boats are kept afloat on moorings and require antifouling paint which if allowed to build successive thicknesses can add considerable weight. Owners are requesting the replacement of conventional paints with epoxy resin coppercoat with a single treatment there is a 10 year life expectancy. Coppercoat also facilitates a fine fair surface that can be burnished with a very fine grade abrasive.

For the Swallow website, click here.