Solent Sunbeam

The Sunbeam, designed by Alfred Westmacott in the 1920's, is the largest classic dayboat in the Solent. It is considered by many to be the design masterpiece of the generation.

Itchenor is the home of 30 of these elegant yachts, the first of which, V1 Dainty launched in 1923, races 3 times every week from April to September. In the Autumn, she is taken by road across France to compete in the Autumn regattas at Canne and St Tropez. Dainty takes her place alongside many other classic yachts of the early 20th Century era. Sunbeams race hard through a 7 month season and Haines provide the expertise required to preserve these traditional wooden yachts in first class condition.

Shipwright work is provided at our purpose built shipwright workshop at Blue Gates. Blue Gates is equipped for all aspects of traditional craft repair, rebuild and new construction. Routine paint and varnish work is carried out at our modern Ferryside yard at Itchenor.

In 2009, the Sunbeam Class hatched a plan to augment the wooden boat fleet with a GRP boat. Since then, Haines has helped with the fit out of nine new GRP Sunbeams and over the winter of 2020/21 has completed the work on a further two, making eleven in total. For the full story of the GRP Solent Sunbeams, click here.

For the Solent Sunbeam website, click here.