About
This initiative is focussed on the past, present and future of that great contribution of the Victorian pioneers to the design of small cruising sailboats – the Canoe Yawl. Derived from the sailing canoes of the mid-19th century, its robustness and versatility are attuned to the exposed waters of the larger English estuaries such as the Humber, Tyne, Thames and Mersey, not to mention the often challenging North Sea coast, and so to most places a small boat sailor would wish to venture.
Whether we succeed depends entirely on whether we can pique your interest and get your contributions in kind (and a little cash, when we sort out the technicalities!) to support a lively and informative website and magazine and continued research, also a project to make the small, seaworthy canoe yawl more widely accessible; and we hope some gatherings on the water now and then, where like minds can enjoy our kind of sailing in company, in their own boat or as our guests. It’s not just about the boats, but also the thinking which draws us to them, and the kind of sailing they represent. We’re in this to learn, to inform, and above all to have fun, and we hope you will be too. It is to these ends that any funds raised here will be applied.
We’re a forward-looking group not constrained by tradition or geography — we think the international present and future of the canoe yawl are as interesting as its British past. The wind and waves we all experience are the same as Strange and Holmes encountered, and the type is as well suited to them today as in their time. We believe that its continued use and development make a valuable contribution to economy, beauty, versatility, performance and safety in small boat cruising.
Technically we’re a trading company, but one whose income (if any!) is applied 100% to furthering awareness and popularity of the canoe yawl. We don’t operate a paid membership system, but if you share our objectives then please support us by purchasing one or two offerings from the Store page (we are currently working on!), and by contributing your own words and pictures on the Forum or through our Contact page to make this site as interesting as it can be. We value your ideas and suggestions for making this a vibrant community.
The canoe yawl is found worldwide, and we’d like a membership of participants, as well as subscribers, reflecting this fact; we can all get out of this only what we all put in. Wherever you are in the world, if you share our enthusiasm, whether you own a canoe yawl or not, we would like to hear from you.
We cordially invite you to get in touch and get involved
PS: There are a few pictures on this site for which we have not located the copyright holders — if you are one of them and this concerns you, do please contact us.