Page 45 - Folk Boat Year Book 2021

The Folkboat was the first choice of Classic Boat Magazine for their series of articles
on yacht design where the described the design as “approaching perfection:”

“The sections show a flare to the topsides for their whole length; a difficult trick to
marry to a nice sheer, but achieved here. The freeboard looks perilously low but the
boat is remarkably dry even when pushed hard. The flare in the sections means the
waterline beam when upright is modest enough for decent light-airs speed, but as the
hull heels it rapidly gains stability; aided by a very healthy ballast ratio, her stiffness is
perfectly judged. She is also tolerant of added weight; a good attribute in a pocket
cruiser, especially one capable of crossing the Atlantic or even more, so even quite
reasonably equipped boats look and sail perfectly well.

“The firm tuck of the bilges leading into nice, slim keel sections help generate good lift
(in relative terms) from the long keel, which is a key to good sailing performance. The
shape owes precious little to rating rules, only hydrodynamics; you pay for that bold
forward overhang in accommodation or waterline length, maybe, but driving into any
sort of sea you’ll be glad of that bargain. The slope of the transom stern tucks the
rudder deep under the hull and the angle of the stern post, while typically
Scandinavian, looks old-fashioned, even exaggerated; but time at the helm tells you
exactly why they stuck with it. The fractional sail plan is equally well judged; with her
relatively modest displacement and wetted surface area (for the type), she can slip
along just fine, but will carry her canvas well as the wind comes up. She has seakindly
manners that punch far above her modest weight, and her deep cockpit and nicely
balanced feel on the helm all add up to a simple but satisfying boat to really sail.

“Anyone brought up on modern, beamy boats who can overcome their probable
prejudice against a long keel and lack of double berths (and, to be fair, standing
headroom in most versions), is in for a revelation. The design of the Folkboat is an
object lesson.”

The main appeal to those lacking Classic Boat’s analytical skills is the boat’s suitability
to almost any role. It offers one of the best one-design racing classes, with active
fleets everywhere from San Francisco’s blustery bay to mainland Europe and the
Solent, where Folkboats have won the Gold Roman Bowl in the Round the Island Race

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