Snipe: World’s coolest yachts

Yachting World has been asking top sailors and marine industry gurus to choose the coolest and most innovative yachts of our times, and Dutch racer Bouwe Bekking nominated the Snipe dinghy. Here’s the report:

“I would take a complete crazy thing: a Snipe,” said Bekking. “I think it’s an excellent boat for kids to start sailing in, and even for grown-ups. I have a Snipe dinghy myself.”

Bekking says the 15ft Snipe dinghy, designed by American William F. Crosby in 1931 for one-design racing, is an ideal family boat, especially for teaching people to sail.

“It’s safe, it’s very seaworthy and relatively fast. You can sail it very hard but still have fun with it. I haven’t sailed mine for three or four years because I haven’t had time.

“I said to the yacht club you can use it for your youth program. I bought it when we had a little house on the water, and I wanted to have a dinghy to sail in open water.”

Bekking says he thought the Snipe ideal for the next generation of his own family. “I thought about an Optimist, but the Snipe was way nicer and we could sail with two or three people, and friends.”

Snipe Stats rating:
Top speed: 12 knots
LOA: 4.72m
Launched: 1931
Berths: n/a
Price (second-hand): £2,000
Adrenalin factor: 10%

For Yachting World’s list of cool boats, click here.