The Class enjoyed a memorable 75^th Anniversary Season in 2023. One might imagine such vintage implying that the Swallow is a bit of a post-WW2 sailing relic, no longer having a valid role in the fast-changing world of sailboat racing. How wrong you would be! The catalyst for the initial growth and subsequent success was the 1948 Olympics – the ‘Austerity Games’ held at various London venues, and with the sailing events in Torbay. It didn’t just happen! As sailing emerged from the aftermath of conflict the forerunner of the RYA had decided that a new keelboat class was needed – the existing Dragon Class being deemed too large, ponderous and expensive, and other local keelboat classes unattractive for this purpose. The Committee tasked with coming up with the answer had the ‘fast forward’ impetus of the newly announced Olympics to create a keelboat of 200 sq ft sail area, light displacement that was ‘fast and lively but not freakish’ (!) that would be suitable for mass production. The first trials were held in a perishingly cold winter with a storm that wreaked havoc for the four prototypes on their moorings in Cowes. It was Tom Thorneycroft’s Toucan Too (the fore-runner of the Swallow which got the nod after a second weekend of trials (and much repair and modification work to all the boats in the intervening week). No-one quite knows how the design came to be called the Swallow! What stood out were the smooth lines, the relatively low freeboard and sparkling performance with greater lift from the bow sections than the Bembridge Redwing – another potential competitor and kindred design.

Time and the availability of suitable materials was fundamental to getting enough boats built in various locations around the world – the Netherlands, Germany, Sweden, Denmark and Canada amongst them. Wood was uniformly used although plastic had been considered but rejected at that point in order to achieve the minimum weight. The door was left open for other construction materials when sanctioned. The trials to select the UK entry had been closely won by Stewart Morris and David Bond and there was a similarly nail-biting end to the Olympic event itself – having made an (overly cautious!) start Swift climbed to be fourth and topple the Portuguese overnight leader – by 14 seconds – to claim the gold medal. Post-games IYRU shenanigans (nothing changes!) curiously resulted in the 5.5m and Finn replacing the Swallow. With the exception of the Finn it was probably a blessing in disguise (does any Olympic class really flourish world-wide?).

In those times those who had supported the Class dispersed to sail other boats at their home clubs and after a hiatus fleets became established in N Ireland (some 10 boats), Aldeburgh and at Bembridge, Seaview and Cowes on the Isle of Wight. The IoW fleets did not surprisingly sail together and in time withered but Fleets in Chichester Harbour – at Hayling and Itchenor emerged later, particularly when Sir Geoffrey Lowles brought Toucan Too to Itchenor and Swallow sailing became competitive, and fashionable and gained fleet status in 1951 whilst he was Commodore. In that era and despite the weakness of the IoW fleets 30 Swallows would attend Cowes Week – and were the single biggest class. The Itchenor fleet had risen to 20 boats and the Hayling one to 10 with alternating starts. From this point on Itchenor would gradually become the principal centre for Swallow sailing. The advent of GRP Swallows from 1974 onwards gave a new lease of life to the Class and an enthusiastic fleet – eventually of 9 boats had also become established at Aldeburgh. Several boats were able to retain the keel of an older wooden boat, and their sail number too, all hulls since save for one exquisite wooden example, have been of GRP in a move facilitated by Mike Bond who is still active in Buccaneer. Other recent builders include Porter Bros and Composite Craft in Cowes.

Initially there were some issues over the keel profiles of the new GRP boats but which were quickly resolved. Rig developments have been accommodated when appropriate as technology development allowed and when costs were acceptable. Thus we now have carbon spinnaker poles, a modestly re-profiled white sail plan (which now includes a mylar/pentex mainsail and ‘blade’ style jib). One enduring feature, unchanged from the very beginning, is the large 200 sq ft broad-shouldered spinnaker which gives considerable additional oomph offwind in breezier conditions. What we have now – and always have – is an exhilarating 2 or 3 person one-design keelboat with classically beautiful lines which inspire those who sail in them – and those who observe them too!

For those who would like to know more we recommend “The Swallows”, a history of the class up to 2002 written by Brian Russell and available from your class chairman. 

NSCA web Dec 20 V.2 / tg