Pegasus Dinghy
Encyclopedia
The Pegasus is a powerful and fast two person racing and cruising dinghy designed by Uffa Fox
in 1958. It was notable for being a boat capable of being built at home using marine ply but still with an efficient and aesthetically pleasing round bilged hull form - see pictures on the cvrda website.
The designer's brief was particularly well thought out:
... and the present day owners would probably agree that it was well met!
It is an excellent sea boat with a narrow bow entry and a planing hull, carrying a mainsail
, and a jib
and a large symmetric spinnaker
. Stability is achieved with a trapeze
allowing this relatively narrow boat by modern standards to carry a large sail plan.
Approximately 250 Pegasus's were constructed, some all wooden and many in composite construction from GRP
hulls and marine ply decks and buoyancy tanks. A few all GRP boats were also produced. It is believed that about 30 remain (2007) many of these are still actively sailing. The Pegasus owners were closely involved in the creation of the Classic and Vintage Racing Dinghy Association.
Uffa Fox
Uffa Fox CBE was an English boat designer and sailing enthusiast.-Life:Uffa Fox was born on the Isle of Wight and was raised in East Cowes. He lived for a while in Puckaster on the Isle of Wight.-Work:...
in 1958. It was notable for being a boat capable of being built at home using marine ply but still with an efficient and aesthetically pleasing round bilged hull form - see pictures on the cvrda website.
The designer's brief was particularly well thought out:
In 1958, the famous dinghy designer, Uffa Fox was asked to design the Pegasus, and was given a brief to:-
"Design the best 14ft water-line dinghy you can. A stable fast thoroughbred, quick to plane and a boat, which does not destroy itself by its own speed when planing. Spare no time or thought to making it the best 14ft dinghy in the world"
Uffa Fox rose to the challenge and the result is the Pegasus, which at the time proved to be one of the best performing dinghies around. Modern designs are now very different in concept, and the high performance ones are certainly capable of speeds unheard of in the early 1960's.
'from CVRDA website'
... and the present day owners would probably agree that it was well met!
It is an excellent sea boat with a narrow bow entry and a planing hull, carrying a mainsail
Mainsail
A mainsail is a sail located behind the main mast of a sailing vessel.On a square rigged vessel, it is the lowest and largest sail on the main mast....
, and a jib
Jib
A jib is a triangular staysail set ahead of the foremast of a sailing vessel. Its tack is fixed to the bowsprit, to the bow, or to the deck between the bowsprit and the foremost mast...
and a large symmetric spinnaker
Spinnaker
A spinnaker is a special type of sail that is designed specifically for sailing off the wind from a reaching course to a downwind, i.e. with the wind 90°–180° off the bow. The spinnaker fills with wind and balloons out in front of the boat when it is deployed, called flying. It is constructed of...
. Stability is achieved with a trapeze
Trapeze
A trapeze is a short horizontal bar hung by ropes or metal straps from a support. It is an aerial apparatus commonly found in circus performances...
allowing this relatively narrow boat by modern standards to carry a large sail plan.
Approximately 250 Pegasus's were constructed, some all wooden and many in composite construction from GRP
Glass-reinforced plastic
Fiberglass , is a fiber reinforced polymer made of a plastic matrix reinforced by fine fibers of glass. It is also known as GFK ....
hulls and marine ply decks and buoyancy tanks. A few all GRP boats were also produced. It is believed that about 30 remain (2007) many of these are still actively sailing. The Pegasus owners were closely involved in the creation of the Classic and Vintage Racing Dinghy Association.