Updating the Club Fleet - New Boats!

Published 17:50 on 3 May 2026

Things may seem serene at the club, but as usual the Committee is paddling away furiously in the background to keep everything running. We do though occasionally have time to look to the future, and as a result we've made a big purchase!

Two brand new Hartley 12s have arrived at the club - bringing our total fleet up to three.

For years the club has had feedback from our adult sailors that they struggle sailing the Picos (which are really designed for teenagers) and find the big double-hander Bahias too complex and powerful to use. Plus the Picos are slowly coming to the end of their life. To start addressing these issues we bought a ex-demo Hartley 12 last year as a trial run. It has rarely been off the water since. We were therefore on the lookout for more on the secondhand market when we spotted Hartley doing a 50% off discount for the RYA Dinghy Show. We moved fast and managed to secure the two that have now arrived at Grassholme.

The Hartley 12 is a very stable and forgiving design. A deep roomy cockpit gives plenty of space, while a high boom avoids unexpected knocks to head. The mainsail can be rolled round the mast to easily reduce the power in the sail. Plus we have added optional small jibs to these boats - so parents can take their kids out in them easily.

Even with 50% off, this was a big investment but we hope it will pay off long into the future, helping members get quickly and easily onto the water, in boats that build their confidence.

Happy Sailing!

James

Club Commodore