Kestrel 16 Racing Dinghy

Description

The Kestrel 16 Racing Dinghy (commonly called the Kestrel or Kestrel dinghy) is a classic British two-person high-performance racing dinghy designed by Ian Proctor in 1955. It holds historical significance as one of the first sailing dinghies designed specifically for fiberglass (GRP) construction, with initial wooden prototypes followed by fiberglass production starting in the late 1950s/early 1960s. Built by various UK yards over the years (e.g., Chippendale Boats, Gmach & Co. Ltd., and currently Hartley Boats in Derby, England, which acquired rights and updated the design in 1998 with input from Phil Morrison for modern appeal while preserving the original hull), it features a centerboard dinghy hull, fractional sloop rig with conventional spinnaker (no trapeze), and is known for exciting, responsive racing in club fleets—capable of planing in moderate winds, stable yet fast, and suitable for competitive or recreational sailing without excessive demands. Production history spans decades as a development class with ongoing builds and restorations (hundreds built historically, with active fleets in the UK via the Kestrel Owners' Association; fewer in the US but some imported or copied). It's praised for its longevity—many 1960s fiberglass hulls still race competitively today—and as a "hair under 16' long" classic that's fun, forgiving, and quick in light to moderate conditions.