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West Kirby Star
Designer: George Cockshott  ·  First built: 1908
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About the West Kirby Star

Originating from the northwest coast of England, the West Kirby Star is a classic one-design keelboat with deep roots in British dinghy and small keelboat racing culture. Named after the West Kirby Sailing Club on the Dee Estuary in Merseyside, this design has long been associated with competitive inshore racing on sheltered tidal waters, where tactical sailing and boat handling take precedence over raw offshore capability. Built for close, competitive fleet racing, the West Kirby Star rewards skilled helmsmanship and crew coordination in the tight, tidal conditions typical of its home waters. Its one-design nature means that performance differences between boats are minimized, placing the emphasis firmly on the sailors rather than the equipment — a characteristic that appeals strongly to racing enthusiasts who value a level playing field. While detailed specifications are limited, the boat's heritage suggests a stable, manageable platform well-suited to experienced club racers and those looking to engage with an established local racing community. For anyone drawn to traditional British keelboat racing with genuine historical character, the West Kirby Star presents an intriguing and rewarding option.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 16.75 ft / 5.11 m
Beam 5.67 ft / 1.73 m
Max Draft 4.16 ft / 1.27 m
Displacement 900.00 lb / 408 kg
Design & Construction
Hull Type Keel/Cbrd.
Rigging Type Gaffhead Sloop
Construction Wood - Clinker
Designer George Cockshott
First Built 1908
Owner Reviews

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Performance Ratios
Displacement/Length Displacement to Length ratio measures how heavy a boat is relative to its waterline length. Lower values mean a lighter, faster boat.
Under 100 — Ultralight racer100–200 — Light cruiser/racer200–300 — Moderate cruiser300–400 — Heavy cruiserOver 400 — Very heavy
139.22
Comfort Ratio Ted Brewer's Comfort Ratio predicts how comfortable a boat will feel in offshore conditions. Higher values mean a steadier, more comfortable motion in a seaway.
Under 20 — Uncomfortably rough20–30 — Acceptable coastal30–40 — Good offshore comfortOver 40 — Very comfortable offshore
9.14
Hull Speed Hull Speed is the theoretical maximum speed of a displacement hull, calculated from waterline length. Most cruising sailboats reach this speed in moderate conditions. 5.06 kn
Pounds/Inch Immersion Pounds per Inch Immersion (PPI) tells you how much weight is needed to sink the boat one inch. Useful for calculating how additional gear and stores affect waterline. 1.73 pounds/inch
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 1.50 ft / 0.46 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 160.00 ft² / 14.86 m²
E (Mainsail Foot) https://sailboatdata.com/forums/topic-tag/west-kirby-star/
How It Compares

vs. Cape Cod Cat, Cornish Shrimper 17, Daysailer, Leisure 17, Thistle

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
West Kirby Star ★
16.8 ft
Cape Cod Cat
17.0 ft
Cornish Shrimper 17
17.0 ft
Daysailer
16.8 ft
Leisure 17
17.0 ft
Thistle
17.0 ft
LWL
West Kirby Star ★
Cape Cod Cat
16.4 ft
Cornish Shrimper 17
16.0 ft
Daysailer
15.5 ft
Leisure 17
14.0 ft
Thistle
17.0 ft
Beam
West Kirby Star ★
5.7 ft
Cape Cod Cat
7.9 ft
Cornish Shrimper 17
6.8 ft
Daysailer
6.3 ft
Leisure 17
7.0 ft
Thistle
6.0 ft
Displacement
West Kirby Star ★
900 lbs
Cape Cod Cat
2 lbs
Cornish Shrimper 17
1 lbs
Daysailer
575 lbs
Leisure 17
1 lbs
Thistle
515 lbs
Ballast
West Kirby Star ★
Cape Cod Cat
500 lbs
Cornish Shrimper 17
Daysailer
Leisure 17
550 lbs
Thistle
Sail Area
West Kirby Star ★
Cape Cod Cat
250 sq ft
Cornish Shrimper 17
178 sq ft
Daysailer
Leisure 17
148 sq ft
Thistle
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
West Kirby Star ★
Cape Cod Cat
Cornish Shrimper 17
390 s/nm
Daysailer
Leisure 17
Thistle
186 s/nm
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
West Kirby Star ★
Cape Cod Cat
23.7
Cornish Shrimper 17
22.3
Daysailer
Leisure 17
18.3
Thistle
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
West Kirby Star ★
9.1
Cape Cod Cat
13.0
Cornish Shrimper 17
10.8
Daysailer
Leisure 17
11.5
Thistle
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
West Kirby Star ★
Cape Cod Cat
2.44
Cornish Shrimper 17
2.39
Daysailer
Leisure 17
2.46
Thistle
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
West Kirby Star ★
139
Cape Cod Cat
Cornish Shrimper 17
158
Daysailer
68
Leisure 17
Thistle
46
Hull Speed
West Kirby Star ★
5.1 kts
Cape Cod Cat
5.4 kts
Cornish Shrimper 17
5.4 kts
Daysailer
Leisure 17
5.0 kts
Thistle
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