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Yvonne
Designer: Charles Cunningham  ·  Builder: Various Owner Built  ·  First built: 1954
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About the Yvonne

Designed by Charles Cunningham in 1954, this compact catamaran represents an early example of multihull design for recreational sailing. The Yvonne's twin-hull configuration with a single centerboard offers the stability advantages typical of catamarans while maintaining relatively simple construction suitable for owner-builders. With a length overall of just under 20 feet and a beam approaching 8 feet, this boat provides generous deck space and stability for its size. The fractional sloop rig delivers nearly 190 square feet of sail area, giving the lightweight 520-pound vessel impressive performance potential. The high sail area to displacement ratio of 46.92 indicates this is a boat designed for spirited sailing rather than heavy-weather cruising. Construction in either marine plywood or fiberglass reflects the practical, amateur-friendly nature of Cunningham's design. The shallow 3.28-foot draft makes the Yvonne well-suited for exploring shallow bays, protected coastal waters, and inland lakes where deeper-draft monohulls cannot venture. This catamaran appeals most to sailors seeking a fast, stable platform for day sailing and weekend coastal exploration. The twin-hull design provides excellent initial stability, making it particularly suitable for families or those new to sailing who appreciate a steady platform.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 19.98 ft / 6.09 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 15.29 ft / 4.66 m
Beam 7.78 ft / 2.37 m
Max Draft 3.28 ft / 1.00 m
Min Draft 0.59 ft / 0.18 m
Displacement 520.29 lb / 236 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 189.44 ft² / 17.60 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Catamaran Single Cntrboard
Rigging Type Fractional Sloop
Construction Marine plywood or GRP
Designer Charles Cunningham
Builder Various owner built
First Built 1954
Owner Reviews

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Performance Ratios
SA/Displacement Sail Area to Displacement ratio measures how much sail power a boat has relative to its weight. Higher values mean more performance and speed.
Under 14 — Heavy cruiser, slow14–18 — Cruising sailboat18–22 — Cruiser/racerOver 22 — Performance racer
46.92
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
3.11
Capsize Screening Formula The USHS Capsize Screening Formula estimates offshore capsize risk. Lower is safer — values under 2.0 are considered acceptable for offshore sailing.
Under 2.0 — Safe for offshore2.0–2.2 — Borderline offshoreOver 2.2 — Coastal use recommended
3.87
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. 5.24 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. 2.55 pounds/inch
Rig Dimensions
Mast Height (DWL) 25.69 ft / 7.83 m
Engine & Accommodations
KSP 1.18
How It Compares

vs. Bunyip 20, Com-Pac Horizon Cat, Sol Cat 20

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Yvonne ★
20.0 ft
Bunyip 20
20.0 ft
Com-Pac Horizon Cat
20.0 ft
Sol Cat 20
20.0 ft
LWL
Yvonne ★
15.3 ft
Bunyip 20
18.6 ft
Com-Pac Horizon Cat
17.8 ft
Sol Cat 20
19.5 ft
Beam
Yvonne ★
7.8 ft
Bunyip 20
11.0 ft
Com-Pac Horizon Cat
8.3 ft
Sol Cat 20
10.0 ft
Displacement
Yvonne ★
520 lbs
Bunyip 20
700 lbs
Com-Pac Horizon Cat
2 lbs
Sol Cat 20
475 lbs
Sail Area
Yvonne ★
189 sq ft
Bunyip 20
Com-Pac Horizon Cat
192 sq ft
Sol Cat 20
245 sq ft
Performance
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Yvonne ★
46.9
Bunyip 20
Com-Pac Horizon Cat
16.7
Sol Cat 20
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Yvonne ★
3.1
Bunyip 20
2.3
Com-Pac Horizon Cat
12.4
Sol Cat 20
1.7
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Yvonne ★
3.87
Bunyip 20
4.96
Com-Pac Horizon Cat
2.46
Sol Cat 20
5.13
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Yvonne ★
Bunyip 20
48
Com-Pac Horizon Cat
199
Sol Cat 20
Hull Speed
Yvonne ★
5.2 kts
Bunyip 20
5.8 kts
Com-Pac Horizon Cat
5.7 kts
Sol Cat 20
5.9 kts
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