Drascombe Drifter 22

Drascombes are characterful and robust trailer-sailers – a regular feature on today’s sailing scene. The first Drascombe – the Lugger – came to the market over 50 years ago. It was unveiled at Earl’s Court in 1968 and was sold just 29 minutes after the show opened. Eighteen more were ordered before the show closed. But one of my favourites is the Drifter 22 from the early 2000s, of which No30 is currently in build for a US buyer. But more on that later…

The Drascombe Lugger was the brainchild of designer John Watkinson, and, according to Sharon Geary Harwood – current owner of Drascombe builder Churchouse Boats – the design was much influenced by his wife Kate’s hankering for a dayboat.

‘It all started when I sold my boatbuilding concern in 1964 and retired to a farmstead on Dartmoor,’ Watkinson wrote. ‘I decided I would indulge in the pleasure of designing and building a boat to suit my own needs.

‘My family did not share my passion for sailing small boats… if we were to enjoy our leisure time on the water, I had to design a boat that they could enjoy; and the first requirement was that they should have complete confidence in the craft.’

So he designed a boat to be easy to trail, have good sea-keeping qualities and be a good motor boat for fishing under power. But he also wanted the boat to be ‘lively enough for me to enjoy a good hard sail once I had put the