The Yachting World Diamond is a Jack Holt design which continues to attract devotees – who sail them on some extraordinary adventures – in Australia, 60 years after its conception
During the post-World War II boom years of small-boat sailing, Yachting World promoted some 30 designs, most of which allowed for home construction in plywood. The largest was the Yachting World Keelboat, later renamed the Yachting World Diamond.
‘For years the editor dreamt of a planing keelboat,’ the magazine later reported of the resulting Jack Holt design. The prototype, Zest, built by R&W Clark in East Cowes, ‘was thoroughly tested in the hard winds and seas of the autumn and early winter of 1960 (and) surpassed the highest hopes of her.’ Two rigs were tested – masthead and a three quarter fractional rig – before a compromise was reached with a 7/8ths fractional.
was exhibited at the London Boat Show the following January, after which it was reported that ‘boats are being built by several yards as well as, helmed by Jack Knights, was overall winner in the Round the Island Race that July.
