Please select your home edition
Edition
Mackay Boats 728x90 TOP

Designing and building a modern cruising dinghy, small & capable - John Welsford

by Australian Wooden Boat Festival 1 Dec 2025 00:38 PST
Designing and building a modern cruising dinghy, small & capable - John Welsford - AWB Symposium © Australian Wooden Boat Festival

A dinghy cruising resurgence is upon us! Perhaps it's due to the increasing costs of owning larger boats, or the romance fuelled by books like Swallows and Amazons and Those Snake Island Kids, or the fact that cruising dinghies can be built by anyone with moderate woodworking skills in their backyard...

John Welsford is a small boat designer with ten generations of boat building under his belt. John has been building small boats and exploring the New Zealand coastline from an early age and now has over 40 designs to his name with thousands having been built and sailed all around the world. John describes his role as:

"A creator of dreams. Really, that's the aim of a designer of small recreational boats."

Watch renowned small boat designer John Welsford, in conversation with Matt and Ben from Small Craft Tasmania as they discuss the sophisticated art of designing a capable cruising dinghy, and what to look for in choosing a design to suit specific needs.

Related Articles

International Moth UK Nationals overall
Sunday gave the sailors and spectators a scintillating conclusion Sunday gave the sailors and spectators a scintillating conclusion to the Wetsuit Outlet International Moth UK Championship. Posted today at 11:47 am Long Beach Olympic Classes Regatta begins
The world's best kiteboarders and windsurfers return to Long Beach for the OCR The road to Los Angeles 2028 continues this week as the world's best kiteboarders and windsurfers descend on Long Beach, California, for the 2026 Long Beach Olympic Classes Regatta (OCR). Posted today at 11:33 am Wingfoil Racing World Cup Calabria overall
Alessandro Tomasi and Vaina Picot were crowned champions Alessandro Tomasi and Vaina Picot were crowned champions at the Wingfoil Racing World Cup in Calabria after mastering a dramatic final day in which they were challenged by the weather as well as their rivals. Posted today at 11:19 am J/70 U.S. Nationals 2026 at Santa Barbara
Jannetti, Cox and Deardorff Crowned Champions The 2026 J/70 U.S. National Championship concluded Sunday with David Jannetti's Odd Racing winning the Open title, Ryan Cox's DJ securing the Corinthian Championship, and Scott Deardorff's CAKE taking Mixed-Plus honors. Posted today at 6:02 am Australian sailors set to race on Olympic waters
With just two years to go to LA2028 With two years to go until the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, Australia's Olympic sailing athletes are set to race on the very waters where Olympic medals will be decided. Posted today at 5:53 am Whitehawk Claims Fifth Straight Line Honors
As Race to Mackinac Fleet Closes on the Finish Peter Thornton's 104-foot ketch, Whitehawk, claimed line honors for the fifth year in a row, finishing the 117th Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac presented by Wintrust at 3:31 p.m. ET / 2:31 p.m. CT on Sunday. Posted on 12 Jul 49er, 49erFX & Nacra 17 Europeans overall
Champions crowned in Eckernförde as the Baltic has the final say The final day of the 2026 European Championship turned out to be the hardest of the whole regatta, and in the end it was the one day the Baltic refused to play along. Posted on 12 Jul 6th AEGEAN 600 overall
A record turnout of entries, and smiles all around At last night's Awards Ceremony held for the 6th edition of the AEGEAN 600, not only were the podium finishers in numerous categories recognized for their achievements, but it was clear that all teams who entered this year's race were also winners. Posted on 12 Jul Worrell 1000 Returns in 2028 for Legacy Run
A legendary catamaran race with a legacy spanning over half a century The organizers of the legendary catamaran race, The Worrell 1000, have announced the event's return, officially scheduled for 2028. Posted on 12 Jul Wingfoil Racing World Cup Calabria day 5
Battle lines drawn for deciding Medal Series Alessandro Tomasi confirmed himself as the man to beat at the Wingfoil Racing World Cup in Gizzeria, Calabria after another dominant display secured top spot and direct qualification for Sunday's final. Posted on 12 Jul
C-Tech 2021 SnuffAir 728x90 BOTTOMSelden CXrSwitch One Design
This site and its contents are Copyright © 2026 Sail-World Sail-World USA and/or the original author, photographer etc. All Rights Reserved. Photographs are copyright by law. If you wish to use or buy a photograph contact the photographer directly.
If you have any questions about advertising or editorial then please contact our team. If you encounter any technical issues then please email techsupport@sail-world.com
Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy