Norfolk Punt class set for the 2026 RYA Dinghy & Watersports Show

by Gavin Smith 11 Feb 00:06 PST 21-22 February 2026

Celebrating the Norfolk Punt Club's 100-year anniversary, we have the latest punt design on display at the 2026 RYA Dinghy & Watersports Show. Wahoo, home-built by John Friend to a design by his son Andrew and completed in 2023 is the first of its kind. It is one of just over 100 punts that have been built over a period spanning the last 100 years.

The Punt's unique canoe shape, extended waterline length and huge 22 metres of sail makes it one of Britain's fastest and distinct racing dinghies. A boat praised for its exceptional speed even in the lightest winds, its quickness to get on to the plane and its extraordinary handling ability for such a high-performance boat has won it many fans. As a development class, this boat has been instrumental in dinghy development over the last century and still remains a competitive racing dinghy today.

On the stand you can explore the fascinating history of its development, originating as a gun boat for hunting wildfowl into one of Britain's most sophisticated racing vessels. The first sailing punts were built in 1917 and were raced as far back as 1923. In total, 45 traditional (pre-war) punts were built (including designs by Herbert Woods, Uffa Fox and others), each one an attempt to improve its performance on the water. The Punt was clearly attracting top sailors. By 1947 Britain had won just two Olympic medals in sailing. Both were gold and both were won by Norfolk Punt Club members.

Following World War II and thanks to the developments in plywood (most famously used to build the Mosquito fighter bomber), the first plywood hardchine punt was built in 1953. Significantly lighter on the water, combined with its hydrodynamic shape it wasn't long before it was competing for the world speed record.

While rarely seen outside of Norfolk - the punts have journeyed to more exotic waters over the years! In 1976, the Punts raced 18ft Skiffs on the River Thames right up to Tower Bridge. There were regular visits to Aldeburgh and Lake Coniston. More recently punts have been seen racing the Bloody Mary and in 2025, a punt won the Sailjuice King George Gallop.

The late 1970s saw the transition to fibreglass. The class rules were further derestricted in the 1980s and there was another burst of design activity which saw five different adaptations of the punt's hull take shape. This included its most popular modern rendition, the Morrison (designed by Phil Morrison) arguably the most successful design and still the fastest punt on the water.

In celebration of its centenary year, the Norfolk Punt Club has published a new book - a fascinating archival deep dive into its history and development. We have photos and footage from the archive on display as well as information on joining Norfolk's friendliest sailing club.

The Norfolk Punt has the fortune of being a development class with varying handicaps which means today the pre-war Punts can successfully compete against the hardchines and more modern renditions. It makes for quite a spectacle at the annual Punt Championships. With a documentary film in production and record numbers of punts on the water - it is an exciting time for this iconic racing dinghy.

Come and meet the sailors who will be happy to tell you more about the class, the designs and history of this little known but important piece of this country's small boat history, and indeed future.