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History on the Albacore Design
One of the few good things to come out of WWII was an autoclave. This extraordinary gadget, designed by Fairey Aviation and Marine of Southhampton in the UK, was a large oven that fast-cured veneer and adhesives for airfoil shapes. When peace broke out, some bright spark reasoned that the technology could be applied to the configuration of dinghy hulls, the first being hull designer Uffa Fox’s 12-foot Firefly which was sailed in the 1948 Olympics.
Dinghies of those days were lap strake or carvel-built and were heavy, leaky as well, difficult to maintain; aside from using the less efficient Gaff or Gunter rigs. That autoclave introduced not only hi-tech moulding for wood, but also a totally new process for manufacture of small hull designs.
The need was felt for a craft that was slightly larger than the Firefly. Members of the England south coast dinghy clubs together with Fairey Marine engineers tried to develop a 15-foot dinghy; one that could withstand the strong winds and steep seas experienced in the English Channel, and were lightweight, rugged and stable with a planning hull. Uffa Fox’s 15-foot Swordfish, using Fairey technology, was near to these specifications and gave rise to more developments. That craft was re-designed frequently: the freeboard was increased and the aft section strengthened and decked in. By 1954, all these sea changes made it quite a different hull and so a new name was called for. Since the Albacore had been an aircraft that had come off the assembly lines just after their Swordfish, and had a nice salty sound, it seemed appropriate to use its name for the new dinghy.
Fairey Marine, even after cold-moulding techniques were introduced, built all the early hulls. They had the same appearance as today except for the afterdecks, and with aluminum centerboards, with rotating masts, the top sections of which were of spruce.
The class grew quickly and steadily. Thirty were sold in Britain during the first year of manufacture, and several were introduced into the US in 1956. A year later, Hyannis Port YC order a whole fleet for training and racing and in 1958 the RCYC chose the Albacore as replacement for its aging Junior Club boats. In 1960 there were eighteen fleets in Ontario alone and the Canadian Albacore Association was formed.
Shortly after, Whitby Boat works took a mould from an original wooden hull and marketed the resulting fiberglass products under a carefully chosen name of Albatross. Though not strictly official for competition purposes, these dinghies kept up enthusiasm for a class that was otherwise dependent on imports until five years later when a license was granted for building the GRP version of the Albacore in Canada.
Since those early days the class has spread in popularity throughout Great Britain, Ireland and North America. Over the years a number of builders have applied their talents to producing Albacores. The current Canadian builder of Albacores is Ontario Yachts. Today, OY produces a klegecell foam core hull.
Over 8100 Albacores have now been built world wide, with near 6200 of those in Canada. Ontario is the center of the greatest activity for the class that has been a recognized trainer in junior clubs, sailing schools, summer camps and is actively used in the uniquely Canadian community clubs. It has been the chosen dinghy of the Royal Canadian Sea Cadets and the Canadian Forces Sailing Associations.
The Albacore is an excellent boat for pleasure sailing at cottages, training at clubs, camps and associations and is raced competitively by many long time class enthusiasts. The hull is designed for an optimum crew of two persons. For instructional purposes up to four persons may be carried. Class rules allow the boat to be raced with two or more people on board.
The Albacore has a plumb stem forward and flat section aft of the centerboard housing to promote hull planing in winds of 10 knots or more. The forward deck covers the area from bow to mast and the side decks are shaped to allow comfortable hiking. Two hiking foot straps run the length of the interior on port and starboard. The interior is formed by one large flotation tank from the thwart forward and by separate flotation tanks on port and starboard aft of the thwart. Each tank is provided with a drain plug. The boat has been swamp tested with a static load of 660 lbs. Most hulls are built of fiberglass or klegecell foam core construction. The horizontal components of the deck and floatation tanks are stiffened with additional closed cell foam. Rear bailer doors provide drainage when underway at three knots or more.
A kick-up rudder is used to steer. Some owners opt for fixed rudders and these can be purchased from various suppliers. A pivoting centerboard that may be locked up or down provides lateral resistance. The Albacore uses two sails, a mainsail and a jib that are usually made of Dacron. The spars consist of the mast, boom and jib whisker pole of anodized aluminum.
Specifications
International Albacore Boat Registry
International Albacore Boat Registry
