Troys History

Fowey Gallants
Sailing Club

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A Brief History of the Troy Class

Troys are 18ft long, 3/4 decked Keelboats, of traditional carvel construction with a 30ft tall mast, nearly 300sq ft of sail and 16cwt of lead keel bolted externally to prevent them capsizing. The early boats were given girls names, but the trend then went to gemstones, such as Ruby, Opal, Jade etc.

Archie Watty, a local Boatbuilder built the First “New 18ft Class”, for Sir Charles Hanson (a former Lord Mayor of London) in the winter of 1928/29. The second being completed in time for the 1929 racing season, when they raced in the Handicap Class. Archie Watty had designed these boats especially for Fowey Harbour, with their tall rigs to catch any zephyrs of wind amongst the surrounding hills. So much interest was shown in these new boats that by the spring of 1930 there were 6 boats on the starting line.

With the Permission of Sir Arthur Quiller-Couch, (author of Troy Town and other novels based on Fowey) the title Troy was used, and the Troy Class of yachts was born.

Originally Gunter rigged, the boats were altered to Bermudan rig within a couple of years; and then in 1936, on the advice of the Kings Sailing Master, Sir Philip Hunloke, the length of the boom and therefore the sail area were reduced, but in a fresh breeze, there is still a feeling of being over canvassed!

The rules forbid the use of metal spars, so wood is the order of the day, and with no backstay, mast breakages are not uncommon.

There have been 27 boats built over the years, 24 of which survive. With 12 to 14 boats turning out on Wednesday evenings and Saturday afternoons, racing is very competitive, and come Regatta Week, close to twenty Troys will be charging off the line at the starting gun.