Quiet day on Port Phillip Bay in a Boomerang 20

The Boomerang 20 is a sailboat that was designed by Eric Maizey in the late 1960s to race and cruise on

Port Phillip Port Phillip ( Kulin: ''Narm-Narm'') or Port Phillip Bay is a horsehead-shaped enclosed bay on the central coast of southern Victoria, Australia. The bay opens into the Bass Strait via a short, narrow channel known as The Rip, and is com ...

in Melbourne Australia, sheltered water but choppy conditions. The original boats were built at the family home in Frankston with the assistance of the kids and neighbours in cold moulded ply. As interest grew and production increased, the majority were fibreglass construction. The hulls were built by contractors such as Bruce Orchard and fitted out at the Maizey home until the growing business took up residence in a factory in Kookaburra St. Frankston. Boomerangs began appearing at major regattas in increasing numbers, and their reputation for excellent sailing qualities and bulletproof design grew with their successful racing results. The class soon gained JOG qualification and so could race in the relevant offshore events. After Eric Maizey's untimely death, the business was sold and the Boomerang was built in Victoria, Australia, by Maison (Maizey and Son) Marine in the 1970s and later by Peninsula Yachts. The class association continued to grow. Many hundreds have been built over a 25-year period, and there are quite a few still around the waterways. The Boomerang 20 has always been a classic. It is one of the all-time best-sellers of the 20-foot

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Specifications

I = 7.31 m J = 2.517 m P = 6.325 m E = 2.362 m

Sailing details

Handicaps;

PHRF Performance Handicap Racing Fleet (PHRF) is a handicapping system used for yacht racing in North America. It allows dissimilar classes of sailboats to be raced against each other. The aim is to cancel out the inherent advantages and disadvantages ...

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=, Class based Handicaps CBH (AUST.) = 0.640 drop keel, 0.620 swing keel, Other = Sailing characteristics Notable performances

Accommodation

Number of crew to race =4, Berths =4, Galley =, Head =, Navigation =, Maximum headroom =,

Special features

Vertical lift or swing centreboards available.

Construction

; Country of origin: Australia (Melbourne) ;Hull material: Moulded fibreglass ;Manufacturer: Peninsular yachts ;Plans availability: No

References

* Magazine ''Trailer Sailing'' 1985, No 3, page 79, Publisher Michael Hannan

External links

Class Association https://web.archive.org/web/20080325062125/http://www.yachte.com.au/classes/boomerang-20.asp Sailing in Australia Trailer sailers 1960s sailboat type designs {{ship-type-stub