Axe One Design

The Axe O.D. is a traditional 12 foot clinker built Bermudan rigged dinghy. The boats were designed in 1951 specifically for members of the Axe Yacht Club, based at Axmouth in East Devon. The A.O.D. was principally a two man dinghy, but could be easily sailed single handed. Races for the class were held both in Seaton Bay and on the Axe estuary, launching from the club’s open beach or onto the tidal Axe estuary. The class was designed by amatuer boat builder Jack Drew, who was then Vice Commodore of the A.Y.C. Jack constructed the first batch of nine boats in the early 1950s. The fleet continued to grow and in the 60s numbered twenty. Sadly most of these boats have disappeared with out trace, but one of the original fleet survived intact- Whimbrel, No.1. she continued to sail as the sole representative of the class. In 2000 a new A.O.D. was built, rekindling interest in the class. Subsequently four more have been built in Fowey for A.Y.C. members and at the same time two more of the original fleet have been restored and re-commissioned.