New Zealand’s Leading Keelboat Class
The Young 88, about 30 feet in length and with a fractional rig, was recognised early on as fast to race but with enough space for comfortable cruising. Its open transom, convenient for swimmers and divers, completed the attraction.
By the time Roger Land had made a mould from the first wooden hull in the early 1980s for a limited GRP production, interest had escalated and he had 12 confirmed orders for boats. Ross Field’s ‘Paddy Wagon’ was the first GRP 88 on the water and his immediate and continued success with the boat against strong opposition cemented the future of the Class.
In total, 158 boats would be built of which 143 were GRP-hulled and 13 wooden. Of these, 77 are still in the Auckland area, 9 in Northland, 13 in the rest of the North Island, 19 in the South Island, 38 have been exported (to Australia, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, the UK and the USA),
one was lost (but was replaced by the owner) and the location of the remaining yacht is unknown.
The Young 88 is known for its speed, boat-handling ability and comfort when cruising. Its ‘one-design’ cruiser-racer features are a strong attraction and it is now without doubt New Zealand’s leading keelboat class. .
The return of previous owners to the Class after owning other boats is an endorsement of this success.