Prototype Sonar, Noroton CT, March 1980
It started when Bruce Kirby’s home club (Noroton Yacht Club, Darin, CT USA) couldn’t find the right boat to get their members involved in club racing; fewer and fewer of its members were participating.
They studied a great many existing classes of boats but all were considered too expensive, too slow, too demanding to sail, or just plain uncomfortable. So Bruce was asked to design a new boat specifically to meet the requirements of a club racing one-design keelboat fleet.
It had to be exciting to race, but easy to handle by sailors of all ages, strengths and skill levels. It had to be a really good day sailor, spacious and comfortable to sit in all day long. It had to be trailer-able, plus easy to launch for wet or dry sailing. Plus a safe, well-behaved training boat to help teach new sailors how to sail and have fun doing it. Finally, it had to have a good but uncomplicated set of class rules.
The result was the Sonar. The Noroton Yacht Club got everything they wanted and more. And the Sonar has been greeted with enthusiasm by individuals and clubs all over the world.