BlueMotion-550 Dayboat by Keith Callaghan
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The BlueMotion-550 (aka BM550) high performance dayboat

Runner-up for the Yachts and Yachting "BEST PERFORMANCE BOAT UNDER 40ft" award 2014.

" This was one of the fastest downwind sleigh rides I've enjoyed for a long time - big grins were the order of the day."

Rupert Holmes, Yachts and Yachting Magazine.


BM550 is a new 5.5m dayboat (or large dinghy) design for 2013. The design is a direct derivative of my Hazardous Zero-9 Merlin Rocket design, and with 19 sq m in main and jib, plus a similarly sized spinnaker, has sufficient horsepower to provide a superb sailing experience, but with the reassurance that the 55kg lead ballast in the centreboard will keep the boat the right way up.

The prototype boat is of cedar strip/plywood/epoxy glass composite construction. This design was being marketed and manufactured by BLUEMOTION YACHTS (Foundry Reach Yacht Sales and Services), who were producing the design in FRP. However, the owner has now retired and the moulds are for sale. The prototype was exhibited at the RYA Dinghy Show at Alexandra Palace, London, on 2-3 March 2013. BlueMotion was shortlisted for the Concours d'Elegance prize.

The July 2013 edition of Yachts and Yachting magazine featured a test of the BM550. The boat achieved 9 out of 10 in all test categories. Download a copy of the Y&Y Test Report.

Plans for amateur builders are available from the designer. As of August 2017, 7 sets of plans have been sold worldwide. Go to PURCHASE PLANS of BM550.

Principal Dimensions:

Length over all 5.50 metres
Length on waterline 5.50 metres
Beam 2.20 metres
Racing weight
(including rudder, centreboard, rig)
290kg
Sail area 19 sq m plus 19 sq m spinnaker
Portsmouth Number approximately 995
BM550 reaching with spinnaker. Photo courtesey of Fiona Brown

Photo: Fiona Brown Communications and Event Management


See YouTube videos of BM550 sailing on her launch day:
BlueMotion sailing at Alton Water SC, February 2013.
BlueMotion - view from the cockpit

See YouTube video of BM550 being helmed by Michael McNamara
BlueMotion - helmed by Michael McNamara

See YouTube video of BLUEMOTION 550 sailing during the test by Yachts and Yachting Magazine on 13 May 2013. The test results were published in the JULY 2013 edition.
BlueMotion - Yachts and Yachting boat test

See YouTube video of BLUEMOTION 550 undergoing a self-righting test at Alton Water.
BlueMotion - self-righting test

Download the SAIL PLAN (pdf file).

Click on an image below to enlarge it.

BlueMotion-550 fish's eye view The first hull is nearing completion. 18 May 2012 Main bulkhead and centreboard case installed. 1 August 2012
Cockpit construction under way. September 2012 Painting commences before deck is installed. October 2012 BlueMotion 550 - Hull decked and nearly complete
BM550 - Hull decked and nearly complete BlueMotion 550 - Hull complete. January 2013 BlueMotion 550 - centreboard is inserted
BlueMotion 550 - view from below BlueMotion 550 - Launch day, 4 February 2013. Photo: Foundry Reach Yacht Sales BlueMotion 550 - first sail, February 2013. Photo: Foundry Reach Yacht Sales
BlueMotion 550 - first sail, February 2013. Photo: Foundry Reach Yacht Sales BlueMotion 550 - first sail, February 2013. Photo: Foundry Reach Yacht Sales BlueMotion 550 - first sail, February 2013. Photo: Foundry Reach Yacht Sales

November 2013: the production hull mould has been made at White Formula and the first hull has has been moulded. The following images show the hull sitting in the mould. Tooling for the interior mouldings is being built inside the hull.

BlueMotion 550 - first production hull sitting in mould BlueMotion 550 - first production hull sitting in mould

January 2014: the production hull has been moulded at White Formula, Brightlingsea, Essex. These images show the boat newly hatched from the moulds. This boat will be exhibited at the RYA Suzuki Dinghy Show in March.

BlueMotion 550 - Simon Hipkin and Andy Ladds of BlueMotion Yachts Ltd inspect the first boat off the mould at White Formula, Brightlingsea, Essex, 7 January 2014 Simon Hipkin and Andy Ladds of BlueMotion Yachts Ltd inspect the first boat off the mould at White Formula, Brightlingsea, Essex, 7 January 2014
BlueMotion 550 - BlueMotion 550 - The first FRP boat, January 2014. BlueMotion 550 -
BlueMotion 550 BlueMotion 550 BlueMotion 550 foredeck under construction
BlueMotion 550 at the RYA Dinghy Show, March 2014 BlueMotion 550 at the RYA Dinghy Show, March 2014 BlueMotion 550 at the RYA Dinghy Show, March 2014

The following 5 photographs show the first production BM550 sailing at Brightlingsea in August 2014. All photos courtesy of Fiona Brown Communications and Event Management

BM 550 sailing in Pyefleet week, August 2014 BM 550 sailing in Pyefleet week, August 2014 BM 550 sailing in Pyefleet week, August 2014
BM 550 sailing in Pyefleet week, August 2014 BM 550 sailing in Pyefleet week, August 2014

© This site is the copyright of Keith Callaghan. This page was last updated on 14 September 2017 .

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