The Harrier Dinghy

The Harrier dinghy was commissioned by Lancashire businessman and OK sailer Harold Smith in 1972. He felt he was getting too old for his OK, and so he asked me to design a fast and responsive singlehander which was stable, powerful and easy to handle. He set up a company to market the boat (Delta Dinghies Ltd) and the class had some success in the mid 70s, until 25% VAT and the Laser dinghy caused production to cease in about 1976. About 70 boats were built.

Principal Dimensions:

Length over all	4.27 metres
Beam	1.9 metres
Hull weight	105kg
Sail area	8.73 sq m
Portsmouth Number	approx 1110

Young Keith sailing his Harrier in 1973	HARRIERS TODAY.A Harrier fleet briefly flourished at Whitby in recent years. Harrier lines drawing Harrier sailplan Harrier hull drawings (3D) Harrier Class Rules Article from Yachting & Boating Weekly, published 7.02.73 Article by John Driscoll in Yachting & Boating Weekly, published 24.07.74 Article by Wendy Fitzpatrick in Yachts & Yachting, published 23.02.73 Photo of Lawrie Smith sailing the Harrier Spar Dimensions Plan of thwarts Section through thwarts Centreboard Case Original sales literature (1972)
Harrier #10 sailing at Beccles Amateur SC, October 2011. Photo: Karen Langston	Click on the picture to see a movie of Patrick Blake sailing my Harrier at Pennington Flash, Leigh, Lancs, in the autumn of 1972.
In late 2018 I purchased a delapidated Harrier for £25 and refurbished it to its original specification.	I met Harold Smith again for the first time in 45 years.
	The following photos are by Nikky Evans. Michael McNamara made the sail.