The yacht Trekka sailing - originally designed by Laurent Giles for John Guzzwell, Trekka is a development of the Sopranino design. Photo credit: Nigel Calder/Maritime Museum of British Columbia

The pioneers of small-boat leisure sailing had to start from scratch when designing and building early yachts – but some of those vessels are still around to offer inspiration today.

Secret 20

Casting a critical eye over the project boat’s lines, David Pugh and Ben Meakins set to work filling and fairing to make the hull smooth

Secret 20

Chine in your hands: PBO takes a turn at shaping the project boat’s bilge. David Pugh reports

Secret 20

We’ve made great progress this month, and as a result the hull skin is now complete, save for a lot of fairing – but that’s for another month! Ben Meakins…

Secret 20

This month, the Secret’s structure is finished off with the addition of bottom stringers, bevelled chine battens and forefoot cheek pieces. Ben Meakins reports

Secret 20_Gunwales

Strong and stable: PBO’s Secret 20 is strengthened before being turned in the next step of her construction. David Pugh reports

Project Boat Secret 20

With the addition of her 6mm ply hull panels, PBO’s Secret 20 starts to look less like basketwork and more like a boat. David Pugh reports

Project Boat Secret 20

This month’s project boat tasks include fitting laminated deck beams and reinforcing the chainplates. Ben Meakins reports

Project Boat Secret 20

Building a kit boat is a bit like a child’s dot-to-dot drawing. See the full set of articles: Building the Secret 20 kit boat with PBO. The framework is made…

Project Boat Secret 20

David Pugh and Ben Meakins tackle the truing up of the new project boat’s keel, stem and stern – and enjoy a long-deferred sea trial in a completed Secret 20…

BTC-22

A performance weekender built in Britain has been missing for a long time – which is why it’s good to meet the BTC-22, says David Harding