This month we’re featuring the smaller Shrimpers, designed by Rober Dongray back in the 1970s and built at Rock in Cornwall by Cornish Crabbers. These production boats are popular with OGA members and in this post we highlight a few of them. Not all the boats featured are actually from the East Coast Area of the OGA. However, since these smaller boats may be trailed, several of them travel around the country to sail in different locations, including the East Coast. Contact the Editor if you’d like us to include your Shrimper!
Shrimper 19
Length: 6.8 m. Beam: 2 m. Draft: 1.2 m. Rig: gaff sloop Hull construction: GRP
‘Eagle Owl’ was built in 1987. Her home port is Lytham. Skipper Ann trails her to events around the country, including on the East Coast. ‘Sadie Rose’ is also a Cornish Crabbers Shrimper 19 built in 1987. Her home port is on a floating mooring at Woodbridge on the River Deben enabling her owner, Dan to go out sailing whenever he pleases on this beautiful river. Further down the Deben lies ‘Sniff’ at Waldringfield. ‘Charlotte Elizabeth’ is another Shrimper 19, built 2009. OGA60 Round Britain skipper, Martin Pound sailed her single-handed with Jack, his dog, as crew. After starting in Cowes, he made one or two ‘passages’ via road, trailing the boat to rejoin the fleet as they made passage around Britain before joining the Jubilee Rally in Ipswich, August 2023 and making his way back to Cowes. A newly acquired Shrimper 19, ‘Louisa’, arrived in Ipswich 2025, just in time to join the Summer Cruise. Read her report here.
Shrimper 21
LOA: 22’6″ | 6.858 m, LOD: 19’ 3” | 5.867 m, Beam: 7’2″ | 2.184 m, Draught: l’ 6″- 4’0″ | 0.457 – 1.219 m, Rig: gaff sloop Hull construction: GRP
Paul Hemsley launched ‘Dragonfly’ in June 2023, making her the newest participant in the OGA60 Jubilee Party at Ipswich in 2023. The lifting keel gives a shallow 1’10” draft making her ideal for both cruising and inshore exploring. “We had a great week away in the Solent in ‘Dragonfly’, hitch free considering she was delivered from Cornwall on the Friday afternoon, launched and we set straight off on a week’s rally, spending the whole week with a reef or two!”
‘Sapphire’, another Shrimper 21, was built in 2019. She sails the West Coast of Scotland and Western Isles; sea lochs, islands, major ports, remote lochs and stunning inlets, where we’re the only visitors, save for seals, dolphin and seabirds. Scottish weather, tidal races and the magnificent mountains only add to her sense of adventure! ‘Sapphire’ has sailed north from the River Orwell in heavy seas, crossing the shifting sands of the Deben and the the Ore with a confidence sometimes greater than her crews’! ‘Sapphire’ crossed the Thames Estuary via Havengore lifting bridge, The Broomway and the Maplin Sands then crossed to Queenborough, before a trip up the Medway and its numerous locks. She sails joyfully in company and loves her solitude. She’s a treat to tow, easy to care for and sails like a dream (or a dinghy!). Good to sleep on, holds a portable fridge as though it’s built-in and one pot cooking rules … very well thank you!
You must be logged in to post a comment.