Product of Latvia

The Rob Humphreys H22 sportsboat is now available in glass at an extremely attractive price

Harley Racing Yachts, on stand F14 at Southampton Boat Show, are marketing a fibreglass incarnation of Rob Humphreys H22. Previously this boat has only available in Prefix form, where owners completed construction themselves.

By moulding the H22 at Lion & Co in Riga, Latvia, Harley have been able to get the price of their version down to the extent that it now represents better value than the kit version. Interestingly Nigel Harley told madfor sailing that a number of major yacht manufacturers are now looking to build boats in Eastern Europe, where labour is both skilled and cheap. Harley is also planning to send the moulds to the Corby 25 out there. From a cursory glance around the outside of the hull - the build quality seemed fine.

The H22 itself is archetypal sportsboat - with a long open-ended cockpit, retractible bowsprit, lifting keel for easy trailing and a powerful looking rig. Adam Greene of Harley Racing Yachts maintains that the H22 has decent form stability helped by the flare in the topsides. "The sections show a soft, rounded shape with U-shaped forward sections and a gentle arc to the aft stations. The stern is very broad enabling controlled 'high speed' downwind sailing."

The deep 325kg bulb keel provides a ballast ratio of 45%. The rig is fractional with sweptback spreaders and a top set of jumpers. Two asymmetric kites - one a 60sqm masthead, one a 45sqm fractional - can be flown, both tacked to the Proctor carbon bowsprit. Both are hoisted with the same halyard - when the fractional is used a block cleverly pulls the halyard into the mast (right).

Standard deck gear is Harken with the exception of Spinlock 'power cleats'. In the cockpit sole there are two large lockers for sail stowage. Further aft the rudder is transom hung.

The standard boat is on sale at Southampton for £12,500 ex VAT excluding sails and trailer. It has an obvious advantages over the Prefix version - you don't have to build it, it should last longer and have a better resale value. Her rating should be 908 and she can be sailed by 2-5 crew.

See the following pages for more detail shots of the H22.

Vital statistics

LOA	22' 1"	6,700 m
LWL	20' 1"	6,101 m
Beam	8' 2"	2,500 m
Draft	4' 8"	1,550 m
Ballast	715 lbs	325 kg
Sail Area	331.40 sq.ft.	30.80 sqm.
Mainsail	225.96 sq.ft.	21.00 sqm
Jib	105.44 sq.ft.	9.80 sqm.
Masthead genniker	699.40 sq.ft.	65.00 sqm
Fractional genniker	484.20 sq.ft.	45.00 sqm