Light, slim and fast, the Pointer 22 is a refreshingly simple, no-nonsense day-sailercum-weekender, says David Harding
Given the number of trailerable day-sailers and weekenders on the market, you might think there’d be little room for any more. After all, we already have everything from high-performance one-designs (the J/70, Melges 24 and RS21, for example) to versatile cruiser/racers such as Buckley Yacht Designs’ BTC 22 and the Seascape 24, now taken over by Beneteau and sold as the First 24 SE.
Those who favour a more traditional approach might be drawn to the Cornish Shrimpers, or perhaps one of Swallow Yachts’ BayRaiders or BayCruisers. Then of course there are the Polish contenders, though many trailer-sailers from Poland have come and gone in recent decades, leaving the Viko 21 among the few that are currently represented in the UK.
Keep it easy
So, you might ask, is there really a gap? Well, let’s say you want something that’s very much a day-sailer, with a large, open cockpit, a fully-retractable centreplate for minimal draught and easy launching, and a small cabin for stowing your kit, using a chemical loo and perhaps sleeping aboard from time to time.
You’re not interested in ‘trad appeal’ and you want good performance without the inconvenience of a vertically-lifting T-bulb keel or buying into the world of the one-design sportsboat.
This is where the Pointer 22 comes in, and there’s a lot about her to make you sit up and take note. She owes much to her bigger sister, the Pointer 25, designed by Van de Stadt.
The builder, Yachtwerf Heeg in the Netherlands, has a long association with Van de Stadt and still builds the Randmeer –the 21ft open racer/daysailer that, in cabin form, later evolved into the Pandora.
Performance pointers
The Pointer certainly has a pedigree, but what about the boat herself? It’s obvious at a glance that she’s designed to sail. There’s no bloated, high-volume hull with towering topsides to create volume down below. Instead, you see a slim, pretty hull with minimal freeboard and a vestigial coachroof that hints at a modicum of cabin space. Abaft this she’s all cockpit, so the emphasis is clearly on day-sailing and outdoor living.
The rig isn’t particularly big, because it doesn’t need to be. With a sailing weight of just 1,650lb (750kg if you’re Dutch) and such a slippery-looking hull, the Pointer clearly doesn’t need a lot of sail. The fact that the mast is stepped on
