Yarmouth Beach Yawl

The Yarmouth beach yawl was a long, narrow, clinker-built open sailing and pulling boat used along the Norfolk and Suffolk coast of England in the 19th century, crewed by beachmen who raced from the shore to reach ships in distress, salvage, or carry pilots. Reaching 50 to 70 feet yet very light, the yawls were among the fastest open boats of their day, rigged with two or three lugsails and propelled by sail and oar. The type faded as steam tugs and motor lifeboats took over rescue and salvage work.