Image from the Good Old Boat website.
Cotton Eye Joe
Since 2024 we have been sailing our Nonsuch 36, Cotton Eye Joe, through the Netherlands and beyond. We imported her from the British Virgin Islands in 2019 and then gave her a thorough refit, inside and out. Because she attracts plenty of questions and curious looks, this page shares a little more about this yacht.
About the Nonsuch 36
The Nonsuch 36 is a striking Canadian sailing yacht designed by Mark Ellis and built by Hinterhoeller Yachts in Ontario. She has no standing rigging and uses a wishbone boom, features that many traditional cruising yachts do not have.
With a free-standing mast and a single sail, she is very simple to handle, even when sailing solo. Her 1.45 metre draft makes her suitable for inland waters as well as coastal passages. The interior is spacious and comfortable, which makes the boat well suited to longer trips.
Technology and Specifications
- Length overall: approx. 11 metres
- Beam: approx. 3.80 metres
- Draft: 1.45 metres
- Mast: free-standing carbon mast, almost 20 metres high
- Boom: carbon wishbone boom
- Sail area: approx. 75 square metres
- Engine: Westerbeke diesel engine
Videos and Images
Our own Nonsuch Cotton Eye Joe
Advertorials
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this actually a Freedom?
No. The Nonsuch resembles a Freedom because of the free-standing mast and wishbone sail, but it has a different builder, hull design and sail plan.
Does it work like a windsurfer?
The wishbone system does resemble a windsurfing rig, but the controls are adapted for use on a large sailing yacht.
Is that wishbone boom there to catch the sail?
The wishbone has several jobs: it holds the sail open, replaces a conventional boom and also catches the sail neatly when it is lowered.
How much sail does she carry?
About 75 square metres, which is a generous mainsail without additional headsails.
How tall is the mast?
The free-standing mast is almost 20 metres tall.
What are the mast and boom made of?
Both are made of carbon, which keeps them light and strong.
Where was the Nonsuch built?
The boats were built by Hinterhoeller Yachts in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada, near the Niagara region.
Is she fast?
The Nonsuch is not a racing boat, but she is surprisingly quick and stable thanks to her length and efficient sail plan.