ENSIGN (PEARSON)

Notes: In 1959 Carl Alberg was commissioned by Pearson Yachts to design a 22-foot cruiser suitable for racing in the Midget Ocean Racing Club (MORC). This was the ELECTRA, which had a masthead rig, a small, self-bailing cockpit, and a cabin with galley space, head and bunks. About 350 ELECTRAS were built over the next six years.\n\nPearson dealers surmised that prospective Electra buyers might prefer the boat with a larger cockpit and smaller cabin. They passed the information along to Pearson, who subsequently asked Alberg to design a day sailor, suitable for one-design racing, based on the ELECTRA hull. \n\nOther changes made included moving the mast six inches forward, increasing the area of the mainsail, and reducing the height of the fore triangle. \n\nThe ENSIGN, first called the ELECTRA DAY SAILOR, was an instant success: 219 were sold in the first year (1962). At this time, the first class racing was organized (Fleet #l, out of Larchmont, New York).\n\nThe next year saw 213 more boats built and nine more fleets formed - in Houston, Texas; Hingham, Massachusetts; Providence, Rhode Island; Huntington and Port Washington, New York, Miami, Florida; Gibson Island, Maryland; and Falmouth, Maine.\nThe last known builder (2003) was Ensign Spars Inc. of Dunedin, FL (USA).\n\nPhoto courtesy of Adam Hunt.