WELCOME
Sailing Nomad Adventures, are committed to providing unforgettable sailing experiences along the stunning south coast of the UK and France. Our charter yacht Nomad is perfect for all types of explorers seeking memorable family adventures.
This is adventure tourism at its most authentic.
You’ll sail a heritage yacht through wild coastlines, hidden anchorages, and waters few travellers ever touch. You’ll learn the ropes, take the helm, and feel the raw thrill of moving under canvas. Every day brings a new horizon, a new challenge, a new moment you’ll talk about for years.
About the Skipper — Dan Shaw
Yachtmaster, navigator, host, and the heart behind Nomad Adventures
Dan Shaw has spent a lifetime drawn to the sea. What began as childhood fascination grew into decades of hands‑on sailing, cruising and a deep respect for traditional seamanship. Today, he brings that experience — and a calm, steady presence — to every voyage aboard Nomad N1.
Dan isn’t just a skipper; he’s a guide into a different pace of life. He blends technical skill with an instinctive understanding of people, creating an environment where guests feel both safe and inspired. Whether he’s teaching the basics of sail handling, reading the weather, or sharing the quiet stories that only emerge at sea, Dan makes every mile feel purposeful.
With a background that spans adventure travel, creative strategy, and sensory storytelling, he brings a unique perspective to sailing. His approach is simple: make every voyage meaningful. Under his guidance, guests don’t just travel — they participate, learn, and reconnect with the elements.
Calm in a blow, patient with beginners, and endlessly curious about the world, Dan embodies the spirit of Nomad Adventures: heritage, exploration, and the belief that time at sea can change the way you see the world.
Classic Yacht Nomad
A modern classic built for real adventure
Nomad is the heart of our voyages — a yacht that bridges the romance of traditional sailing with the reliability and performance of modern engineering. She isn’t a restored relic; she’s a purpose‑built fusion of old and new, crafted for travellers who want authenticity without compromise.
Every line, every material choice, every curve of her hull reflects a design philosophy rooted in heritage but built for today’s adventure tourism.
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A Modern Take on a Traditional Yacht
Nomad carries the timeless silhouette of classic wooden sailing vessels, but beneath her elegant lines lies a contemporary timber‑composite structure engineered for strength, stability, and long‑term durability.
She offers the warmth and soul of wood, paired with the confidence of modern materials — a yacht that feels alive under sail yet reassuringly solid in all conditions.
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Crafted in Douglas Fir, Reinforced for the Future
Nomad’s hull is built from Douglas fir, chosen for its exceptional strength‑to‑weight ratio and proven performance in marine environments. To enhance durability, the hull is sheathed in glass‑fibre cloth set in epoxy, creating a composite skin that:
Increases structural strength
Improves waterproofing and moisture resistance
Reduces maintenance
Enhances impact tolerance
Provides long‑term rigidity and resilience
The result is a hull that is lighter than traditional solid‑timber construction, yet remarkably strong — ideal for multi‑day voyages and hands‑on adventure sailing.
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Stability You Can Feel
With a displacement of 16.5 tonnes and a full‑length keel, Nomad N1 delivers a smooth, predictable motion at sea. Her long keel provides:
Excellent directional stability
Strong tracking under sail
Reduced leeway
A comfortable ride in varied sea states
Whether you’re new to sailing or a seasoned adventurer, she inspires confidence from the moment you step aboard.
Designed for Adventure Sailing
Nomad is built for travellers who want to be part of the journey. Her deck layout encourages hands‑on involvement, while her interior offers comfort without excess — practical, warm, and welcoming after a day under sail.
She’s perfectly suited for:
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Coastal exploration
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Island hopping
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Multi‑day adventure routes
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Small‑group charters
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Immersive sailing experiences
Every voyage aboard Nomad N1 feels personal, purposeful, and deeply connected to the sea.
🔧 Technical Highlights
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Construction: Douglas fir hull with glass‑fibre/epoxy composite sheathing
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Displacement: 16.5 tonnes
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Keel: Full‑length (long keel) for stability and tracking
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Design: Modern classic — heritage lines, contemporary engineering
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Purpose: Adventure tourism, coastal voyages, hands‑on sailing
(If you’d like, I can expand this into a full technical spec section with LOA, beam, draft, rig, engine, tanks, and electronics.)
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A Yacht With Soul
Nomad isn’t just a vessel — she’s a character in your story. She creaks, she hums, she responds to the wind with a life of her own. She invites you to slow down, tune in, and rediscover the rhythm of the sea.
Every voyage aboard her is shaped by weather, tide, and curiosity — never rushed, never generic, always real.
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About the Gaff Cutter Rig
Traditional power, modern versatility
A gaff cutter rig is one of the most iconic and capable traditional sail plans — admired for its balance, power, and adaptability. It’s a rig that speaks of heritage seamanship while offering impressive performance across a wide range of conditions.
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What defines a gaff cutter?
1. Gaff‑rigged mainsail
The mainsail is four‑sided and hoisted using a gaff — a spar that lifts the sail’s head.
This creates a powerful, low‑aspect sail with a beautifully classic profile.
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2. Two headsails
As a cutter, the rig carries:
• A staysail set on the inner forestay
• A jib set on the outer forestay
This dual‑headsail arrangement gives the cutter exceptional flexibility in changing winds.
About the Designer — Ed Burnett
A visionary of modern classic yacht design,
Ed Burnett (1971–2015) was one of the most influential yacht designers of his generation — a naval architect whose work reshaped the modern classic sailing movement. Known for blending traditional forms with contemporary performance and engineering, Burnett created yachts that looked timeless yet sailed with the confidence and capability of modern craft. His designs were celebrated for their balance, beauty, and unmistakable character.
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Raised in a sailing family in Falmouth,
Burnett grew up aboard classic yachts and working boats, absorbing the lines, proportions, and handling qualities that would later define his design philosophy. After studying yacht design at Southampton Institute, he worked alongside renowned designer Nigel Irens, collaborating on several significant projects — including the Westernman pilot cutters and the gaff cutter Zinnia.
Burnett’s hallmark was his ability to reinterpret heritage types — pilot cutters, gaff yachts, working boats — and evolve them into vessels that felt both authentic and contemporary. As WoodenBoat Magazine noted, he achieved a distinctive style that honoured tradition while confidently embracing modernity.
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His yachts are admired for:
• Elegant, purposeful lines inspired by working craft
• Modern structural engineering hidden beneath classic aesthetics
• Exceptional seaworthiness and balance
• A deep respect for craftsmanship and material honesty
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Though his career was tragically short, Burnett left behind a remarkable design legacy — one that continues to influence modern classic yacht builders and sailors worldwide.
Nomad stands proudly within this lineage: a yacht shaped by the same philosophy Burnett championed — heritage form, modern strength, and a soul built for real sea miles.
