Woy, which simply stands for wooden yachts. But they are not simple at all. The first model surprised with completely independent, indeed completely fresh lines: Flat freeboard, moderate width, negative bow, harmonious frame and, on top of that, a brute sail area with fathead mainsail and backstayless rig. The boat turned heads visually, proved to be a sailing force to be reckoned with and immediately won the vote for European Yacht of the Year 2026, celebrating a much-noticed trade fair premiere in Düsseldorf. And then the Woy 26 also surprised with its inner values: it was built using the new production method of vacuum wood infusion invented by shipyard boss Jan Brügge himself.
Woy 28: This time moulding construction
The Woy 26 is created by Wood infusion. The process is similar to vacuum infusion for plastic yachts. The construction material made of scrims or wood veneers, possibly combined with a sandwich core of balsa wood or foam, is positioned on the construction mould. It lies on a separating layer and is covered on the outside with a mesh fabric and then with a vacuum film. A vacuum pump draws the smoothly formulated epoxy resin-hardener mixture from a container through the materials, while the vacuum film presses the wooden layers (or the scrims) together.
However, the new boat should be more price-conscious. It will be manufactured in moulding construction and laminated inside and out with scrims and epoxy resin. The wooden mouldings remain visible on the inside, while the boat is painted on the outside.
Lots of canvas, lots of ballast
It will also be light thanks to the conventional design: it should weigh in at 1.5 tonnes, with 0.6 tonnes already being accounted for by the bomb, while the fin is made of carbon to lower the centre of gravity. The Woy 28 also performs well in other respects: the sail area of the fathead mainsail and jib is 45.5 square metres. In relation to the weight, this means a full sail carrying capacity of 5.9 (dimensionless). This classifies the boat as a planing racer. The 85 square metre gennaker, which is attached to an extendable bowsprit, also helps here.
Borrowing from the LA 28
The boat is a completely new design, according to Martin Menzner from Berckemeyer Yacht Design. However, it is modelled on the LA 28, a precision model made of visible mahogany with a convex bow and upwardly retracted freeboard, which is one of the most exciting boats of its size. However, while the LA borrows from classic regatta boats, the new Woy, like its smaller sister, is ultra-modern without chasing after a familiar racer look.
High-quality equipment
The boat will be fitted with a carbon rig from Pauger, carbon rudder blades and a retractable electric pod motor with 3 kilowatts of power. It will have a lifting keel with which the draught can be reduced electro-hydraulically from 2.00 metres to 1.05 metres. The cockpit is large and open. The thwarts are only half as long as the cockpit, the remaining space can be used for lounging and sunbathing. Four berths are provided below deck; the customer of the first boat does not require any additional comfort features.
Technical data Woy 28
- Hull length 8.70 m
- Fibre optic cable 7.80 m
- Width 2.55 m
- Draught 1.05 - 2.00 m
- Mainsail 28.0 m²
- Jib 17.5 m²
- Gennaker 85,0 m²
- Motor 3 kW pod motor
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Fridtjof Gunkel
Deputy Chief Editor YACHT
