Achilles 24

The Achilles 24 was built by Butler Mouldings at Gowerton near Swansea
and was designed by Oliver Lee in the late sixties. She is a modification of the Ajax 23 keelboat, also designed by Oliver Lee. The Ajax 23 is described by those who sail her as 'an excellent one design boat' and I have heard the Achilles 24 described as 'an Ajax with a lid on'.

Around 600 were built from 1968 until production finished in 1985 with some completed from kits by their owners. With her moderate beam and fine lines the Achilles 24 has an easily driven well balanced hull.

In an April 2006 review of the best second-hand yachts between 22 and 24 feet, Practical Boat Owner magazine noted of the Achilles 24 that 'If looking for performance you won't do much better than this slippery little number from the board of Oliver Lee'.

Sailing Today magazine published a comprehensive and well illustrated review of sail number 463 in their September 1999 issue, and much earlier in April 1971 Yachts and Yachting magazine reviewed sail number 50 which was the Achilles 24 demonstrator boat at that time. The reviews said things like 'This is a boat from which I could get lots of enjoyment', and 'The Achilles is a joy to sail'. Of course I am completely biased and have to agree.

Her dimensions are as follows.

	Overall length	23 ft 9 ins (7.24m)
	Waterline length	19 ft 6 ins (5.94m)
	Beam	7 ft 1 ins (2.14m)
	Draught fin keel	3 ft 9 ins (1.14m)
	Draught triple keel	3 ft 3 ins (1 m)
	Hull	GRP
	Deck	GRP balsawood sandwich
	Displacement	2600lbs (1180kg)
	Ballast	1414lbs (643kg) iron bulb
	Sail area	206 sq ft (19.15 sq m)
	Accommodation	4 berths
	Headroom	4 ft 6 ins (1.37m)
	Designers	Oliver J Lee and Chris Butler