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HELLO- My name is Peter McKibbin. I am the designer of SWEETIE. For many years I have acted as design consultant to Tyrrell and Young during the production of their 28 foot replica Smack Yachts.

My own experience has been largely with multihulls, both cruising and racing, built from fibreglass and other more exotic materials. Early experience both building and designing production yachts and motor cruisers has given me a wide understanding of building in Glass Reinforced Plastics.

When Jon and Di suggested that they would like to make an extended cruise on the French canals in a custom made boat, I was very keen to participate in the project. If only for the holidays that would be required whilst researching our ideal cruising boat.

Whilst designing SWEETIE I started to look at both larger and smaller versions of the basic style. The results so far are the 49 foot barge currently under construction and a 27 footer planned for production with conventional moulds.


HELLO- We are Jon Tyrrell and Diana Young the builders and owners of SWEETIE. After some fifteen years of building replica Smack Yachts we had decided to take a break and make a long leisurely cruise of the French waterways.

We were drawn to cruising in France after two years of holidays on board the first of our smacks, Pioneer, as its owner cruised it to the Mediterranean and back.

Building SWEETIE has been an interesting and exciting project. So much so that we have decided to pursue the concept of the Continental Cruising Barge and produce a smaller version with comfortable cruising for two.

Meanwhile we have a 49 foot barge to build, so watch this space.