Design: Minuet
Updated 01/19/01

Photo Courtesy of Paul Gipson of the Victoria 18 Forum
Mail Comments/ Data/ Pictures/Suggestions to: The Victoria 18 Forum
The Minuet was designed by William McVay the first. He took the concept of the Bluenose, condensed it down a bit, and came up with the Minuet.
 
The following History of the Minuet and McVay built Yachts was supplied to the forum by Bob McVay, son of the late William McVay , and brother to the late William McVay the 2nd, designer of the Victoria line of Sailboats .
 
When McVay fiberglass yachts were first produced we started building the Falcon 16 which was one of my Fathers first designs,that was in 1954.
 
The Minuet 18 full keel was first manufactured in 1967, a local boat builder produced the plug using specs made by my Father.
The old service station was used by McVay yachts from 1965 to 1973.
After closing in 1973 we moved the business to Minto,New Brunswick until 1974,due to dissatisfaction with acturing techniques the business was then moved to Orillia,Ontario.That was when the swing keel came into the design.

To my knowledge the molds are still in Ontario except for the Bluenose model which came back to Nova Scotia for production.
The gas station which we used is now condos.
For sails etc contact Michelle Stevens at Second Peninsula,Nova Scotia.
There are two versions of the Minuet, a trailerable swing Keel version, and the full keel model.
 
The Minuet Full Keel
The full keel Minuet was the first of the original Minuet designs. The boats came factory with or without teak decking, and contained a small storage area under the foredeck for sails and accessories.
 
The Minuet Swing Keel
(Information offered by Bob McVay of the Victoria 18 Forum)

When McVay Yachts moved to Ontario from Nova Scotia, the new manager decided to make the minuet & bluenose models fit onto a trailer. He also wanted them to be able to sail in fresh water better.This is the reason for the change in design from the original fixed keel to the swing keel.
 
Bob McVay
 
 
 
 
Current Comments on the Minuet
09/05/2000
Mike Hoyt
Halifax, Nova Scotia
 
I grew up sailing a McVay Minuette made in Mahone Bay, NS. This boat is basically a smaller copy of the Bluenose One-Design sloop.
 
There was no cabin but a cuddy had small louvered doors and took up the entire are under the foredeck. A motor, sails, paddles, anchors, coolers, etc... could be stored here but not people! The boat sailed well and was very stable.
 
My brother and I had a favorite trick of taking the wind on the beam and sheeting the main and Genoa in tight. This usually had the water covering not only the rail but the entire leeward cockpit seat and our feet. the boat would stay at this angle until we chose to turn into the wind or ease the sheets a bit.
 
The Minuette may have been quick for a 18 foot full keel sloop but it was too small to race effectively at clubs against other larger boats. There were no other keel boats of this size to compete against and few Minuette around. On the few occasions that we raced it we were always the last one in finishing well behind the 20, 23 foot and larger boats. Despite handicapping this was frustrating.
 
My opinion of why the Minuette did not succeed more fully is that it was purchased mostly by people who did not want to pay the extra money for the Bluenose Sloop. The Bluenose at 23 feet was virtually identical and very fast. If you wanted a bit of a cabin you would buy a Roue/20 which is just about the most beautiful 30 foot boat that a real sailor will ever see. Where the Minuette is the little sister to the Bluenose the Roue/20 is definitely the classic lady.
 
I still see Minuette sailing and will always love that boat. I am glad to see that a cabin was added when it turned into the Victoria but it looks compromised with the truncated keel.
 
A Minuette recently sold in our area and the asking price was $2000 Canadian (or about 50 cents American). I nearly bought that boat but now have a family so it ended in us buying a Paceship P-23 also built in Mahone Bay by McVay Yachts.
 
There is still an active Bluenose One-Design fleet racing in Halifax and Chester, Nova Scotia and probably elsewhere as well. Both the wooden and the fiberglass versions are still sailing but my guess is that the wooden boats win most often.
Thanks for the time,
 
Mike Hoyt
Halifax, Nova Scotia
 
 
Photo Courtesy of Tom Wachs of the Victoria 18 Forum
"Miss Kendra"
Owner: Tom Wachs
 
Comments: Jan 2001
"this boat has been sailed in freshwater only, spending most of its life in Lake Erie, and now in Lake Geneva, in Southern Wisconsin. It was in beautiful shape when I bought her, and only a few little things were damaged or missing. I cured a turnbuckle problem with a shackle for last summer's season, but wanted a proper long-term fix. I will be adding some more efficient jam cleats to cure the traveler woes, and a few more things as well, but she is very pretty and sound as she sits. The trailer has been fitted with new pads that I can drop and remove, to sand and paint, and the bottom is now painted out."
"The boat is a bit "wetter" than I would like it to be, but it is definately a blast to sail. My previous boat was a Catalina 25, with a swing keel that was always giving me trouble, and was rather "piggy" in the water. The Minuet, on the other hand, uses the light winds well, and responds nicely. I co-teach a Sailing Camp each summer, and this year went against an old Cal 25, another Catalina 25, and a Venture 25, and beat them all soundly...with kids at the helm! Being a bit of a smart-ass, I refused to use the little 3HP "kicker" that came with it, other than to get to the mooring after launching, and the reverse at the end of the season."
 
Tom Wachs
 
 
Photo Courtesy of Tom Wachs of the Victoria 18 Forum
"Miss Kendra" from the stern.
Comments: Jan 2001
The finish on the boat is original, but well polished...only the bottom was repainted. The teak will need a bit of work this year, in that it was not done last year. It has, however, been well maintained, so a slight sanding, and a couple of coats of Sikkens will soon have it looking outstanding. The trailer came with the boat, and is an older one, most likely home or custom built. It has a built-in tounge extension, and now with the pads removable, it is easy to reach all areas of the hull to wax, sand, or paint. Probably the only area I cannot reach on the boat is the very bottom of the keel.
 
Tom Wachs
 
 
I believe this particular Minuet has some significance because it may be the hull that GW McVay the 2nd owned.
It may have been used to build the plug that was used in all of our Victoria 18's!
 
Photo Courtesy of Paul Gipson of the Victoria 18 Forum
The swim ladder off the stern is a real neat idea.
 
Notice the full keel on the Minuet. Although it may look different from the Vic 18, the Hull, and the keel are the same except for the removal of some of the keel depth. Additionally, the Minuet was built for racing, and day sailing. There is no cabin, only a stuff area in front of the cockpit. The hardware is much lighter than the Victoria 18's Harken hardware, and Barlow winches.
 
The Minuet would be an excellent boat for day sailing, and probably much more stable in choppy water or heavy winds than the Victoria 18 due to its deep keel.
 
 
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