suitable committee boat

Make sure it has a fridge!

I try and stay off committee boats as a rule as there's no way from escaping from an irate race officer but in my experience people only use yachts because a member owns one and is willing to lend it. The rigging is good for a flag gantry but makes them roll a lot making using binoculars and writing sail numbers down tricky. It also makes some a bit queasy - reducing your chances of getting normally shore-based volunteers. Also most owners object to having racing mark tackle all over their nice teak decks even if there was any room to put marks, which reduces the usefulness.

I agree, something based on a workboat hull would suit far better than a yacht.

In my experience, these boats are going to be used and abused, & should be able to take it. Simple, basic, hard wearing & with plenty of stowage for anchors, chains, race marke etc. An ex - inshore fishing boat would do the job nicely.

Equally, is speed an issue? Some committee boats are occasionally needed to double as rescue craft, or for moving race marks. If so, a planing hull of some sort would offer more versatility.

My last club used a 19ft cathedral hulled boat (bit like an overgrown Dell Quay dory) with a small cuddy up front for shelter, and a big wide cockpit area for working in. Power was a 40hp o/b. Only drawback was there was limited access to the bow for raising anchors etc - a hatch at least would be useful.

Outboard power would be better for launching / recovery / beaching, although if you sail out of a harbour that wouldn't be so much of an issue.

Incedentaly, that plastic pipe (400mm or so diameter) that's used for gas or water and buried in the road makes an ideal gunwhale protector for reascue boats (there's always some 'left-over' by road works). Cut to about 500mm long and then cut a strip about 100mm wide down it's length. Stretch it open and pop it over the gunwhale to pull race mark tackle in over - makes it much easier and protects the commodores gin palace.