The Cherub is a 12 feet long, high performance,[1] two-person, planing dinghy first designed in 1951 in New Zealand by John Spencer[2] (d 1996).

In 1951 New Zealand naval architect John Spencer designed a 12-foot dinghy for his friend Ray Early to sail on Auckland Harbour.

New Zealanders Russell Bowler and Peter Walker had taken a year off work and arrived in Perth in February 1969 for the series.

Bowler, an engineer, designed and built his controversial boat Jennifer Julian from foam - fibreglass - sandwich hull construction.

Full teams were expected for the series and by October 1969 all Australian states except NT and Tasmania were entered.

The Cadet and Junior titles were won by Jamie Wilmot from Shadrack sailed by Michael Nash from Sydney.

RESULTS: INAUGURAL WORLD CHERUB TITLE PERTH 1970 - Jennifer Julian 1809 (Russell Bowler, Peter Walker.

Up to 1980 boats were generally built from 3 and 4 mm plywood but after this some were made from foam sandwich construction pioneered by Russell Bowler in New Zealand.

The Cherub hull was used with a short bowsprit, a taller mast and much larger sail area with both the crew and skipper using trapezes.

Cherubs have a high power-to-weight ratio and are very quick downwind in stronger breezes but can be slow upwind in lighter airs compared to longer boats.

Cherubs are nowadays mainly sailed in Australia and the UK, with some boats in other countries, notably France and small numbers in New Zealand.