Definitive plans were drawn up by well-known sailing dinghy designer Jack Holt and a prototype named Zest was completed in time for the 1961 International Boat Show in London.
[1] Plans were sold under the name Yachting World Keelboat in the hope that it would be adopted as a National and International racing class.
The design also called for two sleeping berths forward and potentially two inflatable mattresses aft for overnight trips, with rudimentary domestic facilities.
[2] From the mid-1970s YW Diamonds began to be built from fibreglass and resulting lower weights allowed improved performance.
The most recent Victorian State Championships were held in February 2021 at the Royal Yacht Club of Victoria (RYCV) and won by Paul Sandles and crew on "Do Not Engage"