[4] The design was built by Starwind, the sailboat division of Wellcraft in the United States, starting in 1982.

It has a fractional sloop rig, a raked stem, a reverse transom, a transom-hung rudder controlled by a tiller and a ballasted shoal draft keel with centerboard.

Cabin headroom is 38 in (97 cm) and the fresh water tank has a capacity of 2.5 U.S. gallons (9.5 L; 2.1 imp gal).

A good-sized opening hatch forward, rare in a boat this size, is good for ventilation and escape in an emergency An on-deck anchor locker is also a plus.

The Starwind, with a PHRF of 288, may have a small advantage on the race course; even the smaller Precision 18, more than a foot shorter on deck, but with a waterline length only four inches less, and with eight square feet less sail area, has a handicap of only 282.