Bey UII TERMINOLOGY DEFINEDFROM BLUE WATER TO SHALLOW COVES... ec kg a stability in high winds or rough seas. drag and increase speed. Cereals i) The Seaward Family rewards you with boundless H iy RUD cue mae RE > ais A\ Only Seaward offers the best of all worlds. y aa Ce Rr a ota Seca TREE2012 New Sailboat ; REVIEW oD Topaz Cx14 Sage 17 RS Venture VX One Design BayRaider 20 Nacra 20 Carbon Multi 23, 70 Marblehead 22 Compac 23, Corsair Sprint 750 MK I! Catalina 315 Tomcat 9705 Bavaria Cruiser 32 Hunter 33, Mystery 35 Island Packet 360 Jeanneau SO 379 Bavaria Cruiser 36 Hallberg-Rassy 372 Farr 400 Catalina 385 Tofineau 12 Aquila RP 45, Bavaria Cruiser 40 Beneteau Oceanis 41 Jeanneau 440S Jeanneau SO 439 Nautitech 441 Dufour 445 Hanse 445 Bavaria Cruiser 45 Moody ACA Moody 0545 Beneteau Oceanis 45 Catana47 Tartan 4700 Beneteau Oceanis 48 Seaward 46RK Southerly 49 Outremer 49 Jeanneau SO 509 Hanse 495 Passport 545 Beneteau Sense 55 oyster 625 ntents Pao paz Paw Pas Pag P20 Pz Pz P26 P28 P30 Paz Pa Pas P36 P38 P40. Paz Pat, Pas Pas. P50 ps2 ps3 Psa Ps Psa P60 P.s2 Pash P66. P68 P.70 pr Pm P76 P78 P80 Pez Pan P86 Ps. P20 ps2 P94 P96A Note fro the Editor fer testing a record 43 new boats for the 2011 New Sailboat Review, senior editor Adam Cort and his hardcore team of reviewers thought they might have an easier time of it for m, WorldMags BY PETER NIELSEN trols, to chartplotters in the cockpit right where you need them, this group of boats exhibit improvements and innovations that all add up to a better sailing experience. msn 2012, No such luck-this year, they sailed 46 boats in three countries to compile this guide to new boats intro- duced into the United States, For the third year in a row we've been surprised and impressed by the ‘work ethic of the boatbuilding industry as it continues to battle economic headwinds. The heady years when thousands of new sailboats were sold each year in the North America are ‘gone, and who knows if they'll ever Feturn—but despite reduced production and smaller workforces, boatbuilders are still doing what they do best, and doing it better than ever. Each year you can detect a new trend or two running through the latest crop of models-torpedo keels, flush hatches, joystick docking systems and so on. This year, it's dawned on me that the overriding theme in today’s erui ing boats in particular is user-friendli- ness, From drop-down transoms that both add valuable area to the cockpit and allow designers to make the most of hull volume, to fresh thinking in Interior layouts, to easier-to-handle sailplans, to cockpits free of sail con- = ‘ow we cover 4 um EDTORIAL Etitorn-Chet PETER MELSEN cate Er OARS | DOANE LUNOSEY SEN cca EOL YE PARIS Becton Er RALPH NARANO {tor at-Large KIMBALL LINTON, OAD SCHMET Centr strs MIGELEALOEROON CASEY, TOM [ART DIRECTION & DESIGN Design OrestorRAMOLLEY MARKETING arkting Decor SARAH WEBSTER JOHNSTON ProoUuCTION e/ Predation [ADVERTISING Puss: sa European Advertsing RECTOR ELENA PATRIARCA Tene 99010-36740 = pr. erepeen tame@saimaganin com 617-720-8619 howeDsalmagaine com ean Reina Manage sktpace Sales Manager ANDREA ETHER ‘CONSUMER/NON-MARINE ADVERTISING SALES Dstt PATRICK CANNON Nea Yor MET CATALLO i N21 = ane catal@sor com “Tel 646 580-5057 + saintsmarkating@optonine et Southeast 9 WHITE eLgr3 O75 3479 rit whtes TEL Sup 37-7711 tama TEL 316-594-5969 = scottibershe@sorccom SOURGE INTERLINK =) Tayeasier. No matter what brand of sail you own, upgrades deliver smooth sailing and lasting value. Call your North Sails representative today! makes lowering, fakitg and covering your sails a breeze dramatically improves headsail shape when partially fured. Polypropylene construction reduffs weight and elmipatps mildew. ie i ep your mans ald its shape, last longer and make life aboard Aiooter and iter about ournew Gennaker role-fuing systems. Mihe aa | Your local North Sails loft has what it takes to take your sailing toa higher level. North cruising upgrades will improve performance, increase sail life and make your sail handling 9° makes raising and Bp lowering downwind a FP sails a breeze, even with shorthanded crew. ee North E produces a complet ne of premium dodges, bimiis, sail covers, boat cushions, winter covers ‘and awnings. Paint-on protection now avaiable! 1-B00-5AIL-123, ext.314 wwvw.northsails.comBoatbuilding Learn what's under the skin of yo boat TermszA Glossary Organic material with mol- ecules that line up in long chains that is, ‘used primarily as a high-strength, high- ‘modulus fiber. Examples include Kevlar and Nomex A closed space for conduet- ing and completing chemical reactions under pressure and heat. Autoclaves are sometimes used to cure parts that have been laid up in epoxy resin. Com- posite boat and mast builders often call them “ovens.” Afabric used in a laminate that has its fibers running in two directions, usually at right angles. Unidirectional fabrics, on the other hhand, have all their fibers aligned in the same direction. A flaw between layers of a com- posite laminate or between an exterior {gelcoat and a laminate. Blisters can be caused by osmosis, or when water or air gets into a laminate by other means (Cither during construction or via a crack in the laminate). ‘The term refers to fibers made up of carbon atoms, which form long chains that are both incredibly 66 NEW SAILBOAT REVIEW /7 Perey eco strong and incredibly light. Carbon-fiber fabrics are more expensive than other laminate fabrics and must also be laid "up with epoxy resin, which is more ex- pensive than other resins. Only the lightest, fastest boats are built entirely of carbon fiber. It is also used to reinforce parts of hulls built with other materials and is often used to manufacture small parts that need to be light and strong. It is also an excellent material for manu- facturing lightweight spars. chemical substance that speeds up the cure time of a polyester or vinylester resin. Catalyst content in mixed resin can vary from 0.2 percent to20 percent with higher catalyst levels ‘Afoar-cored laminate ef a selection of fiberglass fabrics (ight) resulting in shorter pot times and faster cure times, ‘The crudest type of fiberglass fabric made from short fibers laid down in a random pattern. It is used as a basic laminate reinforce- ‘ment and to minimize gelcoat print- through. It's often shot out of a “chopper gun” to speed up production. Amethod of wooden boat- building in which multiple ayers of thin wood veneers are bonded to each other with adhesive (usually epoxy) at alternat- Ing angles to create a solid hull structure. Other types of wood-epoxy construction ually (and inae curately) referred to as “cold-molded.” are also sometimes es lightweight material that is in- terposed between two thin laminate skins to increase a structure's stifiness. Common core materials include end- {grain balsa wood, urethane foam, PVC Foam (brand names include Airex, Divi- nycell and Klegecell), styrene acryloni- trile foam (Corecell) and various honey- comb materials (NidaCore and several others). These days sailboat decks are almost always cored, Hulls are often cored above the waterline with solid laminate below the waterline. The light- est hulls are cored throughout. ‘This is what happens when {gelcoat or resin cracks due to stress. ‘These ultra-fine cracks may extend in anetwork on or under the surface of a resin or plastic material. They can often also be found on older hull ports and fixed plastie windows. ‘The heat-creating chemical reac tion-the cross-linking or total polym- crization of a resin’s molecules that alters a material from a liquid to a solid~that occurs when a resin is cata~ lyzed (polyester or vinylester) or mixed with a hardener (epoxy). Electrical grade fiberglass which is used for general purpose, electrical and most boatbuilding applications, Atwo-part polymer that forms an incredibly strong and water-resistant chemical bond when mixed with chemi- cal hardeners. Epoxies are used in com- posite construction and as structural adhesives and generally have stronger physical properties than polyester and vinylester resins. They are also more costly and difficult to process and less able to withstand sunlight. ‘These are the basic building blocks Cf composite boatbuilding. Glass, aramid cor carbon fibers give a laminate its strength and stiffness and come in various fabrics that have been knitted, woven or glued together in specific ways (unidirec~ tional, multidirectional, chopped mat, ete) to achieve specific structural properties. ‘The fabrics form solid parts when they are Jaid up with resin in a mold. ‘The act of making a part, smooth. Itis usually required after a fiberglass repair has been made on a hull or deck. A “fair" hull or keel has no dips, bumps or waves in its surface. ‘A chopper gun is used to spray chopped strand mat ft resin is injected into a two-part mold abovel thin coat of resin thickened with colored pigment. This is laid in as the very first layer in any boat hull or deck laminate, so that the part emerges from its ‘mold pre-painted and pre-faired. Literally, the ‘weight of resin compared to the weight of fiberglass fabric that is used ina layup. The ideal is to use just the right amount of resin to fully saturate the fAberglass, but not so much that excess resin adds unnecessary weight. Acronym for glass-reinforeed plastic or fberglass-reinforced plastic; how many Europeans refer to “fiberglass.” ‘The process of positioning fiberglass fabric in a mold ‘and then manually saturating it with resin; itis how fiberglass boats were built when they first appeared. Many builders still produce hand-laid boats today. Hand-laid boats take shape as workers manually add layers of fabric, core and any reinforcing structures (such as aluminum backing plates for hardware), completely saturate the structure with resin using brushes and rollers, and then allow the resin to cure fora set amount of time. ‘Amolding process whereby liquid resin is injected into a pressurized two-part mold and allowed to cure for a set amount of time. The ‘two-part mold in entirely enclosed and the fully formed part it produces rarely requires any other finish work. This is ‘much quicker than laying up parts by hand, but building the tooling requires a significant capital investment. ‘This is the registered trademark name of an amarid fiber with an extreme ly high tensile-strength-to-weight ratio that was created by Dupont in the 1960s. Kevlar fibers are roughly five times stron- ‘ger than steel of similar weight. ‘The process of joining mul- tiple layers of one or more materials ‘made with fiber fabrics set in a resin. Sometimes used as a general term for composite hull and deck construction. Refers to elasticity. A high- ‘modulus material is one that is highly resistant to being stretched. ‘This literally means having ‘more than one axis. The term usually refers to a laminate fabric that has its fibers aligned in more than one diree- tion so that it can better stand up to multidirectional loads. ‘The least expensive, ‘most common type of resin used in boatbuilding. Polyesters are also the ‘most vulnerable to chemical attack and the least water-resistant, so they are often used only in interior layers of a laminate. Isophthalic polyester resins are less brittle and more water-resistant than orthophthalic resins. Aterm that refers to a fabric, usually composed of carbon fibers, that hhas been “pre-impregnated” with epoxy resin and hardener at the factory. Pre~ impregnation ensures that just the right amount of resin is used, so that finished parts are both stronger and lighter, Pre-preg fabrics need to be heated in a pressurized autoclave to cure properly,Boatbuilding Glossary Resin: A general term referring to an organic material, usually of high molecular weight, that can be chemically manipu- lated to low as a liquid and then cure into solid after a certain period of time. This is the “goop" used to bind together the reinforcing material (fiberglass, carbon fiber, Kevlar, etc) in a composite boat Resin infusion: A process in which every layer of a laminate is placed in a mold dry and then covered with an air- tight plastic bag. A powerful vacuum is then used to pull resin through feed tubes into and through the laminate to wet” it out, This method eliminates voids in the laminate and ensures that the resin is evenly distributed. This is. particularly important when a laminate is set up with a core in the middle, Because the amount of resin used can be precisely controlled, more precise glass-to-resin ratios can be achieved. ‘The process is also more environmen tally sound, as it greatly reduces toxic chemical emissions compared to “open-mold” boatbuilding. Rotomolding: A fabrication process in which a closed, rotating and heated hollow mold is used to quickly produce polyethylene boat parts and hulls. Solid plastic beads are placed in the closed ‘two-part mold, which is then heated and rotated, usually around multiple axis, points, This causes the plastic to soften and stick to the walls of the mold. The ‘mold continues to rotate while cooling to avoid sagging or deformation, after which the completed part can be re~ leased from the mold. Rotomolding is a quick way to produce small boats, but the tooling is expensive. ‘Sandwich construction: A common boatbuilding technique in which a lightweight core material is “sand- wiched” between layers of a laminate to create a stronger, lighter part. Hulls built using sandwich construction are lighter and stiffer than solid fiberglass hulls. However, they are also more sus ceptible to damage from impacts. S-Glass: Structural-grade fiberglass, which was originally developed for use in airplane construction. It is much stronger, but much more expensive than electrical-grade fiberglass. @ NEW SAILBOAT REVIEW // 2012 SCRIMP: This is an acronym that stands for Seeman Composites Resin Infusion Molding Process, which is a proprietary resin-infusion process. The term may sometimes mistakenly be used to refer to any resin-infusion process. Skin coat: The first (outermost) layer of laminate next to the gelcoat. ‘Tensile strength: Roughly defined as the pulling force required to distort and ultimately break a material ‘Twaron: This aramid fiber has a similar chemical makeup to Kevlar, but was devel coped and trademarked by Azko in the 1970s. \Vacuum-bagging: A laminating process in which a sheet of flexible plastic is laid over a laminate in a mold anda vacuum is applied to suck air out of the laminate, thus eliminating voids and allowing the resin in the laminate to Resin infusion process top; Hull molds rotate fr easier ac 955 (above ‘cure under pressure. This is necessary whenever a laminate is created via resin Infusion. Hand-laid hulls, however, can also be vacuum-bagged. Vinylester resin: This s stronger and ‘more water- and chemical-resistant than polyester resin, butis also more expen- sive, Many boatbuilders use vinylester resin only in the outer layers of a laminate to reduce the chance of blistering. A few useit throughout a laminate Woven roving: The next coarsest and cheapest type of fiberglass fabric after chopped strand mat. Loose bundles of glass fibers, referred to as rovings, are ‘woven together at right angles into a loose, bulky cloth. Woven roving builds bulk into a laminate and adheres well to chopped strand mat; it adheres less well to finer fabrics. Many early hand-laid fiberglass boats were built primarily of ‘woven roving and mat.msRom Pec cc ace ead TOPAZ CX14 CAT A cat that’s eaving through the throngs of oats anchored off Annapolis, Maryland, on the L4ft Topaz X14, Ielt like a kid again-a really giddy kid who had just scored a ride on athe coolest boat in the harbor. ‘A product of Britain's Topper, which frst made a name for itself building dinghies, the Topaz is not your standard beach cat. Designed by international ‘multihull racers Yves Loday and Robert White, the boat features dual lifting rudders reminiscent of high-end racing catamarans and hulls that are con- structed as a single piece of a trilami- nate rotomolded polyethylene. In addition to being super light- all-up weight is just 242 pounds-the hulls are nearly unbreakable and are easy to repair if punctured; the heat- activated outer layer actually wants to return to its original form and will rapidly do so, The boat comes with a three-year hull warranty just in case anything goes wrong. ‘The first thing that impressed me about sailing the CXI4 is how simple it is. The controls, from the sheets to the halyards to the jb furler, are geared so that young or lightweight crew can handle them comfortably, even in strong winds, Each of the three sails has {10 new saiLeos’ 12012 fun as it is practical evmeneora aos continuously run sheets, the spinnaker Is set and doused with one line, and the Jib is furled on a skinny line, so it's easy to keep track of everything while you're helming the boat from one of the anti- skid-covered amas. sailing upwind, the boat tacked. through about 100 degrees true and ‘made her way easily through the chop, quickly accelerating on each new tack. ‘The long tiller arm felt a bit awkward when I was sitting inboard and aft of the shrouds by myself, but the extra length will be welcome when hiked out on the trapeze in heavier air. The feed- back was sharp, the steering was fluid, and the thick trampoline was comfort- able to scurry about on, Setting and dousing the 100ft spin- naker was a breeze, and the high-as- pect Mylar mainsail was light and easy to handle. With a choice of four rig options, the Topaz 14 can suit a variety of skill and performance levels. The “School” version has a smaller Dacron main and jib for be- ginners, while the “Xtreme” version has a larger Mylar main and one trapeze for single-handing, The 14C. hhas a large Dacron main and jib and a twin trapeze, while the L4CX (the one I sailed) adds a spinnaker. All four ver~ wv < 3s y o g [3 an 4) sou 4 LOA Tae Vin BEAM Hsin // WEIGHT 2420 DESIGNERS Wes Loday/Robert White ‘U.S. AGENT Topa: Sing, Annapolis, MD, 410-285-196, topezsaibosts.com ‘SAL AREA-DISPLACEMENT RATIO 50 a “ 37:40 DISPLACEMENT-LENGTH RATIO (with 506 craw) aD 50 65 ‘300, PERFORMANCE, SS SSD Racer ‘Cruiser sions can be quickly and easily rigged and de-rigged and are simple to handle ashore. Where safety is concerned, the reefing system on all four rigs allows for a 20 percent reduction in sail area, Should the boat capsize, the sealed ‘mast, capsize straps and buoyant hulls, make it easy to right again, Returning to the docks of the US Sailboat Show, I had very little room for maneuvering and much less room. for error. A large trimaran was cruising in behind me, a clothesline was strung beside me, and a massive anchor jutted from the bow of a monohull right next to my slip. Keenly aware of these ob- stacles, I brought the Topaz in with care and made sure to dock her without any drama, [et out a sigh, then remem~ bered that bit about her ability to reform following a collision. Guess I missed my chance to test it.wsnENTER THE WORLD OF AUTO GUIDANCE By adding a BlueChart® g2 Vision® card to your compatible chartplotter, you can take advantage of our patented Garmin Auto Guidance technology. With a couple touches of the screen, Auto Guidance searches through all Ee Ree Ce ene etn een Pee ee ee st eee Seer eect en eared autopilot so the boat will follow the course automatically sum ate GARMIN.Oceanis 45 TO YOU, IT'S THE YACHT YOU'VE BEEN WAITING FOR BENETEAUNew Sailboat SAGE 17 A pocket cruiser with good genes a ese aoe amas aa eae Serer eee eee eto ae eee ees eee —— ae oe ee eer ee eee oe ee eee eae oes eee See snemieormer ee ee oe 2 view 17 Pratl aay wwe found just enough breeze to prove that the boat sails fine, with a nice turn of speed, and that the 7/8ths rig, with its working jib and loose-footed main, hauls her to weather quite nicely ‘The working jib on the Sage 17 sheets Inside the lifelines to promote pointing ability. Genoa tracks are an option for those who want a bigger headsail, and the standard backstay adjuster and traveler tell you that the boat is intend- ed to reward savvy sailing. I've already described the boat as stiff: eredit hull Form, plus 400 pounds of lead in the keel and 120 pounds in the centerboard. There is also the light- weight balsa-cored carbon-fiber deck, Which is so strong the mast requires no compression post, thereby leaving the cabin open and clear. The carbon transom also helps lighten the stern, The balsa-cored vinylester hull is lapstraked for added rigidity. The cabin works. You expect it to be tight, and of course itis, but the V-berth provides 80 inches to stretch out on, and seating just below the companionway makes it possible for six-footers to sit, port and Specifications LO Te Win LL ASTI 1 BEAM tI DRAFT 1h in boar up 3 6n (board down) DISPLACEMENT 190%) SSAILAREA 152 (main andj) DESIGNER Jery Montgomery BUILDER Soge Marne, Golden, C0, 80062-1065, sagemarne.com Pc $2000 wth alr) BAULASTRATIO. o% ~ 39 ‘SAL AREA-DISPLACEMENT RATIO 7 20 0 DISPLACEMENT.LENGTH RATIO. 50 156 300, PERFORMANCE ur Racer ‘Cruiser starboard. What more can you ask for in I7 feet? The head is tucked under the aft portion of the V-berth, the forward part ‘of which can be packed with one portion of the optional flotation package. | ap- proved of small, smart touches, such as the way the hatch lockers can be dogged. down from the interior. On our test boat, the optional Tiller Clutch made it a cinch to lock off the helm, and with its pivoting centerboard and kick-up rudder, the Sage 17 inspires confidence in shoal water. Its easy to like this boat. Anyone looking for a pocket cruiser more or less like this little one should ask for a dance. NsSWAN www.nautorswan.com ‘Club Swan 42 Swan 53 Swan 60 Swan 66 Swan 75 Swan 80 Swan 82 Swan 90 Swan 100 Swan 110 Swan 130 Nautor’s Swan USA East: 449 Thames Stet, Suite 307, Newport 02040 USA Tel. +1 401846105, keh eoman@usaeast nautorswan com Nautor’s Swan USA West: 20 West Cutting hd, Pint Richmond, CA 94904 USA Tel +1 5102366623, en keefe@usanest.nautorwan comRS VENTURE A stable but quick dinghy trainer from the UK ey serewy evans great eal of pace boasinga age Toom ts spar ‘Drop beng bigfor a ng, with steuriy when spa ing te earvatr neat fis instead of being rotomolied as thease with tect sling ion andenany eer lrpurpossghles The reason forts hough ‘igtorward one A boas gt “ view 17 2012 bigger, it becomes more difficult to make a rotomolded hull stiff and light, A fiberglass boat is also more respon- sive on the water, looks nicer and tends to wear better, You would normally want to launch and retrieve this boat on a solid ramp with a gentle angle, But for our test sail we had to push the Venture across soft sand-which was OK for three grown ‘men, but would be tough for youngsters. Once afloat, the Venture is super stable. It’s also really easy to move around in, with litte for novices to trip over and plenty of places to sit. strut vvang above the high boom ensures there is plenty of room just aft of the ‘mast, and the mainsheet runs to an aluminum horse just forward of the tiller so beginners won't get tangled up during tacks and gybes-both great fea tures for a sail-trainer. ‘Our test boat was fitted with a furling jib, which seems a very worthwhile addition. There was also an asymmetric spinnaker for extra fun downwind, Fac tory-fitted rubber gunwales are an option that will certainly be useful for sailing schools. I was impressed by the Jong, slim aluminum rudder, which has a replaceable plastic tip, and the simple fiberglass centerboard, | Specifications LOA Tet sin LWLISTin BEAN 6B HULL WEIGHT 437 // SAILAREA 190° BUILDERRS Solltoas, Romsey, UK, rssaing com PRICES14899 base ‘SAIL AREA-DISPLACEMENT RATIO fot 3006 row) Sailing in wind around 9-14 knots, the Venture was great with just two sailors. She took off in gusts, felt responsive, powered upwind, and broad-reached quickly downwind with the asymmetric spinnaker, all the while being very easy to control. If you want to cut power, single-line reefing reduces the mainsail to 98ft. If you want auxiliary power, a small outboard can be fitted. It also not a big problem if you ‘manage to capsize this ultra-stable boat. ‘The Venture floats low on its side and, hhas foam inside the mast to keep it from turing turtle. Its easy to clamber on the wide centerboard and, with help from the righting line, surprisingly easy to pull back upright so you can enjoy more trouble-free sailing, MSRHe teannen G WorldMags Introducing the Newest Member of Our Family - JEANNEAU Partner www.jeanneau.com info@jeanneau.com 410.280.9400sailmagazine.com/video IT VX ONE DESIGN A rocket for the the king sap pug te boat tear gna vanloaed chee other sd oth boat dung aks and gybes: Haren hardware ensure that $Stcontols wort ety. Hepng keep the boat upg ise 18-pound ead bulb hanging fom smiled, ergs covered a0 pound suming 6 view 17 2012 SSES BY ANDREW BURTON exactly the same as the first, construe tion is simple and repeatable, with an emphasis on produets that will stick around. Biaxial E-glass fabric is infused with vinylester resin either side of a Divinicell foam core. Components are glued together with Seigrip, a super adhesive that chemically becomes a part of the structure. Overall fit and finish is superb. Sailing the VX One Design is a re- warding experience, The controls are few and well laid out, and Bennett worked closely with Southern Spars to develop a carbon mast, boom and sprit, that complement a high-tech yet eco- nomical sail package from North Sails. ‘The VX can be adapted to appeal to a wide range of sailors. | sailed the stan- dard model that will suit crews weigh ing between 375 and 450 pounds (heavier crews will gain upwind, but lose their advantage downwind), but there will also be a slightly de-powered version for lighter sailors or those new to this kind of sailing, Bennett envisions 1 pro circuit featuring a turbo-charged third version that loses the lead bulb and adds a pair of trapezes, a masthead spinnaker and twin backstays. A flick of the hiking stick was all it Specifications LOA 198 // LWL 1 1 // BEAM 7H 20 ‘BALLAST 165 / SAIL AREA 25 (nana i) ‘BUILDER Edgewater Boats, Edgewater, FL, 812-235-3811, vonedesignracng com BALLAST RATIO O% - 50% SAIL AREA-DISPLACEMENT RATIO (iar « 35 40 DISPLACEMENT-LENGTH RATIO. (it 4000 crew) 0 63 300 PERFORMANCE eS took to dodge a cluster of moored. boats as we sailed the VX toward open water, where Bennett hoisted the asymmetric spinnaker and extended the sprit. We hiked hard and sheeted in as | headed up to the fastest angle pos- sible, hitting 13 knots on the Velocitek GPS before I reacted too slowly to a pulf and wiped out. The spreaders stayed just above the waves, and as we ragged the sails, the ballast bulb dragged us back on our feet. Soon we were screaming along again. I could easily see a VX One Design leaving the rest of the boats in my per~ sonal fleet erying for attention. wsRPinon enna cover the fortzon with mauler Ee iste e at ae Ao Se CEES tH ita aca BY ee Cecio dite Ste Vio = ites atm spun evista a a ee SADE yOr reese CM anMion ie sGeaaiiue TSM uel ita) = eBRbnaeceee ie 40 CsA Juke Ne te ik fers (ae ED 10 Diamine rineeie or oe cee legs ter iiiees shee Clie nsoeaeree mt ar Sanur arate ern arate Ce COi S Pas Rerarr cant] » sailmagazine.com/video py BAYRAIDER 20 hen SAIL’ judges were weigh ing the candidates for the 2012 Best Boats daysailer award, there was no dissension over the winner: the BayRalder 20 scored a unanimous thumbs-up for its blend of portability, performance, good looks, build quality and innovation, ‘The BayRaider's genesis isthe “raid a popular pastime in Europe where small boats are sailed and rowed competitively between harbors in events lasting several days. Speed under sail, ight weight for easy rowing and the ability to stand up to foul weather are obviously desirable in such contests, and so designer builder Matt Newland developed a series of un- sinkable boats to meet those criteria, Capsizing is the Achilles heel of light weight unballasted open boats, so Newland inereased stability by means of clever gravity-fed water ballast system. that lets the boat heel to 125 degrees before inverting-that’s better than a great many ballast-keel boats. The water ballast can be taken on or dumped while ‘underway, and should the boat flip with, its ballast tank empty and want to stay upside down, a tank on the port side will flood and cant the boat enough that a crew's weight on the centerboard will right it easily. The hollow mast and carbon fiber sprit are sealed, so they provide buoyancy as well. Its this kind of versatility that makes 2 view 17 2012 aysailer with a difference ay pever mie.sen the BayRaider such an intriguing boat. ‘The fiberglass version-you can order it in epoxy/foam or wood/epoxy too~dis- places under 1,000 pounds, so even though the sail area Is fairly modest, given enough breeze the unballasted BayRaider will hop up onto a plane and hit double-digit speeds. When it comes time to beat back into that same breeze, just open the valve, fill up the ballast tank, sheet in the sails and settle in for ‘an enjoyable beat. ‘The BayRaider is a pleasing blend of, ‘modern technology and traditional looks. The sliding gunter rig is rare on this side of the Pond, but it makes sense for trailering-both spars fit inside the boat. The mizzen does not add a lot of sail area but it helps to balance the helm and in light air, such as we had on my test sail, every bit of canvas helps. With ‘two of us on board, the BayRaider showed plenty of willingness to please in the 6 knots or so of wind that got her scooting along happily, water gurgling satisfyingly along her hull, Between the slight chines at the waterline, the center- plate and the large rudder, she feels solid and forgiving to helm. Wide bench seats run the length of the cockpit. Buoyancy tanks for positive flotation are ‘molded into these seats, but there are a couple of lockers to take lines and odds and ends, and enough room under the foredeck to stash your sailing bag and a LOA toe in LL tte WEIGHT 946 fiberglass version} DESIGNER Matt Newland U.S. AGENT Swallow Boats USA, 90423-8779, il@swalwboats com ‘SAIL AREA-DISPLACEMENT RATIO “ 4 Mm 5065 PERFORMANCE 2 Racer Cruiser small cooler. There's no need for winches to work the sheets; loads are light on this boat. twas too bad the spinnaker had not yet arrived, because conditions were ideal for it;there was not enough breeze to warrant filling the water ballast tank. was left feeling that the boat had a lot ‘more to give, and it was with some reluc- tance that we fired up the outboard and took the sails down at the end of the day. ‘The owner was new to the boat, so it took a little while to sort out the rig prior to launching. With practice, I doubt it would take more than 10 to 15 minutes ‘The mast is on a tabernacle, so you just have to unmount the gunter sprit and roll up the sails, leaving all the shrouds in place, De-rigging the boat and secur- ng it for trailering went much faster. drove away thinking it would be fun to have a boat like this, a perfect little gunkholer that can stand up to a decent Dlow without scaring its crew witless.§sRV7 Poy wdNACRA 20 CARBON Aon multihull r ae Nee eee pee oeene ——— =r ee ae a oa a ered ete — Soe Pie ees Sosa Seen Seas eteeiaeetaies aces yh aaeeeca ie coarser aaa arace Saaoaroens eeatecenn ee tee ccc design 20 ” 4 Sri a 20ft of leeward hull provides great lon gitudinal stability During our sail the mainsheet load upwind and spinnaker load off the wind felt surprisingly heavy, even though we doubled up the standard single blocks for the spinnaker sheets. asing the halyard flattened the spin- naker and lightened the load. But the bottom line is that sails of this size and power require well-toned arm muscles. For the person at the helm, the Nacra 20 Carbon is a delightful and thrilling boat to sail I's a beauty to drive off the wire with the telescoping tiller exten- sion, providing one of the very best steering sensations I have ever experi- enced on a cata true testament to the skills of the design team, Ofcourse, steering and control will likely require a bit more concentration in a fresh wind with the boat leaping across the waves! Thanks to its stable hulls, gybing the boat is fairly straightforward, though the helmsperson must watch where the boat is heading and be ready for the mainsail to power up, especially in heavier air: Despite the wide beam, tacking is pre~ dictable and reasonably quick. You ‘hs “Specifications LOA 20 Sin LWL 20k Sin BEAM 16a WEIGHT 35 DESIGNER Mebin & Morrell! Nacro Design Team 1 SAN. AREA 2 Gib and main BUILDER Neca Sling International, The Netheriands,nacrasaing com ICE $32.50 (with sls) SAIL AREA DISPLACEMENT RATIO “ 335 DISPLACEMENT LENGTH RATIO oe 3200 PERFORMANCE Facer Coser would never choose to enter a tacking duel with a Laser, but that is irrelevant when you're sailing three times faster: Despite their pronounced curve, the epoxy and carbon daggerboards appe: extremely rigid, beautifully made and excellently engineered, as they slide effortlessly inside their curved cases. Learning how to use them properly however, will take time. They did not feel particularly different from straight daggerboards in the moderate condi- tions we experienced. But in stronger winds one or both hulls will tend to fly onto its foils at speed, particularly through waves, with the danger of crashing down and abruptly stopping, ‘The solution is to partly retract the boards as the wind gets stronger and the boat goes faster, keeping the leeward hull on the water to maintain maximum control Allin all, this isa beautiful boat capable of blistering speed and a truly thrilling ride in a wide range of conditions. nen1S(ON_ FORTY | SIXMULTI 23 Speed and sanity in one package erkmeau uvwestow and I know we went faster than that, but at the time I wasn’t paying close attention to any GPS readout. The breeze was gusting into the 20s, and we were joking about whether or not the Marina del Rey harbor police would nail us for speeding. On a dif- ferent day, maybe they would have, bbut we had an expanse of protected flat water all to ourselves to play with Mike Leneman’s Multi 23, a nifty little speedster with thoroughbred genes, and play we did. Coming from the design board of the French firm Van Peteghem Lauriat Prévost-it's not only acceptable, but coo] to call them VPLP=the Multi 23. ‘comes wrapped in high expectations. VPLP is a leading designer of ocean- going trimarans, and they are celebrated for their work on USA-I7, the giant tri that won the America’s Cup in 2010. In this ease they've created an open boat aimed at sailors with a go-fast ‘mentality. see this as a boat appealing. to racers, including those with a taste for boat camping. A dedicated cockpit tent is optional, and the boat's cockpit lockers, plus a 9ft dry locker forward of the mast, can accommodate sails and then some. | saw 19.9 knots on my handheld GPS, 22 NEW sal AT REVIEW 17 2012 ‘The Multi 23 weighs just 700 pounds and features very full, buoyant amas, You can press with confidence, as the boat does not want to dive and stick. ‘The center hull has a fine entry and. flat run aft for a slick exit. I felt elumsy steering with the long double hiking sticks, but that was about me. Td welcome getting more time on the boat to get used to them. The helm was light and quick. The boat tracked easily through tacks, and the self-tacking jib minimized the workload. Gybing in- volved no drama at all. ‘The standard auxiliary is an inboard- mounted electric motor, but Leneman, who imports the Multi 28 to North America, uses an outboard to achieve the 15 miles of motoring range required by local racing authorities. The boat i trailerable, but it takes about an hour to launch and an hour to retrieve, Leneman stores his boat in a lift-dock wide enough to accommodate its 15ft beam. The centerboard and rudders pivot, so yes, the boat is beach~ able, but this isnt really an off-the- beach toy. Carbon-reinforced crossbeams and carefully engineered attachments con- tribute to a stiff structure. The hulls are constructed of infused vinylester resin, 2 2 S 7 o o a a LOA 2 Ain BEAM 15a SIL AREA 28 (racing main & ji) MANUFACTURER Torpen Marne PRICES28 00 base SAIL AREA-DISPLACEMENT RATIO —— = DISPLACEMENT-LENGTH RATIO. 79 300 =a Racer Cruiser with solid glass below the waterline and Corecell foam on the topside sections and deck, ‘The boats are built in Qingdao, China, and the fit and finish are convincing. Both rig options feature a rotating alu- ‘minum wing mast. The “cruiser” version has a reefable Dacron main and jib. | sailed with the high-aspect square-head main, Add Leneman’s custom larger- than-stock jib mounted on a custom. bowsprit-in honor of the usually light conditions in the region~and we had all the power we could use. Given more runway anda steadier breeze, boat and crew could have handled a spinnaker or screecher and it would have been, literally, a blast.MsRDon’t think products. ai ee Vetus-Maxwell designs marine systems. We create more than 2500 products, which are sold in more than 100 countries. It amounts to more than a global brand and distribution network. It means people count on us to come through with the right solutions at the right place at the right time. And that is the Vetus-Maxwell difference. Learn more about us at vetus-maxwell.com vetus-maxwell.comJ/70 A combination of stability and blistering speed ey aoam corr here's nothing moe asappoint T ieanist ting tito sport boat ina drier But that wasnt problem withthe new 37 Tor our salt wehadla steady 2osknot southerly gusting over 28 Knots and keking up sharp chop ci sto hod sland Because Boats was only about a week nto its boat ll at he ime. company president Jel Johnstone decided it fight not be pragent ty the Asal uti dint mate Beating out toward Popasquash Poin, the bor proved bath nimble tnd manageable raceleraed inthe pulls and had an easy heim even When weburedthelee al Aone point we overshot ack and the boat tras tornectny noche dow, Dit wronaver felt we were ot of contol thanks tothe bala at the Bottom o the kel and the boat age transom tang rudde The fy high boom and specious sel-draining cock thade geting from oe sie tothe tier wile acing plece of cake-a faery trom the 2¢-fote that fst pt SBoats onthe map Thenteame tne to bear away Lats eecifwe can getup ona plane Ey view 17 2012 sailmagazine.com/video with just the main and jib,” Jeff said, and next thing we knew the boat was hissing over the water leaving a wake that bore an incredible resemblance to that of a Volvo Ocean Race 70 at speed. Even more impressive was how easy it all was. Not only did the helm feel light, providing just enough feedback to let me know what the foils were up to, but there was never any question of wiping out. There we were, sailing up in the double digits, and I wasn't worried a bit. All | wanted was to try to make the boat go as fast as possible Complementing the boat's effective foils and efficient hull Form, with its sharp bow and flat planing sections farther aft, are a deck-stepped carbon- fiber mast, boom and retractable sprit, all built by Southern Spars. Deck hard- ware on our test boat was mostly Harken, but with Ronstan jib tracks and cars. The J/70's double-ended backstay purchase system will help control the powerful fractional rig, as will the dou- ble-ended vang. Twelve-inch stan- chions with padded Dyneema lifelines provide back support when your feet are inboard and keep you out of the drink when hiking. There’s a kelp cutter Specifications DRAFT fin / DISPLACEMENT 175016 ‘SAIL AREA 726 (100% FT) DESIGNER lan Jostone US. DISTRIBUTOR Boat Ine, Newport, Rl, 401846510, jpoats.com ‘SAIL AREA-DISPLACEMENT RATIO DISPLACEMENT-LENGTH RATIO. D9 300 PERFORMANCE SSS Racor ‘Cruiser on the keel and a substantial toerail on the foredeck. Construction quality is, excellent throughout. ‘The J/70 is equipped with a vertical lifting keel, which is raised and lowered with a removable worm-gear crane ‘This is J/Boats' first ramp-launchable keelboat, and in addition to creating new options for the racing set, it opens up a world of possibilities for daysail- ors. And, yes, this boat is a legitimate daysailer. The same qualities that make it easy to handle in a blow will also make it a stable platform for sailing with the kids, J/Boats has even in- cluded a small cuddy so they'll be able to get out of the weather. Expect big things from this great little boat. nseWorldMags, , yi Lagoon: a cholee of 7 models, available with various accommodation layouts and several equipment levels; interior design by Nauta Yachts; fast cruising with the Van Peteghem ~ Lauriot Prévost naval architecture; a truly international service with more than 70 distributors worldwide, 380 I 4oo 1 421 1 450 | Soo | 560.1 628 www.cata-lagoon.com 4 iasailmagazine.com/video MARBLEHEAD 22 A sweet-sailing modern classic er aoa corr French pilot Antoine de Saint-Exu- péry wrote: “A designer knows he has achieved perfection not when there is nothing left to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.” Fair enough. But while this may be true of aircraft, In the world of naval architecture there are aesthetic considerations as well ‘Take the new Marblehead 22 day- sailer: the boat is incredibly easy to handle, thanks to its simple rig, It also happens to sail well. But these practical considerations belie the fact that the boat is also a joy to behold, whether you are holding its tiller or watching it sail, green with envy, away from a dock. Form may follow funetion in aeronau- tics, but when it comes to boats, it’s also important that a designer have a good “eye"-and the Marblehead 22 is proof that designer Doug Zurn has just that. took hull #1 for a sail on a warm spring day on Marblehead Harbor, in Massachusetts, and was impressed by the boat's looks and performance. From the waterline up, the M22 has classic lines, with its plumb bow, graceful sheer and overhanging stern. Below the wa- terline, though, it boasts a large bal- anced spade rudder and bulb keel. ‘Overhead, the rig is also very moder with its wishbone boom, carbon-fiber ‘mast and square-top sai. | nis book Wind, Sand and Stars, 2% view 17 2012 It’s not easy combining such dispa- rate elements into a harmonious whole, but Zum has succeeded admirably. The result is a boat that looks unique without being odd, and that works well without sacrificing aesthetics. I like the appearance of this boat a lot, and if the various dock-walkers eraning their necks to get a look while we east off are any indication, 'm not alone. The boat's sailing performance ‘matches its good looks-not surprising, given the 3ft 6in-deep keel, narrow beam and fine bow. The wishbone rig is effortless to tack and gybe, and the boat's large North 3DL sail (the stan- dard sail is Radian Dacron) provided plenty of power in 10-12 knots of breeze. The tapered mast bends to leeward in puffs to help depower the sail, The sail also has reef points, a cun- ingham and a “snotter,” which sup- ports the forward end of the boom and controls foot tension. ‘One neat thing about an unstayed rig like this is that you can safely sail by the lee, which can be handy in close quar- ters. Singlehanding this boat while out on a daysail would be simplicity itself. Zurn, who was aboard for our test sail, said he also envisions the boat being used for some casual, gentlemanly one~ design racing In addition to the boat's magnificent w e S 3 g Oo a a wn 7 LOA Sin LWLt in BEAM 6t Tin BALLAST 126010 // SAILAREA 271" BUILDER Samoset Boatworks In. Boothbay. Maine, 207-629-650, samosotboatworks.com “ m 0 DISPLACEMENT-LENGTH RATIO SD 50 162 300 PERFORMANCE lat => Racer ‘Cruiser cockpit-which at Il feet 9 inches pro- vides plenty of room for you and your friends-there’s a surprisingly large cuddy forward for stowing provisions or getting little ones out of the sun. The boat's cold-molded wood-epoxy con- struction results in a hull that is both light and wonderfully solid. Positive flotation is built in forward, amidships and aft, while a varnished teak transom and coamings serve as nice highlights to the Awlgrip-coated hull. Workmanship throughout is fan- tastic. There is an option for an electric ‘motor, though I suspect you won't need it much, given this boat's sparkling per- formance, msnDecry BAN Cec DS45 oUt AoA Kel MEN ATTA Cee PAULL Rey Brown's Whart | Newburyport MA. | Ph: 978-239-6568 | Dbrophy@Moodyboats.com ee eet eet)Pr Feadrogis in sy COM-PAC CP 23 PILOTHOUSE An incredibly commodious packet cruiser ertom ove ow could anybody nat be smiten packagesaye blr Jry Hutch husband bers te Kees vertona vith the tndardConPac thenew phous Tne costes confor for tw, ng for tre witha detachable forthe tines Belowacelsis where the CP 23 really credible nerior yout Mees mich Inve net CP than you would 28 NeW SAILEOA v1 2012 expect, and it feels quite spacious, with six feet of headroom, three full-length berths and an enclosed head, There's also a little dinette and space for a helm seat at the wheel, with excellent vis {bility in all directions, thanks to a clever sliding door that lets the skipper see straight through the head compart- ‘ment. You can stand amidships and touch all these features without taking a step, but they all do fit. One caveat: a cruiser will have to choose between crew and supplies. Two adults aren't going out with two grandchildren for a week in the CP 23 unless they reprovi- sion every day or two. In 6-8 knots of breeze off Clearwater, Florida, I measured 4 knots of boat speed on a close reach. The CP23 even kept moving when the wind dropped to only 4 knots. Despite its unconven- tional looks, this is an actual sailboat, and it tacked easily through 90 degrees without any unusual effort. think the 135 percent genoa on our test boat is a better choice than the standard 112 percent headsail in areas where the wind seldom kicks up whitecaps. Under power the Com-Pac turned in 144 boatlengths and backed precisely. Specifications HEADROOM 6 LOA Ze tn) LL 2 n DISPLACEMENT 38000 / BALLAST 1340 FUEL/WATER (GAL) 725. ELECTRICAL W5AH BUILDER Com-Pac Yachts, Carwate, FL, 721-488-408, com-pacyachtscom ‘The engine quiets to a moderate 77 dBA and is smoother running at 2,000 rpm. than when it idles. This is a capable coastal cruiser in which one owner has already cruised the Bahamas, Demand has been strong, and the factory is currently cranking them out as fast as possible. If you want to trailer a boat to inter- esting locations and then eruise for a few days in a simple, reliable manner, this boat is a winner. srFingertip Control at 18 knots...YES! 1/111 is one of the most successful global Boat launches ‘ever. And with good reason....this boat flies. J/111's recent successes sailing offshore attest to the | philoso- phy that more speed with fewer crew often leads to silverware, too. Class wins in the Chicago-Mackinac Race, ‘Around Island Race (Isle of Wight), Spinnaker Cup, Key West Race Week, Warsash Spring Series and a class sweep of the Bayview-Mackinac Race point to the J/111’s versatility, whether sailing in demanding upwind, down- wind or reaching conditions. ‘Owners are quick to remark about the /111's ability to accelerate and sail close to the wind speed in light air, and how quick it planes at double-digit speeds when the wind pipes up. Said one owner, “this boat had the fun meter pegged in the ‘red’ all of Sunday afternoon on the Chicago-Mac. We had three consecutive rivers hit 18+ kts in 20-24 kts TWS and in full control. ‘The boat just likes to go fast with none of the drama we've dealt with on previous boats.” With a mainsail on slides and a furling jib, one can be sailing in minutes, and a crew of two can set, jibe and drop the asymmetrical spinnaker. The seakindly hull with high righting moment and an efficient sail plan (no genoas), make the |/111 the most versatile high perfor- ‘mance boat on the market ~ able to be sailed by a pick-up crew in the evening beer-can race or double-handed to Bermuda, 1/111 is the next generation one- design that fits the J Boats formula for one-design success...a boat that is easily sailed FAST and confidently by just about anyone in the family. The icing Con the cake is the comfortable sit-in cockpit and spacious interior with standing (61) headroom. Sailboats that are easy and fun to sail are sailed ® more often. The|/111 isa boat that will bring great joy to its owners for 1 1 ] ‘many years to come. Better Sailboats For People Who Love Sailing Call USA 401-846-8410 * www.jboats.comCORSAIR SPRINT 750 MK II Who knew speed cauld be so easy? MK II with some trepidation. 'm far from the world’s most experienced ‘multihull sailor and wondered if I'd be up to the task of putting a rocket like the 750 through its paces. I needn't have worried, though; despite its horsepower, this is a boat that takes care of its crew and can make even a rank neophyte look good as it pours on the speed. As soon as we'd unfurled the mainsail from the trademark rolling boom, the 750 immediately accelerated forward. Impressive though that was, it paled in comparison to the way the boat lit up 5 minutes later when we unfurled the sereecher. The acceleration and exhila- ration that comes from this kind of performance afloat is nothing less than incredible. We had neither a speed log nor a GPS on board, but to be perfectly honest, I couldn't have given a damn— although I estimate we were easily hitting double digits sailing in 14 or so knots of true wind. You don't need to know how many knots you're making to have fun on a boat like the 750 MK II And it was all so easy. Sailing such a boat is much different than sailing a displacement monohull and takes some getting used to. As the apparent wind. | boarded the new Corsair Sprint 750 AT REVIEW 17 builds and surges forward, you steer the boat to get up on a plane and then do your best to keep it there, even ifit ‘means sacrificing your gybing angles in the interest of VMG, or velocity made ‘good, I'd be the first to admit that Ihave a ways to go before I can claim to have mastered this kind of sailing. But the 750 makes it tantalizingly easy and leaves you hungering for more. ‘This is no accident: the MK II version of the Sprint combines its predecessor's expansive, racer-friendly cockpit and powerful rig with the larger, approxi- mately 35 percent more buoyant amas of the more eruiser-oriented Dash 750 to create a hybrid that blennds increased stability with blistering speed. Multihull veteran Steve Marsh of Finish Line yacht sales-my host for the test sail~ ‘said he couldn't get over how much harder he could drive the MK Il, even in heavy air and big seas with the A-sail up. Despite such go-fast features as a rotating aluminum wing mast, fiber shrouds, Harken 16 primary winches and hiking straps, this is a boat that can also be daysailed without scaring your passengers. There's even a double bunk and room for a Porta-Potti if you feel like anchoring out for a night. Like the a 2 s 8 o @ & a LOA 2 in (7 LVL 2 tn ‘DEAN 1 in overall tin amas folded) [DRAFT StSin hoard down: ft board up) DISPLACEMENT 18 (ight ship) ‘SAILAREA 42 (main andj) ‘DESIGNER Cor ‘BUILDER Corsair Marin International Ho ChiMiah iy Viet, corsaimarine com JS DISTRIBUTOR USA Corsair Marine, piohns@corsaimarine.com ‘PRICE $57,490 (base) Ma ‘SAIL AREA DISPLACEMENT RATIO “ 45 0 ‘Cruiser rest of the Corsair line, the Sprint 750 MK I's amas fold up easily and the ‘mast can be easily raised and lowered in the interest of trailering-thereby opening the door to regattas and cruis- ing spots nationwide. ‘As one monohull sailor to another, if you're looking for something to spice up your sailing and you like going fast, you owe it to yourself to give this boat a test sal, You'll never look at sailing the same way again. wRElegant Day Boat Ista Tice) Ue Bitola Nei) This is no ordinary boat. tis a revolutionary award-winning performer with an innovative retracting bulb keel, allowing for ‘easy transport and launching, The Class 2M has eye-catching ‘appeal, with a beautiful bamboo deck, contemporary hull and sharp forward waterline. A generous, powerful sal plan delivers a boat that is nimble yet Loa: 23°7" WL: 20:10" stable, appealing to the most Beam: 4°11" demanding sailors, on and off the Draft 53° race course, Displacement: 9921b | A spacious, unobstructed cockpit Ballast: 424 and seaworthy hull makes the Sail Area: 290 | Class 2M also a winner in leisurely (Gb and main) cruising - an ideal choice for Semen sailing alone or with the family. With ll the Class 2M has to offer, you'll wonder why you waited. cea Forum Marine sales@forummarine.com 1900 Wiest Loop South, w8S0 Houston, 1X 77027 Tel 713} 9930797 326 Fire Street, #14 Annapolis, MD 21403 “el ti) 286 1930 (aio) 263 3406 SRA UE cL F “The Mvsrany 35 64 DeticiT#U MIX OF STYLE AND SSraMiTy. Hen SLE0( Les AND DEEP LEAD AULS KEEL ‘errromst THe STEPHON JONES DUSIGN ETHOS AND RESULT IN CE Cartcony A - Ocean carasiies, MYSTERY YACHTS foronan Maine Aanspeli, MO - Houston, TX Tet: (410) 2861930410) 2633406 (713) 9930797, sales@forummarine.com ‘wwrw forummarine.com Other Locations: Miami Beach, FL 786-276 2316 + Chicago, IL 312-836 3729 + Los Angeles, CA 424-543-1365 www.forummai e.com + sales@forummarine.com + 800-407-1740For avide Catalina 315, .com/video 5 sallmaga: oS 7 ET orlaMags oe) Ec CATALINA 315 Assmart, practi faba ty conineto eve oe stanchions GONSTRUCTION ‘The Catalina 315's hull is solid hand-laid fiberglass with an external vinylester layer to resist blister ing. Like the other boats comprising the S series, the 315 is built in a four-part ‘mold that creates a seamless mono- ccoque structure from stem to stern to enhance rigidity and ensure there are no leaks, especially in the transom area. ‘The deckis cored with end-grain balsa, with solid fiberglass in high-load areas to increase longevity. The keel is lead, and a grid system bonded to the hull beneath the cabin sole distributes the keel and rig loads. Forward, there is a watertight 232 NeW SAILEOA' 12012 Piero cori and user-friendly cruiser ay apa corr “StrikeZone” in the bow that is filled with foam in case of collisions with containers and other debris. The boat's proprietary “T-Beam MastStep” ar~ rangement employs a compression post that passes through the deck to ensure that itis, indeed, the post that supports the rig, and not the surround- ing fiberglass deck. ‘The rudder stock is 316 stainless steel, while the rudder itself has a ‘molded-in leading edge, which elimi- nates a vulnerable seam on the foil's vertical centerline. Allin all, this is a solid, well-constructed boat-exactly what you would expect from Catalina GRIBECK ‘The hardware topsides is first-rate throughout, from the sturdy portlights to the beefy anchor roller forward to the blocks used to control the running rigging to the nice 27in-high stanchions and solid stanchion bases. There's no mistaking the 315 for the latest trendy creation from the other side of the Atlantic-which I suspect is just fine with sailors who are attracted to this kind of boat. Side decks are easy to negotiate, the foredeck provides a good open work- space for dealing with ground tackle and headsails, sturdy stainless steel hhandrails run the length of the eabin- trunk, and the cockpit seats are long, well-proportioned and comfortable, Sightlines are excellent from the helm, and the pushpit seats provide a nice out-of the way spot to take in the view. RECOMMOBATIONS Belowcecks, Cata- Tina has in many ways b worst enemy. The company does such a good job its easy to take what you're ooking at for granted, Joinery is all superbly finished teak, mostly veneered but with solid inserts in high abrasion areas, so that owners can sand out dings and scratches without exposing underlying laminate Forward, there's a V-berth and head, shower arrangement, while a good- sized transverse double can be found aft. treally is incredible how much “boat” Catalina is able to ereate be~ lowdecks, although the V-berth is a bit tight in the toes for a six-footer like me. ‘The U-shaped galley with centerline sink is more than adequate for a 31- footer, especially given the wealth of cold-storage space. Catalina’s chief designer, Gerry Douglas, who was with us for our sail trial has wisely resisted the siren call of maxing out the aceom- ‘modations and created a huge locker space aft and to port, instead of trying to squeeze in a second aftercabin. Some nice touches include excellent engine access, with a special cutout so you can check fluids without having to lifcup the entire companionway. It may be a little thing, but those kinds ofdetails are typically a sure sign that the builder not only knows what he's doing, but truly cares. Overall finish quality, from the cedar- lined hanging lockers to the sliding. privacy screens to the louvered doors is. ‘outstanding, especially for a mass-pro- duction bostbuilder. GNDERIEAM Boats in the 5 series cany slightly less beam, and this shows in the 315% performance under sail. The day of ‘our boat test we had 12-14 knots of breeze out on Miami's Biscayne Bay which proved perfect for putting the boat through its paces. ‘Ona beat and close reach, the boat behaved just as it should, accelerating in the puffs and easily passing through irons each time we tacked. What really impressed me, though, was the way the boat lit up when we turned back down- wind and unrolled the A-sail, which Douglas had tacked onto the boat's short Seldén bowsprit. Next thing we knew we were tramping along at 8-plus knots and having the time of our lives. Shortly after we put up the sail, a puff knocked the boat on its ear, which proved too much for the rudder and caused the boat to round up until the chute collapsed, But that was as much Other boats to look at: Bavaria Cruiser 32 the crew's fault for not paying attention as it was the boat's, and when the next puff hit, I simply eased out the main to spill some of the excess pressure, and the boat stayed on track, as ifriding a rail After that, the helmsman and I had. a blast coordinating our efforts, forall Intents and purposes sailing that 31-foot cruiser like a racing dinghy. If the look on Douglas's face was any indi- cation, I believe he approved. GNBERPOWER In the Nat water of Biscayne Bay, the boat's 2thp Yanmar scooted us along quite nicely: 2,500 rpm gave us 6 knots, while opening up to 3,000 rpm yielded 7.4 knots. ‘The boat's stern pulled a bit to port when I first dropped her into reverse, but as soon as I got some way on the 315 behaved just as it should, even when maneuvering at slower speeds in a crosswind. GGNELUSION Don't be fooled by the fact that Catalina has chosen an evolutionary course over the years as opposed to con- stantly reinventing itself. Boats like the Catalina 315 are every bit as modern as their more sleek-looking counterparts, with a truly outstanding build quality. t's hhard to go wrong with a Catalina.WsR wo 2 s 8 o 3 a a HEADROOM 62 D715 Bn x6 in in we: Ginx st 3inx ia) LOAStIe Mtn UNL 2G eA atm DRAFT 6 in th Ain (shoal DISPLACEMENT 420m st); 196008 (sho BALLAST 4001 (sti 4400 (sho) “SAL ANE Sor 100% FT FUEL/WATER/WASTE (GAL) 741/17 ENGINE 2Thp Yanmar DESIGNER Gerry Douglas BUILDER Catalna Yachts, Large, FL, ‘721-544-688, catlinayachtscom ICE ST16495 base BALLAST RATIO O% 390%. SAIL AREA-DISPLACEMENT RATIO Our Take nos, ‘Excellent bull quality + Spacious accommosatons ‘+ Sprighty performanceTOMCAT 970S As he debut o Tomcat st 2-oot Tissier stat tier ago-at the Annapolis Saboat, Show asa pleasant surprise Since then te blldershavecontinoed to refine the boa a process that hase buted inthe new Tomcat 708 ‘hel and deck mols are the same astefore, andthe oat bul aly cenveronallyofhandlat berg “instr resin with Coreel coring in both the uta deck The bigedeck’ Underbody encloses cenerboardon the centerline “tere a line of thre winch-hande sockets atte helm. Ones forthe cen= teoard the others ae fr rasingthe twin ouboards Af there beat Sams sel tansom ah which carves the male and dinghy. The davis arth best ve sen vith aust sbicarmstoitany dink perfect hold soni endhep toe swinging “he cock onthe new S708 io much Improved over the original, wich cared the heim amighip and had two companionwvay inthe saloon The new bon helm fe to ar a view 17 2012 eee +, comfortable upgrade of the original eyromoove board, which allows space for a large single door amidships. The result is better visibility from the helm and inte- rior, and better traffic flow for the crew. Alarge comfortable seat resembling a park bench stretches underneath the arch to provide additional seating. ‘The standard rig is for a sloop; an optional gennaker or screecher can be set on an articulated carbon-fiber sprit, or an asymmetric spinnaker can be flown from a bridle between the bows. ‘Opening up the cabin with that big door changed the saloon into a bright, cheerful space. The original TomCat 970 already had an open plan, and the new version is even nicer. You can sit at the table or even lie in the main berth and look out in all directions. You can also talk to people in the cockpit from almost anywhere in the boat Hike the transverse arrangement of the owner's berth on the bridgedeck. ‘The bulkheads alongside keep sleeping crew securely in place, the headboard produces more locker space in the galley, and the entry from the end of the bunk instead of from the side makes it Specifications HEADROOM 63a LOA a LWL sth Gin BEAM 16 DISPLACEMENT 7=008 FUEL/WATER/WASTE (GAL) 2435/20 ELECTRICAL 058K (house 105AH (engine) BUILDER TomCat Boas, Cledon East, Ontare, 05 8-123, tomeatboats con (ricesmninn ‘SAIL AREA-DISPLACEMENT RATIO = 0 DISPLACEMENT.LENGTH RATIO Cra 0109 0 PERFORMANCE [Sh = Z| 2 possible for one person to get up without clambering over the other. TomCats have always been good sailing boats, and this is true of the 9708. Sailing hull #1 through a2-3 foot chop in 12-16 knots of wind, we touched 9 knots on reaches and tacked easily through 90 degrees. The new offset helm position makes it possible to sit outside to starboard for a better view of the sails. Or you can move under cover for shade and shelter. The twin Yamaha outboards direct plenty of water over the rudders and lift up to reduce drag when sailing. They are also easy to hand-start if the electri= cal system fails, and if one needs main- tenance, you can simply take it off the boat and carry it to a shop. wsth lots BAVARIA CRUISER 32 A spacious pocket cruisi mh urge boat Tere lo oth he ale (et starboard with tama egal ash bn andere dint ech oon are abe ge iby cod eam bom aw CHARLES |. DOANE. this size. The staterooms, meanwhile, have more floor space than you'd expect, though the berths are alittle cramped, The aft double has plenty of horizontal area but limited vertical clearance, while the V-berth has a rather pinched foot. Large people may not want to share these bunks, but the settees in the saloon are long enough to also double as berths, so there’s still ample space for sacking out. Our test boat had a shoal-draft keel plus an in-mast furling mainsail (some thing I personally would not recommend (ona boat this size), so I was surprised when it sailed as well as it did in the light conditions we had on Chesapeake Bay off Annapolis. In winds ranging from 5 to 10 knots, we managed to maintain 47 knots of boatspeed sailing as high as 35, degrees relative to the apparent wind. Cracking off to 40 degrees, our speed Jumped to 52 knots. With a battened ‘mainsail and a deep keel, expect this, boat would do very well to windward, Sailing on a broad reach we managed only 25 to 35 knots, With a proper A-sail set on the optional bowsprit, however, this would be very easy to improve upon. Iwas also surprised by how well the boat motored, We made 6.4 knots in flat water turning 2300 rpm, and this im proved to 7.4 knots when I punched her —r— HEADROOM 6 LOA asin LWL29 BEAM 1120 DISPLACEMENT 1463 // BALLAST 28651 FUEL/WATER/WASTE (GAL av4ate ELECTRICAL 2 TOSAH house: BAH (engine) BUILDER Bavota Yachbou, Giebelstadt, Germany PRICE S126082 bee BAULASTRATIO. % : 50% SAL AREA DISPLACEMENT RATIO ey DISPLACEMENT.LENGTH RATIO. a 20 200 PERFORMANCE EE up to maximum throttle (2,900 rpm). My only real complaint about the Cruiser 32 is that it looks a bit slab- sided and bulky, at least from certain angles. This is only to be expected, however, when a designer fits so much comfortable space into such a short boat. If you want a sleeker looking boat, you'll have to put up with alot less living space to get it.wsm 2012/1 NeW 3sSeen co HUNTER 33 A well-mannered, family-friendly cruiser svperer me.sen he lst tation ofthe Hunter 38 TPissttn os as at forte Machu via company isbalnce of ae Ylume and perfor mane sock chord wih allo and Inve than 600 were bl Tere aays deena isin replscingatopseling boat with an updated veion-you might le the indfinale quality that under pinned ts appeal Brat sling the few on windy Januar dy on Pr Gas Manate River econ Hunters no caute to won).This one a those Dost that js els ight ors purpose Inife-to provide easy cneyable costal Sing tora coupe or oma ami We headed out ina sod 20 hats of wind gusting to 2 and more With is ining ele tej alld pant cutal ofthe inmast farng ansal, before eting ot ona close reach The 29 acclrate experi and was soon trucking along tose to Thats ight enthe lm anecingcomplctelyat tome inthe eandlons The new bul form longtime ater designe Clean Hwee slong want broad atcections anda chine that rns fal way forward before merging no he topic: Tn posing tis cout for some ofthe sold drectonal stay flange anges of eek she shrugged of theif and wayedon couse foe earn was oafrabe wether tandngor seated andapprec- view 17 2012 ated being able to tend both the main and jb without leaving the wheel ‘The cockpit is well laid out and is sected by a large solid drop-leaf table that provides a welcome brace point for crew. At the forward end, the coamings are high enough to let you lean back comfortably; a pair of seats aft are set Into the sternrail, bracketing a large drop-down swim platform, There's rea- sonable stowage in pair of quarter lockers and an under-seat locker that can swallow fenders and docklines. Side decks are wide enough for easy passage forward. Long grabrails recessed. Into the eabintop provide additional secu- rity, and the molded antiskid felt grippy underfoot. The foredeck is uncluttered and secure, and the single anchor roller fronts a wide but shallow chain locker. Belowdecks, the aft cabin features a large transverse berth, standing head- room and some well-arranged stowage. ‘The forecabin, though brighter and better ventilated, has a smaller bunk. 1 think Hunter has done a great job in terms of styling, layout and finish quality. ‘Teak trim and veneers oriented so the grain runs horizontally combine with plenty of ambient light via hatches and portlights to give a warm, welcoming feel the cabin sole is a classy hardwood lookalike laminate, ‘There's enough room for four to six people to relax around the drop-down LOA 36in// LWL29R'Sin// BEAM Tein DISPLACEMENT 12400 (shoal) ‘SAILAREA SOM uring) 100% FT ELECTRICAL2x 104K DESIGNER Glenn Henderson Hunter Design Team ‘PRICE S108, 80 base BAULASTRATIO. ———s ‘SAIL AREA DISPLACEMENT RATIO ogo DISPLACEMENT.LENGTH RATIO. 50 228300 PERFORMANCE, Eee atable, and the center section of the star- board settee converts to a nav table. The galley has plenty of worktop space, a large fridge and a microwave oven. Stowage is plenty adequate for weekend or longer cruises. found the Hunter 33 a capable and perky cruiser, worth a long, hard look if you're in the market for a boat of this, size. The optional in-mast mainsail makes for easy handling, but if you'd like to sail faster and point higher go forthe square-headed main and deeper keel. ‘The sticker price is very reasonable, but will ratchet up quickly depending on how many boxes you check on the ex- tensive options list.nsDiscover how much fun you'll have with Hobie. Powered by Hobie’s patented MirageDrive® pedal system, the Hobie Mirage Tandem Islan 8 trimaran “s built for endless fun, partner and make some new memoriesMYSTERY 35 A delightful performance craft av ouncan newt covey space Py view 17 2012 (EGNETRUETION he Mystery spoon full the fist erteion giving her a Classically elegant look Ast requite- ment number two, youll find pial Jones profile underwater: sleck lines fine Bows wide but shallow ater se tions and a profiled keel with a raling Tea bull that gives the boat an impres- sive 48 percent ballast ato. low sailmagazine.com/video boat's narrow beam means she has less form stability than her contemporaries. ‘The Mystery’s hull has solid hand: laid fiberglass below the waterline and foam-cored topsides. The deck is balsa: cored. Chopped strand mat and woven rovings are used throughout, with solid plywood backing pads beneath deck fittings. The hull deck joint is both through-bolted and glassed over to keep it watertight, ‘The boat's rig is 7/8 fractional, and the Seldén mast, with twin swept-back spreaders, can be keel- or deck-stepped An adjustable backstay and rigid vang are standard. The 110 percent jib is on a below-deck furler. (BRIBEER the Mystery has a simple Tayout with a generous aterdeck amd a narrow cockpit that make cay to walk completely around her days Her antshid deck i very grppy. and ls ony alow step up onto the Cabintop, where te oeet tracks are mounted for tight sheeting ange ‘the long, narrow cockpit is also very secure, set within deep coamings, while dong, hinged tier enables the helms man to opeate the winches beside the ompanionwvay Whee sterng ean be feed, butthis takes up more ofthe harrow cockpit and enals moving the mainshee froma raveler behind the rudder to a singe deck eye ust forward ofthe steering pedestal Under the Iazarette deck there isa larg locker, ostensibly for the Iifera, although i's eapable of holding much more there s another deep locker saloon right whe not as spacious as some contemporary Boats, sunder the port seat. The deck gear is, well sized, with Barton tracks and blocks, and substantial mooring cleats, REEOWIMOBATIONS 4 steep compan- fonway ladder lands you between the galley and nav station. The galley to port has ample counter space, a deep sink, plentiful stowage and a fully gim- baled stove. The nav station has a full size chart table and dedicated seat, but without back support. Instead of the spacious quarterberth, you could specify ‘second cockpit locker and get a back for the nav seat ‘Owing to the Mystery 35's narrow beam, the saloon is not vast, but the settees will make excellent sea berths. ‘There's plenty of stowage under each settee, as the water tank is under the forward bunk, and the diesel under the cockpit. The two batteries and the water heater are under the quarterberth Forward of the saloon is the head/ shower area, with a toilet to starboard and a sink to port. Closing off the fore- cabin and saloon doors makes this a decent size compartment with over 6ft ‘of headroom. But this blocks aecess to the forecabin, so some have chosen to ‘omit the shower, put a fold-down sink ver the toilet, and turn the area to port into extra wardrobe space. ‘The forecabin is narrow, and the foot of the V-berth may seem tight for two tall people. To gain extra legroom, you could do away with the two narrow hanging lockers. Ventilation is reason able throughout, with four opening portlights in the main cabin, two in the head, plus a vent and a hatch over the table and in the forecabin. (GHERBAM We ser sitin 2 knots of Pre nnd ey calm scas and were soon tramping along at 62 knots under falls In shor, the Mystery 38 isa delight to sll with alight, but very postive helm She ean sal erslfto trindward witha ight ime securing the Other boats to look at: Catalina 355 tier. She also has a wonderful, seak- indly motion, thanks to her overhangs and narrow forward sections, which part the waves while creating minimal bow wave and wake. Although initially tender, the boat's hefty ballast soon kicks in, and she stiff- ens up admirably. She tacks through about 80 degrees and comes through the wind quite rapidly, accelerating quickly back up to speed. We were able to heave-to easily, lingering comfort ably at 45-50 degrees off the wind with a gentle rocking motion, In 16 knots true wind, we made an impressive 7.4 knots boat speed under the A-sail Although itis possible for a six-footer to see over the coachroof from the seated position, most will want to sit out with a tiller extension, which isnot overly comfortable due to the narrow coaming tops. (GRERIBOWER 1 standard engine is anhp Yanmar With saildive and folding ewo-Diae prop This generates plenty of power and ean drive the boat through the sea a around 5 knots at 2.500 rpm. Fat out om eam water she can achteve 6 knots, but athe expense of extra nose and increased fuel co sumption Abigger engines optional, Dut mot really necessary Under power her kel ay any movdern hull and goes astern wit ie fuss or drama picking upstecrage at speed (EENELUBION tre Mystery 35a plea- sure to look at and even more ofa plea- fue 10 sal Shes good for racing or crutsing alike but with her narrow body and considerable overhangs, she most moder boats I you're looking, foraneve boat that ait bit diferent, and looks, performance and seaworth- hess are ll important to you. then you realy should take the Mystery out fora tril slam Jeanneau S035, 2012/1 NEW SAILBOK » Specifications HEADROOM St ttn LOA // LWL 25h DISPLACEMENT 100005 // BALLAST 42756 FUEL/WATER/WASTE (GAL) 1622/4 ELECTRICAL B5AM (engin T0AH (house) ‘BUILDER Cornish Grabbers LLP, Coral UK, comisherabbers co uk % 45 50% SAIL AREA-DISPLACEMENT RATIO « : 2 Our Take nos, isp ai ending * Seakingly motion ‘Classi looks cons + Narrow forward cabin ‘Ne navigation seat back ‘+ Hare wo see over cabinvunk rom cockpitISLAND PACKET 360 Another solid, comfortable cruiser from Island Packet evrom pove ne et Isand Packet 960 shares T ites a ers Ester, but incorporates amore convertion inter nyt making very ferent ost Tan Packets have a reputation for longevity and tenth and cary IO-fear waranty aginst listers and Cetamination The 860s pressurin- fused lls made ote berglas fabrics and deck has proprietary Polycore core Amoldedstrutural gid transfers ig ads totes the lea Dats fully eneapulated inthe ee iad Packet plambing, propulsion and ccc ajsems are of eal quali toany high-end easton yacht Theres good accestothe engine and drivetrain hough the companlony Steps se pancs and an aftpanl “he angle reader aluminum mast SSeselrtctngtiyt Boom sys tndan outer b.st on Han ares Des pari by Hnhonaed Lee he side decks are wide but secure thant high toca, god anti and wel-pacedgabrals-The ground tackles propery ied and it for easy handling The cocpt i ide end comfortable, ih ples for shor Saorsto bracelet and good Sghtnes fonvard for he hea island Packet nero arelmarbly nicely fined and very comfortable The 60 has a palrof wonderful relax 0 NeW SAILBOA v1 2012 ng swivel reclining chairs with a small table between them, a sensible subst tute for the ubiquitous settee berth. Its true that a traditional settee-berth is. useful for a full ew on a long passage, but the chairs are increasingly preferred by couples on coastal cruises. ‘The aft chair swivels around to make a dandy seat for the navigator, who can brace himself and sit comfortably at an adjustable nav desk with the electronic displays and distribution panel close at hand. The familiar fold-down table on the main bulkhead will serve four, while the end of the port settee has an exten- sion that forms an excellent footrest for lounging, We played around with a number of different sail combinations in a steady 12-14 knot wind on a beautiful autumn day on the Chesapeake. The full main and staysail kept the boat nicely bal- anced and comfortable at a moderate heel angle, yielding 5 knots of speed to windward and 6 knots on a beam reach When we unrolled half ofthe jib, our speed went up to 7 knots on a reach with no increase in heeling. When we reefed the main and unrolled the full jib, the tacking angle went down to 90 degrees and the helm became perfectly neutral What works for this boat clearly is to reduce the main first as the wind picks up, while maintaining a full foretriangle and only reefing the jb as necessary. The Jib moved across smoothly through Specifications HEADROOM 65a OAK Sin LWL3TRGin BEAM 12d BALLAST?.500b / SAILAREA tf (100% FT) ENGINE dthp Yanmar DESIGNER Bob Johnsen PRICE Sua950| sauasrearo oe 38% SAI AREA DISPLACEMENT RAND oye DSPLACeMENT LENGTH RAO ind enrormace ——— every tack on our test sal, the staysail took care of itself, and the ride was like that of a luxury ear, Nice and easy. Under power, our test boat's MaxProp folding propeller developed 64 knots of speed at an easy 2,200 rpm with a moderate 77 4BA sound level in the main cabin. The turning circle is about 1.5 boatlengths. Using the op- tional bow thruster, I controlled the boat easily around docks in the 14-knot crosswind. wsPANTA y Woildhags vac: T INSURANCE VV hy. Tas YOUTES (iNNew Sailloat JEANNEAU SUN ODYSSEY 379 A production boat w azz h piz bard-designed Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 379 would be fun to sail even before I took one out for a test drive in 20-25 knots of breeze. I'd sailed the first of the similarly re-de- signed Sun Odysseys-the 409-the previous year, and I expected the folks at Jeanneau would have little trouble serving up more of the same perfor- mance and comfort in a slightly smaller 37ft package. Nothing I expe- rienced on the 409, however, could have prepared me for the sheer joy of sailing the 379 in a good stiff wind~an experience made all the more remark- able by the fact that the model we tested carried a shoal-draft kee! drawing a mere 4ft Ilin. | had a feeling that the Mare Lom- GONSTRUCTION The Sun Odyssey 379's hull is built of solid handlaid fiberglass strengthened with a fiber- glass grid. ISO gelcoat and an addi- tional barrier coat are included to combat osmotic blistering. The deck is cored with balsa and is injection- molded using Jeannueau's Prisma Process to create a structure that is stiff and light with a smooth finish. a view 17 guishes the SO 379, though, is the way the boat's hull chines, hull ports, narrow tinted coachroof windows, wide stern, plumb bow and even the maintenance free synthetic teak toerail (that I hon- estly thought was real) all work in harmony to produce a uniquely modern and attractive boat. RECOMMOBATIONS The boat's clean lines are also evident in its accommoda- tion plan. The saloon features a large settee, a good-sized head and an L~ shaped galley at the foot of the compan- ionway. Light-colored varnished wood work and a white headliner lend a warm, open feeling to the space, while @ single opening hatch and two small opening ports provide ven The long, straight settee seats make funetional sea berths, and the aft-facing chart table is big enough to handle a chart book. Well-placed handholds in the headliner and along the coachroof provide good security when you need to ‘move around while underway. The galley has plenty of counter space and copious stowage, while the single head has all the essentials, including a sepa- rate shower stall Although it was easy to forget we were on a 37-footer in the spacious saloon, it was more apparent in the sleeping cabins. The forward cabin, for example, has a V-berth and limited standing room, which is typical on most sub-40-footers, although itis still a per~ fectly comfortable cabin for two. There's also good lighting, plenty of stowage and decent ventilation thanks to an ‘opening hatch. The guest cabins aft GAIBEEK 1 liked the wide cockpit, comfortable seats and the large re- tractable swim platform. When open, the swim platform significantly in- creases the cockpit space and makes it super-easy to board the boat from the stern. When closed, it also pro- vides a wonderful sense of security in the cockpit. There's a clever purchase system hidden under the port helm seat that makes it easy to raise or lower the platform, There are nice big lockers under the cockpit and helm seats to swallow up fenders, dock lines and other gear, while the chartplotter can be easily viewed from either of the twin helm stations. also ap preciated the double bow roller, windlass and deep anchor locker forward, What really disti and gaiahave larger rectangular berths, but more limited ventilation. GNDERSAIL How is the joyful sailing ex- perience I deseribed catlierpossibleon a shoal-draft boat in over 20 knots of breeze? Simple-twin rudders. Even after reefing the couple of turns on the headsal,the boat heeled pretty dramat- cally in the puffs. But the helm was always light and refreshingly balanced as we accelerated to over 7 knots, thanks tothe fact the leeward rudder was always properly submerged to provide postive control. [suspect the boat’ hard chine af, which adds form stability and aids in tracking, also played arole, especially in some ofthe bigger pills. Texpect the optional 6 4n deep keel and single-rudder configuration produces slightly better tacking angles and will also be quicker in ight al, due toits lower wetted surface area, but Im sold on the twin-rudder version, Visibility was excellent from the dual helm stations, and the cockpit table provided excellent brace points forthe erew. Molded-n foot cleats behind each wheel provide excellent footing for the helmsman, even at steep heel angles Singlehanders and Wednesday- night racers will ike the German mainsheet system, which makes it easy to trim the main from either side of the cockpit. The jbsheets are also Jed back through clutches to winches adjacent the helm stations, As with all boats on which the mainsheet and jibsheets share winches, tacking and sybing can require some planning Shifting sheets on the winches when we needed to do a controlled gybe in Other boats to look at: Hunter 036 Dufour 375 GL Se Sight lines from thehelms are excel the 20-knot breeze was doable, but it would have been easier if the mai sheet had been routed to a separate cabintop winch. (GERIBOWER We haa so much tan Talmost forgot to record the engine data Tea repor, however, that the standard 29hp Yanmar pet- formed well, We were able to get upto G5 knots powering into the sft breeze at Fl throttle (3,500 rpm) and hit about 58 knots at 2700 rpm. Engine nolse was obviously notce= able in the saloon, but not absurdly fo. As you'd expec, twas abit tricky backing into a sip ina stiff erosswind but otherwise che bost behaved wel (ENELURION rienty or oats ea themselves good-looking and reward= ing to sail Many boats ae also de- signed tobe comfortable at sea and in port But after testing the Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 379 na healthy saling brecto, ean honcatly say comes closer to achieving these goals than most Itwas a blast to sall twas easy to all twas comfortable to sll, and its accommodations are both speciou and sylsh.man Bavaria Cruiser 36, 2012/1 NEW SAILBOK o HEADROOM 6 tin LOA 2in LWL3A Tin DISPLACEMENT 167711) ‘SAILAREA 624 NINE 29 HP Yanmar with ive ‘BUILDER Jeannueau, Les Herbiors, France PRICESIBLO7S base BAWASTRATIO. % = = ‘SAIL AREA-DISPLACEMENT RATIO “ 2 DISPLACEMENT LENGTH RATIO =D ® 166 = enronuance Sa => acer Craer Our Take nos * Great fel with win rosders ‘Overall good sang pertarmance ‘Innovate sting cons + Lockof dedicated mainsheet winch ‘+ Smalish foraré cabinBAVARIA CRUISER 36 A comfortable cruiser, both underway and on the hook modi once seemed revolutionary can become the norm. Created by Farr Yacht Design and BMW Group Design- ‘worksUSA, the Bavaria Cruiser 36 ‘comes standard with an in-mast furling ‘main, fixed hull ports to help light the interior and a sturdy drop-down swim transom. It seems like only yesterday that the latter feature, in particular, was the latest thing on the boat-show circuit. Fixed swim-steps now seem downright quaint by comparison, | v's funny how quickly things that CONSTRUCTION a product of the large and highly efficient Bavaria Yachtbau factory in Giebelstadt, Germany, the 36's hull is comprised of E~glass with ‘an Airex PVC foam core in the top~ sides. It includes a substantial fiber- glass grid, which is attached with ad- hesives and is also held in place by the boat's keel bolts. The deck and cabinhouse molding is, cored with Airex foam and incorporates a partial grid structure to stiffen the cabintop. There is a sturdy aluminum toerail, with cutouts for chocks near the impressive heavy-duty mooring ‘4 NEW SAILBOAT REVIEW 17 plenty of room for stretching out. In con- trast to many cruising boats, the side decks on the Bavaria Cruiser 36 extend all the way aft, from the stem to the transom. This feature has a downside in that ittakes away space from the cockpit; for example, in the case of the 36 tsa bit tight between the cockpit seats and the large wheel and folding cockpit table, Nonetheless, it’s nice to have a secure workspace for doing things ike throwing. and catching dock lines. 'm also glad Bavaria went with a good-size wheel that allows you to steer from well outboard. Chainplates are outboard, and the combination of stainless steel handrails on the cabintop, double lifelines, the aluminum toerail and excellent nonskid provide a safe, easy passage- way forward RECOMMODATIONS Bavaria and Farr Yacht Design make no secret about the fact that the boats comprising the Bavaria Cruiser line are beamy, with that beam carried forward as well as aft in the interest of maximizing accom- jon space. The Bavaria 36 also hhas 6ft 3in of headroom in the saloon— very impressive for a 36-footer. You can specify a two- or three-eabin layout. The two-cabin version has a dedicated nav station, with the head pushed a short distance aft into what is the port quarter cabin in the three- cabin version, The three-cabin version includes a foldout nav table and a re- movable section in the port settee, which serves as a seat. ‘There is plenty of natural light in the saloon, thanks to the many overhead hatches and portlights. A number of different trim and sole veneers are cleats. The double-spreader deck- stepped rig is supported with conven- tional wire rigging, The boat comes standard with a cast-iron shoal draft keel drawing 6ft Sin; a ft din draft shoal keel is also available. GAIBEER A boat like this is all about the cockpit and, by extension, the drop-down “bathing platform." In ad- dition to being absolutely huge for a boat this size~spanning over half the width of the boat's transom-this plat- form is supported by a pair of gas shocks and has a robust tackle to take the drama out of raising and lowering it. ‘The outboard edge of the platform does double duty asa helm seat when raised. ‘The cockpit itself fea- tures a pair of long, com- fortable bench seats with The many hatches and portsavailable, including, mahogany, oak and walnut. The L-shaped galley comes with a pair Of sinks near the center- line; these can be easily converted to counter space using a pair of covers. The stainless fiddle rail will keep larger items off the sole and also serves as an excellent handrail, but I worry about smaller items, lke silverware, slipping through, ‘The berth in the forward cabin is a bit narrow in terms of legroom for a 6-footer like me, but will be great for a kid or two. The aft doubles are a good Gft Sin long and will make a nice place to stretch out with plenty of ventilation Inall the cabins, hull ports provide additional light. (GHIBERIBAIE espe ts substancia beam anditsin-mast fling malnsal, curtst boat dia great job ghosting about ona ightair day om the Chese- peake Bay Ina tue wind blowing rots, the 36 glided along on a lose reach ata pleasant 3:2 knots. With the tind edging just over 9 knots, we managed a lite over knots of boat speed In-mast fring comes standard wnt the boat but | would strongly Suggest resisting the siren eal of en Nenlence in favor ofthe aed perfor mance that will come witha conven tional slab-eefing mate. Tm sure Bavaria wil gladly oblige you “The rigs slightly fractional to ac- commodate a large reaching sal « sprit is optional There is a par of Lewmar sheet winches within easy reach of the helm and another par of Lewrtara fanking the compeniommeay to deal with halyards and control ines. Other boats to look at: Catalina 355 tremendous amount ‘Of space belondecks ‘The blade jib is easy to tack, and the main is controlled with a double main- sheet system that forgoes a conven- tional sheet and traveler arrangement, It takes a litle getting used to, but works well with practice, GROERBOWER The Cruiser 36 per- formed ably under power behaving predictably in both forward and reverse In at water the 27Hp Volvo= Penta with salldrive pushed the boat along at 36 knots at 400 rpm, 56 Knots at 2000rpm, and knots at 3000 rpm Slow spced maneuvering was no problemand we were able to make our way ino an ineredbly tight marina and Sip at the endof our sal with no prablem A bow thrusters an option, Dutis hardly necessary (CONELUBION some may decry the continuing trend toward beamy boats, Duta the end of along days sal is ‘The Bavaria Cruiser 36 provides a well- thought-out combination of perfor tnanee end lving epece for a wide range of needs afloat won 2012/7 NEW SAILEOH ss Specifications HEADROOM tin LOA tin LWL3MR6in BEAM 1239 DISPLACEMENT 15432 /] BALLAST 45816 FUEL/WATER/WASTE (GAL) 405418 ELECTRICAL 2x T3SAH house: BAH (engine) BUILDER Bavata Yachtbou,Gibelstar Germany ICESIT1AB2base sauasrRamo —_ SAL AREA ISPLACEMENT RATIO a DISPLACEMENT LENGTH RATION _— enronwance St Our Take aos: + Swim platforms large and easy to deploy + Side decks extend wll at ‘Lats of space belowdecks cons ‘Tight between coctpit seats and able ‘Nay station smal fr serious navigating ‘Net much eg roomin forward berthNew Sailloat HALLBERG-RASSY 372 A finely c and author Joseph Conrad pokes fun at a character named Capt. Mac- Whirr who is obsessed with the quality of the door handles on the steamer Nan-Shan. “They've put a lot of ru bishy locks into this ship, I must say he observes just moments before being enveloped in a killer storm, As any sailor knows, though, good detailing is typically a sign of good overall build quality. Nowhere is this ‘more evident than in the Swedish-built Hallberg-Rassy 372, in which functional beauty-and excellent hardware be- lowdecks-is a testament to the boat's overall excellence. | nhis famous novella Typhoon, sailor ‘The HR 372s hull is solid hand-laid fiberglass below the waterline, with a Divinyeell foam core in the topsides to lower the center of gravity and provide insulation against heat and cold, Stanchions are securely ‘mounted on solid stainless steel studs that are recessed into the teak-capped bulwarks. The hull and deck are lami- nated together to create a joint that is both strong and watertight. “6 12012 ted, go-anywhere mid ze cruis BY ADAM CORT Beneath the deck-stepped triple- spreader Seldén aluminum mastis a stainless steel compression post, encased in a mahogany cover that blends in with the top-notch joinery below. This in turn rests on a steel beam cast into a structural framework that supports the keel and rig loads. The balanced spade rudder is mounted on a solid stainless steel stock with a pair of 3 sailmagazine.com/video self-aligning bearings. An integrated rub rail with a brass strip protects the top- sides from docking mishaps. GHIBEER Quality and practicality are equally evident on deck and in the cockpit. If your ideal day on the water involves lounging ina tropical anchor- age, you may be disappointed by the lack ofa big drop-down swim platform, But if you place a premium on passage- safety in heavy weather, the boat will Seem very attractive Teak side decks are standard, and Jong teak handrails on the eabintop complement the aforementioned Bul- warks to provide security when going forward. The cap shrouds are stayed outboard, and the lowers terminate alongside the eabintrunk, providing an unobstructed passageway tothe clean fumetionalforedeck The cockpits big enough for comfort bout cozy enough to allow you to brace your feet against the leeward bench when the boat i on its ea; isthe kind of cockpit you have to climb out of when making your way forward, as opposed to just traipsing over some low-slung splash rail The windshield has a hinged center panel to provide ventilation when the dodgers deployed and also has a useful pir of integral handrail The mainshe eler immediately forward ofthe steer- ing pedestal. Again, this is not ideal for the lounging-at-anchor crowd, but is right where you want it fr effective sall control. My one erticism would be vruns down to a trav-that the secondary forward cockpit, winches are a bit close to the trailing edge of the dodger, making aggressive grinding a challenge, RECOMMOBATIONS here's noting (gmmmleky about the accoranodations. {isis a tried and tru layout that works. Settee inthe saloon that double a excellent sea berths? Check A secure, seagoing galley with decent counter space and deep sli hes? Check Anice large nav station and plenty of stowage throughout? Cheek Good slid handholdsin the overhead? Check Excellent engine acess anda nee deep bilge to keep water rom sloshing up over the cabin sole when the boat ison ts ear? Check The ist ‘esthtialy the 3728 light mahogany Joinery more than docs justice to Hal- berg, fassy’s reputation for qual. Ina rod to modernt larg portlights and tno oflarge fush-mounted overhead hatches etn plenty of ambien light, the better to admire Haller Hassys specially desgned door handles by Capt MacWhirr woul surely approve. GROEREAT nce sai he s72isas reliable and well mannered as it]ooks. If you want blistering speed, go find a sport, boat. But if you want a boat that will be fun, safe, comfortable and easy to sail when erossing an ocean or taking your non-sailing friends out for an afternoon jaunt, a boat like the 372 is the way to go. Not that it is a slug. Our test boat was equipped with an in-mast furling main and a self-tacking blade jib, as opposed to the standard slab-reefing main and 130 percent genoa. But 10 knots of breeze was still more than sufficient to keep us moving at around 6 knots. A little more sail area would have been nice, but there is much to be said for user-friendly rigs like this. ‘The helm was both responsive and stable, and although the boat tacked Other boats to look at: Mystery 35 eae Geri quickly and cleanly, it does not demand constant attention to stay on course. Over the years I've decided that the hall- ‘mark of a cruiser that sails well is when | can take notes at my leisure while steer~ Ing the boat with my knee. The 372 passed this litle test with flying colors. GNDERPOWER Our test boat came with a bow thruster, but it’s hardly a requirement. The 372 spins on a dime and is both well mannered and predict- able when backing up. The boat's SShp Volvo saildrive unit and Gori folding prop provided 5.5 knots of speed at, 1,000 rpm, 6.7 knots at 2,000 rpm and. 7.6 knots at 2,500 rpm, (CENELURION #1 averg-Rassy’s bro- chures don just show is boats plaidly anchored in the ropes. They also show them reefed down i small gale and nosing up to leebergs These are boats that have been earch erated for easy sallng and hard daty around the world, Tenvy the owner of our test boat men 2012 /1 NEW SAILBOAT REVIEW 47 HEADROOM 64 LOAM in LWL3at in BEAM 1f iin DISPLACEMENT 1650016 SAILAREA 7st ENGINE hp Volo-Pentasuitrive) ‘DESIGNER Frers Naval Architecture ané Engineering PRICE $982000(sstaway) eauasraano —_—uD SAL AREAISPLACEMENT RATIO ry 30 DISPLACEMENT LENGTH RATION 0 18 300 eaFonNance ed Our Take aos, Excellent uit quay throughout of be performance under sail ‘Clean, functional deck layout cons + Secondory winches tea closet dodger ‘Cockpit on the srug sidelage Pion by FARR 400 A wolf in wolf's clothing cclentpsfrmancecn lipo the cP «2 andthe TP Sand para Rone acer that performs Ikea wel GONSTRUCTION The Farr 400 repre- sents a major leap forward into the “ view 17 construction of boats that are tech cally more similar to what's coming out the doors of Boeing's composite shop than what we see coming from the yards of most boatsbuilders. The ‘carbon /epoxy hull is composed of an SP/High Modulus resin-infused sand- wich laminate and is reinforced by a carefully engineered grid that is bonded and tabbed in place. This structure not only adds fore and aft and transverse stiffness, it also carries and distributes rig and keel loads throughout the hull The attention to detail lavished on the Farr 400 during its construction is evident in all ofits inte- rior nooks and erannies. Small but vital features, such as how the carbon chainplates have been fabricated and bonded to the hull, are further testi- ‘mony to top-tier crafts- manship. Nor have larger features been neglected, as evidenced by the uni- Bois quality throughout formly tapered and exquisitely bonded hhull-to-deck joint. ‘The high-modulus ferrous metal keel foil supports a torpedo-like lead bulb and is sheathed in an FRP skin and carefully faired, Jefa bearings provide a smooth articulating surface for receiv~ ing the carbon-fiber rudder stock. The keel and rudder are both removable, and the mast can be broken down into two parts for transport, so that the boat and its cradle can fit in a conventional 40ft container for shipping to hot racing venues overseas, GAIBEER First impressions are often lasting ones, and when I first stepped aboard the Farr 400 nothing seemed out of place to me, Farr Yacht Desi has done a good job refining the grand prix deck layout on this boat for a crew of eight. Work stations and hard- ware are carefully positioned so as to expedite sail trim, boat handling and overall efficiency. ‘Take the asymmetric halyard and deck layout for example. With the fore- deck hateh set slightly to port and all halyards running to starboard of the offset companionway, the spinnaker can be deployed more efficiently and the pit crew can stay to windward during a typical bear-away set when leaving marks to port. The foredeck hatch features a carbon roller mounted belowdecks, which allows for much faster setting and dousing, with the help of a retrieval line Twin running backstays bookend the large square-headed mainsail, and each is led to its own canted self-tail- ing winch aft of the helm. The extraspace gives crew handling the backstay more room to work and a more ef- ficient angle at which to make those vital runner swaps. Sail trimmers meanwhile will love the carbon fiber primary winches, which are driven by a grinding pedestal situated on the centerline near the forward end of the cockpit. Thanks to the cockpit's versa~ tile running-rigging layout, the pedes~ tal can be used for conventional head- sail sheeting, for mainsail hoisting, and even for raising the drop keel when. centering a shallow marina. ‘RECORMOBATIONS some may view this boat's low freeboard, lack of ame- nities and reverse sheer line as a litle extreme. But in fact they represent the natural logical conclusio to a number of very specific design decisions. Yes, there are pipeberths port and star- board, a stove, a miniature sink, a tollet and room fora substantial cooler; however, even Spartan mini- tmalists will never mistake the Farr 400 for a comfy cruiser. That said, doubt you'l see any ofthe race crews aboard these rockets complaining about the accommodations. (GHOEREAH eat nis going fora ride in a sailboat that can outwit the wind. During our first light-air test sail off Annapolis, the knotmeter exceeded. the anemometer’s true wind readings (on a number of occasions, and the boat proved agile and responsive. ‘The first hard-to-ignore fact of life is how effectively the boat brings its ap- parent wind forward. The delta between true and apparent wind direction dis- played on the instruments was consis- tently impressive, and acceleration was ballistic, as 5 knots of true wind felt like a 10-knot gust. The twin-wheel steering system had little drag, and the helm was almost neutral in the light conditions. Tm sure that steering would feel equally facile aboard the tiller-steered version, \(g WorldMags Fatking was crisp and efficient, and (GRGERIBOWER Performance under power isnot what a boat ike thsi tout, However a sensative helm rans- Iates into maneuverablty respective of the metive power, and the Farr 400 is as easy to handle heading oor from the dock a itis under sai (ENELURION 1's new tricked-out racer hasbeen inially tagged witha reasonable ORC rating and what some would eala punishing INCrating of 1248. But with 3 boats already soldat tne-design racing sn the cards, The Far 400s bil for speed, butts also built to keep boat handling as user- friendly as possible. The two add up to am -plus rating overall and fun factor thats off the charts men 2012 /1 NEW SAILBOAT REVIEW 49 a c S o Specific HEADROOM St sin LOA fin // LWL36R Sin // BEAM THt3in BALLAST 4796 // SAILAREA 1036h? ENGINE 2%hp Vo D120 wit salve ‘DESIGNER Far Yack Design US. DISTRIBUTOR Farr Yacht Sales LLC, “Annapolis, MD, 10-2678, fr400.com BAWAST RATIO Sr ‘SIL AREA DISPLACEMENT RATIO. “ “50 DISPLACEMENT.LENGTH RATION a9 300 PenrORMANCE a Our Take Pros = Exceptional wol-designed coclpie space * Oustandng bul quality throughout ‘Great performance ina range: cons + Spartan accommodations “Big rig requires top-noth crewCATALINA 385 A practical and very able family cruising boat sy chante ooane he Ctaina 38515 third in a sees T iiseriststnatenon non hte avard-wining 448 mode The concept behind is 3° Stes boats ly simpec ary the best aspects of modern maspraducs tom erulsing boat design and construc ton witha het streak af eommon sense and paca Tnbringg this concept fran, Catalin gn ond engineering Inaven, Gory Douglas has done an = Celentjob of separating the wheat rom the chal Tis test fering fling as Aoesbetween the 448 and te smale 866 should be very atretve to both experienced and noe erlsers looking st contemporary boats under 20 fet in eng (CONETRUEHION construction of the 385s very similar to its predecessors. The hul is sold hand-lald berglass, with Knitted and unidirectional fabrics Inmalntie’ extevioc layer, where vinyi- Diistering A dedicated structural grid designed to carry all ig loads is bonded and tabbed tothe hull and there i a collision bulkhead forward, just abat eViEW 17 2012 the anchor locker. The deck is balsa~ cored with a joint set on an internal flange, bonded and bolted on 4 inch centers. The ballast is lead. The rudder stock and the rudder's internal framing are stainless steel. Systems aboard are thoughtfully laid out, with an emphasis on maintenance and ease of access. Systems installations and construction and finish quality, on the whole, are well above average for a ‘mass-produced boat. (GRIDER one critical feature of all the £5" series boats is that by modern stan- dards they are not overly beamy.The cockpit onthe 385i thus nt quite as capacions as those found on some com- petitors’boats although is far from {ramped Ithasa fixed table with old lowe leaves and is large enough or entertaining at anchor Though you Cannot walk straight through tothe toe random, the sigleexteriine hee! on our test boat folded in on itself possible. One particulary nic feature is the pur of stem seats incorporated imo the a pulp. ‘asa working epece, the cockpit Is very functional and ergonomic. The high coamings provide excellent back support when seated, sightlines from the helm are superb, and workstations around the primary winches and coach- roof winches are easy to access and use. ‘The traditional teak grate on the sole, besides being attractive, provides great footing, particularly when things get wet. Moving forward from the cockpit you'll find nice high lifelines (27in), plus well-placed handholds and aggressive antiskid to help keep you from slipping olf the deck: RECOMMOBATIONS t0ving avoided the tap of pushing the boats beam out tovfdlewious proportions to increase interior space Douglas nevertheless has succeeded in crating an efficient, yet comfortable accommodations plan The covnars stanwocas teeters gasrons- Iy need with lots of storage and an (sland double berth that boasts both an ting mechanism athe head fr sting upand reading Te single head onthe boats forward to port Though compact iis well ad outwith ded cated stall for showering, "Me saloon i straightforward, with the galley and twin eaptain chars {which ean convert toa single fll Tength settee) to starboard and a dinette to port The quad-lea saloon table takes upvc space when folded away, and the av station athe at end ofthe settee ls unobtrusive yet funciona, with a cleverly designed laptop computer bin inthe desk If desired the boat ean also be ordered witha table that folds down from the forward bulkhead "The galley Is particulary impressive and should work welin a seavay-The ‘work area features plenty of usable onter space anda cocfosed 908 cook cam easly brace in place Particular at= tention has ben pad to storage here, with spaces carefully crafted receive commonly ved tema, Our tet boat boasted a front-loading refrigerator a toprlondiag lage/Tecze, pasa alcro- Al the way aft youl find another stateroons for guess. Thia has an athwartship double berth and is reason- ably well it and ventlated Finish qualty throughout the Interior Is good The teak furnitures all asern- bled by hand with solid wood used inis comfortable and thoughtfully ai ou, wth "ates the master stateroom forward (gh) every large fora boat his size the corner posts and doors. Storage is superb, with no fewer than Il drawers installed, including under the settees. FROEAEAL cerry Dougie abiy to blend thebestof tadtonal and con temporary dengn clement epebape best tluratedin the rg of the 385 Here youl ind such seemingly forgot tem bar urfl feature ar along main. sheet traveler an overiapping genoa sheeted along genoa ack anda tan wth in-line spreaders that le you cave the main boom out perpendicular tothe boats centerline. More moder Clemente incide an in-mat uring tanga! wth vercal battens to main- tan sall shape and a removable bow. spr for ying modern gennakers and Symmetric epnakers Uinfortnatiy during outst salon ihenapeake Bay we ha very ile wind towark wth Saingin just knos re wind, we dd manage to Keep our boats ‘peed welver 3 ots ying big nylon feomaker at apparent wind angle 60 gees and lower switching ts 50 percent genosforcone-hatled angles up toad degrece Though we were saling theshon da version of the boat, ie ite leeway alippage, The helm was post the with good feedback nd no tender cls towar ee helm, Given the boats moderate beam, woul expect shed ais sall well to windward in heavier ae. Other boats to look at: Bavaria Cruiser 36 Jeanneau $0379, was surprised to find that the 385 did not motor quite as well as | expected. Though the 40hp engine seems appropriately sized, we made Just 5.6 knots motoring in flat water at cruising revs of 2,200 and 6.4 knots at 3,000 maximum revs. Other writers, however, have reported better results, so this bears checking if you are test~ sailing the boat yourself. Control under power was excellent. ‘The boat stopped within two boat- lengths when backed down hard from cruising speed and tuned in about one and a quarter lengths. Steering control while backing down was very good. Access to the engine itself Is good, ‘There are hatches and doors in the engine box for routine checks, and though these may seem a bit under- sized, the entire box (and the compan- ionway steps in front of it) can be easily removed, (EBNELUBION tne catalina 385 isa worthy stablemate tits larger and Smaller sisters If you're looking for fnew boat in this sze range that embraces the best in modern design without sacrificing practically and falling ability, you cant do much Detter than this Shel serve well as A amily coastal eraser and with pproprate modifications could also go offshore.men Hunter 33 2012 /7 NEW SAILBOAT REVIEW St w e S 3 Sg Oo a a wn HEADROOM Bt 6in ‘LOA 39f2in// LWL3SRSin// BEAM Tt Tin DISPLACEMENT 15:00 (st, 16 500 shoal) SSAILAREA 67 (100% FT) ENGINE hp Yaar dese ‘DESIGNER Gery Oouglas ‘PRICE S208,95 base sawasreano Be te SAIL AREA DISPLACEMENT RATIO ee DISPLACEMENT LENGTH RATIO Lal 156 Laas PERFORMANCE ed Our Take aos, ‘+ Avove-average constuction and nish ‘= Comortabl, unctional cockpit nd interior ‘Versatile saling ig cons ‘Forward head may be hard t use in seavay ‘Undersized nav stationTOFINOU 12 A high-performance da\ he aestheiderences between T iscnantitoeantot re inthe dayster marke. The aerage mmodeen Us dayalerhas a cined gentlemanly ar I's a beat your grand fu would have been proud own. typical sporty Eurdaysaller onthe ther han, ls dashingrogucet dering glance, but Granddad would eye itnupllouly ithere isa boat that trades this divide with haraly inc itisthe Toftou trom ranceTofnon was balling prety te daylong Defoe te en caught on over heres halls have the swetestof ine anon is bigger boat the the OS andthe 12, flaring varasbed ta tnd uabogany Sroodworhistegrated eeamlety ih Srpanses of black carbon er and subtly contoured erga sated the Ingest ofthe fal ona cil morning cits Rocha France The #0-foot Foo 12a Joubert Nive design mederateof beam ean tnd lowing and craving almost tecrwhich weuldbe drawback in many areas ofthe US. East Coast ut ines orn ienpresvely itand 3 view 17 2012 iler avPerer wieusen precise ride to weather. Hull and bulk- heads are lightweight fiberglass/foam. composites, and the bare minimum of Interior furniture and systems-along with a carbon-fiber spar-help keep weight down to a svelte 10,500 pounds-about 40 percent less than a typical 40ft production boat. Sail controls are led aft to a quartet of Harken winches in the cockpit. Lines run in galleries behind the removable ‘mahogany-sheathed false coaming and cabintop sides. The work area is concentrated around the twin carbon-fiber wheels, so guests can take it easy on the long teak-covered bench seats. With the autopilot driving, the skipper can easily work the boat alone. ‘Once the big main was up and drawing, the boat hared off on a tight reach, feeling eager to go even before we unrolled the self-tacking jib and sheeted it home. When all you have to do ina tack is put the wheel over, sailing to windward becomes a plea- sure. On a boat such as this, which leaps out of a tack as soon as the sails fll, ’s even more rewarding, Hard on the wind, with 15 knots over the deck, the speed readout on the mast flickered a € i. 3 o g a a LOA Sin LWL3SIt6in BEAM 106i BALLASTS p06Io // SAILAREA zit ENGINE 28hp Yanmar dase! DESIGNER JoubertNivelt US. AGENT RB, Rodgers Yacht Sales, Noank, Connecticut, 8096-776, rodgersyachtsales.com BALLASTRATIO. O% : z= ‘SAIL AREA DISPLACEMENT RATIO =D DISPLACEMENT.LENGTH RATIO 0105 300 PERFORMANCE ae readily into the 8s, With the sheets cracked in a freshening breeze we were soon surging along at 9-plus knots. Belowdecks, accommodations are ‘minimalist but adequate. One option is an open-plan interior drawn by famous stylist/designer Philippe Starck. You could imagine spending summer ev rings reclining with a significant other in the leather-lined saloon, the golden glow of oll lamps reflecting in the mir- ror-tiled wet bar, soft music playing, basking in the afterglow of a hard day's sailing. Perhaps Granddad would approve after al.. NsAQUILA RP45 An eagle that truly soat {first Teouldn’t help asking Pirvsiritererteais: market really needs another high- strung IRC racer-eruiser lke the Aquila P45. But one look at this carefully en sgineered, well-built racer was al ittook toanswer that question with an em- phatie yes ‘The collaboration between Reichel Pugh Yacht Design and China-based Sino Eagle Group (SEG) teams up a cut- ting-edge design firm with a builder that has mastered the art of handling ad- vanced composites. More evolution than revolution, the RP4S represents a team ‘effort to find the right blend of price point and high performance. For example, the RP4S's hull is set in epoxy resin, as its superior mechanical properties justify the increased cost. On the other hand, the same price-for-per- formance reasoning led to an E-glass and carbon mixin the laminate schedule, rather than a commitment to amore costly all-carbon structure. The same ‘bang-for-the-buck reasoning also pre- vailed when it eame to specifying more conservative rod rigging, but allowed for splurging on an all-carbon rudder. Allline leads on the boat are well thought out, and the high-quality hard~ ‘ware is appropriately sized. The aft deck traveler and German mainsheet controls don't crowd the helm or conflict with the he paula RP&S BY RALPH NARANJO running backstay controls~an essential feature when flying a big-roach mainsail like the one on the RPAS. Ahigh sail area-displacement ratio and modest beam make this IRC racer an efficient light-air performer. In 5-9 knot conditions during our test sail, he boat proved energetic upwind, ready to accelerate with any excuse of a puff, and efficiently brought its breeze forward on a reach Although the electronics had not yet been fully dialed in when I came on board, by lining up some shore-side ranges I was able to note the bearings on each tack, and it was clear that the Aquila P43‘ foils like to resist leeway. The boat caries its beam well aft, which adds a lot of form stability and sail-carrying eapac- ity, while the crew on the rail has enough room to do some useful trim-shifting to cope with varied wind and sea states. The boat has sufficient buoyancy forward to help to decrease the drama when surfing fon steep wave faces. Calling the RP43 a racer-cruiser is a bit of a stretch. Yes, there are three double berths, two settees that can double as sea berths and a two-burner stove. But while a 45ft sailboat that weighs 14,000 pounds, draws 10ft 2in and carries 1,292 square feet of upwind sail area may be a family cruiser for those with three strong lads or lasses Specifications ¥ ea ee HEADROOM 6 4in LOA 4 8in | LWL4OR 30 DISPLACEMENT 14000 // BALLAST 58731 FUEL/WATER/WASTE (GAL) 2424/0 DESIGNER Reiche-Pugh Yacht Design U.S. DISTRIBUTOR Rechel-Pugh Yacht Design, San Diego, CA, 618-223 2299, qulssingyectnscom home from college, I suspect it will be a bit of a challenge for your typical gunk- holer, Call it a racer-cruiser with a big “Rvanda litte “c.” ‘That said, the boat will excel as a serious ISO Cat A racer ready for IRC inshore action or an offshore sprint to Bermuda or Hawaii. Under sail she’s a user-friendly speedster with a fingertip- sensitive heim, and needs to be appreci- ated for the performance she can and does deliver. st 2012 /1 NEW SAILBOAT REVIEW 53i ere BAVARIA CRUISER 40 ed mids icely prop his hearty 40-Foot ruling boat Tisserant boat recent node the North Ametan mabe by reviled Bavaria ach, atsone vingne So and allen twin rudders to help conto bean hls when vel hecedna reese whet 40 and he Shull S2and 96 donot Unie ts Sale str te Cre 40 does Das ike als sings the rust 40 fe tures ponerflhigh-teume hal ang fava dtinavecabnhouse prof with Tools perincte On the smaller bots foo ably butte 0s jst bg enough forthe roportons to work wel Theres aver fneiona msc GENSTRUCTION Construction details for the Cruiser 40 are similar to the ‘other boats in this line. The huil is laid ss ” uising up by hand in Bavaria’s huge European production facility, with a mix of chopped-strand mat and and biaxial fabric set in isophthalic polyester resin. Boats exported to the United States also have an epoxy barrier coat for im- proved blister resistance. The hull, which is cored with Coremat below the waterline and with Airex foam above, is reinforced with a top-hat style internal grid. The deck is also cored with Airex and is serewed and bonded to the hull ona generous internal flange. The ballast keel is iron, GAIBEER The cockpit is both comfortable and functional, with long bench seats on either side, high coamings for back support and a fixed table with folding leaves amidships. The split twin- wheel helm allows easy access to the stern, where a large fold-down swim plat form facilitates immediate access to the water. The transom is well engineered, oF 7 T orlaMags with a clever hydraulic hinge that in- creases resistance as you drop the plat- form, so that it doesn't fall flat all at once. The hinge also greatly reduces resistance when you're hauling the platform back up, so that you need not strain yourself in the process, The mainsheet arrangement has two separate sheets tha and led forward along the boom, then back to coachroof winches on either side of the companionway. The twin sheets, matched with a powerful me- chanical vang, should allow as much control over mainsail shape as a single re set in a bridle sheet led to a traveler. The sheets for the blade jib, which sets forward of the wide swept-back spreaders on the mast, are led to winches mounted at the forward end of the cockpit coamings. No primary sail controls, therefore, can be reached by the helmsperson, though I expect the jibsheets could also be routed to the secondary winches farther aft Moving forward you'll find the deck Is easy to negotiate, thanks to the ag- gressive antiskid. Deck cleats are nu- ‘merous and well sized. The anchor rode locker at the bow is a bit unusual and ‘may seem undersized if you want to carry a lot of chain. There is a small inspection hatch on deck, but physical access is through a gasketed hatch behind the forward bulkhead in the forward cabin below. The problem with this arrangement is that access to the locker through this hatch may be blocked off when there is too much chain stacked up inside. KECONMODATIONS Our test boat had a three-cabin layout, with two state~ rooms aft under the cockpit and a large owner's stateroom forward with an ee tehnaom feeasy pene crtbe finished with Your choice of rere ensuite head. The galley is ranged Euro- style along the port side of the saloon, with another head aft to port. A two- cabin layout is also available, with a large storage area substituted for the aft stateroom on the port side. This version has a single head aft, but itis larger, with a separate shower stall ‘The aft cabins are well arranged, with a large dressing area, good stowage and a decent amount of vertical clearance over the double berth (which does un- fortunately have a kink in its shoulder to accommodate the engine space). The dinette in the saloon, which can seat seven people easily, incorporates a settee that is also long enough to sleep the odd guest. Behind itis a dedicated nav station with a rather small desk, but ‘enough space alongside to mount auxi iary electronics, Aesthetically, you can make of the Interior what you want, as there are three different joinery woods to choose from (oak, mahogany and walnut) and a large selection of fabrics. GROEREAT conditions during ourtes sailon Chesapeake Bay were unforu- mately to light tell us much about the boat Salling in just to 6 knots of vind with nothing but thein-mast Other boats to look at: furling mainsail and the small jib Forward, the most speed we were able to ‘muster was 2 to 3 knots on a close reach, Based on my experience sailing the Cruiser 45, however, I expect this, boat will also sail well in stronger breezes, though perhaps with more of a tendency to gripe when well heeled hard ‘on the wind, due to the single rudder. During our sail, {found the helm re- ‘sponse was crisp and accurate. Both steering stations had good ergonomics ‘with excellent sightlines forward, GHDERBOWER Performance while mo- toring was good, and the boat had no trouble developing 6.7 knots of speed with the 40hp engine turning 2200 rpm. in flat water. At full throttle (2,850rpm) this climbed quickly to 77 knots. The boat's turning radius at speed was rea- sonably tight, about 11/4 boatlengths, ‘and she was easy to control while backing down, EBNELUBION wien ts high-volume hull, large cockpit, spacious accom- modations and variable interior aes- thetic, the Cruiser 40 represents a good value for sailors looking for a family cruising boat in this highly ‘competitive size range. sR 25 Delphia 10.3 Jeanneau $0408 2012 /1 NEW SAILBOAT REVIEW 55 HEADROOM 6 sin LOA AOR Gin ff LWL 38 din ff BEAM T2THin DISPLACEMENT 19,350 // BALLAST 6,31Ib FUEL/WATER/WASTE (GAL) S595/185 ELECTRICAL 2x 15H (house 85AH engine) ‘BUILDER Bovai Yochtbau, Giebelsac, Germany ‘PRICE S218. 452 base BALASTRATIO ID m% 2 om SAI AREA DISPLACEMENT RATID ry 0 DSPLAceMeNT.LENGTH RATIO Ss 193 * PenronMANce SSD acer raiser Our Take aos, + Wel- designed tld down wansom ‘ Aaractive appearance ‘Spacious accommodations cons “No working sail contra within each of helm ‘Anchor rod actos itfcult wm accesssailmagazine.com/video cee boii a [pf 8 = ae f= BENETEAU OCEANIS 41 A mix of comfort and fine perform encteas new Oceanis ever B ivesitersnt changin formand an uptick in Baro sang Tis mew ety nthe longlved Oceanstine fn to cases) to deck and makes a comfortable home feat (CGHETRUETION one rte keysto Beneteau stecess has long been ts al approach to boatbuilding By offering distinctly diferent boats to cruisers and racers, the company has been able to target the preferences of each clientele "he current Oceans lineup features @ rethinking ofthe hl shape that goes tell beyond the signature chine that yrns foe and aft Just above the water- Tne The new boat features. abe tera section and were shaped wane plane footprint Te ballast ratios on the low end, bu the newly engineered foll-shaped Keel and rudder workin harmony with the canoe body. Whats apparent stat designers Fnot-Cong had more than fashion statement in imi when they drew the new Nace Beneteau continues to build solid ss view 17 2012 ANCE BY RALPH NARANIO fiberglass hulls that are stiffened by the addition of a molded grid and liner. The latter is bonded to the hull and provides both a finished inner surface, as well as crucial attachment surfaces for bulk- heads, interior joiner work and even the engine beds. The complex deck struc ture does not go on until most of the interior has gone into the boat. The double-spreader, deck-stepped mast and the boom are aluminum. All in ll, this is a solid boat, of the kind sailors have long come to expect from the world’s largest boatbuilder BABE tre Oceanis 4's ewin-wheel helm makes sense aboard any boat with so much beam carried so far aft. It offers the person driving, comfortable windward or leeward perch, and provides clear access to the push-button, drop- down swim platform in the transom, ‘The signature fiberglass arch—a feature on many new Beneteaus~and elevated mainsheet bridle does more than keep the mainsheet out of the way Italso serves as the backbone for a dodger or bimini, Halyards, control lines and reefing lines are logically clustered around rope clutches on either side of the companionway Asolidly fastened double bow roller keeps anchors and chain away from the relatively plumb stem. It can also be used as the tack point for a removable furling jib or asymmetric spinnaker. The mast has been moved aft to about 4T percent of the distance from the bow to stern, which adds more J dimension or foredeck length-to the Foretriangleand allows a large, nearly non-overlap- ping jib to be set on a 15/16th headstay and sheet inside the outboard chain- plates, fora tight sheeting angle. The nice thing about outboard chainplates is that they afford a bulletproof chainplate-to- hull attachment, and also allow crew to pass easily along the side decks. RECOMMOBATIONS ‘T. high-votume Inferior ean be ordered in one of three diferent layouts. Tsaled the twoveabin, choose tree eablns and one head, oF three eabins and wo hese ‘hc two-eabin/one-head layout had a roomy fee although Iwas sorry not to see port and starboard sa ber. A converte sliding nav station end table thatallows the settee tobe configured foreither navigation or hors dures cccupies the port sie ofthe main Saloon, The shaped galley comes quipped with a two-bumer stove and Small oven buts ite limited in terms Beneteau pioneered factory-made Ieader in this area. The jolnery i come prised of high-quality hardwood eneers over plywood thats vbotially cut to exact proportions During a5- sembly the hull iner and preassembled Spray-fnished joinery areal ged up tiv Donded in pace before the decks placed on the hull The abor saved in this automated approsch te interior building allows Beneteau to investin engincerng advances whle puting competitive price tags on Is products. (GRDERBAT 1 sated te Oceanis Aton a breezy fall day onthe Chesapeake A 15-20 knot northwesterly with higher igs was kicking up chop and ight from the start found the boat was Fe= sponsive and wilingto tolerate the pls Tintertonaly drove thea! hard on the wind, asuming ts wide tern would turn deepheel angle into arudder- Other boats to look at: Dufour 40s Tartan 4000 releasing roundup. But not only did the ‘boat refuse to misbehave, it maintained a comfortable helm despite almost 20 degrees of heel. Only when the puffs ore down at 25 knots did the rudder finally lose its grip. Even then, the result was a very demure rotation into the wind, afar ery from the auto-tack roundups I've experienced on many other wide-stern cruisers and raceboats, Decreasing the angle of heel had little effect on boat speed, but was a big plus in terms of crew comfort. On the wind. we clocked 6.5 knots reefed and 6.9 knots when overcanvased. Off the wind. ‘we unwound the reefed sails and scooted along at about 75 knots. A furling gennaker or asymmetric spin- naker would undoubtedly have added even more boat speed. But in 20 knots of true wind, there was no need for the extra drama. Overall, a very nice boat onall points of sal. (GRBERFWER returning ro ne dock, the boat slipped through Mat seas at 65 Inots at a fuel-efficient 2.600 rpm. and was very responsive tothe helms proprietary Dock & Go slow-speed mancuvering system made backing into a tight slip easier than everThe joystick-controlied rotating slldrive and bow thruster are electrically like, giving the person a the helm fingertip control ofa sideways thrust- ing force that puts and end to all docking drama. The system's complex: long-term maintenance implications, but for many, the handling conve~ nience will be more than warth the (BGHELUION win tne new Oceans, enetcauhas found away to combine spacious accommodations with perfor mance and sold construction quality at t competitive price point This is a fine cralser that will accommodate a wide range of saling styles an Jeanneau $0408 2012 /1 NEW SAILBOAT REVIEW 57 gs Specifications HEADROOM ot sin ‘LOA 4m inf LWL37H in Jf BEAM Tt sin DISPLACEMENT 196248 SAILAREA 02h" ENGINE Yanmar 4Ohp nat Cong & Asso. PRICE S220000 base BAWAST RATIO ad SAILAREA DISPLACEMENT RATIO rn DISPLACEMENT LENGTH RATION %0 164 300 PERFORMANCE Facet Cruiser Our Take Pros 1 Stands up walla ab = Wol-configred cockoit ‘+ Precise jeinery work cons ‘Lack of se berths in salaon ‘Cou use more ga counter spaceco eo JEANNEAU SUN ODYSSEY 44DS Comfort, performance, good looks-this bi the Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 44DS, under the assumption that dra- ‘matie styling and seads of space be- lowdecks leave little room in a des! brief for performance. In the case of the 44DS, though, | couldn't have been more wrong. | tend to look askance at boats like GONSTRUCTION Like the other boats in the Jeanneau stable, the 44DS comes from the company’s large and very efficient plant in Les Herbiers, France. ‘The basic canoe body, which was drawn by Philippe Briand, is the same as that of the Sun Odyssey 439, and is also as it solid hand-laid fiberglass with a pro- tective barrier coat to prevent blisters. The deck is fabricated using Jean- neau’s proprietary Prisma injeetion- molding process. The result is a struc ture with a smooth, clean interior nish. Injection molding also allows ‘manufacturers to precisely control the amount of resin, which yields an excel lent strength-to-weight ratio. A fiberglass floor grid provides the hull strength necessary to carry rig and keel loads. The fiberglass rudder is built The 4405 features clean “Eure” ines th around a composite stock. The deck- stepped aluminum mast carries twin spreaders and is supported by conven- tional 1x19 stainless steel shrouds. A manually adjustable split backstay fa- cilitates access to a pair of cutout transom steps. GRIBEER The dramatic gray defines the deck saloon coachroof may be what grabs your attention at firs, but its the details that are the most impressive thing about this boat, ‘The cockpit, for example, ust ‘works with plenty of well-propor- tioned space for lounging on the hook or wedging yourself in while on night watch; a substantial bridgedeck to keep green water from getting below; and twin helm stations with excellent vis~ ibility forward. The transition to the side decks is also easy to negotiate so that the first step forward doesn’t require a perilous leap of faith. Other nice touches include rope bins to keep the spaghetti from getting u derfoot and a dedicated slot in the bridgedeck for storing the washboards. ‘The German mainsheet tails, headsall furling line and jib sheets are all led directly to the helm stations, where they are controlled by clutches and a pair of winches forward of the wheels. Is great that the helmsman can handle these chores from behind the wheel, but it puts trimmers forward of the helm in 1 position where they have to face aft, which can be awkward, Still it’ fine for cruising or daysailing with friends who have no interest in touching a line. cent that ACCOMMODATIONS belowdecks it's the details that really set this boat apart joughout incudingin rom left the forward cabin the galley andtheThe uncharacteristically dark walnut veneer highlights the super-modern Euro feel of the boat and looks very good indeed. Jeanneau could afford to go with a slightly dark finish because the deck saloon ports, overhead hatches and thull windows absolutely flood the saloon with ambient light. Apparently there was some debate within the company on whether to take a chance on such a dark finish, but it was definitely the right way to go. ‘The nay station borrows part of the portside settee for a seat and is not only refreshingly spacious by modern stan- dards, but can accommodate an op- tional fridge underneath. ‘The well-appointed L-shaped galley includes a nifty fold-out section that doesn't just cover the sink, but turns into sturdy, usable counter space. The dinette table can be converted to a smaller cocktail table, or it can be lowered to create an expansive double berth in conjunction with the settee. Our test boat was equipped with staterooms fore and aft, each with its ‘own galley and head. I believe the aft stateroom is technically the “owner's” stateroom, but it doesn't really matter. Both are fantastic, with spacious, com- fortable double berths. ‘The aft stateroom features a nifty transom port, in addition to a pair of hull ports. The forward stateroom boasts a desk and vanity, so make that cone yours if you fancy writing letters underway. There's the option of a pair of offset single berths forward as well (GRDERBAL he 4405 is ving proot that good looks and good performance need not be mutually exclusive. The day of our tes sal of Annapolis, Maryland was gray and blustery, with gusts to20 Imots out ofthe northeast, and the boat couldnt have been happier Other boats to look at: Catalina 4s Beneteau Oceanis AS As soon as we unrolled and trimmed the main and jib, the 44DS accelerated to 7 knots-plus on a close reach and. easily locked into a groove, slicing through the chop cleanly in a way that required almost no effort at the helm. Steering was light and responsive, ‘and the boat dug in cleanly whenever the pressure built. I's a beamy boat, and weather helm will be a problem if it becomes overpowered, but rolling in a little headsail was all it took to settle things down again whenever the pres- sure increased, The boat tacked cleanly through the chop and tracked equally well whenever we bore off onto a broad reach, On this point of sail, steering ‘again was light and responsive, GROERPOWER arinough Jeanneau proprietary 360 Docking system-in Which a single joystick coordinates a pivoting sallrive leg aft and lateral thruster forward-is an option our {DS proved well-mannered without it throwing in figure eights both in forward and reverse in the gusty wind and light chop jst outside the marina (EGHETUSION vote ins boats ara- matic styling and sumptuous accom mmodations fool you ita great aller as well as opposed to Justa floating fondo, and wiltake good care of you whether at sea or on the hook won Dufour aus 2012/1 New so Specifications HEADROOM 6r6in LOAM Sin LWL I Ain BEAM 14 1in DISPLACEMENT 2148565 ‘SAILAREA Sst (100% FT) ENGINE Sthp Yanmar DESIGNERS Philippe Briand/ranck Daret US. DISTRIBUTOR Jeanneau Americ, 10-20-40, eanneaucom sawssrearo — SAL AREAISPLACEMENT RATIO SS a DISPLACEMENT LENGTH RATION —_—— 7 PesronNance tt Our Take nos ‘ Broaks now ground a haticaly ‘Cockpit both atractwe and functional “Exell sang qualities cons ‘Could do with mare winchesin cockpitBray nia JEANNEAU SUN ODYSSEY 439 Another solid cruiser from a veteran boat GONSTRUCTION The Sun Odyssey 4398 hull is solid, hand-laid fiberglass, while the deck incorporates a balsa core and is fabricated using Jeanneau’s propri etary Prisma injection-molding process. This technique allows Jeanneau to closely monitor the amount of resin going into the fabrication, which results in an excellent strength-to-weight ratio. A fiberglass grid set into the lower part of the hull helps accommodate rig and keel loads under sail, and supports cabinetry, the cabin sole and other be- lowdecks structures. The single rudder is fabricated with a composite stock, and Ix19 stainless steel shrouds and a © view 17 builder ‘manually adjustable split backstay support the double-spreader keel stepped mast. Chainplates are inboard, alongside the low eabintrunk, leaving the side decks clear Twin anchor rollers extend forward of the stem, almost like a mini-bow- sprit, to keep the hook from dinging your gelcoat when weighing anchor. Its still pretty tight up there, though, and I suspect you'll have to be careful when leaving an anchorage. Still, the combi- nation of a nearly plumb bow, truncated stern, low cabintrunk and chines aft make for one fast, sexy-looking hull, GRIDER The SO 439 German ‘mainsheet system leads back to winches and clutches at each of the two helm stations. The same winches also serve the Jibsheets, and therefore itis impossible to trim the main and jib simultaneously from ‘one side. Someone needs to go to the lee side when bearing away, even ifthe oat is on its ear. Because the winches and clutches, are so far aft, itis also necessary to position yourself aft of the wheels to tend them efficiently, ‘which can be a problem if the person driving wants to changes wheels, say, midway through a gybe. Neither of these issues is necessarily a deal breaker, but they may conflict with some sailing styles. ‘The primaries on our test boat were Harken Rewind Radial electrics, which both trim and ease line under load at the push of a button, making, sail trim neatly effortless. ‘There is also a nifty litte covered line bin just out- board of each wheel, ‘The cockpit is wide and comfort- able, with a clear passageway leading aft between the two helm stations to a drop-down swim platform and board- ing ladder. Moving forward, the molded-in anti skid on our test boat was more than adequate, and the very convincing faux-wood toerail created a welcome sense of security whenever the boat leaned into the gusts. The genoa tracks and fairleads for the headsail sheets are set in recessed grooves on the cab- intop where they won't get underfoot another nice touch. ECOMMODATIONS Jeanneau's com- puter-aided design and parts fabrica tion process provides an excellent finish quality with satisfyingly close~ I biefitting joinery. If Euro-modem isn't your style, then this isn't the boat for you. But if you like the look of the SO 439 from the dock or on deck, then you should. like the living arrangements just fine, ‘The layout is fairly conventional, with cither a single stateroom or twin double cabins aft and either a large owner's, stateroom with a work desk/vanity table or a smaller V-berth and two offset single berths in the bow. The saloon is spacious and comfortable, with a table and wraparound settee to starboard, In a clever bit of design, the table folds up and drops down flush with the settee to form a double berth, Treally liked the L-shaped galley to starboard of the companionway. The“ is oriented so that it is easy to pass drinks and goodies either to the dining area forward or up the companionway— ‘an important consideration when living afloat. I is also close enough to the companionway to give you something to brace yourself against when cooking in rough weather GROERBAT Tre sun Odyssey 43916 quite simply ajoy to salt both steady and rimble, depending on your needs Ourtest boat suffered from a malady tmeneea hasiy stepped rig very mock inneed of tuning-but the combination othe boat’ hl form. rig and rudder sill worked admirably Midway through tur sll the winds bull to about 23 Imots and the boat began to fel over Other boats to look at: Beneteau Sense 13 Bavaria Cuser 45, The saloon eft) and nav station show off the 439s powered (due in large part to the afore ‘mentioned lack of tuning). But rolling up a litte jib and main quickly put an end to that problem, When we encountered a short, stiff chop, the Sun Odyssey 439 sliced through it nicely, parting the waves as ‘opposed to pounding over them. We threw in a few short tacks and the boat came through the wind effortlessly. It was the same bearing away ontoa broad reach back toward Annapolis (GRGERFOWER tn ccaition todeing a great day for a sail, it was a great day for putting the boat's auxiliary through lts paces. The SO 439 did everything it was supposed to, even when I deliber- ately put it broadside to the wind, and backing up and throwing in figure eights both in forward and reverse at will, leanneau’s proprietary 360 Docking-in which a single joystick coordinates a pivoting saildrive leg aft and lateral thruster forward-is an option. But if you know how to handle a boat, it’s not really necessary. (EONELRION re tarest iteration of the Sun Odyssey program is predicated on an approach that emphasizes speed, accommodations and a sailor-friendly rig and deck layout. All three elements are very much in evidence aboard the Sun Odyssey 439.48 Moca ACiS: 2012/7 NEW SAILEOH a ions ficati Speci HEADROOM 6t5in LOA at in LWL 38 in BEAM 134 1in DISPLACEMENT 212536 SSAILAREA 1 (100% FT) ENGINE Shp Yanmar DESIGNER Philpe Briand US. DISTRIBUTOR Jeanneau Americ, 10-20-40, anneaucom o% 2 a SAILAREA DISPLACEMENT RATIO Pa DISPLACEMENT LENGTH RATION —— a PERFORMANCE SS Our Take aos, + Well conigured deck layout ‘+ Shorploking and smooth-saling hull ‘Overall good build quality cons ‘Anchor may ging plumb bow + Sheeting areangumont a bit cumbersomeNew Sailloat ‘mainsnest large vetapping freadeat NAUTITECH 441 A sprightly, nicely finished cruising was a captive catamaran brand be- longing to Dufour Yachts. For over a decade now, Nautitech has operated in- dependently and has steadily shifted its production focus away from the bareboat charter market and toward private ‘owners and active family cruisers. Its latest offering in the North American ‘market, the 441 cruising catamaran, which debuted in Miami in February 2012, is attractively finished and exhibited ex- cellent manners during our test sail, EONSTRUETIGN ‘Me huts are sia fberglass laminate below the waterline both the hal topsides and deck are cored witha lightweight PVC foam. Both ternal structural bulkhead reall high ‘qaltymarne-grade plywood ‘he hl desig. originally created in 1995, features low aspect fixed keels and a relatively tow brldgedeck that tion space. The deck also reaches fa forward ofthe mast ow the central crossbeam, which again helps increase | nits original incamation Nautitech a view 17 2012 om F: ANCE BY CHARLES |, DOANE GRIBEER The aitingushingfearare ofthis version ofthe boat i the single bulkhead helm station situated to port behind the eoachrootas oppose tothe twin helms found on ts sister model (ihe Nauttech 442), which are outboard fnd aft onthe hulls: Ina ther respects thetwo models are Mentca Our test boat was equipped witha small bimini enclosure around the helm Station which afforded excellenthor- ags zontal visibility, but otherwise made it impossible to view the sails without stepping well away from the wheel. My other quibble with the helm is that itis @ bit of a reach to the starboard genoa sheet. If you're on the short side, you'll want to make sure you are comfortable with its placement, particularly liked the double-ended ‘mainsheet, which is led to both the helm and the aft cockpit control station, where the main traveler lines and screecher spinnaker sheets are also situated. All control lines are thoughtfully arranged, ‘making it easy for on pilot, or two crew without a pilot, to ‘manage the boat, Another impressive topsides feature is the long integral wraparound rain gutter that encircles the outer edge of the coachroof. This captures all rainwater running off the coachroof and funnels it to a¥-valve below, where you can elect to route it either straight overboard or your water tanks. Moving forward, I found that the wide, flat side decks offered very secure footing in a seaway. ‘The anchor locker, in the main eross- ‘beam forward of the mast, is unusually large and deep for a boat ofthis type ECGMMODRFIONS o test boat naa the owner's layout, with a full-size owner's stateroom occupying the entire starboard hull. This is a fabulous space, with a private desk and an ensuite head that includes a very large segregated shower stall. Forward of the shower is a large utility space housing a washer/dryer. The port hull ‘crew and an auto~ ntohas two guest staterooms, each with its own ensuite heads and athwart- ships double berths. Three other layouts, including a “charter” version with four staterooms, are also avail- able, and layouts can be customized if desired. The interior finish quality throughout is well above average for a ‘mass-production catamaran. Moving up into the saloon, I was impressed by the galley, which is aft to port, with easy access through a sliding bulkhead window to the cockpit dinette table. Though compact, the galley has an amazing amount of stowage space, with no fewer than 15 different useful compartments within immediate reach. The nav desk, situ- ated opposite, has plenty of room to lay out charts and papers. (GHDEREAT 1 sata me Navstecnin moderate conditions in open water off Miami Beach, Our testoat caried a large square-headed mainsail (an option), pls @ 120 pereent overlapping genoa fried onits headstay For alow: Stung ea with fixed heels performance to windward was better than {antilpa ee. though the boat was a litle sensitive {o-sea state. On port tack we made very good speed iting 7 knots sling a at fpparent wind angle of 45 degrees ina [D-13knot apparent wind On starboard tack however where we hit the chop at a bad angle the hulls hada tendeney to hobbyhorse,and wehad to erack off a ite to Keep the boat moving at 6 knots Tracking the boat singlehanded was easy, and itturned smartly through the eye ot the wind Cracking off bit more, we unrolled a large nylon sereecher set ona smal sprit and the boat leapt forward witha wr Atan ange of 65 degrees we had her going as fast as 9 knots in 12 knots apparent wind ALOO degrees she was sul making better than 8. Turning downwind onto.a broad reach a 40 degree angle, we found we could stil hit Other boats to look at: \ : FountainePajotOrana Lagoon 450 ‘station (shown here) or from the main cockpit below 6 knots in just 8 knots of apparent wind. Given that the boat has hydraulic steering, helm response was surpris- ingly positive and erisp. GNBERPOWER Our boat carried twin 39hp Yanmar diesel engines with sail- drives, though Volvo engines can also be specified. The engine spaces are entirely segregated from the interior living spaces, which helps reduce noise and vibration, Primary access to the engines is through large hatches in the transom steps; secondary access is through overhead deck hatches. While motoring out through the Port of Miami and Government Cut, stem- ‘ming a 15-knot headwind and running through a light chop, we maintained a cruising speed of 77 knots at 2,100 rpm. At maximum throttle, turning 2,900 pm, this increased to 8.5 knots. AS is to be expected with any twin-engine cata- ‘maran, the Nautitech was very maneu- verable under power. ENGLURION 10 youre tooking fora realy ull mass-production erulsing Catamaran, You would be hard pressed tofind a boat more attractive than this Both nish quality and salling perfor- mance are above average fora boat of this ype. The accommodations promise allthe comfort one expects aboard. tat and can be clitomized to a large extent if desired nan Leopard 2012/1 NEW SAILBOK e Specifications \ LOR an) LVL DISPLACEMENT 29253 FUELWATERWASTE (GAL) 1057219717 ELECTRICAL 4» 104M (house; 2x 104M engine) BUILDER Nauttech, Rochefort France, nauiteehir PRICE 550000 base SAI AREA-ISPLACEMENT RATIO Boos Se DISPLACEMENT LENGTH RATION —— PERFORMANCE es Our Take Ros ‘Nice finish quality ‘Great rain hing system Good ng pertormance ‘Lats of galey storage cons ‘Undersized galioyrango ‘Poor vertical visit under helm bin ‘Tendency to hobbyharse ina chopDUFOUR 445 GRAND LARGE A fine, easily handled performance cruiser ev RALPHNARANIO CGNETRUETION tne Dutour 445.61 may be built by a company that has been molding Mberglass boats since 1964, but today’s Dufours are anything buta throwback to a bygone era Vacu- thatal the kerfs in the PVC foam core are fille with resin and thatthe skin on each side ofthe sandwich structure Is uniformly bonded tothe core. The resin forthe one-plece deck is Injected into a two-sided mold to produce a ‘monocoque stricture with nlshed surfaces oa both inner and outer sides of the laminate. This eliminates the need to hide a poorly finished under- deck witha headliner A quick lookin the forepeak ora crawl through the aft portion ofthe boat reveals afl aml- fate with a high fber-to-resinratio that I free of wolds and other imper- 64 NeW SAILBOA\ v1 2012 fections. These are the traits that promote longevity and durability. Some say the devil is in the details, but when it comes to sailboats, so are ‘most of the good things. A close look at the Dufour 445 GL reveals features ranging from meticulously welded chainplates and a low-drag, four-bladed folding prop to a trap door closure for the retractable bow thruster. Fixed port- lights in the hull let in light and all those below to enjoy a fine view. ‘The efficient anvil-shaped, cast-iron keel is attached with stain- less steel keel bolts and hhas enough contact area at the garboard to spread sailing loads to transverse bilge reinforcements in the hull. Though iron is neither as efficient nor as maintenance-free as lead ballast, is is cost-effective, and Dufour, like many other European builders, continues to favor it. For~ tunately, modern epoxy The accommodations are optimized for entertaining coatings do a better job these days of deterring rust. ‘The Dufour 445 GLis ISO Recreation- al Craft Directive Category A Ocean approved, which means the boat's sta bility and structure meet strict stan- dards mandated for ocean passagemak- ers. Those with bluewater itineraries in their future will be best served by the deeper-draft 7M 3in keel. BRIBEGR ‘The deck layout forward is functional, but provides plenty of comfort aft, thanks to its long cockpit benches and dual wheels, which permit easy access to a drop-down swim pl: form in the transom, Primary winches are placed near each wheel and the double-ended German ‘mainsheet can be tended from the heim, allowing a solo watch-keeper to steer, trim and tack the boat with ease. Another big plus are the transition heights from the cockpit sole to the seats and over the coamings to the ddeck—dimensions that make it easy to ‘move from the canvas-covered cockpit to the nicely proportioned side deck. Sightlines from the two helms are excellent. Sturdy toerails and chain plates located just outboard of the cab- intrunk provide a secure, unobstructed passage forward along the side decks. RECCMMOBATIONS bese Under Felei has given the Dufour 445 GLa wide beam carried well aft into abroad ster. ‘The resulting volume not ony provides Useful Buoyancy inthe bow for eareying fail but allows fora spacious forward Cabin with a large, comfortable double berth. Just aft ofthe forward esbin,sep-arate shower and head compartments flank a companionway leading to the spacious saloon, which includes a large table to port with a long L-shaped galley outboard to starboard, Dufour has clearly given a lot of ‘thought to the galley, which includes a well-gimbaled three-burner stove, a refrigerator with both top and side Toading access, a built-in garbage bin, @ wealth of drawers and bins, and plenty of counter space. Like all outboard sinks, the drainage 445 GL will suffer when sailing to wind~ ward on a port tack, But that is an ac~ ceptable tradeoff in this interior, which is optimized for entertaining and com- fortable living at anchor or in port. The two aft cabins with double berths can be used in lieu of sea berths while un HEADROOM 6t6in D5 tein x tnx tf in xx in (at) LOA att in | LWL a0 2in BEAM 1 dn DRAFT Tin td tn shoal DISPLACEMENT 24280 (si, 24812 (shoal) BALLAST 77 ‘SAILAREA 1.636? ain and 106% blade i) FUELIWATER) WASTE (GAL exten ENGINE Shp Volo (salve) DESIGNER debwrofk & eo BUILDER HenseGroup, Greifswald, Germany Us DISTRIGUTOR Manse Yaehts USA, 578 93-06, usahanseyachtscom PRICES272000 base sauasrRano eS SAL ARESISPLACEMENT RATIO ———— DISPLACEMENT LENGTH RATION —_— PeaFORNANce Ss Our Take aos, ‘Easy asl snglehanded Unique, cuting- edge ‘Tremendous space belowdecks cons + Windage could be anissue maneuvering ina cros breezeBers r= if fer Pat BAVARIA CRUISER 45 A sweet-sailing cruising machine by Bruce Farr ay cHaates). Doane builder Bavaria Yachts was giving other mass-production sailboat builders a serious run for their money here in the United States, With its huge ultra-modern manufacturing plant, said to be the largest yacht-building facility in the world, Bavaria quickly estab- lished a major presence on this side of the Atlantic and offered a wide range of boats at solid competitive prices. Then, just as quickly, they disappeared like the proverbial putf of smoke, one of the first vietims of the onset of the Great Recession in the fall of 2008, Now reorganized under new owner ship, Bavaria has recently re-entered the US. market with a line of boats con- ceived by Bruce Farr and BMW Group DesignworksUSA. I was in Grenada vis- iting Horizon Yacht Charters, which represents Bavaria in the Caribbean, when this announcement was first ‘made, so | jumped at the chance to hop aboard a brand new twin-rudder Bavaria Cruiser 45 for a test sail | t wasn't so long ago that German The Cruiser 45's hull is laid up by hand and is composed of a combination of chopped strand mat and. ry view 17 2012 stitched biaxial mat set in isophthalic polyester resin, Below the waterline the laminate is bulked up with two layers of 2mm Coremat; an epoxy barrier coat is also applied on top of the exterior gelcoat. There is a closed-cell Airex foam core above the waterline. The hull is stiffened with an inner grid frame. The keel is secured with 20mm stainless steel bolts and Plexus adhesive. The deck, also cored with Airex, is bedded in polyurethane sealant and is screwed down at Sin intervals, As is usual on European boats, the keel is cast iron. (BRIBEER Me deck and cockpit are well conceived The twin helm stations are pushed faraf and instead ofa seoop Fantom thers i age fold-dow pla form dressed in eak Steering postions atboth wheels are comfortable a all healing angle, ans to. pal of lever fiprup foot lets All-round visibly is good and I particulary appreciated the tustom Horizon Yacht Charters bmi onthe boat I saled Te ater edge of this bmi is pitched so that if youtean Into the whee! just abit you're inthe shade, but i you Tean back litle you 2 Cruises 4 go to sallmagazine.com/video Cockpit stowage is excellent. In addi- tion to two large, but shallow cockpit lockers, there is an enormous lazarette with room for a liferatt, a rolled-up inflatable dinghy, sails and more ‘There's also a large fixed cockpit table, plenty strong enough to brace against while heeled, that has both interior storage and enough space underneath to stash an ice chest. Moving forward, the deck on the whole feels quite secure, thanks to some very aggressive antiskid, However, 1 ‘would lke to see the cabintop handrails, which run only halfway up the length of the house, extended farther forward. The deck cleats are very rugged, quite large and well positioned. A small foc'sle locker abaft the belowdeck chain locker i just big enough to hold a spinnaker in a bag, ‘The slightly fractional Seldén rig fea~ tures long swept-back spreaders with outboard shrouds that terminate just Inside the gunwales. Our test boat carried a full-batten mainsail (an In-mast furling main is also available) and upgraded Lewmar 58 primary winches. There is plenty of room in the cockpit to mount secondary winches, if desired. The double mainsheet is split in bridle with the sheet tails led to either side of the companionway. Other lines coming off the mast are also led aft. RECNMAOBATIONS ‘rn interior enjoys Tots of ambient lighting thanks to plethora of deck hatches, The berths aft tre generously sized and have excellent ‘ertleal lerance, despite beng itu= ded under the cockpit Each at cabin tlso has a well-appointed ensuite head My one complaint with these two cabins isthat they ae poorly ventlated. ‘The saloon promises tobe very com fortableat anchor, but somewhat less 50 while sailing The in-line Euro-style galley onthe por side has plenty of cater space, bot the aks are Uader- Stzed The settes around the athwart= ship dinete table unfortunately aren ‘zs log enough for eeping, The nav desks Feasonable iz, bat the mala tistbution panels small, with tle yoowt for ancilary electronica, Theres Tots of stowage space under the sete, but most of iis hard acces. “The interiors best feature tthe boasts avery wide double berth andoodles of storage capacity. The ensuite head is split into two components, with a dedicated shower compartment to port and a toilet and vanity compart- ‘ment to starboard~an arrangement many cruising couples will enjoy. The forward stateroom, if desired, can also be split into two separate sleeping compartments. (GHIBERTBATL we naa ideat conditions outside Grenada’ TrueBlue Baya strong 20-knottradewind and a com- mensurate lumpy sea The Cruiser 45, to putit bluntly. sais ikea witeh and reveled in thi environment Certainly itis one of the better performing been aboard In deference to the breeze, we sailed under the standard 10 pereent jb and tucked one reef inthe main. Although the mainsal was litle too fll believe the reef points may have been out of positon). we slipped to windward very Eien The powerful hull fet smooth and authortative as it shouldered through the big waves The motion was predictable, wit itl slamming Speeds were quite impressive We rade 78 knots sling ata 35 degree ppsrent wid angle wich ncreeed to over Sknots ata 40 degree angle, and ag high as 93knots when we bore Other boats to look at: Catalina us a away to 60 degrees. Cracking offto a broad reach, we still ‘managed to main- tain speeds in the 7- to 8-knot range even though we had no off-wind sails onboard and kept the reef in the main, Helm response was excellent, and I found the boat a joy to steer. Its groove is not very wide, and you can't afford to get too distracted, but careful attention to the helm is well rewarded Also, thanks to the twin rudders, which are situated well outboard, you can easily maintain control of this super-wide craft even when it's heeled over on its ear. GRBEREWER Or test boat was equipped with «73hp Volvo diesel engine as opposed othe standard S5hp engine, ad thus was equally im- pressive under power Maintaining a {rulsing tempo of2200 pm, our Cruiser 45 hi7S knots at ful throttle (2800 rpm) we made 88 knots. The boat turned smartly at speed In just one boatlength and was easy to control when backing down. The engine sel Should be easy to work on The engine compartments very tal with exeel- Tent access from the front and reason- able access from the sides ENELUBION re cruiser 45 is com- Parable to most other mass-production Cruising boats a far as its cockpit deck sailing performance, however, at least inmoderate to strong wind, excep" tional The boa represents a great, wah for eruers ooking fr both Charter bost comfort and perfor mance boat speed. Beneteau Oceans 45 2012/1 NEW SAILBOK ° gs Specifications HEADROOM 6t8in LOA att Tin LWLAtIe Nn /) BEAM 148 in DISPLACEMENT 277808 SSAILAREA 1,152? ENGINE SShp VoWvo-Penta diesel sarive) DESIGNER Fr Yacht Design BMW Group DesigrworksUSA SAIL AREA-DISPLACEMENT RATIO DISPLACEMENT-LENGTH RATIO. 170 PERFORMANCE Racor Cruiser Our Take Pros + Excelent sling perfomance {Great cockpit stowage ‘Large forward stateroom cons + Suty att cabins + Small galley sinksNew Saillyoat MOODY AC45 to the future ey si sprincer jv got to hand to the folks t YJ sic aes some tobuldewo 45-oot erlsng boats that occupy oppose ends ofthe logic behind sucha strategy Tne DS4s isa hypermdern ceckssloon ruse tradonl ooking AES fat cock s much more understated Each sould tppealtovery diferent buyers thereby tmosimising the company’ appeal Took the ACS out fr atest sal of Newport Mhode slant alt see hon fongtime Mood designe il Dizon ands tears acomplsed the ficultmission of reimagining the fatare whe sl stying tract the past CONETRUGHION he null is cored with foam below the waterline and balsa above the waterline, and is laminated with polyester resin and a vinylester outer layer to resist blistering. The deck is also cored with balsa. Solid structural components, along with the bulkheads and furniture modules, are 7» view 17 2012 ee ce —" tabbed in place. The keel is cast iron with a lead ballast bulb. The 9/10ths rig has two spreaders, and the mast and boom are anodized aluminum. (GHIBERE 1 cia coubietake when we approached the ACAS im the DS45 The ines ofthe S45 are prety radia, while the ACIS pays homage to Yachting’ past The more traditional profile ofthe ACAS also benefits from nu ioeenr salons pares that it appears almost-dare say i? Herreshoff-esque Stepping aboard loved the enormous cockpit with itstong, comfortable benehes and sculpted helm seats Ialso appreciated the way the drop-down swim platform i tastefully hidden The cockpit boasts lng benches M 20 to sallmagazine.com/video behind the wide classic transom, and I liked the easy access afforded by the dual helms and split backstay. 1 low-slung coachroof offers clean sightlines in all direc tions, in contrast to the DSA5. Other on-deck elements are pretty straightforward and are well constructed and installed. ‘There are nice big cockpit lockers to swallow things like docklines and fenders, the built-in teak pulpit seats are both comfortable and classy and it’s easy to go forward, thanks to the low coachroof and wide side decks. repping below, I found a wealth of var- nished furniture and cabinets with classie rattan inserts in the doors. These both aid in ventila~ tion and lend the interior an ul- tra-traditional look The U-shaped galley has a good-sized fridge, a two-bumer stove, and plenty of stowage and counter, space. The saloon has an abundance of stowage as well and a curved settee that is long enough to for stretch out on, Is hard to provide 6ft Sin of head- room in the saloon of a 45-footer while keeping the coachroof profile low, but Dixon has done it. dd feel like I was “descending” into the hull as I entered the saloon, but that headroom has to.rr Perera) Roeser) ‘come from somewhere. The small oval ports do not let in as much light as the big ports found on most modern 45- footers, but the large opening hatch helps keep things bright. ‘There are no surprises in the sleeping cabins. The master forward has a large double berth. It also has a bench seat ‘and an ensuite head. The berths in the guest cabins are on the small side, but adequate. Overall workmanship and joinery quality is excellent. (GHGERISAI | granted myseira moment or two during our ACA test sailto appreciate te simple oy of saling om a sunny autumn day In perfect conditions-I2 knots of breeze fd flat water. In reality, though, Mother Nature only deserved part of the eredit "The fact the ACA sailed wll and made me feel good just being atits heim Ibe the frst to admit that “eeling good? i hardly a quantitative measure of salling performance. But think can explain my “analysis"in Fiestas I said eae, visibility from the cockpit is oustanding And while the feeling of being connected tothe Hindered view forward tsa precious omamodtty on any oa, ean be expe cially soon big eviser. The ACASS Other boats to look at: WorldMags well-built windshield enhances this effect. It provides good spray protection, but is also much easier to see through than the clear plastic windows on most dodgers. Second, the boat has wide upwind groove and tracks effortlessly. Boat speeds hovered in the 6-knot range, and the wake gurgling past as I sat at the leeward heln was ever so satisfying, ‘The boat was equally easy to handle coming about, thanks to its self-tack- ing jib and responsive helm. When the time came to trim the sails, the jib- sheets and double-ended main were all within easy reach. Speeds stayed in the 6-knot range as we cracked off a bit, and the helm remained easy to manage. Ultimately, the boat did ev- erything I asked with aplomb. ‘GRGERIBOWER satin conditions were so ideal we hardly needed to start the 55 horsepower engine, but when we did, the boat maneuvered predict- ably and developed 7.5 knots of speed at eruising revolutions. Engine noise was noticeable down below, but wasn't loud enough to be objectionable. (ERELUSION 1m sure vin Dixon ana Nis tam had a blast designing two such diverse boats asthe Moody Dsa5 and the Moody ACAS at roughly the same time There’ no doubt that withthe ACAS he sueceeded inputting if youre the kin of person who likes a well-built modern boat that sails well and relets yachting tradl- tional side the ACAS may be just for the thing or youn station Moody D545 Bavaria Cruiser 45 2012/7 NEW SAILEOH n Specifications HEADROOM Btn LOA ast) LWL ao in BEAM 137 DISPLACEMENT 258858 ‘SAILAREA Sef (10% FT) ENGINE SShpVoWo (salve) ‘DESIGNER Dion YachtDesion US. DISTRIBUTOR Berthan USA 01-86-1404, berthenusa.com BAWAST RATIO ae SAIL AREA ISPLAGEMENT RATIO ao DISPLACEMENT LENGTH RATION —_——ae PERFORMANCE: EE ae Our Take Ros ‘Excellent iby rom coctpit ‘Easy salt easy helm Good seed cockpit cons “+ Accommodation setiow nhl “Notas much ight belowdecks ‘son many modern esersNew Sailloat MOODY DS45 iser that dares to be different Acru cody Yahts were baltin Di FEverssseitino bane ofthe amb Rve from the mide ofthe sth entry into the early yeas ofthe st and Bi Dion hasbeen designing Moody trasing boas since 981 Theres nothing tatonl, though, about he ‘Moody DS. represent ade Spinto the ttre fom this well-es- talshed builder whichis now owned by Germany's Hane Yachts jumped aboardin Jamestown, tthode Ianto teejut how comfortable this fur Grusngboat ould be-and tse how pfs ders GGNSTRUCTION ‘The null is buile with vinylester resin and fiberglass over a Corecell foam core, and is stiffened with a solid fiberglass grid, The fiberglass deck is cored with balsa and is also set in vinylester resin. Overall construction quality is good. ‘Anearly plumb bow and squared-off transom maximize sailing length, while a stainless steel anchor roller extends n interates ; well forward, almost like a mini bow- sprit, to keep the hook clear of the stem. Below the waterline the DS45 boasts a pair of shallow semi-balanced rudders to ensure good control even when the beamy hull is well heeled. Ballast is con- centrated in the bulb on an L-shaped keel. Draft is 6ft din BHBEER where do start? The stern and cockplt ares, like that of eatama- Tow in the ht provide direct sngle- saloon. This confgura- ton is markedly more comfortable when : hanging out on the hook than na narrower, taller, i tlonaly designed mono- hull cockpit The drop-down swim =, platform is huge, and as on a catama- ran, the cockpit has a fully integrated roof” equipped with a retractable mainsail visibility (or simply improve stargazing) while under sail. The wide side decks are protected by sturdy, nearly knee-high bulwarks topped with a stainless steel handrail, Thes dual helms with wide helm seats, si nificant cockpit locker capacity, and comfortable cockpit seats that are long, and deep, ‘The double-ended mainsheet runs aft through a pair of recessed races along with all the other sail controls to banks of clutches right by the helms REGONIMODATIONS Again, there are no companionway steps-you simply step through the full-sized sliding glass door straight into a saloon equipped with a large settee, a forward-facing nay and helm station, a good-sized galley and-best of alla wraparound view of the outside world, Headroom is, excellent, and the settee is big enough to comfortably seat six. The smallish galley has decent counter space, and the interior helm station will be the place to be on any offshore passage. Like the cockpit, the saloon will also be a very comfortable place to hang out while on the hook, especially in inelem- ent weather Two shallow steps lead from the saloon down to two guest cabins, two heads and a master cabin that together ‘occupy the space forward of the cockpit. The hull’s wide profile allows the two guest cabins to be positioned toeeither side of the passageway leading to the owner's stateroom in ~~the bow, Other con figurations are ava able, but no matter which you choose, the guest cabins have decent stowage, comfortable bunks and access to their own head. The owner's stateroom has excellent head- room, and includes a number of hatches and fixed hull ports for superior light and ventilation, GRBERBAM Due to those wide hind- {quarters that make the cockpit so Iounge-friendly, I was not expecting the S45 to perform brilliantly under sal. But in perfect test conditions-10-12, knots of breeze, flat water and sunny skies on Narragansett Bay-the hull cut a surprisingly clean wake, and the helm felt smooth and responsive, Upwind the boat was well-balanced and almost sailed itself in a wide groove, with speeds in the 6-knot range. The self-tacking jib made tacking a simple single-handed opera- tion, Tacking angles were not stellar, but they were decent enough, given the superior comfort provided by the wide stern, My only complaint was with the sightlines forward. I found myself con- stantly trying to look over or around the coachroof when steering, even when the canvas center section was retracted, There's no open view forward from anywhere else in the cockpit either. Instead, you have to look through the companionway and the forward-facing windows in the saloon to see where you're going. Of course, ‘many catamarans have similar cockpit visibility issues, but they also generally have their helm stations perched high enough that you can see over the Other boats to look at: Jeanneau 40S Mange 44s coachroof and get a good view forward. That said, during a passage offshore I'd probably spend a lot of my ime at the helm station in the saloon, which has excellent visibility forward. Personally, I would not consider the visibility issue to be a deal breaker, especially since I found the cockpit and accommodations to be so com- fortable at anchor. Nonetheless, itis something to consider. GNDERPOWER Motoring performance was spectacular. With the standard. 106hp Volvo diesel and three-bladed folding propeller, I recorded 85 knots of boatspeed motoring at 2,000 rpm, while at full throttle we made 10 knots. Maneuvering under power was positive and predictable, thanks to the boat's twin rudders. Engine room noise was muted, even at full throttle. GONELUSION Kudos to Bill Dixon and Moody Yachts for redefining what's possible on a 45-foot cruising mono- hull. Loved the interior and cockpit spaces-especially at anchor-and was pleasantly surprised by the boat's per- formance under sail. This boat's not for everyone, but if you're bored with con- ventional designs and want to own a piece of the future, the Moody DS45 ‘may be just what you're looking for. ws Beneteau Sense 42 2012/7 NEW SAILEOH a Specifications HEADROOM 6t din 048 TIX Sin master 6 Ginx St Sin guest) Lomasie/ WwLezi sin DEAD tae zi OR A tein DISPLACEMENT 30864 /! BALLAST 4736 S00 AREA 426 (10% FT FUEL/WATER/WASTE (GAL) 1807211725. NINE 106yp Vo sailrive) ELECTRICAL S0AH (engin! 3 150 AH (house) DESIGNER Dizon Yacht Design BUILDER Moody Yachts, moodyooats com Us DISTRIBUTOR Benthan USA 1-26-08 berthonusa.com ICE S56 400 base BALLAST RATIO mr aD O% 30 0% SAIL AREA-DISPLACEMENT RATIO ry . 30 DISPLACEMENT-LENGTH RATIO. i D> 0 180 300 PERFORMANCE SSS = Racor Our Take aos + Spacious intron Je cockpit ‘Good seling performance cons ‘Limite vist rom he hems ond cockpit *Comto + Salish aley ‘+ Rascal aesthtis may not be for everybodySarre BENETEAU OCEANIS 45 A stylish, award-winning cruiser from France av cHaR.es}. ooaNe panding its new Sense line of family cruisers over the past two years, Beneteau has also revitalized its ever-popular Oceanis line. The new Oceanis 45 has been particularly sue cessful, having snagged the pres gious European Sailboat of the Year award in the family cruiser category for 2012, Superficially, the Sense and new Oceanis design concepts seem quite similar, as both feature sleek, beamy hulls with hard chines above the waterline, mainsheet arches and low-profile coachroofs. In fact, the Oceanis concept is much more con- ventional, with accommodations running all the way aft and an interior that is deeper and more segregated from the cockpit. As such, the new Oceanis 45 should appeal to cruisers looking for a solid boat with modern styling and a traditional range of, layout options. GONETRUCTION The hull is solid fiber- glass set in polyster, while the deck, also fiberglass, is injection-molded and cored with end-grain balsa. The hull-deck joint is bonded with adhesive and fastened | n addition to introducing and ex- ” view 17 2012 with screws. The hull is stiffened with a ‘monolithic inner structural molding that Is bonded in place. The keel, with cast iron ballast, is bolted on with stainless steel fasteners and backing plates. The stock for the single spade rudder is fi- berglass. The 9/l0ths fractional rig fea- tures an aluminum mast with double spreaders and discontinuous stainless steel standing rigging, BRIBE te deck and cockpit Tayout i ean and netional Ailhatches forward of he com- panionway ae sh withthe deck nthe contemporary ssl At workng nes run af, wth the sheets coming SelFall ingwinches on the cockpit coumingr within easy eschof thetwithelm stations aA oser lines. ncuding mains Sie ofthe companionvay. The cockptivery wide, but tsbiturcatedby a lrge acd table wth foling eaves, 80 feWves to windward when the Dot is heeled. This able has tment and our tet boat hada mult funeton nav leplay mounted in amodule ait attend where t could be easly viewed from citer helm ston Helm ergonomics are good, wth clearsightinesforeard anda mix of comorrablesering potion Along Bench sea alec aban the wheels makes reas forstherso come and soctlze with te helmaperson, ‘The cockpits most impressive feature isthe clecrealy contrat full-width foldsdown transom With just a ouch ofabutton, the entire transom Inlud- Ingehat bench scat behind te helms, folds down fatto form an immense teak covered beach that sits nary The new Oceanis interiors peer ents‘ush with the water. This will make it very easy for small pets and even infants to crawl on and off the boat from a tender. RECORMOBATIONE There are four interior layouts, ranging from two prot Iigate charter configurations (four staterooms with two heads, or three staterooms with three heads) to two more moderate plans (three staterooms wrth two heads or two staterooms with two heads) Our test boat had the twor stateroom layout which i definitely the one to pick f you value stowage space. In ew ofa second aft stateroom to por this pian includes both a com modious pantry and an enormous Storage room abaft the galley that can also be accessed from the cockpit Both the moderate layouts have short settees to por, forward of the galley, which feature a clever sliding combina- tion end-table/mav-table that ean be positioned between ort either end of the two seats. This is very versatile but ifyou pine for a dedicated nav space, you wil probably be disappointed with It'The enarter layouts both have long in-line galleys to port with no nav space whatsoever “The aft staterooms ae well con- ceived, with lots of ight and headroom and proper double berths that dont have bites taken out of them to accom mmodate the engine space. The forward Stateroom, taking up a ul third of the boats interior. i fabulous, with lots of private storage, a generons island Gouble berth and a private ensuite head and shower. GROERAT | site the boat in very good conditions on Narraganset Bay. Gur test boat had an in-mastfuring mainsail anda 104 percent ib, and in 18-17 knots of apparent wind, we made 7hmotsatan apparent wind angle of 35 degrees Pinching to 30 degrees, we sil managed 65 knots, an bearing away to Other boats to look at: are Bavaria Cruleer Jeanneau 4405 GOlegrees we hit7.7 knots. ‘Turning off the wind onto a flat reach, our speed ranged from 5.7 to 7 knots in 8-12 knots of true wind. On a broad reach at a 140 degree angle in 8 knots of apparent wind, our speed was 5.3 knots Helm response was generally precise with good feedback. While sailing close-hauled, the single rudder did lose its grip in one moderate gust, so we balanced the helm by increasing tension on the mainsail halyard. In stronger winds I expect you'll need to reef early to keep the rudder working properly. This boat has a very wide stern and I suspect it would benefit from having twin rudders, like the boats in the Sense line, (GRERBOWER te Oceanis 458 powered bya S4hp Yanmar diesel Emagine and can be ordered with Bene- teas new Dock & Go drive system, ‘This marries a rotating sailrve leg witha bow thruster and joystick control that makes it possible to drive the boat Sideways (orn anyother direction) with your fingertips This is apricey option (approximately $1,000), bt wal be valued by those who dist ma- newring sailboats at close quarters under power Driving our test boat in open water away from the docks in Newport found le performed well We earied a speed of12 knots running the engine at 2180 rpm, and at fl revs of 3.000 rpm wean at aerisp 86 knots (EONELURION m1 Oceanis 45 isan attractive, well-conceived cruising boat that should appeal to sailors who tke clean modern styling combined with plans. The large, practieal fld-down transom will be particularly sedtive to families who hike to spend time in the water It wil also find favor with those who puta premium on easy Catalina Ss 2012 // NEW SAILBOAT REVIEW 75 Specifications HEADROOM 617i LOA Ast Sin LWLA2R hn // BEAM 148Sin DISPLACEMENT 2,048 ‘SAILAREA 158° (100% FT) ENGINE Shp Yanmar desl salve) DESIGNER Fnot Cong & Assoc Nauta Design PRICE S25 700 base BALLAST RATIO O 2 0% SAIL AREA-DISPLACEMENT RATIO 8! DISPLACEMENT-LENGTH RATIO. + Severalintorir layouts avaiable ‘+ Fonasti fold down ransom “Needs obo reed earlyCATANA 47 A comfortable, fast cruiser he Ctana yarn the Catslan T irseetnin anes been bling #7-fot craig sears Te ney redesigned Catan 7 predenesor ord epeings rm exe trey mew hull and Geek mot but reas the same tnt proet twin daggerooars open bein stations and penomance-oened ig CONSTRUCTION catanas are built light and strong, with Twaron aramid and ‘carbon fiber used extensively in highly loaded areas of the vinylester/polyester laminate. All the parts are vacuum~ bagged during construction, and the hull and deck are both cored with closed-cell foam. Even the interior joinery, which appears to be solid maple, is made of cored laminates. ‘The company says it has reduced the weight of the 47 by about 1500 pounds. That translates to more speed and/or greater carrying capacity. It also permits the use of 40hp engines, instead of the * view 17 bridle with two separate sheets, both of which must be trimmed for a course change. It’s all optimized for tweaki Dut not simplicity. also discovered there is a blind spot from the helm to the diagonally op- posite bow. The skipper will therefore need a crewmember on watch to port ‘when docking because the engine con- trols are on the starboard binnacle only. Treally enjoyed the comfortable helm seat and the fact that I could see the engine instruments without having to crane my neck RECOMMOBATIONS ‘There's plenty of space belowdecks, with a light color scheme and expansive windows to em- phasize this fact. I's quite pretty and will accommodate a multitude. Headroom is excellent everywhere. Open spaces, however, do call for good grab points, and the Catana 47 could use more of, them. If you are tall you can reach the overhead rails, but it was a stretch for me (1am 5ft 8in ) and my 5ft2in wife was like a hapless ping-pong ball when the conditions got rough. ‘The seating looks more comfortable than it feels, at least for me, The cushion material is very resilient, so one sits on it rather than sinking into it. ‘The seat and back proportions are best suited to taller sailors. ‘The entire starboard hull was devoted twin 50s of the earlier model. The engine rooms in the aft ends of the hulls, are spacious enough to accommodate a ‘genset and a watermaker, ‘The onboard systems are neatly installed and meet CE requirements, although these do not specify tinned wiring, which is an American standard. GRIBECR there is a lot of deck and cockpit space aboard the Catana 47, so working crew and guests will not have to worry about getting in each other's way. The two exposed helm stations move the helmsman out of the social area, while the single central winch handles all the sail control lines. These lines, however, are pretty closely grouped, so hauling on any one line calls for first clear- ing the winch and then locating the line you want from among, those in the large bank of, clutches. The main also has ato the owner, and itis a plea indeed, with a full double berth and a vanity table aft, plentiful lockers amid~ ships and a big head compartment with ‘a separate shower forward, All are sep- arated from the rest of the boat by an attractive, curved sliding door. ‘The port hull has a single berth forward and separate twin berths aft. It will be easy to get in and out of these ‘owins from the center aisle; making them up in the morning will also be simple. Its a very practical design. The two heads for these cabins do not have showers. Perhaps its an illusion, but the hulls of this new boat feel wider and more spacious than on the previous models, ‘These private accommodations should not make anybody claustrophobic, as some multihulls do. (GHGEREAI 11516 he hia 47- Foot Catana Ihave sailed, and it feels differ- ent from the earlier models The nice helm response i stil here, but the bost isquicker Since the earlier models had Similar sal areas, the diference must be due tothe new hull design an con- struction the test boat ight ship” condition (my earlier sails were all hoard erlse-equipped boats) and the rougher sea conlttons off Miami Other boats to look at: Kaysna 400 ‘Outremer 9 eration of the Catana 47 accelerates faster and has a higher top speed than the earlier boats Ive sailed, I also found ithas.a very quick motion in a seaway that's especially noticeable in the cockpit. ‘The boat rewards good trim with im= ‘mediate speed changes, making this a fan ride for avid sailors who enjoy playing with sails so as to get the most ut oftheir boats Ona close reach in 9 knots of wind, the 47 yielded 7 knots of boatspeed, then ramped right up to 9 knots when the wind perked up to 12 knots in a gust. Tacking through 90 degrees was easy enough, as long as we did the ma- neuver briskly and avoided being stalled by oncoming waves. ‘There was no sign of hull slamming in the waves; the nacelle and underbridge design seem to do their work well. Nor ‘mally, one sails this boat with the dag- gerboards about halfway down. Raising them for downwind sailing reduces drag and makes this a fast sled for run ng in the tradewinds. The builder the boat has topped 20 knots in Ideal conditions with lots of wind. ike a nice eat should, the Catana 47 behaves beautifully under power. Alow cruise setting of 2200 rpm produced 7.4 knots at a very low (66 <4BA) sound level. With the throttle wide ‘open at 3,000 rpm, I measured a bit over 9 knots of boat speed. Not bad at al ‘The turning circle with both engi running forward was 1% boatlengths, while differential power to the engines lets the boat spin in its own water. It stopped and backed accurately and was easy to handle in the crowded marina (EGHELURTON 1nis atest evolution of the Catana 47 has had a testosterone injection while reducing its estrogen level. It's quick, Fast and exciting to sail and accommodates men well. Perhaps itis simply more French.msr Lagoon 450 2012 /1 NEW SAILBOAT REVIEW 77 HEADROOM 6t tin LOA age LWLasRéin DISPLACEMENT 2140016 FUEL/WATER/WASTE (GAL) 89/7714 ELECTRICAL S204H (housek: 220AH (engine) ‘BUILDER Cotane Cotamarans, Cogoln, France eatanacom PRICE 761000 base SAL AREA.ISPLACEMENT RATIO “ a 2 DISPLACEMENT LENGTH RATION a W3 00 PERFORMANCE ea. ES acer raiser Our Take nos, ‘Fest wih nice helm feedback ‘Spacious, with excallnt headroom cons ‘Quick motion na seaway "Bing spot ormard tom hein ‘+ Funning rigging i dt» single winchNew Sailloat eae aa TARTAN 4700 erformance derived from LN vs stein eat rig ofa sumptuous appointed cave I provided wih ansbundance of por Tights hatches window an ighter fishes to make them ess dak nd Inore apesing But his progress has come a prcevafnsh that may be Ghsbut beast resemblance tothe ofusgrew up wth n view 17 best of old and r performance-cruisers are faster than fever. But are they going to take care of you in heavy weather in the same way ‘as those pre-IOR boats many of us grew up admiring? Fortunately, there are still builders and designers out there who are willing and able to ‘combine the best of both old and the new in boats like the raised-saloon ‘Tartan 4700. The spacious ey lef just Forward ofthe GGNSTRUGTION an extension of the highly successful raised-saloon 4400, the Tartan 4700 is vacuum-infused with epoxy, as is the rest of the Tartan line, which results in a lower resin- to-fiber ratio and a stiffer, lighter hull ‘The double-spreader mast is carbon fiber-another Tartan trademark~and a carbon-fiber “pocket boom” with an integral sail cover and lazyjack system is standard, as is the self-tacking jib. For years Tartan and designer Tim Jackett hhave been refining what they call the easy-to-use CCR (cruise control rig), inds full expression aboard the 4700. An outer forestay allows you to deploy a large reacher for extra power in lighter air and off the wind. ‘The rudder is mounted on a carbon- fiber shaft, and a pronounced knuckle below the waterline in the bow will help the 4700 slice through seas, as opposed to pounding into them. GAIBEEK The 4700's excellent deck layout, top-quality hardware and well- proportioned raised saloon combine to create an elegant, traditional look that instills a genuine sense of confidence. Side decks are wide, clear and bordered by a varnished wooden toerail/bulwark. Shrouds are well inboard facilitating a clear passage to the foredeck, and there are plenty of handrails right where you need them, Aft, the cockpit has been configured for sailing first and lounging second. ‘The bench seats are long and correctly proportioned, and there is a small hinged swim platform in the boat's shapely reverse transom. Nonetheless,this is a cockpit that encloses and protects the crew from the elements, as a bluewater boat should. Winches and rope clutches are well placed for both the helmsman and crew, and there are plenty of places to sit or ‘wedge yourself when taking your trick at the wheel. My only real complaint concerns the massive bridgedeck. While it's going to do a heck of ajob keeping water from getting below, it extends so far fore and aft that i's tough getting down the ‘companionway when the dodger is deployed. Apparently, the dodger on ‘our test boat had an especially low profile, at the owner's request. But even with a higher dodger, the combination of climbing over the bridgedeck while crouching to keep from banging your head is going to be a challenge~at least for a six-footer like me. RECSMAODATIONS arta» as Tong incorporated complex angles accommodations, an approach that works especialy wellinartsed- Saloon boat like the 4700. The massive curved settee embracing the dining tablesboth a work of art anda great place forhanging out in haber. ean Well imagine killing endless hours here swapping stories ona rainy day, watehing the weather through the Boats huge soon windows On a sunny day these same windows admit allthe light you could ever want-a far try trom the caves of yesteryear ‘The nay station to starboard is one of the most impressive I've sen Not only isthe basic table generously propor” tioned but the eine! forthe chart plotters suspended afew inches above the counter extending forward of the nav table, providing a wealth of extra space for spreading out paper charts and other plloting tools. The galley s just forward ofthe dining area But while this location is Other boats to look at: ae Moody ACS Seaward 4sRK or ags solld boat when is blowing, We had « bright blustery day on Long Island Sound with gusts over 20 knots for our teat sal andthe 4700 absolutely ae it up she racked well ut stil eame about without hesitation, and motion through the chop was easy and reas" furng a plus knots on a close reach, Gusts didnt faze the boat a all, {ven on those occasions when we cased ut the maina ite too slowly coming out ofa gybe.1 have no doubt this is aboat that wil eliek ofthe miles offshore at a good pace, keeping the crew happy and comfortable inthe roe (GRERFEWER O01 onthe sound, the boats optional 0h Yanmar and three-blade folding Gor prop gave us a speed overground of $4 knots at 2000 rpm, 68 knots st 2500 rpm and 8.0 Knots at 3,000 rpm. Even in the sti breeze, had ite rouble maneuvering imboth forward and reverse in the flat water jst effshore- Even so, the bow thruster proved invaluable when grab- bing a mooring deep in crowded Ma maroncek Harbor when we were done falling forthe day (EGHELORTON tartan nas tong gone its own way. marrying traditional look wath Rrstelass bul quality. nthe 1700, this has once again resulted na boat that is both beautiful and easy on 2012/7 NEW SAILEOH ” Specifications HEADROOM Ot plus throughout LOA mt) LWL 39h /) BEAM 1 tin DISPLACEMENT 28000 fight shi) FUEL/WATER/WASTE (GAL) 0720048 ELECTRICAL SOD8H (house 95AH engine) BUILDER Tartan Yachts, Paiesvile, OH, 80- 357-77, tartanyachtscon BAWAsT RATIO aD SAIL AREA DISPLACEMENT RATIO —— 2D DISPLACEMENT LENGTH RATION a PERFORMANCE [EE Our Take Ros ‘Excellent buld quality and hardware ‘Easy maton ina seaway “+ figis easy tohandle cons + Bridgedeck is overly large ‘Long rk trom gale to cockpitNew Sailloat BENETEAU OCEANIS 48 A palatial cruiser with sexy Euro-styling evcnartss ooane his atest onering in Beneteau Tisisizetociiine tiny the Mian Intemational Boat show in Febraay Lethe new Oceans which received 2012 European Boat o the Year var, he 48 imme won some accolades and was tapped for ¢ Nationa! Marine Manufactures Ase the show opened Like the 4 thea combines ome catng-edge design ine wth a more radional range of tesommedstion plans inthis anger foopriny terest van exceedingly open ay ving space on boat hats eSinfotale and easy toa CGNSTAUGTION re nuts a sonia Merglass laminate st in polyester resin while the deck-also fberglass-Is injection-molded and cored with end- grain alsa. The hull-deck joints Bonded with adhesive and fastened wrth serews- The hull is stifened with a monolithic inne structural molding that is bonded in place. The keel, with cast-ron balls, s bolted on with Stanles steel faseners and backing plates. The stock forthe single spade © view 17 2012 rudder Is fiberglass. The slightly frac- tional rig features an aluminum mast with double spreaders and discontinu- ous stainless steel standing rigging. (GHIBERRE te 48% marquee deck feature, as on the 45, is the full-width motorized fold-down transom, which, when deployed, effectively transfor the back of the boat into a vast teak- covered beach. This makes it very easy to board and disembark from tenders and also, of course, serves as a fabu- lous swim platform. In all other respects, the deck and cockpit layout is clean and functional. ‘The cockpit is exceedingly wide, with plenty of room for two comfortable helm stations to port and starboard, a = very large fixed cockpit table (equipped with an internal deck fridge on our test boat), and two long bench seats backed by reasonably high coam- ings. Forward of the cockpit, looming high over the back of the coach. roof, isa large arch to which the single-line sailmagazine.com/video ‘mainsheet is led. On our test boat, the arch also served as a foundation for a full-length cockpit bimini. This pro vided fantastic shelter from the sun, but thoroughly obstructed our view of the sails, as the viewing windows aft were far too small to be useful Moving forward I found that the re~ cessed grabrails in the coach roof were perhaps a little too subtle, which might make them hard for crew to grab in a panic. Nor do they run the full length of the cabinhouse. On the bow there is a vast amount of storage space, both inside the dedicated sail locker and in the huge anchor well just forward of it RECCMMOBATONE Our test boat haa room forward The most startling feature here was th entirely transpar- en segregated shower stall et oin one come which affords those loung- ing onthe inland double berth an excel Tent view of anyone showering The direely opposite, thankfully te entirely private Between the two Isa large sink under the cockpitare superbly execut- td with lots of ambient light pouring in through both hull and bulkhead ports “Two small opening hatches provide ‘entiation, andthe lage double berth has plenty of vertical clearance with no horizontal bites taken out forthe ‘On our bost the galley was aft to port witha separate island forthe sinks set offnear the centerline, ight by the ompanionvtay. There ae generous amounts of counter space, particularly near the stove, andthe front-loadingfridge and dishwasher on our test boat had doors incorporated into the joinery that lent the entire space a sleek, mini- malist look, ‘Three other accommodation plans, ‘two with full-length galley saloons, are available. One of these is a two-state- room layout; the other two boast four staterooms. (GROEABAT 1 sated te 48 in moderate wind on Biscayne Bay and was im- pressed by its performance Insplteof favinga poorly shaped n-mast main- sail with no vertial battens and a very hollow leech, the boat was fast and ea- sonablyclose-winded In 13 knots of apparent wind we eared 8 knots of Boatspeed ata 40 degree apparent wind angle. Cracking of toa 65 degree angle, our speed jumped to over 9 knots. ‘Turing off the wind, however out speed dropped quickly We made 58 knots in 8 knots of apparent ta 90 degree angle and 5.2 knots a 130 degree angle ‘The helm. though not too light, was responsive with good feedback Though rudder the boat, with ts hard-chined hull showed no tendeneyto spin out in gusta In comparison, whl test-salling the Oceanis 4 In abit more wind In the fall ying a much more efficient vert cally-battened sll the rudder dd once Other boats to look at: Hunter 5O8C lose its grip. I wonder, therefore, if a battenless mainsail might actually work better on these boats. GRBERPOWER Our test boat carried a 75hp Yanmar diesel engine, but was not ‘equipped with the optional Dock & Go ‘maneuvering system. Motoring in flat water we made 8.4 knots at a cruising 1pm of 2100. Flat out at 3200 rpm, our speed increased to 9.4 knots. Throwing the engine into full reverse, I stopped the boat in about one and a half boatlengths. ‘Tuming hard at speed, we pirouetted 360 degrees in just one boatlength. The boat handled very predictably backing down, with good helm response. Engine access below, through the shallow flip-up companionway stairs ‘and through the sides of the engine ‘compartment via the aft staterooms, was very good (EGNELUBION tre many deck hatches tnd eabin and bead ports onthis boat give ls interoram exceptionally airy amblance. Couple this with multiple layout options, some sleeping a8 many 2510 people, and you have aloating home that promises to keep you com= fortabe in style‘The easy acess to the water through the fld-down transom tod the boats superior sling perfor. mance make Ian excelent chole fora Tage eruising family on the go.men Beneteau Sense 50 2012/1 NEW SAILBOK " Specifications HEADROOM 6 én LOA amt in LWLASHt Tin) BEAM 151 7in BALLAST 7826 // SAILAREA 1215? ENGINE 7hp Yonmargese (saitve) DESIGNER Beret Racoupeau Nauta Design PRICE Sa13000 base sauasreano ee SAILAREA DISPLACEMENT RATIO od DISPLACEMENT LENGTH RATION 0 138 300 PenronMaNce rr Our Take nos, ‘Atractive moder sting ‘+ Many iter ayuts avaiable * Gres fol downtransom cons + No na station below ‘Poor handhold on cabnhouseRereeeary Prestats Sturdy construction SEAWARD 46RK A bold, innovative and vi CONSTRUCTION Like the smaller Sea- wards, the 46 is built of fiberglass mat and rovings, aid up by hand. The hull is cored with Divinycell foam above the waterline. A vinylester skin coat and NPG gelcoat provide blister resistance. There is little core in the deck, which is stiffened by the headliner molding. This is a complex boat: there are over 40 ‘moldings of various sizes. The heart of the structure is an extremely strong curved composite bulkhead, which carries rig and keel loads. The keel fin retracts completely, and the beavertail Jead ballast bulb tucks into a recess in the hull. The boat can dry out on this bulb, with skegs to protect the propeller(s). A conservative double- a view 17 2012 satile Cruiser ey pever mietsen spreader masthead rig provides the motive power. GHIBEER ‘The long, low house has full- length grabrails leading up to the fore deck, where you'll find a wide, deep locker big enough to swallow fenders and a cruising chute. The single anchor roller is ‘on a molded sprit to keep the hook and rode away from the plumb bow. With no sheet tracks to worry about, the side decks are enviably clear. Molded bulwarks are topped by an alu- ‘minum toerail. The hefty molding at the base of the mast contains an electric ‘motor that lifts the keel and the top of the keel trunk itself. The goose- neck is affixed to this ‘molding, so the boom ‘and mainsail can be left in place when the mast. is removed. This ties {nto future plans for a cantilevered mast that will allow the boat to slip under low bridges. sailmagazine.com/video ags Control lines lead to Harken winches con the cabintop and cockpit coamings. Each has a molded-in rope bin. The ‘mainsheet traveler is mounted atop a stainless steel arch, an excellent safety feature that de-clutters the cockpit and lets the helmsman tend to the sheet. ‘The cockpit seats are wide with flip-up extensions to make them long enough to sleep on, and the coamings are deep enough to provide decent back support. ‘The boat's comparatively narrow beam obviates the need for twin helms; there's plenty of room to wander around behind the wheel, with comfortable perches on either side, Helm seating options include a swiveling captain's chair. Cockpit stowage is divided between shallow trays under the seats and bigger lockers in the quarters. A pair of bins on the boarding platform are big enough to hold fenders and docklines, RECOMMNOBRFIONS Despite tne nats relatively narrow beam, there is plenty of room belowdecks. Nick Hake has spent a lot of time pondering what works best for the kind of sailing he likes to do, and. the results are interesting. st you descend two steps onto a raised platform, on which is set a large swiveling captain’s chair. From here, you hhave an almost-panoramic view out the deckhouse portlights and can steer via autopilot. Before you is a small desk just big enough for an open cruising guide with a Raymarine chartplotter set above it. Tankage is below this platform, along with space fora generator ‘Tucked under the side deck to port is a small workstation with a built-in desktop computer. Ittoo has a rather overlarge captain's chair-Nick is looking into. smaller alternatives for the next boat.The master stateroom forward is wall supplied with stowage Alinear galley runs along the port side. Ithas decent stowage and oodles of. worktop space-which, oddly, lacks fddles~and a gratifyingly large sink. Underneath, there isa fridge, freezer and icemaker, Opposite, the C-shaped dinette is slightly constrained by the keelbox. It will be comfortable for four, cozy for six. The table (also lacking, fddles) drops to form a double berth. ‘The owner's cabin is forward, where ventilation is better and headroom isn’t affected by inconvenient cockpit mold- ings. Its large, airy and well lt Space has been used differently here too, with the hhandbasin and vanity separate from the tollet/shower compartment. Stowage is generous and thoughtfully arranged. ‘The aft head is rather bold-its “roo!” is opaque acrylic and intrudes into the ‘main cabin. As in the forward cabin, the toilet and shower share one compart ‘ment, and the handbasin is set in the short walkway to the starboard aft cabin. Both aft cabins are reasonably airy, with stowage in lockers and soft bags. ‘The fiberglass moldings are nicely offset by generous teak trim and panel- ing. The test boat was loaded with extras: systems are well installed and easily accessible. (GRERBATL We neaded outomto the Intracoastal Waterway na 10- to 12-not breze witha reef inthe big mansallto cope with forecast 1-knat sts Low= frtion lf ears made easy Work of Other boats to look at: Ling up the main, and the sel ing jb, set on an electric Seldén furler, ‘unrolled at the press of a button. The third sail, a Code 0, was set on an endless-line furler controlled from the cockpit. strong current made our tacking angles and speed-over-ground readings either optimistic or pessimistic, but with that long waterline and slim hull the boat is no slouch, as indicated by its D/L and SA/D ratios. It powered up nicely ‘out of tacks and tracked beautifull steering hands-off at apparent wind angles as high as 25 degrees; hardly sur~ prising, given the twin rudders and het twin skegs. We spent some time fiddling with the keel and rudder draft, noting (not surprisingly) that the boat made more leeway with the keel half-retracted. ‘When we ran aground briefly fick of the switch lifted the keel enough for us to sail nonchalantly off the sandbank brief foray into open water revealed no vices in the sizeable and confused swell that was running, In such conc tions, a slim hull is always more com- fortable than a beamy one. GROEROWER our est boat was equipped withtwin Shp Yanmar dlesel which slot meaty into well insulated box beneath the companion- veayAsingleTBhp diesels standard. The twin engines provide both extra punch and redundancy a point we appreciated tren batery problems sidelined one diesel and we got back othe sip with the 'spare® With the twin 54s the boat cruises at 85 knots at 2200 rom EGNELURTON ough ies certainty capable o offshore erisng the 4ORK'S hatural environment ithe shallow Waters ofthe East Coast, Florida Keys fd Bahamas, With a minimum draft of well under thee fet twill ou-gunk- hole most crulsing catamarans and open tp ertieng grounds that are otherwtac out of reach ls very quirkiness is abig part of ts appeal nen Southerly 47 2012/7 NEW SAILEOH o HEADROOM 6 3in minimam LOA ast) LWL eat in BEAM 13¢3in DISPLACEMENT z30008) SSAILAREA 1,06" (10% FT) ENGINE 75hpYanmor des! st, 2x Shp (optional) DESIGNER Nick Hake PRICE S299000 base BALLAST RATIO % - ‘50% SAIL AREA-DISPLACEMENT RATIO EMTS 20 Our Take Pros ‘Robust conection ‘Excellent deck plan and cockpit ‘Roomy accommodations cons “No fides on work surfaces “= Spitslevelinteir wil at ut everyone “No chart tableSOUTHERLY 49 A top-notch bluewater cr he Southerly range of beachable swing-keel cruisers from Britain's Northshore Yachts has been con- iser W sistently represented in the United States now for a number of years, which is a good thing, as ther ing grounds here where shoal-draft capability is a great advantage. Every ‘ume I sail a Southerly, l come away im. pressed by the utility offered by their ballasted swing keels and by the high quality of their design and construction, This latest offering, the Southerly 49, vwas no exception. GONSTRUCTION Build and finish quality are high. Construction materials and tec! niques are hardly exotic, but are certainly strong, The hand-laid hull, which incorpo rates the keel box as an integral part, is solid laminate below the waterline, foam: cored above, and strengthened with trans verse frames and longitudinal stringers. Multi-axial and unidirectional fabries are used in high-load areas, and bulkheads are fully bonded to both the hull and deck. The deck joint is bonded with Plexus and a view 17 through-bolted on a generous flange. he cast-iron swing keel pivots on a stainless steel pin and is controlled with hydraulic ram powered by an electric pump. There is also a manual back-up system, or the boat can be ordered with ‘an optional fixed keel. A pair of short semi-balanced rudders allows for grounding and ensures good helm control, even when the boat is on its ear. ‘The systems installations overall are top-notch, well organized and quite earning the boat a SAIL maga~ zine 2012 Best Boats award in this cat- egory. The primary feature is a digital distributed-power electrical system that greatly simplifies the wiring harness and enables advanced comput- rized diagnostics. moden GAIBEER The boat comes standard with Selden spars and Lewmar hardware. All working lines from the mast are led under the coachroof to a pair of companionway winches. The mid~ boom mainsheet and single sheet for the 100 percent self-tacking jib (both double-ended) are led under the deck to power winches just forward of the twin steering pedestals and are easily controlled by the helmsman. A larger overlapping genoa, set on a separate stay just forward of the jib, sheets over the deck via conventional genoa tracks to winches set in the middle of the cockpit coamings beyond the reach of the helm. This second pair of winches can also be used to control an asymmetric spinnaker or gennaker set on a removable bowsprit. ‘The cockpit is not large for a modern boat this size, but itis very seamanlike and the working ergonomics are excel- lent. The high coamings provide plenty of back support, and the Footwell is narrow tenouigh that crew seated to weath easily brace themselves in place. Back aft at the wheels, its easy to get comfortable and steer both from a standing and seated position. There is no walk-through transom, but there is @ small fold-down swim platform to provide easy access to the water. RECOMMODATIONS ‘The interior finish Is superb. Down below you'll find a wealth of fine hardwood and sumptuous leather trim, cedar-lined lockers and. other high-end features, like integral LED lights in the hanger rods in the hanging lockers. The layout is straight- forward and, again, very seamanil with lots of handholds and usable storage space. Up forward there is a suitably palatial owner's stateroom with an island double berth and ensuite head with a separate shower stall. Back aft there are twin double staterooms under the cockpit, Which are reasonably well it and venti- lated and have proper double berths that can be easily split into singles. ‘The saloon is raised, and those seated at the wraparound dinette table or at the nay station will enjoy expansive views through large side ports. The dinette settees are well designed, in that they can accommodate two sleeping bodies. All told, between the saloon and aft staterooms, with lee cloths strategically deployed, this yacht can comfortably sleep as many as six when sailing in a The galley should also prove quite serviceable at sea. It's set low in the hull on the starboard side in a trench9 Wortdmags along the dinette and keel box, and cooks can easily brace themselves while working. The only downside is that this isa very narrow space, and anyone moving to or from the forward cabin must entirely displace the cook to get where they're going, sittle the boat is. You can actually sail it ina reasonable manner with the keel all the way up, atleast in moderate condi= tions, and can fine-tune your draft and ‘weight distribution simply by pressing a button at the helm. The keel-control display makes it easy to see how much The settee around the dinette table can seep two crew f necessary and provides a gest view out the Southervs big port windows let) the boats revactable eel allows ietotake the ground wth impunity ight GRBEABAIL 1 satea te boat on Chesa- peake Bay in moderate winds ranging From 9 to 2knots It fet fmiy rooted at alluimes, even with the kel up, thanks Targely ots conservative welght ditibu- tion Inadaitionto the heavy keel (@s19, theresa great deal of fixed Dallas (133015) and nearly al the heavier systems, inching tanks, he generator ane batteries, are situated ow andin the mde of the boat under the saloon. Performance-wise, the Southerly was no slouch, Under ts working ji, wth the Kel all the way down, the boat sailed at about 5 knots aa tght 30- degree apparent wind angle With the genoa out this improved to over 38 rots Widening the angle to 45 degrees, our speed increased to well over 6 knots and found we could add yet another half knot otis by raising the eel, though this caused the boat make noticeable leeway. With a big nylon gennaker up, sling on close reach withthe Keel partway down, we hita top speed of knots Thisbrief survey of sall configu tions should give some idea of how ver- Other boats to look at: keel is deployed and the stately speed at which the foil moves allows plenty of, time to make adjustments, (GROERFOWER Me boat was quite ma- newverable, wth excelent directional rudders. With the Kel up the boat turns im about 1 boatiengts: wit down this tightens to just ene boalength, Speed under power was also gratily- Ing given that the S3hp engine may Scena bit small fora boat this size and weight With the keel up we made 67 Knots in at water at erasing rpm of 2200. At full power 3400 rpm, this Increased to 84 knots GHELUBION For anyone looking fora Boat that ean crulse in skinny water and also comfortably eross an ocean, this boat presents am incredibly attractive package Ite verstle sling character [ties superior buld and finish quality modem systems and seamanlike deck od liter layouts make a one-of Kind cratsing platform that any sallor would be proud to own. wan Seaward 4GRK Shannon 53 HPS| Beneteau Sense 50 2012/7 NEW SAILEOH HEADROOM 6 Tin galley: 6 in (saloon) LOA ast Tin LWLASt BEAM 13 DISPLACEMENT 3295 ‘SAILAREA 1.0768? (100% FT) ENGINE Shp Yanmar dase DESIGNER Rob Humphreys US. DISTRIBUTOR: Sauthery America, Rock al, MD, 10-69-27, southeryameriea.com 5 2 3 ® , | 0 166 Ed PERFORMANCE SS acer Crier Our Take Pros ‘Tue shoa-dratcapatiy ‘Comfortable ina soaway * Qualty constuction and systoms cons ‘Cockpit may seem small for sosazing + Cramped trate ara in galleyOUTREMER 49 An outstanding performance cruising cat from France known in Europe for its fast yet comfortable performance cruising catamarans. Its latest offering, the sleek Outremer 49, designed by Christophe Barreau, made quite a splash when first introduced on the other side of the Pond, and snapped up an award in 2010 for European Boat of the Year in the hotly contested multihulls category. With its distinctive looks, which include a high bridgedeck, low-profile cabin- house and unique asymmetric mirror- image ports in the hull topsides, the ‘Outremer is a modern cruising cat with F rench builder Outremer is well lots of personality. I had the chance to sail a well-equipped example on a chal- lenging fall delivery between Rhode Island and Maryland and came away very impressed, CONSTRUCTION The boat's construction is fairly conventional by performance- cat standards. South of the waterline the resin-infused hulls are solid fiberglass Iaminate; above it they are cored with PVC foam. The deck is also a resin-in- fused PVC/glass sandwich, which is bonded and then laminated to the hulls, by hand to create an essentially mono- coque structure. The primary resi polyester, with vinylester in the skin coats and an NPG gelcoat for blister resistance. Structural reinforcements are glassed into the bilges, and all bulk- heads are tabbed in place. In terms of its design, the Outremer 49 is true to its heritage. The hulls are relatively high and narrow, with dag- gerboards rather than keels to resist leeway, and there is little solid structure forward of the main crossbeam, The rig on our test boat featured a rotating car~ bon-fiber mast; a conventional fixed aluminum mast is also available. GHIBEER 1 found the deck and cockpit layout to be almost ideal, as is reflected in the fact that the boat won SAIL's 2012 Best Boats award in this category. The most distinctive feature on our test boat was the optional tiller-steering system, which ties carbon-fiber tillers on each hull aft (complete with sculpted ergonomic cearbon-fiber helm seats) into a conventional bulkhead-mounted steering Wheel on the starboard side of the coachroof. The system is entirely unitary (the wheel turns the tillers and vice versa), but is amazingly free of friction. It Is also works very well. When the boat is. sailing well, you can enjoy the intimacy of steering it by hand with a tiller; when you need to make a lot of course changes quickly, or are monitoring an autopilot, you can sit comfortably behind the wheel Though the hulls are abit narow, theres room fr generous double berths inthe aft staterooms where the unique teardrop: shaped port let In ts of light Vette saloon has everything youd expec: aboard {ruisng cat including a comfortable nets and large navigation desk igh