The Winner 8.0 is a Dutch design and build. The design is from the Van de Stadt office, and it has been around since I was a kid and maybe even before that. Over the years, it has produced hundreds of outstanding designs. The builder is Winner Yachts. From what I can see, the 8.0 is designed to be a fast cruising boat that also comes in a performance model for those interested in racing. It’s a handsome package with clean styling and no affectations.

The hull is moderate looking with short ends, a hint of forward overhang and generous freeboard. The D/L is 165 putting it in the moderate category for boats of this type. The L/B is 2.8 making it beamy but there is some taper to the deck plan aft so it avoids that extremely wide aft look. There is little spring to the sheer, but the photos show a handsome design. There are twin rudders. Draft is 4 feet 11 inches and the performance model’s keel is 137 pounds lighter in the bulb.

The accommodation plan is impressive for a 26-foot 3-inch boat. There is a double quarter berth aft that extends all the way to the near vertical transom. To starboard of the companionway there is an enclosed head with a wet locker outboard. Forward of this there is a small but adequate galley. This is a good layout for a family. I think four adults would have to be very good friends to cruise together. Four adults below would be a crowd. The engine, a Yanmar 1GM 10 with saildrive, is tucked in under the companionway steps. 

There is an 83 square foot difference in sail area from the cruiser version to the performance version. This gives the cruiser version an SA/D of 23.92 and the performance version an SA/D of 26.24. The spars are aluminum and the spreader sweep is 24 degrees. Note that the backstay is on a whip so it clears the square-topped main while tacking and jibing. 

I like this boat. It is simple, well thought out and should be a lot of fun to sail.

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LOA 26’3”; LWL 24’; Beam 9’4”; Draft 3’3”; Displ. 5,291 lbs.; Ballast 2,205; Sail area 431 sq. ft.; SA/D 23.92; D/L 165; L/B 2.8; Auxiliary Yanmar 9.1 hp saildrive; Fuel 18 gal.; Water 18 gal.

Our best estimate of the sailaway price: $70,000

Winner Yachts

Overleek 7 

1671 GD Medemblik, The Netherlands

 +31 (0)228 316 001

www.winneryachts.com