Performance cruiserr

Photos indicate that this is a very handsome yacht. The ends show moderate overhangs and there is a very subtle spring to the sheer. It's a beamy boat with an L/B of 3.25. This tells me that this is a boat designed around accommodations, i.e. a cruising boat. Clearly this design is intended to be a fast cruiser, and I would think that it would be a fun boat to sail in PHRF races. The keel and rudder are very modern in design, although the standard draft of 7 feet, 3 inches is on the shoal side by today's racing standards. There is a more-shoal keel available that draws 5 feet, 9 inches. The D/L of this design is 190.

There are two interiors offered, one with two staterooms forward and the other with one centerline double stateroom forward. I'd probably go for the two-stateroom option because I can't see spending enough time in the stateroom to warrant the extra space, and I'd like the additional privacy for another couple or for kids. The advantage to the other version is the added storage space forward in the fo'c'sle. There is essentially no lazarette in these boats, and deck-access stowage will be at a premium.

The main saloon has the galley stretching along the port side. This is ideal for cooking at rest, but when heeled over it may present some problems. I would assume that this boat is not intended to be a passagemaker, so this galley compromise makes sense. The dinette, with the center island seat, might be a little tight on legroom but this arrangement is key to making the entire layout work. The brochure shows beautifully detailed joinerwork in teak veneer with solid trim.

The rig is a very standard-looking double-spreader sloop. The spreaders are slightly swept. The foretriangle is big, and this boat could easily carry a staysail in heavy air. If we use the mainsail area and the 100-percent jib area instead of I, J, E and P, we get a sail area of 1,050 square feet, giving us an SA/D of 19.47.

This looks like a nice boat; handsome, fast and spacious. Tankage is on the lean side for American tastes but is certainly in keeping with the balance of priorities. Stowage space is limited due to the multistateroom layout. However, for the family that enjoys a week or two of harbor-hopping in the summer, several days of daysailing and an occasional club race or two, this would be an ideal boat. I give it an A-plus for styling.