The new DUFOUR 405 GRAND LARGE combines a sweet performance hull and rig with a classic yacht-style interior. The old adage says that whenever you have two boats sailing in the same direction, you have a race. While casual cruisers may deny this, many of us love to see just how well our boats sail in comparison to others. It’s just human nature.

So it was a pleasure to see several other mid-size sloops tacking down Narragansett Bay one afternoon last July when we were out sail-testing the new Dufour 405 Grand Large. We had motored out of the marina at New England Boatworks, rolled out the in-mast furling mainsail and the genoa, and set off to see how the new design sails. The 405 does not come standard with a roller furling mainsail, but this boat had been spec’d out with one by the local dealer Northstar Yacht Sales, so launching the mainsail was a snap.

With twin wheels in the cockpit, I was able to sit to leeward, where I could see the genoa telltales and keep an eye on the mainsail trim. While you can’t see anything to windward from the leeward steering position, I did have a great view of everything to leeward and for me this is the place to sit when sailing upwind.

We threw the 405 through a few tacks to see how she performed and were pleased to see that the boat tacks comfortably inside 85 degrees and makes very little leeway when hard on the wind, even with the optional shoal draft keel. The afternoon sea breeze was building, so we had a pleasant 10 to 12 knots of wind. The 405 sailed comfortably at 7 knots hard on the wind in this breeze.

The cockpit is well laid out for handling the sheets with the mainsail trimmed on a winch on the cabintop and the genoa on large cockpit winches that are at a good height and easy to crank. Under the cockpit sole between the twin wheels, a neat life raft locker has been built in. And, the 405’s transom folds down, creating a large and useful stern platform with a retractable swim ladder built into it. We took a long board across the bay so we could engage the other boats tacking southward into the sea breeze. There were two production racer-cruisers in our size range and a couple of smaller boats. We reeled in the smaller guys effortlessly and soon had the larger boats in our sights. We were probably paying closer attention to sail trim than the other guys, but still the 405 sailed higher and faster than they did. From a mile astern, it took us less than an hour to get almost a mile ahead.

Satisfied that we had won, we eased sheets and jibed our way back toward the marina. Downwind, the 405 can be sailed wing and wing, but we wanted to see how the boat would do at deep reaching angles. At about 150 degrees apparent wind, with the genoa drawing fully, the 405 slipped along at an easy 7 knots in the 10 to 12 knots of true breeze. The boat seems to make its own wind once it gets in the groove and moving nicely. The new Dufour 405 was a pleasure to handle under sail. The helm was light, the boat sailed very close to the wind, and both up and downwind showed a good turn of speed. Whether cruising or racing, the boat will show her stern to a lot of boats in her class.

LIVING ABOARD

The 405 comes in two- or three-sleeping cabin versions. The boat we sailed had the two-cabin layout with a large centerline double berth forward and a double cabin aft to port. The opposite space where a third cabin could be installed is a handy cockpit locker and garage on the two-cabin version.

Both versions have two heads, with the after head home to the separate shower stall. The after head also has the commode facing forward, which is the best arrangement for use when at sea and heeled over.

The two-cabin version has an L-shaped “American-style” galley to starboard at the base of the companionway ladder. This will be a good seagoing galley and has plenty of counter and storage space. The fridge has both top and side access. The counters are Corian. The double sinks are in the outboard counter. The under-counter drawers and storage areas are neatly hidden behind doors that can be latched so you will never have the galley’s contents scattered across the floor when the boat lurches on a wave. The two-cabin version does not have a separate chart table, but uses the table between the single seats to starboard as command central. Instruments and the electrical panel are installed outboard. Most owners will install a chartplotter, which will be mounted on the after end of the cockpit table in full view of both helms. The table can be lowered to complete a full length settee that will also be a good sea berth.

The U-shaped dinette to port seats six with two sitting on the bench amidships. The bench provides a large central storage area. Additional storage is built in under the sole, including a large wine locker with built-in wine racks.

The interior is finished in a mahogany-colored wood called Moabi that has an attractive and traditional feel. The cabin sole is a modern Moabi veneer instead of the traditional teak and holly pattern. The cabintop and sides are off-white panels that really brighten the cabin and give it a Bristol-fashion feel. With two overhead opening deck hatches and opening side ports, the saloon will be well ventilated and bright. For a couple who often sails with friends, the two-cabin version will work nicely. For a family with children, the three-cabin version will certainly work better. In either case, the 405 offers a well thought out interior that works well underway or at anchor and is as modern and elegant as any of the new boats now offered on the market.

BWS THOUGHTS

The Dufour 405 Grand Large does just about everything right despite its somewhat redundant name. The boat sails well and will be fun for competitive sailors and cruisers alike. The boat has a Cat A Offshore rating, so you can feel comfortable taking on long coastal runs or going offshore for a ocean passage.

The cockpit and decks are well laid out, uncluttered and easy to move around, and forward, the anchor system has been set up for easy regular use. The fold-down stern platform will make getting in and out of the dinghy easy and is a great sunning and swimming platform.

The boat’s systems have been installed with regular maintenance and occasional repairs in mind. The engine compartment has good access from three sides. The fuel and water tanks, batteries, plumbing and electrical systems all meet or exceed the top Euro zone regulations and ABYC standards.

The Dufour 405 GL is a production boat with a difference. You can feel the company’s nearly 50 years of boat building experience in every aspect of the boat and can rest assured that it will serve you and your crew well for generations to come.

Dufour 405 Grand Large
LOA 39’10”
LWL 34’10”
Beam 13’2”
Draft (stand.) 6’7”
Draft (shoal) 5’8”
Sail area 881 sq. ft.
Water 100 gals.
Fuel 52 gals.
Engine 40-hp. Diesel

U.S. Contact: Eric Macklin
North American Representative for Dufour Yachts
www.dufour-yachts.com
eric.macklin@dufour-yachts.com
Cell: (352) 871-0362

Catalina 385 • This mid-size family cruiser combines traditional good looks (and values) with a long list of innovations and refinements

The afternoon we test-sailed the new Catalina 385 on the Chesapeake Bay near Annapolis, the breeze was a pleasant 10 knots out of the northeast and the bay fairly calm. As we motored out of Back Creek, we rolled out the mainsail and then rolled out the red, white and blue screecher. The 385 put her shoulder down and started to really scream as we watched the speedo climb from 5 to 6 and finally 7 knots.

With the wind just forward of the beam, the 385 heeled to about 10 degrees. The helm was incredibly light despite the big headsail. With a tweak of the main traveler, we were able to balance the helm to neutral so the boat steered herself straight without a finger on the wheel. This is the mark of a boat that has her proportions just right.

We flew out into the bay and then rolled up the screecher to see how she sailed with the 135 percent genoa. Hard on the wind, the boat maintained a happy 7 knots in the 10 knots of true breeze and tacked inside 90 degrees quite easily. The boat we were sailing has the shoal draft winged keel and a slightly shallower rudder than the deep draft version, but this did not seem to affect her performance upwind and we noted that we were making very little leeway. Again, hard on the wind and heeled to almost 15 degrees, the 385 had a very light helm that was easily balanced with traveler adjustments.

Running back into Annapolis, we hauled the genoa to windward so we could run squarely downwind wing-and-wing. This is not the fastest point of sail, but we still maintained close to 6 knots, which proved that despite a moderate-displacement cruising hull, the 385 is a slippery and handy sailing boat.

The deck layout works really well for a couple sailing together or a larger group. The mainsail controls and traveler are all managed with line stoppers and a winch next to the companionway. The genoa sheets and control line for the headsail are within reach of the helmsman. The cockpit is not overly wide, so you always have a good foot or hip brace point, which allows you to work with both hands. Visibility from the raised helm seats to windward and leeward is excellent.

The Selden spar and headsail roller furling gear work easily and have very smooth actions, so deploying and then furling the sails was a cinch. The Selden bowsprit for the screecher fits neatly in the stemhead fitting and bow rollers so we could tack the big sail down well forward of the pulpit to keep it clear of any potential snags.

Back in Back Creek we put the boat through its paces under power. At cruising revs she will cruise at 6.5 knots easily and can get close to 8 when pushed. The boat has a nice tight turning radius for maneuvering in close quarters, and with a three-bladed prop will stop in two boat lengths from cruising speed. We had to back her into the marina slip in a crosswind, so we gave ourselves plenty of distance and then backed steadily and surely into the slip and managed to pick up both bowlines on their pilings as we slid by.

A couple’s cruising boat, the 385 packs a lot of performance and ease into the moderate hull and benefits from the developments and evolutions that went into the new 445 and 355, which have both proven so popular over the last two years.

ACCOMMODATIONS
The interior of the 385 is finished in hand rubbed and varnished teak and teak veneers, so the whole cabin feels warm and traditional. The saloon has a U-shaped galley with a large fridge, twin sinks and a propane stove and oven. The navigator’s desk faces aft and has a folding top that will accommodate a laptop computer. The electrical panel is outboard and shielded by a tinted acrylic door so you can monitor the panel without having it glaring in your face.

The L-shaped dinette to port has a quad-leaf folding table that will seat several people when open, but takes up very little space when folded. On the boat we tested, the table was varnished to a very high gloss and looked magnificent. Across from the dinette, the twin easy seats are separated by a folding table that will be useful for playing cards or board games. The bench in the dinette will make an excellent sea berth.

The owner’s cabin and the spa-style head are forward. The large double berth with an inner-spring mattress has an articulated tilt mechanism, so you can lounge in bed in the “up” position or sleep in the normal “down” position. The head has a designer sink, a huge shower stall and plenty of storage for bathroom articles and the medicine kit.

The 385 holds 100 gallons of water, so you will not have to skimp on washing up. Plus, with a six-gallon hot water heater, you should have plenty of hot water for short showers. The guest cabin aft has a large athwartship double berth and a small bench where you can sit while putting on your shoes. Plus, there are large lockers for storage of your guest’s gear and for spare parts and all the sundries cruisers collect along the way.

For a couple or a family, the 385 is laid out to provide comfort and privacy in the sleeping cabins and open living in the saloon. You could literally fit a dozen people below decks for, say, the boat christening party.

DETAILS
The 385 is a production built cruiser that employs proven production techniques. The hull is a one-piece hand laid fiberglass molding with a large internal grid fixed in place with aerospace adhesives and fiberglass tabbing. The deck is a cored composite molding that offers stiffness under foot and good heat and sound insulation. A large molded deck liner provides a fully finished ceiling that complements the teak joinery.

The forward section of the hull has what Catalina calls the Strike Zone; this is a watertight compartment forward of the forward bulkhead that will prevent water ingress should you run up on a half submerged object such as a container.

The mast is deck-stepped with a large compression post beneath it, which transfers compression loads to the internal grid and the keel. The mast shrouds run to Catalina’s unique Secure Socket chainplates, which in turn transfer sidestay loads to the chainplates that are firmly glassed into the boat’s structural grid; this system also helps to prevent deck leaks around the chainplates.

The boat’s engine and systems have been installed with regular maintenance in mind. The well insulated engine compartment keeps engine noise to a minimum. And special hatches and doors have been provided, so you can check and top up engine oil and cooling fluid quickly and easily. Should you need to get to the whole engine, the engine box slides out for full 360˚ access to the motor.

Under the water, Catalina uses lead for their keels and engineers massive, robust stainless steel bolt attachments to the integral hull grid. The rudder is a hand-molded fiberglass part with a stainless steel rudderpost and internal stainless steel framing for strength. The rudder post is fixed in place with a large watertight rudder bearing and is operated via the Edson steering system and quadrant.

Down below, you will find that the furniture is assembled by hand and all pieces have solid teak corner posts and solid wood cabinet doors and drawer fronts. The main interior doors are solid teak as well and have top and bottom louvers that enhance ventilation to inhibit mildew growth. Drawers are all wood with stainless self-closing steel sliders.

The engineering and construction details that go into modern Catalinas combine the best in traditional production construction techniques with a definite emphasis on quality, not only in the manufactured parts but also in the choice of OEM equipment such as hatches and ports, and optional equipment such as inverters and battery chargers. The company strives to build boats that are safe, sail well, are easy to maintain and will hold value for a long time. In the 385, they have certainly succeeded.

Catalina 385
LOA 39’2”
LOD 38’2”
LWL 34’5”
Beam 13’1”
Draft (shoal) 4’8”
Draft (deep) 6’10”
Ballast (shoal) 6,200 lbs.
Ballast(deep) 5,200 lbs.
Displacement 16,000 lbs.
Sail Area 802 sq. ft.
Water 100 gals.
Fuel 40 gals.
Holding 31 gals.
Engine 40-hp.
Mast height 54’0”
Displ/LWL 179(w)/168(f)
Sail area/Displ 19.3(w)/20.6(f)
Ballast ratio 37.6(w)/33.5(f)
Base price $208,495

Catalina Yachts
Largo, FL
727-544-6681
www.catalinayachts.com

Island Packet 360 • This new mid-size bluewater cruiser will make a fine and sensible couple’s cruising boat

The Island Packet 360 debuted at last fall’s Annapolis sailboat show and caused a nice stir among the boatbuilder’s many fans. The new boat shows some definite evolutionary traits while maintaining the qualities that make Island Packets so admired in the cruising fleet.

The 360 is built using the same hull as the popular Estero, which was launched a few years ago. The hull has a slightly more plumb bow than the current fleet of Island Packets and stirs memories of the great early boats that made Island Packet famous. The boat’s bowsprit is a bit longer than we see in the larger boats, which spreads out the sailing rig, provides a good anchoring platform and gives the 360 a decidedly classic and salty look.

Under the water, the 360’s hull has the same Full Foil Keel, shallow draft and attached rudder that you see on her sister ships. The hull design offers a sea kindly motion, a high degree of stability, some positive lift when sailing to windward and, of course, the minimum draft that allows you to really gunkhole close to the coastline. For those who are sailing far afield, this hull shape will take a grounding better than a fin keel design, will better protect the rudder and propeller, and will allow you to dry out or careen the boat for quick repairs or refreshing the antifouling paint.

The 360 has a fairly tall cutter rig with the staysail flying on the patented Hoyt Jib Boom. With roller furling on all three sails and a self-tacking staysail, the 360 is an automated cruising boat. And because the sails are all fairly small, even the lightest and smallest crewmember can trim, reef and furl them.

The 360 sports an all-new interior that combines the warmth of traditional varnished teak joinery with the brightness of light-colored laminates and countertops. The boat offers two large, private double cabins and has a large head forward with a separate shower stall. The galley is huge and has twin refrigerators (either of which can be used as a freezer), a propane stove and oven, a microwave, and plenty of storage above and below the counters.

The L-shaped settee to port has a table that folds down from the main bulkhead, and across from the dinette are two swiveling easy chairs. There are storage lockers behind the settee and the chairs, and a small table fits neatly between the chairs for drinks or playing cards. The chart table folds up from the galley cabinet, where the navigator can use it while sitting in the aft easy chair.

The interior is spacious and homey, with plenty of natural light and ventilation. For a couple who likes to cruise with another couple or their children, the 360 offers a lot of accommodations in a manageable and affordable package.

After the Annapolis show, we had the chance to sail the boat before it was delivered to the nearby dealership at Gratitude Yacht Sales. The morning breeze was light and the Chesapeake Bay was lovely in the early autumn warmth. Off the Naval Academy we rolled out the mainsail and then the genoa and the 360 responded nicely. At 19,300 pounds, she is no lightweight, but even so the ample sail area easily turned the light breeze into 5 knots of boat speed. She seemed to almost be making her own wind.

We tacked up the Severn River next to the Academy where the breeze was building. The 360 tacked easily through 90 degrees and maintained her way while making very little leeway.

At the fixed bridge across the river, we bore off onto a broad reach and rolled out the staysail to give us maximum sail area. The 360 responded well and soon the bow wave was hissing nicely along the hull and the wake stretching away smoothly. This is the kind of pleasant sailing that we would have been happy with all day.

But we didn’t have all day, so after a few jibes downwind, we rolled up the sails and headed back into Annapolis under power. The 360 motors efficiently and is easy to steer and maneuver. We brought her in alongside a dock in town without any fuss and then backed and turned her within a boat length.

The new Island Packet 360 does a lot of things well. She is a capable ocean sailing boat with excellent accommodation for living aboard. She is built to the highest standards and carries ABYC and CE offshore ratings. If you are looking for a handy, mid-size blue water boat that is also a lot of fun to sail, the new 360 should definitely be on your list. Take her sailing and you won’t look back.

Island Packet Yachts
1979 Wild Acres Rd.
Largo, FL
33771
727-535-6431
www.ipy.com

Island Packet 360
LOA 36’5”
LWL 31’6”
Beam 12’4”
Draft 4’0”
Mast height 54’0”
Water 110 gals.
Fuel 55 gals.
Displ. 19,300 lbs.
Sail area 831 sq. ft.
Engine 40-hp.

Hanse 495 • The future is here in the new German-built Hanse 495—more space, greater comfort, better sailing qualities and a truly modern look.

Hanse Yachts of Germany has been exporting their modern cruisers to North America for nearly a decade. We have reviewed several of the models in the pages of BWS and have discovered that the designs tend to stir definite responses from sailors. When you climb aboard a new Hanse at a boat show and mingle with showgoers—often couples who are seeing the boats for the first time—you get a lot of spontaneous reactions.

Some couples take one look and say, Nope, not traditional enough for us, while others stop in their tracks and utter Wow, this is the future.

Both are right. The newest designs from Hanse are not at all traditional; instead, they reflect the future with as much pizzazz as boats from any builder in the world. The hulls have plumb bows and sawn-off sterns that contain huge fold-down swim platforms. Under the water, the keels are often racy T-bulbs and the rudders deep, high aspect shapes you would expect on a grand prix racer. The tall rigs have large, full-battened mainsails, while the working headsails are small and self-tacking. The cockpits are huge, have twin wheels and are equipped with big drop-leaf tables. And often the sterns are wide open to the sea.

The Hanse 495 is not your granddad’s cruising boat by any stretch. The new boat, like its sisters in the Hanse fleet, is an eye-catching statement of modernist form following modernist function.

SEA TRIALS
It was a flat, calm morning off Manchester, MA when I met up with Bump Wilcox, the local Hanse dealer, to take the 495 for a test sail. An old Yankee, Bump assured me the fog would soon lift and a sea breeze would build. And so it did. By noon, we could see the harbor entrance and the surface of the water had a few ripples. We fired up the engine, dropped the mooring lines, switched on the bow thruster and pivoted the big sloop in its own length so we could motor down the narrow channel toward the sea.

As we cleared the harbor buoy and started to hoist the big mainsail, the ripples on the water were turning into waves and the sea breeze began to gain enthusiasm. The main has a double purchase, so the halyard is incredibly long, but it is a snap to raise the big, heavy sail. We got it up and drawing and soon had the small 100 percent jib rolled out and trimmed.

The North Shore is iron bound with rocky isles and reefs and coastal cliffs, so we had to pick our way seaward carefully as we tacked into the still building breeze. The 495, trimmed for close-hauled sailing, tacked effortlessly and accelerated quickly after each tack, all without any sheet trimming. We were sailing at 42 degrees true and making 8.5 knots in 15 knots of true breeze, and she felt well settled, had no weather helm and the decks were mostly dry.

Within an hour, the sea breeze was now a proper wind of more than 25 knots, so we decided to spare the new boat and headed off onto a power reach for a mile or so, then jibed around and ran for home. On the reach, with the wind just aft of the beam, the 495 had no trouble sailing at 10 knots and hit 12 a couple of times in the puffs. And off the wind on a broad reach, she was able to sail at 9 and 10 without trouble.

The one hitch with self-tacking headsails lies in the position of the sheet cars on deck; the tack trims well inboard on both sides, so when you are reaching, the head of the sail tends to twist off and lose power. The result is that you have to sail at about 160 degrees from the true wind and jibe your way toward your destination. For those who want to sail effectively downwind, you need to rig a lazy sheet to the jib that can be trimmed properly or you need to fly a reacher or code zero on a free flying roller forward.

We made it back in one piece and had a truly exhilarating sail. The Hanse 495 is a remarkably capable design that is easy to handle, has a pleasant motion in square chop and offers a fine turn of speed.

LIFE ABOARD
The Hanse 495’s interior layouts make optimum use of the huge amount of volume the designers have allocated in the hull. The topsides are quite high, so the underside of the decks inside the boat are not an impediment to lockers and sight lines. The hull carries its volume quite far forward and aft, so there is plenty of room for large cabin and storage spaces. And the hull has enough rocker under the water to make room below the floorboards for wine lockers and other storage areas.

The boat Bump and I sailed had the standard layout, with a large double berth in the owner’s cabin forward and two large quarter cabins aft under the cockpit. The forward head arrangement puts the toilet and sink in a closet to port and the shower in its own closet to starboard, so both spaces can be used at the same time. Aft, there is a single head and shower that serves both aft cabins and that will be a good wet locker for foul weather gear when underway on a foul day.

The saloon and the fit and finish of the cabinetry are what give the interior its wow factor. The galley lies along the port side of the saloon and is equipped with, naturally, a roomy wine cooler, a two-drawer fridge-freezer, a dishwasher, a three-burner stove and oven, a microwave oven, and two large stainless steel sinks. The granite-colored Corian counters add an elegant touch.

The dinette to starboard is U-shaped and huge. Eight adults will fit around the table, so you can entertain handsomely. The bench amidships doubles as a wet bar and storage area for wine and bar supplies. The table has drink holders built into it that will keep cups and glasses in place while underway.

The chart table on the starboard side is small for laying out large ChartKits, but well suited to the size of a laptop computer and smaller charts. Above it, a removable panel for electronics will be home to the chartplotter, radios, AIS and other navigation instruments.

Headroom throughout the boat is exceptional. The interior is full of light that flows through the large rectangular windows in the hull and the big windows that wrap around the cabin top. Plus, two large opening hatches overhead provide light and ventilation.

The boat we sailed had a light beech wood interior that was warm and attractive. The cabin soles were a very light-colored maple, which added to the interior’s brightness and gave the boat a completely nontraditional ambience. The blue faux leather upholstery in the dinette was handsome and set off the woods nicely.

For a family of four or a couple cruising with friends, the interior works very well. And, the saloon is large enough for about 20 of your friends to gather for sundowners. Add the huge cockpit into the mix and you could entertain 30, which is about as nontraditional a concept as you can get in an oceangoing cruising boat.

Hanse pioneered the “have it your way” process of personalizing your own boat through their online “configurator.” Similar in concept to the way you can customize a new BMW, the website allows you to choose your own layout, keel configuration, rig size, hull colors, interior finishes and much more. Once you have your boat just the way you want it, the website passes the information on to the nearest dealer, who will then call you for a more in-depth discussion. Very smooth.

If you are looking for a cruising boat that will take you boldly into the future as well as safely and comfortably to sea, the purposeful and handsome new Hanse 495 is well suited for the job.

Hanse 495

LOA 50’6”
LOD 48’9”
LWL 44’5”
Beam 15’7”
Draft 7’8”
Draft (shoal) 6’6”
Displacement 30,900 lbs.
Ballast 8,830 lbs.
Sail area 1,390 sq. ft.
Mast height 72’6”
Engine 72 hp. Diesel
Fuel 75 gals.
Water 165 gals.
DesignersJudel/Vrolijk

www.hanseyachts.com
www.usa.hanseyachts.com

Dufour 36P • The new racer-cruiser from France is a winner in both categories.

The summer afternoon we test-sailed the new Dufour 36 Performance was warm and clear and the promise of a sea breeze was turning steadily into a reality on the waters of Rhode Island’s Narragansett Bay.

With six of us aboard, including Olympic sailor and author Carol Cronin, we hoisted the big mainsail and rolled out the 114 percent working jib. The 36P, which displaces only 14,000 pounds, feels very nimble underfoot, and even though the breeze was still an hour away, the boat put her shoulder down as we sheeted in and accelerated very smartly.

With Carol at the helm, we threw the 36P through a series of tacks. We were pleased to see the new design tack through 33 degrees apparent wind while making 5.5 knots in 7 knots of true breeze. It’s always fun to do boat tests with a sailor like Carol aboard since she raises everyone’s game just by being there.

The twin wheels, which are mounted on diagonal pedestals, are fairly far outboard, so you have an excellent view ahead and of the headsail from both the leeward and windward sides. The fractional, slightly overlapping jib trims inside the sidestays, which allows for tight sheeting angles and very close-hauled sailing.

The cockpit has the main traveler running across the sole just forward of the wheels; the sheet is double-ended, which means you can trim from either side of the cockpit. The cockpit lockers are demountable so you can open up the cockpit when racing with a full crew or you can leave them installed when cruising. Aft, the low transom folds down to make a swim platform with a sturdy stainless steel ladder. A life raft can be stowed aft in a compartment under the cockpit sole.

It is not often that a builder supplies a spinnaker for sail trials, but the 36 Performance is designed to be a true dual-purpose boat, so we had a chute to fly. The big sail was in a snuffer, which made it simple to hoist and deploy. Tacked down to the retractable carbon bowsprit, the asymmetrical chute really pulled the 36P along sweetly. Sailing at about 150 degrees apparent, the boat sailed as if on rails and accelerated noticeably in the early puffs of the sea breeze.

All in all, the 36P was a true pleasure to sail. We did not get the chance to crank it up around a race course, but later in the summer the Dufour dealers at North Star Yachts and a crew took the 36P to the Buzzard’s Bay Regatta in Massachusetts and won the 22-mile distance race on the first day.

CRUISING ACCOMMODATIONS
The 36P has simple yet elegant accommodations for living aboard. The forward cabin has a V-berth with storage underneath and lockers for clothes. The after cabin has a large double berth and plenty of locker space; ventilation is via a large vertical hatch in the cockpit well.

The galley is surprisingly large for a 36-footer, with a Corian counter, double stainless steel sinks, a large fridge and a two-burner propane stove. Across from it is a large head compartment with an integral shower. The head is spacious enough to be a good wet locker for foul weather gear when racing or sailing in heavy weather.

The bench settees to port and starboard are long enough to be extra berths. Between them is a centerline table with drop leaves and a top-loading wine locker. The whole atmosphere below decks is bright and modern without being too Euro-trendy. The fixed ports in the hull and the cabin sides are long and narrow but let in a lot of light and provide a limited outside view when seated. Overhead white panels highlighted with wood battens provide a pleasant traditional yacht finish to the cabin.

Two couples will be very comfortable cruising aboard the 36P. For regattas, you can fit six with two sleeping forward separated by a bundling board, two in the saloon and two in the aft double. The boat can be raced with six, although you may want an extra body or two in windy conditions.

DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION
Designed by Italian Umberto Felci, the 36P has a distinctive look with a plumb bow, fairly plumb stern, very long waterline and flat sheer. The hull has a slight chine in the after sections that adds to hull volume aft and should add a bit of power when the boat is reaching.

Under the water the boat has a high aspect, cast iron fin keel with a standard depth of seven feet, two inches. A shoal draft keel is also available. The spade rudder has been designed with a semi-elliptical shape that gives it a good bite on the water and a great feel when sailing upwind in the groove.

The 9/10ths fractional rig, with two swept back spreaders, has an aluminum mast that is stepped on the top of the keel. The standing rigging is discontinuous stainless wire so you can tune the rig accurately. It comes with a rigid boom vang and a carbon sprit forward that fits neatly inside the starboard bow.

The hull is foam core above the waterline and solid composite below the waterline. Wide longitudinal stringers run the length of the hull on both sides just above the waterline, which adds to hull stiffness and strength. Inside the hull, the builders use a pan liner to add stiffness, which becomes the foundation for interior joinery and the engine mount, chain plates and keel bolts.

With a displacement of 14,000 pounds and a working sail area of 776 square feet, the 36P is fairly light and powerful. The sail area to displacement ratio is 21.6, which fits right into the racing end of the racer-cruiser fleet.

A solid, well built boat, the 36P benefits from Dufour’s long heritage building production boats and their more recent commitment to designing and building boats that sail better and faster than many production designs.

Dufour 36 Performance
LOA 36’0”
LWL 33’6”
Beam 11’10”
Draft 7’0”
Displ. 14,109 lbs.
Ballast 4,188
Sail area 776 sq. ft.
Mast height 57’8”
Engine 29 hp diesel
Water 53 gals.
Fuel 24 gals.
Holding 12 gals.

Dufour Yachts

Phone: 352-871-0362
eric.macklin@dufour-yachts.com

Blue Jacket 40 • The new Tim Jackett-designed performance cruiser is being built by Island Packet.

The new Blue Jacket 40 that is scheduled for launch in December is a unique project among American builders and promises to be one of the most interesting new boats to come along in years. Tim Jackett, who was CEO and chief designer of Tartan and C&C Yachts for many years, went out on his own last year after building more than 2,500 boats to his own designs. When Island Packet’s founder, CEO and chief designer Bob Johnson, who has also built about 2,500 yachts, heard that his old friend was setting up his own design shop, he made a phone call that got the ball rolling on a new line of performance cruisers to be built in Island Packet’s facilities in Largo, Florida.

The brief for the new design, called the Blue Jacket 40, was to create a true performance cruiser that would provide exhilarating sailing performance and acquit itself ably around the buoys and in point-to-point events while maintaining a level of cruising comfort that modern sailors, racers and cruisers have come to expect. No small task.

The result is a stylish, modern, fin keel, spade rudder sloop that benefits from the vast design and building experience of two of America’s premier yacht designers and builders. The hull has sleek lines with a fairly plumb bow, a nicely squared off transom and just a hint of a curve in the sheerline. The hull carries maximum beam fairly far aft so the cockpit and after cabins are as spacious as possible.

The numbers tell the tale of the Blue Jacket 40’s performance pedigree. The standard design with the deep keel has a sail area-to-displacement ratio of 21.8, which means the rig has plenty of horsepower. The displacement-to-length ratio of 172 puts the boat in the “moderately light” category and indicates that the design will be quick but should also have a pleasant motion going through and over waves. The ballast-to-displacement ratio of 39 percent indicates that the 40 will stand up nicely to the breeze and should easily convert pressure into boat speed.

The 40 has a double headsail or Solent rig with the self-tacking jib on a carbon fiber Hoyt Jib Boom. Forward of the jib, a reacher is fitted with the tack mounted on the small prod or sprit that has been built off the bow. For upwind sailing, the self-tacking jib will provide very close sheeting angles and effortless tacking. The reacher will be deployed when off the wind for maximum sail area and performance. Both sails are on Harken roller furling units and can be handled from the cockpit. The full battened mainsail is handled with a double-ended sheet from either side of the cockpit and furls neatly into a carbon fiber pocket-style boom.

The Blue Jacket 40 is being built by the craftsmen who build Island Packets, so we can expect to find very high quality and integrity in the boat. The hull and deck are vinylester-infused moldings with Divinycell foam cores. The hull is reinforced with a laminated grid and an interior molded unit stiffens the hull and anchors the bulkheads, tanks and chainplates. You will find a belt and suspenders approach throughout.

The new Blue Jacket 40 is a uniquely American sailing yacht that evokes the best in this country’s boat building traditions, and was drawn and is being built by two friends who between them have built more than 5,000 high quality, innovative, ocean sailing yachts. Look for a full review of the Blue Jacket 40 early in the New Year. For more information, contact Blue Jacket Yachts at 727-535-6431 or visit www.bluejacketyachts.com

S & S 30 • This Olin Stephens design from 1935, updated by the S&S team, is one of the sweetest little cruisers ever built.

For those who may have forgotten, Olin Stephens was the Twentieth Century’s resident genius of yacht design, our own nautical Da Vinci. In every aspect of the sailing game from dinghies like the Lightning to offshore racers like Finisterre to America’s Cup defenders, Stephens created fast boats that were always a step ahead of their time.

Some years ago, when asked which of his designs he would like to see brought back and renewed, Stephens immediately suggested design number 97, a 30 foot racer-cruiser named Babe. Designed and build in 1935, Babe was a noted performer in coastal and offshore races—yes, regular people used to race 30 footers offshore. And, she was an able, compact coastal cruiser for a couple or small family.

The new boat, which is the brain child of yacht dealer and broker Glenn Walters, founder of Bluenose Yacht Sales, takes the pretty lines of the original design, including the thoroughly modern plumb bow and square transom, both of which look current by today’s standards, and marries them to a new underwater profile that includes a shallow hull form, bulbed fin keel and spade rudder. Plus, with a high-tech, cored hull, the 30 is both light and very stiff.

Up top, the 30 has been given an aggressive rig with a tall, full roach, slab reefing mainsail and a 100-percent self tacking, roller furling jib. A Selden top-down furler is used for the asymmetrical spinnaker.

The result is a new boat that is truly the best of both worlds. The hull looks sweet and right, like most of Stephens’ designs. The rig has the horsepower to make the boat sprightly to sail and competitive around the buoys. And, the interior is large enough for a family of four to enjoy a weekend cruise.

SAIL TRIAL
We met up with Glenn Walters in Miami after the Strictly Sail Miami show and had the chance to take a brief sail in the flat waters of Government Cut. We motored from the Miami Beach Marina, with the little 14-horsepower diesel and saildrive shunting us along easily and, once in the channel, hoisted the mainsail and rolled out the jib.

With the engine switched off and a fair breeze blowing into the cut, the 30 reacted immediately to the press of sail. The 30 is quite narrow by modern standards, similar in some ways to the modern fleet of J Boats, so the hull is very easily driven. We sheeted in the main, trimmed the self tacking jib and away we sailed, carving a course very close to the wind.

If you haven’t sailed a boat with a tiller in a while, we have to say that this is how a little thoroughbred should be steered. With the wind puffing and gusting between the condo towers, the tiller gave an immediate and visceral feel for how the boat was performing and allowed us to feel the puffs and steer up and through them without having to think about it.

We threw the 30 through a few tacks and noted that she was able to hold happily at about 40 degrees from the true wind and tacked through about 80 degrees. The self tacking jib makes tacking effortless. The mainsail is rigged with a four-part tackle that gives you plenty of mechanical advantage and it has a fine-tuning tackle that lets you trim in minute detail. The traveler runs across the cockpit so you can power the big mainsail up and down as the breeze dictates.

We didn’t get a chance to sail with the spinnaker flying, but we did sail next to the 30 when it had the chute up and noted with pleasure that the boat is very quick and lively. And, with two people aboard, the spinnaker with the top down furler is a cinch to fly.

There are some other good boats in this category, such as the Morris 29, Alerion 28 or the J/100 and each has its own characteristics. When it comes to pure sailing, the new S&S 30, with its long waterline and slippery hull form, will certainly hold its own with all of these and in the right hands will be a winner around a race course or in point to point events. After all, Babe won the 184-mile Miami to Nassau Race in 1936 and 1937, the same years another pint-sized thoroughbred, Seabiscuit, won his first races.

CREATURE COMFORTS
The S&S 30 has a large, comfortable cockpit. In the days when the first Babe was drawn, her owners would have said, “she drinks eight, eats six and sleeps four.”

The cabin house is low and fits neatly onto the hull, yet it offers a surprising amount of space and headroom below decks. The cabin has bench settees on both sides and a small galley forward with a stainless steel sink and room for a portable cook stove.

The head is enclosed in its own compartment for a modicum of privacy and forward there is a large V-berth. The hull is lined with a fiberglass ceiling that looks like old fashioned planking. There are cabinets and small storage lockers for essential gear and clothing and tanks for water, fuel and waste water.

With bunks for four people, you could certainly take the S&S cruising and would have a fine time exploring your nearby coastlines, coves and harbors. And, for longer runs, you could even store your small inflatable dinghy on the afterdeck.

A pretty and sweet sailing newcomer in the daysailer and weekender fleet, the S&S 30 is easy on the eye, fun to sail and capable of taking you around the buoys or around the islands in real style at a price that won’t make your banker hiccup.

S&S 30
LOA 30’6”
LWL 27’6”
Beam 8’3”
Draft 5’6”
Displ. 5,640 lbs.
Water 12 gals.
Fuel 13 gals.
Waste 6 gals.
Sail area 462 sq, ft.

Bluenose Yachts Sales
Newport, RI and South Portland, ME
Ph: (877) 695-6538
www.bluenoseyachts.com

The New Lagoons Arrive – The new 52 and 39 are the trend setters for the future of the Lagoon fleet.

On the Tuesday following this winter’s Strictly Sail Miami boat show, the two Lagoons that debuted at the show were cut loose from the docks so we could get a chance to sail the innovative new designs from the world’s leading builder of cruising cats.

Despite the ongoing recession in new boat sales worldwide, Lagoon—like its sister companies in Groupe Beneteau—has made a commitment to introducing new models that steadily advance the way we think about catamaran cruising. Renowned French multihull designers VPLP have designed the new boats so the hulls, which are roomy, have good fast shapes that allow them to sail well.

NEW THOUGHTS ABOUT CATS
Probably the biggest change in the new Lagoons is the rigs. You can see in the photographs that VPLP has moved the mast well aft instead of placing it right on top of the forward main bulkhead. By reducing the mainsail in size and increasing the size of the genoa, the designers have made the boats easier to sail with the same or better performance.

To give the new designs a unique look that enhances the brand, a look that is both familiar and thoroughly new, Lagoon turned to famed French designer Patrick le Quement who made his name in automobile styling and is on the board of The Sustainable Design School.

The look le Quement delivered is certainly all Lagoon, but with a modernist twist. The three signature elements of the new design are, first, the integral cockpit hardtop that flows seamlessly into the line of the cabin top. Second are the plumb bows that give the new boats a jaunty, purposeful look while extending the waterlines for added speed. And, third, is the distinctive bevel that has been built into the bows and hull deck connection; this detail reduces the height of the hulls and smooths out the look from the side.

Because of the change to the rig and to make sure the boats are as safe as possible, Lagoon had to come up with a way to support the mast on top of the bridgedeck instead of at the forward bulkhead. The solution was to create a massive structural grid in the bridgedeck with a large fiberglass girder running from the aft to the forward main bulkheads that is in turn secured to the hulls on both sides with lateral stringers.

Reports from the crew that sailed the 52 across the Atlantic from France to Miami are that they have never sailed a stiffer catamaran, even in big ocean waves.

SAILING THE 39
We picked up the 39 in Miami’s Government Cut and motorsailed out into the open ocean where we hoisted the small main and rolled out the genoa. The wind had been piping all morning but by the time we got out there it had moderated to 15 knots and the lumpy seas were calming down. It was one of those perfect Miami days with warm sun, a good breeze and puffy trade wind clouds. And, to the west, the loom of possible thunderstorms gathered over the Everglades.

The 39’s raised steering station on the starboard side of the cockpit has a comfortable double seat and offers good visibility forward. All sheets and control lines are led to the helm through clutches and are trimmed using an electric winch. With this set up, the 39 is very easy for one person to sail. That’s what we did. While the crew ate lunch, we hoisted the mainsail, rolled out the genoa and took off for a lovely sail along Miami Beach.

The 39 sails upwind best at about 50 degrees off the true wind and makes a slight touch of leeway when close hauled. But, it likes to sail quickly so we were seeing steady sevens on the GPS as we rode easily through the swells and chop. Throwing the cat through a few tacks, we confirmed that 50 degrees is indeed the right angle upwind and that she will tack sensibly through 100 degrees. I was able to tack her myself as the jib was self tacking. On our way back toward the cut and Miami Beach Marina, we eased sheets and felt the 39 really pick up speed yet she was incredibly easy for a single person to manage. We brought her into the marina and easily docked her using the twin engines. You can just about make a cruising cat crab sideways up to a dock or spin in its own length while maneuvering in tight quarters. The 39 was no exception.

The new 39 was designed to fit into the Lagoon line between the 380 and 4000S2. Almost 700 380s have been built, making it one of the most popular cruising cats in the world. The 39, with the company’s new design thinking and its position in a sweet spot in the market, should become as popular as the previous model.

The 39 has four layout options. The two cabin owner’s version can be built as either the standard model or upgraded to a very well equipped Premium version. You can have the boat built with three sleeping cabins for families with children. Or, if you sail with lots of friends or want to put the boat into charter you can have a four cabin version.

The 39 is a very comfortable boat and offers a lot of amenities for its size. There is an outside table in the cockpit that will seat six and a table in the saloon that will also seat six. The galley to port faces aft and has a large opening window so those preparing meals can still chat with those in the cockpit and drinks and plates can be passed back and forth with ease. The nav station is also to port and faces sideways; visibility from here is excellent so this will be a good place for standing night watches. The boat is finished with a light colored, attractive Alpi wood veneer, white ceilings and molding and light colored fabrics. With the huge windows in the saloon and large square windows in the cabins, the 39 is filled with natural light and effuses warmth and hominess. A couple or a family of three or four could very happily cruise the Lagoon 39 for days and weeks on end.

FLYING THE 52
The sun was getting a bit low when we got the Lagoon 52 away from the marina docks and headed out the cut toward the open sea. Compared to the 39, the 52 felt vast yet was similar to the little sister in many ways. The bigger boat has the same rig with the mast placed quite far aft and the headsail set up to be self tacking. Still, the mainsail was large and required serious effort from the electric winch to get it hoisted and quite a lot of thumb pressure on t

Catalina Sport Pocket Cruiser Racer • The new 27-foot sport cruiser from Catalina puts the fun back into sailing for those just starting out or those downsizing from a bigger cruising boat.

This coming fall, Catalina Yachts will introduce their all new Catalina 275 Sport at the Annapolis sailboat show. The 27-footer follows on the heels of the successful launch of the 315 18 months ago. While the 315 was a true family cruiser in a small package, the new 275 launches Catalina into the sport boat category but decidedly on its own terms.

Designed by Catalina’s Gerry Douglas, the new 275 was conceived to be a boat that is simple and fun to sail or even race, uncomplicated to own and maintain and roomy enough for four or five friends to join you for an afternoon of sailing, picnicking and swimming. On top of that, it had to be a capable weekender for a couple or a couple of friends.

To start, Douglas drew a hull that is long on the waterline for maximum boat speed but narrow enough with an eight foot, four inch beam to be trailerable. With the standard fin keel and spade rudder, the boat promises to be very easily driven and fast on all points of sail.

The rig plan shows a tall mast with a high roach slab reefing mainsail that has full battens. The headsail is a 100-percnt jib that self tacks on a traveler mounted just forward of the mast. These working sails will drive the boat easily and should make it close winded and nimble to tack.

For reaching and running, the boat is designed to carry an asymmetrical cruising chute that tacks down to a bow sprit. The best set up for this will be to have the headsail either with a fixed luff and roller furling, such as a code zero, or to use as top-down furler with a loose luff cruising chute. Either way you can hoist the rolled up sail and lead the sheets before leaving the mooring and then simply unroll it whenever you head downwind.

The 275 is about enjoying your hours on the water with friends and that means it is all about the cockpit. With long bench seats and high, sculpted coaming seatbacks, the boat is comfortable for four or five adults under sail. With a tiller and the open transom, you can move fore and aft easily. There is a swim ladder aft.

The new 275 will sail and act like a sport boat but in truth it is more than that. Down below it has accommodations that make it a simple but fine little weekender for a couple. The enclosed head will be appreciated by all and the small galley will make it possible to prepare simple meals. The forward area of the cabin has a V-shaped bench with a table that will be comfortable for four adults. The benches are wide enough to be good berths.

Aft there is a large berth that has been designed to be big enough to provide storage for a kayak or a stand up paddle board. The optional small diesel and sail drive unit fit neatly behind the companionway stairs and the port aft quarter of the boat has a huge cockpit locker for lines, fenders, the rolled up cruising chute and more. You could even put a rolled up inflatable dinghy in the locker.

There is a lot to like in the new design. If you haven’t steered a boat with a tiller in a while, you will appreciate just how much feel you have of the rudder. If you haven’t just gone sailing for the pure pleasure of it in a while, the 275 is a simple and easy way to get back into the groove. As a first boat for a young family or a downsized boat for more experienced sailors, the 275 offers a whole lot of fun in a small package.

Catalina 275
LOA 27’6”
LWL 26’7”
Beam 8’4”
Draft 4’5”
Draft (shoal) 3’5”
Sail area 360 sq. ft.
Displ. 4,200 lbs.
Ballast 2,000 lbs.

Catalina Yachts
www.catalinayachts.com
Woodland Hills, CA
Largo, FL

2013 Boat Show Preview • The fall and winter boat show season is on the horizon and with that comes excitement from not only boat builders, but boat buyers as well. As always, BWS is happy to give you a rundown on what to expect as you tour this year’s shows. For a preview of the newest multihulls, see the August 2013 issue of Multihulls Quarterly.

This year’s crop of new boats on the boat show landscape seems to be dominated by a central theme combining equal parts performance and comfort. In that regard boat designers and builders are meeting the demands of modern boat buyers by producing comfortable yet innovative yachts that also sail to an unprecedented performance standard.

That means you’ll see plenty of designs with plumb bows and sterns that maximize water length for speed and offer massive living spaces down below; rigs that are easy to use yet powerful in all wind conditions; and builders offering a plethora of ways to customize a boat for your specific needs. Here are 19 boat builders that will grab your attention as you walk the docks.

BAVARIA
Bavaria Yachts will be at this year’s shows in full force with their new Vision 42 and their line of Cruiser Series boats, which range from 33 to 56 feet. Following close on the success of the Vision 46, the Vision 42 is a boat for cruisers, by cruisers. Bavaria began the Vision design by consulting cruisers from around the world to find out what they wanted in a boat. Along with British Boutique firm, Design Unlimited, Farr Yacht Design took over from there and what they’ve come up with is a cruiser that will make fast passages and be a comfortable live aboard as well. The two-cabin layout is available with one or two heads and the owner can customize all of the wood and upholstery. For more info visit www.bavariayachts.com.

BENETEAU
Beneteau always shows up with an impressive line of boats and this year will be no different. They will be debuting their new Oceanis 38 and will have a stable of other models including the Oceanis 34 to 55 and their popular Sense models. The much-anticipated Oceanis 38 will be debuting at all the major shows this fall and the buzz centers around the boat’s three unique layout options and adaptability. Available as a Daysailer, Weekender or Cruiser, the 38’s interior and exterior layouts can be suited for any sailor’s needs as owners are able to add or remove design elements as they see fit. For more information visit www.beneteauusa.com.

BLUE JACKET 40
The Blue Jacket 40 will be making its fall boat show debut this year with much fanfare. Designed by Tim Jackett, formerly of C&C and Tartan, and Island Packet’s founder and chief designer, Bob Johnson, the new Blue Jacket 40 has already garnered much attention in its relatively short lifespan. As you can imagine, the boat’s unique design offers elements of the IP line, but with a performance twist. BWS had a chance to sail hull number two in Florida and to say we came away impressed would be an understatement (for the full review see BWS, Nov. 2012). This quality performance cruiser will be an excellent choice for a couple or small family and is definitely worth a look. For more information visit www.bluejacketyachts.com.

C&C
Fun, and fast, the C&C 101 will be making an appearance at this years shows and for those who think the boat is a purpose-built racer, guess again. Sure, at first glance from the dock the 101 may seem like a pure racer but it will make for a great daysailer and has enough interior space and amenities to make for an able weekender as well. Built as a racer/cruiser the 101 is a perfect balance of both worlds. With a carbon fiber rig and large asymmetrical chute tacked to an extending bowsprit the boat will surely get you where you want to go quickly. Once there though, a comfortable interior with a two-burner stove, proper marine head and room to sleep the whole crew won’t make you feel as though you are camping out. For more information visit www.c-cyachts.com.

CATALINA
It is always interesting to see what Catalina is up to and this year they will be debuting their new 275 Sport at the Annapolis boat show and bringing along a host of cruising boats from 31 to 44 feet. The 275 Sport (see BWS’ design review in the August 2013 issue) is a uniquely designed pocket cruiser with a bit of a performance edge. Designed by Catalina’s Gerry Douglas, the 275 was conceived to be simple to maintain and fun to cruise while also being capable of racing around the buoys. This may be the perfect boat for newer sailors or those looking to move down a size. From there, Catalina’s cruising range will excite with the popular 315 that debuted 18 months ago, up to their Ocean series 385 and award winning 445. For more information visit www.catalinayachts.com.

DEHLER
This sporty, European-styled cruiser by Dehler Yachts will certainly turn heads come boat show time. The 38 Competition is a true performance cruiser that would be fun on charter, as a full-time cruiser or as a family racer. Designed by Judel/Vrolijk & Co the 38 has dual carbon fiber helms with a full, cockpit length traveler just forward to allow for easy trimming and shaping of the mainsail. The boat has a near plumb bow and stern with a fold down transom to effectively maximize waterline length and boat speed. Down below is a standard three-cabin layout with galley to starboard and head to port. If a performance cruiser is what you are after this fall, take a look at the new Dehler 38 Competition. For more information visit www.dehler.com.

DUFOUR
Dufour will be on hand this fall as well with their Grand Large and Performance series yachts. The sleek Performance series, including the 40e and 45e, are performance cruisers that have a racing inspired deck layout but with modern, purposeful interiors. Dufour’s Grand Large series boats are more cruiser-centric and designed for comfort both on deck and below. The 41 and 50 are new to the Dufour fleet and every part of these boats has been designed with a focus on functionality. Take for instance the navigation table that can be used for passagemaking, then stowed away into a comfortable sofa when at anchor or while entertaining. For more information visit www.dufour-yachts.com.

HANSE
Hanse Yachts is another builder showing up with multiple models this fall. With on opportunity to step aboard a 34 to 49 footer you’ll be able to inspect nearly all of Hanse’s lineup. The Hanse fleet is designed by the famous Judel/Vrolijk & Co and they strive to build the fastest most comfortable boats in this size and class. Hanse is a builder that has a styling all their own but they let you customize the color of your yacht’s joinery, upholstery, exterior canvas and hull. For more information visit us.hanseyachts.com.

ISLAND PACKET
Island Packet is always a familiar boat show face and this year will be no different as they present models ranging from 36 to 46 feet. IP set the benchmark by building boats for serious cruising sailors and they are always looking to improve. Good at incorporating owner input into their designs, the newest Island Packets are not only built to an extremely high standard, but they are comfortable at sea, more liveable than ever and have features that true cruisers are looking for; such as a Full Foil Keel® and cutter rig with Hoyt jib boom. For more information visit www.ipy.com.

JEANNEAU
At last year’s Annapolis boat show the line to get on a Jeanneau was long, and for good reason; the boat builder puts on an impressive display and this years lineup looks to be much the same as they are set to showcase models from 39 to 50 feet. Of particular interest will be the new Sun Odyssey 469 and Sun Odyssey 41DS. Designed by Philippe Briand, the 469 has a pedigree that is uniquely Jeanneau with clean lines and a moderate freeboard. BWS had a chance to sail the 469 in February off Miami Beach (for the full review see the August 2013 issue of BWS) and can attest to the boat’s sailing ability and comfort in a big breeze. For more information visit www.jeanneau.com.

J/BOATS
This iconic boat builder will be showcasing their line of racers and cruisers this fall and there will be much to see. Launched just last year the J70 took off on a run that saw huge fleets showing up at key events such as Key West Race Week and Charleston Race Week. Not to be missed is the versatile J111. Equal parts racer, cruiser, daysailer and weekender, this 36-foot one-design beauty will have you winning races one weekend and cruising islands the next. For more information visit www.jboats.com.

HUNTER
Hunter is back in the boat show mix with new models that range from 27 to 50 feet. This year, in celebration of their 40th anniversary, Hunter has debuted their sleek new 40-footer and it will be front and center at many shows. With hard chines, swim platform, hardtop and hand crafted interior, this new Hunter is a clear design departure for the boat builder and is worth a look. For a full review of the new Hunter 40 see the April issue of BWS. For more information visit www.marlow-hunter.com.

MORRIS YACHTS
What would a boat show be without a few Morris’ to give the docks that good ole’ Maine feeling? Morris has so much to choose from but their new M46 is a real looker.

Designed in partnership with the venerable Sparkman & Stephens, the M46 is a unique design that can have you sailing to windward with the best of them or relaxing at anchor with your feet in the water from the boat’s innovative stern platform. For more information visit www.morrisyachts.com.

MOODY
Moody’s new fleet, including the 41 and 45DS, have a distinctive look that will definitely catch your eye as you browse the docks this fall. The 45DS is a clear departure from Moody’s of the past and that is exactly what they went for with this new design. A plumb bow and stern, raised decksaloon with large expansive windows, and dual helms, gives this new Moody an ultra modern look that is sure to make a splash. For more information visit www.moodyboats.com.

PASSPORT
If you are looking for a luxury yacht that can take you anywhere your sailing heart desires, then this year’s lineup of Passports will be worth your time. The Passport Vista 545’s center cockpit, raised deck house and massive interior are going to tug at your sailing heartstrings, but it is the boat’s high tech composite hull and deck, along with Solent rigged headsails and an in-mast furling main that will have you wanting to get her out for a test sail. For more information visit passportyachts.com.

RUSTLER
The Rustler 36’s traditional styling and offshore capable design and build will be on display this fall and should not be overlooked. While the 36’s long, deep keel and stern hung rudder harken back to designs of the past, this boat is every bit a modern blue water cruiser that is bound to be surefooted in a blow and easy to sail shorthanded or by yourself.

Add to that a beautiful interior that can be customized by the owner and you have boat that will truly meet your needs. For more information visit www.rustleryachts.com.

SEAWARD
Planning on sailing in shallow water but looking for a boat that can take you over the horizon? You’ll definitely want to take a close look at Hake Yachts Seaward 26RK, 32RK and 46RK. The flagship of the fleet, the 46RK, is a true blue water boat with a powerful yet forgiving rig, comfortable living and sailing spaces and did I mention the seven foot keel that can be raised to give the boat a minimum draft of only two feet five inches? For more information visit www.seawardyachts.com.

S&S 30
The S&S 30 is the newest incarnation of an old classic: Babe. Originally designed by S&S for the 1935 Miami to Nassau race, Babe was far ahead of her time and so deserved to be revived in beautiful fashion. Though the S&S 30’s initial intention was for a racer, the new 30 is also a pure pocket cruiser or daysailer.

We got a chance to sail the boat in a fair breeze and it was an absolute pleasure to handle (for a full review see the March 2013 issue of BWS). For more information visit www.ss-30.com.


Tartan
Tartan is synonymous with quality sailboats and that is exactly what you will find from them at this year’s boat shows. With a line of boats ranging from the Fantail to the 5300, Tartan is always looking for innovation and progression in boat building and design.

One of those progressions is Tartan’s unique ability to highly personalize their boats to a customer’s desires; and so it goes with the Tartan 4700. Filling the gap between the 4400 and 5300 the Tim Jackett designed 4700 has a raised deck saloon, three-cabin layout, a Solent style headsail rig with reacher and jib, and a carbon fiber pocketboom. For more information visit www.tartanyachts.com.

With a unique and flexible design, the Beneteau Oceanis 38 is going to evolve with your sailing style in mind By Andrew Cross

Being that I am slightly obsessed with sailboats, I usually get excited when something new and bold hits the market. It is a rarity, though, when I am overly enthusiastic to see the interior of a boat first—I guess I’d much rather be on deck actually doing the sailing then dwelling on the finer points of joinery and fabric selection. But when the design specs and marketing material for the Beneteau Oceanis 38 first came across the nav desk of my home office, I thought, “Wow, this is new.” Working to create a boat that is as diverse as our modern lives have become, the Beneteau Oceanis 38 is a boat designed for everyone. With three models to choose from—daysailer, weekender or cruiser—you can literally configure the boat for your sailing style. And this boat has style in spades.

SEA TRIAL
In stark contrast to the rainy days of the United States Sailboat Show in Annapolis, the Tuesday after the show was sunny, breezy and nearly perfect to get any boat out for a sail. With six of us aboard we set out from Bert Jabin’s Yacht Yard in Back Creek and wove our way through anchored boats as a fresh northeasterly funneled down the creek.

Under power the 30 horsepower Volvo Penta had us humming quickly out of the channel at about 7.5 knots and in perfect position to roll out the sails. With all control lines, halyards and sheets led smartly aft we rolled the Elvstrøm main out first and flattened the foot against the boom as 15 knots of breeze was in store. The boat’s dodger had nice large windows and a rare sunroof that made the main visible without having to stick your head out from underneath to tell sail shape and trim. The dodger was led aft to the 38’s mainsheet arch over the cockpit and from there a bimini took over to provide shade for the rest of the voluminous cockpit.

As we shut down the engine we rolled the slightly overlapping genoa out to starboard and trimmed for close hauled on a port tack. I was offered the helm and without hesitation took my usual seat to leeward so I could get a look at the tell tales on the headsail. The jib sheet winches are well within arms reach from either helm and I made a few slight adjustments before sitting back to enjoy the sail. With lots of other boats out that day I asked the crew to keep a lookout to windward and lost myself in sailing the boat.

Designed by the famous and often award winning Finot-Conq Architectes, the Beneteau Oceanis 38 has a uniquely modern look to it with a nearly plumb bow and stern and hard chine that extends almost the entire length of the boat. The look is something traditionalists won’t favor, but the 38 isn’t trying to be a traditionalist’s boat either. One of the crew, a prospective new owner, asked why the need for a hard chine and dual rudder? Not a dumb question: the hard chine is for stability and as we sailed to windward the boat healed to about 15 degrees, locked in and literally sat on that chine. The starboard rudder was then deep in the water as designed and easy as could be to steer with fingertips alone.

After putting the boat through a few smooth tacks I could tell that she moved effortlessly between 90 degrees and accelerated quickly out of each maneuver. When sailing at full speed close hauled we clipped along at about 6.5 knots and the feeling of the helm never changed as we encountered a gust. With the in-mast furling mainsail we had on the boat I would think that reefing would be done somewhere slightly south of 20 knots of apparent wind, but as stable as she felt she could probably take more.

The 38 is a light displacement boat and with a SA/Disp ratio of 18.5 and a D/L of 145 I’m sure she’ll be lively in light to moderate breezes but benefit from a smaller sail area when the wind pipes up, especially when sailing close hauled. Off the wind the boat tracked as if it were sliding along on rails and again, the dual rudders kept the helm efficient and light. With a beam of just over 13 feet that is carried well aft, I’m guessing that even in a good following swell the boat will be easy to steer and won’t feel as the though the stern wants to slide out to either side.

After putting her through a few jibes and running through all the points of sail we reached back towards the Creek and Jabin’s. This wasn’t a sail that you wanted to end but I guess they all have to. Under power again we made our way to the dock and backed down into the slip. In my experience twin rudders tend to bite quickly in reverse and this boat was no different, as driving astern was simple.

LIVING ABOARD
Days before getting to sail the new Beneteau Oceanis 38 I had a chance to spend some time aboard the boat at the Annapolis boat show. Moored stern to the show’s floating dock, I stepped aboard on a rainy, windy day and quickly made my way through the large cockpit and down below decks. I was truly excited to see what Beneteau had in store for the interior of this much talked about and fawned over design.

From the spec sheet I knew that Nauta Designs was in charge of the interior and from boats I’ve seen of theirs in the past, I knew it would have a clean, polished look that would also feel like home. I wasn’t wrong. One interior design feature that I’ve come to love of the new crop of cruising boats is the light, open and airy feeling that the designers are going with.

Gone are the days of the dark, library-esq interior styling’s that make you feel as though you’re hiding in a cave. Though it was overcast and dreary outside, the large cabin top windows let a good amount of light in and the overhead hatches added some much needed brightness. In complete contrast to the gloom of that day at the show, when we did our sea trial the sun was beaming bright, causing light to bounce throughout the cabin without seeming like it would turn the boat into an oven or cause it to be too obnoxiously bright. There are shades on every window if too much sunlight seemed like it would be a problem.

The boat we test sailed was the weekender version and the first thing I noticed when stepping down the companionway was how spacious the boat felt. With no forward bulkhead, the queen-sized V-berth was open to the rest of the cabin and gave the design a very modern, loft-like feel. Being that it was so inviting, I wasted no time in climbing onto the mattress and found that my six-foot frame easily fit. Non-opening ports flank the bunk to port and starboard, which helped fill the forward area of the boat with light, and a large drawer for storage is at the foot of the bed.

My favorite touch forward was the purposefully built and mounted hooks for luggage that was custom designed for Beneteau by Longchamp of Paris to act as “Rolling Lockers.” Simply pack what you need from home, bring it to the boat, hang it up and you’re set. Very clever. To port and just aft of the bunk was a long settee, table and small chart desk that would be perfect for a laptop or chart book.

Along the starboard side was a small changing seat and then the inline galley with a generous amount of counter space, drawers for storage below and cupboards above, a two burner stove, single sink and refrigerator. Aft of the galley on that side, and on all versions, is a head with shower.

The weekender and cruiser versions can then be customized to have either one or two cabins aft to starboard and port. The cool thing about the interior design of this boat that really sets it apart from the pack is that it can literally be changed for how you want to use it. By moving or adding various interior pieces you can take the boat from a Spartan daysailer to a more livable cruiser.

An owner can add or remove a forward bulkhead for privacy; remove the stove and adjacent storage space and add a cushion for more room to sit; add or remove cupboards and storage areas; and add or remove the saloon table—virtually the entire boat can be changed, re-arranged and customized while you own it. As far as the versions go, I could definitely envision the daysailer of the 38 being popular with singles or couples that lead busy shore side lives, but love spending their scant amount of free time sailing and may want to do an overnight or two.

The weekender would allow for a few more people to sleep aboard and the added stove/oven and storage would make the boat slightly more livable. The cruiser version is more of a traditional cruising sailboat with a proper galley setup, nav station, and plenty of space to sleep fore and aft. Every version of the 38 comes with an ample sized cockpit that can comfortably fit a whole crew, couple or singlehander.

Choosing to forgo an aft bunk on either side allows for a large sail and gear locker that could probably stow a roll-up dinghy and all the fenders you would need. Two styles of cockpit table are available or you can choose to go without. The transom folds down to reveal a swim step that makes getting on and off the boat simple when moored stern to and would also make for a good dinghy landing platform.

BWS THOUGHTS
Down below I am personally a big fan of the open feel they’ve achieved in the daysailer and weekender with the removable forward bulkhead. At the show, I stood on the dock just behind the boat as showgoers were exiting through the stern and a lot of people were talking positively of that exact feature. When we speak of modern boat designs that are equal parts performance and comfort, I would say this boat is as close as you can get for any style of sailor.

The flexible nature of the interior and cockpit will appeal to singles, young couples, small families and to those whose children have sailed out of the house. Under sail and power the 38 handled exceptionally well and with a manageable sail plan this boat will have buyers away from the dock and under sail in short order for a day sail or weekend. For those with aspirations of longer distance cruising, I see the Oceanis 38 as an excellent coastal cruising platform that, with the right gear added, will be comfortable to live aboard at anchor, on a mooring or at a dock and will also make for a boat that can complete respectable daily runs.

All in all, it looks as though the Beneteau Oceanis 38 is going to live up to the hype it has been getting, and for good reason. With a design that goes outside the box, we’ll surely be seeing lots of these boats out for day sails, weekends and longer cruises.

Beneteau Oceanis 38
LOA 37’9”
LWL 35’ 2”
Beam 13’ 1”
Displ. 14,172
Draft 6’9” / 5’3”
Mast height 54’4”
Fuel 34 gals.
Water 87 gals.
Sail area 665 sq. ft.
Engine 30-hp.

Benetau USA
Annapolis, MD
www.beneteau.com