Ker 40: Best Handicap Racer
Jason Ker, master of IRC-winning designs, teams up with McConaghy Boats to deliver a no-excuses, semi-custom raceboat that’s dialed in for offshore sprints and buoy racing triumphs.
Jason Ker, master of IRC-winning designs, teams up with McConaghy Boats to deliver a no-excuses, semi-custom raceboat that’s dialed in for offshore sprints and buoy racing triumphs.
The simplistic and graceful Sparkman & Stephens 30 is perfect for casual sailing, beer can racing, and much more.
When Dufour Yachts said they were going to revamp their line of performance cruisers, they weren’t kidding. With the Dufour 36 Performance they deliver on their promise: It’s a fast, fun, and impeccably built crossover—for less than $250K. Race it. Cruise it. Enjoy the ride.
For casual racing, club sailing, and messing about with the family, RS Sailboats delivers the goods with its Venture, a versatile and nimble dinghy for the sailing masses.
From 15 new designs, Sailing World‘s Boat of the Year judges distinguish six boats ready to take on the racecourse in 2013.
Boat of the Year Nominee Photos by Walter Cooper Travel around Europe, and X-Yachts are a staple of all the major handicap races. There’s no denying that X-Yachts make fast, great sailing boats, and the Xp 38 continues the tradition, only better. Their updated crossovers now have robust carbon keel grids (instead of metal), and the hull shape of the Xp 38, said Greg Stewart, was very stiff, quick, and easily driven. From off the boat, it’s racy looking, with a low-profile cabin top, angu
Boat of the Year Nominee Photos by Walter Cooper Imported from France, the Tofinou 8M, was a looker at the dock, thanks to the sharpness of its metallic paint and teak deck, but on the water, the judges quickly dismissed it because excessive friction in every control line, and a combative helm took the fun out of sailing it. “The thing was a workout,” said Tom Rich, explaining that the practice of hiding ropes by leading them under deck from the mast to the jammer banks in the cockpit i
Boat of the Year Nominee Photos by Walter Cooper After inspecting the Tartan Fantail at the dock, and being impressed with its construction quality, the judges had high expectations. And when winds kicked into the high-teens, just in time for its test sail, they were especially eager to see what this radical-looking daysailer could do. As is often the case, however, strong winds quickly reveal a boat’s weakest points. “The rudder had a ton of helm,” said judge Greg Stewart, “and most of
Best Daysailer Photos by Walter Cooper The ultimate daysailing experience is different for everyone. For some of us, it might just be an afternoon spin around the bay, or a twilight sail with the family or significant other. For the BOTY judges, however, the ultimate daysailing experience should include the ability to just keep going—to let a day turn into two or more. The Sparkman & Stephens 30 is just the boat for that. Olin Stephens never drew a bad boat, and this remake of his 1930s
Boat of the Year Nominee Photos by Walter Cooper The SeaRail 19 is a pint-sized trimaran imported from Vietnam, built by a former Corsair Trimaran employee with imput from noted multihull designer Nigel Irens. The test boat was delivered straight from U.S. Customs, so its U.S. distributor, Bob Gleason, a multihull veteran, was on the water sorting it out before its test time. As we approached Gleason, he looked concerned and suggested the boat not be tested. “The [leeward] float is reall
Best Recreational Dinghy Photos by Walter Cooper Pile in the kids, or the adults, because there’s plenty of room in the versatile little RS Venture, which is ideal for sailing programs and families alike. With this 16-footer, RS Sailboats, of the United Kingdom, offers a $14,000 dinghy with excellent performance and handling, and construction quality that will live up to the demands of club-sailing programs (especially if you add the optional bumpers). RS’s experienced team of sailors a
Boat of the Year Nominee Photos by Walter Cooper **The slick Motive 25R was a showstopper **at the U.S. Sailboat Show in Annapolis (and the Newport International Boatshow where it was named best-in-show). In the BOTY fleet, it was certainly the most unique and most intriguing. According to Motive Trimaran founder Pete Ansel, a special-effects-specialist-turned-boatbuilder, the concept of the Motive 25R is based on the popularity of “raiding” (adventure racing/camping) in Europe, the desire t
Jason Ker, master of IRC-winning designs, teams up with McConaghy Boats to deliver a no-excuses, semi-custom raceboat that’s dialed in for offshore sprints and buoy racing triumphs.
The simplistic and graceful Sparkman & Stephens 30 is perfect for casual sailing, beer can racing, and much more.
When Dufour Yachts said they were going to revamp their line of performance cruisers, they weren’t kidding. With the Dufour 36 Performance they deliver on their promise: It’s a fast, fun, and impeccably built crossover—for less than $250K. Race it. Cruise it. Enjoy the ride.
For casual racing, club sailing, and messing about with the family, RS Sailboats delivers the goods with its Venture, a versatile and nimble dinghy for the sailing masses.
From 15 new designs, Sailing World‘s Boat of the Year judges distinguish six boats ready to take on the racecourse in 2013.
Boat of the Year Nominee Photos by Walter Cooper Travel around Europe, and X-Yachts are a staple of all the major handicap races. There’s no denying that X-Yachts make fast, great sailing boats, and the Xp 38 continues the tradition, only better. Their updated crossovers now have robust carbon keel grids (instead of metal), and the hull shape of the Xp 38, said Greg Stewart, was very stiff, quick, and easily driven. From off the boat, it’s racy looking, with a low-profile cabin top, angu
Boat of the Year Nominee Photos by Walter Cooper Imported from France, the Tofinou 8M, was a looker at the dock, thanks to the sharpness of its metallic paint and teak deck, but on the water, the judges quickly dismissed it because excessive friction in every control line, and a combative helm took the fun out of sailing it. “The thing was a workout,” said Tom Rich, explaining that the practice of hiding ropes by leading them under deck from the mast to the jammer banks in the cockpit i
Boat of the Year Nominee Photos by Walter Cooper After inspecting the Tartan Fantail at the dock, and being impressed with its construction quality, the judges had high expectations. And when winds kicked into the high-teens, just in time for its test sail, they were especially eager to see what this radical-looking daysailer could do. As is often the case, however, strong winds quickly reveal a boat’s weakest points. “The rudder had a ton of helm,” said judge Greg Stewart, “and most of
Best Daysailer Photos by Walter Cooper The ultimate daysailing experience is different for everyone. For some of us, it might just be an afternoon spin around the bay, or a twilight sail with the family or significant other. For the BOTY judges, however, the ultimate daysailing experience should include the ability to just keep going—to let a day turn into two or more. The Sparkman & Stephens 30 is just the boat for that. Olin Stephens never drew a bad boat, and this remake of his 1930s
Boat of the Year Nominee Photos by Walter Cooper The SeaRail 19 is a pint-sized trimaran imported from Vietnam, built by a former Corsair Trimaran employee with imput from noted multihull designer Nigel Irens. The test boat was delivered straight from U.S. Customs, so its U.S. distributor, Bob Gleason, a multihull veteran, was on the water sorting it out before its test time. As we approached Gleason, he looked concerned and suggested the boat not be tested. “The [leeward] float is reall
Best Recreational Dinghy Photos by Walter Cooper Pile in the kids, or the adults, because there’s plenty of room in the versatile little RS Venture, which is ideal for sailing programs and families alike. With this 16-footer, RS Sailboats, of the United Kingdom, offers a $14,000 dinghy with excellent performance and handling, and construction quality that will live up to the demands of club-sailing programs (especially if you add the optional bumpers). RS’s experienced team of sailors a
Boat of the Year Nominee Photos by Walter Cooper **The slick Motive 25R was a showstopper **at the U.S. Sailboat Show in Annapolis (and the Newport International Boatshow where it was named best-in-show). In the BOTY fleet, it was certainly the most unique and most intriguing. According to Motive Trimaran founder Pete Ansel, a special-effects-specialist-turned-boatbuilder, the concept of the Motive 25R is based on the popularity of “raiding” (adventure racing/camping) in Europe, the desire t
