(however not according to the International Rule)
Design study for a yacht of an era when times were not necessarily better, and boats were not necessarily inferior!
Sailors are not only rational people but have sentiments, too, and while many are drawn to ultralight IMS jerrycans, others wouldn’t go to sea in anything less than a heavy double-ender. But some sailors feel that the most attractive yachts were built between the wars when the perfect cruiser was at the
same time a flush-decked racing yacht. This was in the days when even cars and motor yachts had style and the owner of a major racing yacht would go to his office downtown in a Duesenberg or, in summer, in his fast commuter.
In those days, around-the-buoys racing was performed in Dragons, IOD:s, 6-meter and 8-meter yachts. The Gold Cup was one of the most desired trophies, the racing grounds changing between Hankö, Long Island Sound, Genua and Sandhamn; while the America’s Cup was raced off Newport in the great J-boats, and later in 12-meters.
This design is intended to recall those days. It was inspired by sailing friends and boatbuilders talking dreamingly about long, sleek yachts of the past. Being asked for my opinion of such yachts I would usually take time to explain why boats of more moderate proportions make more sense. Still, things are never that simple and the perfect yacht does not come in one shape only.
Racing in these yachts would certainly be an overwhelming experience. And if built on similar hulls, keels and rigs and with equal distribution of weights they can certainly be raced against each other. But the real beauty is that they would be equally suited for cruising down the coast with family or friends, or just ghosting along without much fuzz an afternoon when you simply cannot resist the breeze .
The main differences between this design and an old-time 10-metre are in the hull shape and materials, and these differences are so great that the two basic types of boat will show vastly different characteristics:
Hull shape will not be confined by the old rule which dictated extremely narrow yachts with too V-shaped sections. Being free of such restrictions the new yacht does not have to be excessively heavy, she will need less sail to drive her and she will have a lot more interior volume. And, since scientific evolution has not stood still during the last 60 years, the keel and rudder will be more efficient with less wetted surface.Hull building techniques including cored laminates with multidirectional rovings on PVC closed-cell foam or balsa or, for a one-off hull, strip-planked red cedar will produce a hull with a quality, strength, stiffness, impact resistance, sound insulation, thermal insulation and low weight that simply was not conceivable in the old days. In addition, bulkheads and other large panels should be cored in order to bring unnecessary weight down. And a more modern rig and sails with a carbon fibre mast in particular will improve the yacht’s stability and motion in a seaway.
A yacht of this kind could be built by any skilled European or North American yard but, because of the character of the design, it only makes sense to go for the best finished, highest quality product. She could be built one-off or as a limited production of a few boats, with some possible variation in layout and materials.
In all, despite any rational objections one might have against classic yachts of this kind with slender hull shapes, flush decks and long overhangs, this design should prove highly functional and extremely rewarding to sail.
SPECIFICATIONS
Dimensions:
L.O.A. 18,30 m 60,0’
L.W.L. 13,10 m 43,0’
Beam, maximum 3,78 m 12,4’
Beam, waterline 3,28 m 10,8’
Draft 2,48 m 8,1’
Displacement 17000 kg 37500 lbs
Ballast 7200 kg 16000 lbs
Sail area (100% fore triangle) 145 m_ 1560 sq.ft.
Ratios:
D / L 214
SA / D 22
SA / WA 2,7
