Boats

Sail Design: Art or Science?

by Adam Cort, Posted January 9, 2013

Two different boats, two different sail programs, and yet a surprising number of similarities: among them, the fact that even in this era of gee-whiz computer modeling, the human element still plays a major role in a sail’s ultimate success.

Just Launched: Petrel

by Peter Nielsen, Posted January 4, 2013

It is not very often that Hull #2 of a design beats Hull #1 onto the water by a couple of decades—which is why Jay E. Paris, longtime technical editor of SAIL and designer of the 32-foot cruiser Petrel, laughs ruefully as he looks back at the lengthy build timeline of his boat.

Sparkman & Stephens 30

by Andrew Burton, Posted December 14, 2012

Harking back to one of Olin Stephens’s well-known designs from 1935, the pretty S&S 30 is nevertheless a very modern boat. Like the original, a 30-footer named Babe, it was built for coastal racing and daysailing.

2013 Best Boat Winners

by Sail Staff, Posted November 20, 2012

There were many impressive nominees this year, and our judges had no easy task. In the end, a retro trimaran, a carbon-fiber racer and an ocean-capable lifting-keel cruiser are all among this year's winners.

Morris Yachts Celebrates its 40th Anniversary

by Bill Springer, Posted November 19, 2012

The room went silent when the photo of Tom and Cuyler Morris flashed up on the boatshed wall. The classic wooden building in Northeast Harbor, Maine, was ground zero for a weekend of parties and raft-ups hosted by Morris Yachts to celebrate its 40th year of building boats.

Best Boats 2013 Harbor 30

by Sail Staff, Posted November 16, 2012

Like W.D. Schock’s other daysailers, the new Harbor 30 is a tasteful blend of tradition and technology. At a distance, this boat looks good from every angle, and the visual pleasure continues as you step aboard and below into the cabin.

Best Boats 2013 Tartan Fantail

by Adam Cort, Posted November 15, 2012

The past year has been a good one for small boats and daysailers, but even in a crowded field, the Tartan Fantail stands out as something special—a boat that is elegant, practical and, best of all, a whole lot of fun.

Best Boats 2013 Hunter 40

by Sail Staff, Posted November 14, 2012

To celebrate its 40th anniversary (and a recent change of ownership) Hunter has introduced a new 40-footer that hones and refines several trends the company has been developing aboard its boats in recent years.

Best Boats 2013 McConaghy 38

by Sail Staff, Posted November 14, 2012

The Aussie-bred McConaghy 38 takes skiff sailing adrenalin and repackages it in a low-slung sport boat that redefines the genre. It came as no surprise that our Best Boats team found little not to like about this 7,000lb, all carbon, elegantly Spartan sloop.

Flagship: Best Boats Swan 60

by Louay Habib, Posted November 14, 2012

Since the moment of its inception in 1967, Nautor’s Swan has been the epitome of a Scandinavian boatbuilder—highly regarded for its traditional boatbuilding skills, its exquisite woodwork and cabinetry, and its exceptional attention to detail.