Boat Reviews

Weta Trimaran

by Kimball Livingston, Posted July 7, 2009

The breeze was mild, but still it made an impression to see Dave Bernsten walk away from the tiller of his 14-foot trimaran, step to the bow, fiddle with an adjustment, then mosey back aft and resume his duties at the helm. The moment speaks to the value proposition of the Weta as stable and forgiving, a viable family playground that will crank out speed thrills when the

Hunter Edge

by Tom Dove, Posted August 17, 2009

Every sailor’s perfect boat would be big enough to accommodate the whole family in luxury, perhaps 80 feet or so, and would have a draft of one or two feet for easy gunkholing, an efficient sail plan, good stability and speed, and mechanical aids for handling lines. The mast would lower easily to get under bridges. Oh, yes. It would not cost too much, would be beautiful to

Tartan 4000

by Adam Cort, Posted August 3, 2010

The category of performance cruiser is one that has accommodated everything from stripped-down racers masquerading as weekenders to ice-breakers pretending to be competitive with the help of a generous PHRF rating. The Tartan 4000, though, is a performance cruiser in the truest and best sense of the word—a boat that does well on all points of sail and takes good care of its crew,

Beneteau 50

by Sail Staff, Posted August 10, 2010

The first thing you notice about this new 50-footer is its sleek styling, like a scaled-down version of the 58. The second is the fixed arch upon which the mainsheet is secured, thus keeping it out of the cockpit. The third is the open, inviting interior. A choice of layouts makes this boat equally at home cruising along a coastline or making long ocean

Hallberg-Rassy 64

by Sail Staff, Posted March 11, 2011

This new luxury center-cockpit cruiser carries the renowned Swedish company’s design and build ethos to a logical conclusion. While only 3 feet longer on deck than the 62 it replaces, the 64 has an extra 7 feet of waterline length that will bring its performance up a level. Polars predict double-digit speeds in anything over 10 knots of wind, just what you want for a quick dash across the

Tartan 4700

by Adam Cort, Posted April 25, 2012

Today’s performance-cruisers are faster than ever. But are they going to take care of you in heavy weather in the same way as those pre-IOR boats many of us grew up admiring? Fortunately, there are still builders and designers out there who are willing and able to combine the best of both old and the new in boats like the raised-saloon Tartan 4700.

Cookson 50

by Sail Staff, Posted May 31, 2005

The Cookson 50 from New Zealand's Cookson Boats belongs to the new generation of high-performance boats sporting canting keels and blistering speed potential. Mick Cookson, who worked with Farr Yacht Design to develop the concept, didn't start out to build a canting-keeler. "This began as a fixed-keel boat with a trim tab," he said. But Cookson also wanted a lightning-fast boat that had enough

J/109

by Sail Staff, Posted February 4, 2003

The J/109 is more than a high-performance boat with cruiser-friendly add-ons; it's a well-conceived, well-executed dual-purpose boat that comes close to being all things to all sailors. Fast, easy to handle, stable, and spacious, the J/109 can serve as a competitive racer, comfortable cruiser, shorthanded daysailer, and a family weekender.The accommodations plan includes a proper nav

Eleuthera 60

by Sail Staff, Posted July 12, 2005

This flagship of the Fountaine-Pajot fleet made its U.S. debut at the Strictly Sail Show in Miami, Florida, last February. The 60-footer reflects the builder's decade of experience building its 56-foot Marquises design, with its well-proportioned sailplan and well-apportioned interior spaces. This new model has slightly wider hulls than the 56-footer, which has created more

Anna

by Sail Staff, Posted August 8, 2008

Launched in June at the Brooklin Boat Yard, Brooklin, Maine, this 56-foot classic with a modern underbody borrows heavily from Stormy Weather, one of S&S’s most famous designs, which dates to the mid-1930s. With a few exceptions the yacht is a scaled-up version of Stormy, but, says S&S president and chief naval architect Greg Matzat, while most aesthetic elements from the older boat—sheer