Boat Review: J/88
October 4, 2013
Years ago, I spoke with a young naval architect who was critical of J/Boats, because of the fact that all their boats tended to look
Years ago, I spoke with a young naval architect who was critical of J/Boats, because of the fact that all their boats tended to look
There is something about a traditional boat that just feels right. How can you go wrong with a narrow hull, long overhangs and low topsides?
Hunter Marine—now known as Marlow Hunter—celebrated its 40th birthday and a recent change in ownership by introducing its latest mid-size cruising boat, the new Hunter 40,
The Hanse 415 is superficially like a lot of new production cruising boats in the 40-foot range. It has a plumb bow, generous beam carried well aft, a comfortable cockpit, dual helms and a walk-through transom leading to a drop-down swim step. Like many new cruising boats today, it’s also designed to be fast and easy to handle. But as I found out during a test sail on Narragansett Bay last fall, not all 40-foot “performance cruisers” are created equal.
The sound of water rushing past the foils and propellers took on a note of urgency as Gemini’s Robin Hodges cranked in the genoa and pointed the Gemini Legacy 35 higher into the 10-knot breeze.
It’s good to be a multihull sailor these days. Advances in materials and design have not only revolutionized the market, but it seems the innovations just keep coming. Case in point: the Leopard 48, a boat that employs the latest in catamaran thinking to deliver a platform that is as fun as it is comfortable.
It’s not often that we here at SAIL get to test-sail production sailboats from Japan. Personally, this is the first one I’ve ever sailed, in a test or otherwise. It is a remarkable little vessel.
Although multihull innovation at the racing end of the spectrum gets the lion’s share of the press, no less of a revolution in design has been taking place among cruising multihulls: case in point, French multihull builder Fountaine Pajot’s new Hélia 44, a boat that in its own way is as cutting-edge as a carbon fiber racer.
It was déjà vu all over again. Motoring back to the dock at the end of the boat test, I couldn’t help noticing the distinctive lines of well-worn Tartan Ten sitting on the hard.
I have always admired Passport Yachts for their beauty, performance and detailing, but stepping aboard the new Passport Vista 545 CC, SAIL’s 2012 Best Boat in the Flagship Monohull category, I felt an especially strong sense of déja vu.
Big Weather Gear has announced that they will be bringing Henri-Lloyd gear back to the U.S., starting with their flag-ship store in Newport. The full
As the sailing world’s favorite wood becomes increasingly difficult to source, potential alternatives abound. The question is: whattrade offs Need to be made?
The J/36 is built on the same hull as the 2016 J/112E and is likely to continue on its successful racing legacy. For the 36,
One cruising couple slows the pace down with a visit to this mid-Atlantic gem.
Designed by Felci Yacht Design with interiors by Luca Ardizio, the Dufour 44 isn’t relying on any gimmicks or big risks to sell this boat.
The National Sailing Hall of Fame is seeking applicants for the Class of 2026. The nomination window is from October 1 through December 1. “Our
On this day in 1948, Sir Peter Blake was born. The Kiwi yachtsman was a legend in offshore racing, winning the 1989-90 Whitbread and co-skippering
This past weekend was the 25th annual Portsmouth Maritime Folk Festival, a celebration of sea songs and America’s sailing heritage. The event spanned two days
One family treks off the beaten path, on the lookout for some truly special encounters with nature.
The Slovenian-built Pegasus 50 is a true performance bluewater cruise, and has the abundant carbon, range potential, and price tag to prove it. The boat
