Alerion 41
Among all of the models on display, visitors to the Newport International Boat Show will get a first look at eight of the new cruising sailboats being introduced to North American buyers this coming year. Whether you’re in the market for a new ride or just curious about what’s brand new and different, the show, which runs from Sept. 12-15, is a great opportunity to see the latest concepts in boat design, as well as to pick up some decorating and gear ideas for the boat you already have.
Here’s a brief look at what’s new on the docks for the 2014 sailing season:
Alerion Yachts , the company that created the daysailer genre with its Alerion Express 28, will introduce the first of its Alerion Yachts line, the **Alerion 41**. This sailboat takes things a step beyond daysailing by offering standing headroom and staterooms for two couples, while still retaining the hallmarks of the Express design: a roomy cockpit and performance-oriented sail plan. The 41 should prove to be a worthy coastal cruiser, but one that’s also easy enough to handle for a skipper to head out for a solo sail on a breezy afternoon.
Multihull designer Chris White has long been ahead of the catamaran design curve, and his new **Atlantic 47 MastFoil** promises to only build on that reputation. An evolution of the very successful Atlantic series of cats, the new 47 features a radical-looking sailing rig consisting of two narrow wing sails, called MastFoils, each with a roller-furling jib. The design promises both sailing efficiency and ease of handling. The 47 was built by Alwoplast in Chile.
After winning Cruising World’s 2013 Boat of the Year honors for Best Full-Size Cruiser, 45 to 49 Feet, Bavaria Yachts returns to the States this year from Germany with the **Bavaria Vision 42**. The Vision line is intended to offer upscale amenities in a layout arranged for couples rather than a crowd. Designed by Farr Yacht Design, the 42 has a spacious saloon and two cabins, an owner’s stateroom forward and a guest double aft. Be sure to check out the fold-down daybed in the cockpit, it’s sure to be a comfy place to spend a sunny afternoon.
Not only is the **Blue Jacket 40** a fresh new design, it’s the result of a first-time collaboration between cruising and racing sailboat designer Tim Jackett (Tartan and C & C) and Bob Johnson, the designer and founder of Island Packet Yachts. Traditional Island Packet fans — and there’s lots of them out there — won’t be disappointed by the interior woodwork and décor that comes straight from the IP woodshop. And the Hoyt Jib Boom and solent rig won’t cause too many gasps of surprise either. What are quite different, though, are the very modern underbody, hull form and resulting sailing performance of the Blue Jacket 40. It’s a yacht with considerable get-up-and-go.
When CW senior editor Herb McCormick took the new **Lagoon 39** for a spin off Miami’s South Beach last winter, he returned from his foray into big swells and wind impressed by the sailing capabilities of this “entry level” cruising catamaran. The 39, like its big sister, the Lagoon 52, has its mast stepped closer to amidships, which results in a slightly smaller, more easily managed mainsail and a larger foretriangle that allows for a wider range of downwind sails. Below, the 39 offers a layout for every buyer: four cabins for charter; a traditional three-cabin version with an owner’s suite in one hull and two cabins in the other; and a very comfortable two- couples version, where each will have a hull to themselves.
Hylas Yachts’ latest bluewater cruising sailboat from longtime design partner Germán Frers is the **Hylas 63**. With a modern underbody, plumb bow and full-sectioned stern, the 63 should have the carrying capacity for long-distance voyaging and a seakindly disposition for whatever the elements may wish to deal out. Like all Hylas sailboats, the 63 was built in Taiwan by Queen Long Marine and will be customizable to fit the needs of any owner who steps aboard.
Performance sailing has been in J/Boats’ DNA since the company launched its very first J/24 in 1975. The company’s new **J/88** is billed as a fast, family-oriented boat for both racing and daysailing, with enough accommodations below — full-length settees, private head and optional v-berth — for the occasional weekend (or longer) getaway. The 28-foot speedster includes a high-aspect rig with a non-overlapping headsail, a carbon-fiber mast and, of course, a sprit for rocketing downwind with the appropriate A-sail flying.
The X-Yachts design team has demonstrated over the years that it can deftly dance across the design spectrum that runs from comfortable cruiser (Xc series) to spirited performer (Xp line) and outright racing thoroughbred (Xr designs). So it’s no wonder that the **XP 44** wraps lots of horsepower in a very attractive package and delivers it with a range of options expected in a premium-priced yacht. Twin wheels, teak decks, highly engineered foils and a choice of sailplans are just a few of the features you’ll find aboard this three-cabin beauty from the Danish drawing boards of Niels Jeppesen and the X-Yachts development team.
Curious about other new models introduced in coming months at shows here in the U.S. and worldwide? Check out all of CW’s extensive new sailboat coverage for 2014 at www.cruisingworld.com.
