Annapolis Sailboat Show 2001 Report
Lots of new boats for 2002
October 25, 2001
Farr Pilothouse 56
The annual Annapolis Sailboat Show, which ran this year from October 3 through 8, has long been the largest and best attended sailboat show in North America. Because of the show' s stature, most of the major companies in the marine industry exhibit there, while sailors come from all over the country and Europe flock in to shop for boats, gear and equipment - and to see what is new.
New boats
Beneteau 36.7
The Cruising World Boat of the Year Judges were all over the show and claimed to have 40 boats on their list of "new" boats to test. We didn' t count, but that seems a bit high. Yet, despite the slow economy and the tension following the September 11 tragedies, the show did feature more new boats than usual.
Big boats
The big boat market does not seem affected by the slowing economy. Among the new boats on display the Oyster 62 may well have been the belle of the ball. A stylish, deck saloon design from the board of Rob Humphreys, the 62 is a pure ocean cruising boat that has the amenities of a very high end custom boat. Now in its 21st year at the Annapolis show, Oyster has led the way with the deck saloon design.
Along the outer docks, the new center cockpit Stellar 52 attracted a lot of attention. The boat, which is a Bob Perry adaptation of an S&S design, offers a massive hull with a tall, powerful sail plan. The center cockpit model - which joins two aft cockpit variation - provides for a huge master stateroom aft and plenty of sleeping area in the forward cabins. The main saloon is almost as large as that on the after cabin models. The joinry work on the Stellars may be the best in the show.
At the other end of the outer docks we found the new Silver Phantom 44, which is a Bill Dixon design that is being built in New Zealand. The boat is a real head turner and has a hull design and deck configuration that are both seaworthy and voluminous. The pilot house, with large tempered-glass windows, accommodates a nifty inside steering station. Not a blue water design, exactly, but with hefty storm shutters to put over the windows, the Silver Phantom would be an excellent passagemaker.
The Morris 485, designed by Chuck Paine, is a perfect example of the direction high-end semi-custom boats are headed, with a sleek, fast hull, tall rig and a pleasing deck-saloon configuration. Like the Oysters, the Morris boats are not for everyone, but do set a kind of standard by which the rest of the boat building industry can be measured.
The most interesting and radical big boat at the show had to be the Turner 56 from Canada. Designed by Bill Tripp, the boat has all the style and panache of the custom 88-footer Shaman in a smaller and less expansive package. The hull looks as sleek as any we have seen in a boat show in a long time, with a very narrow entry at the bow and full sections aft. The sloop rig is massive, but laid out simply for a couple or a crew of three to handle. Electric winches are a must for shorthanded sailing. The cockpit is broad and comfortable and well work equally well for sailing fast as it does for enjoying cocktails with a dozen friends. Below deck, the interior is unusual and very light and airy. The main dinette is amidships under the raised cabin top so those sitting there may see out. Two sleeping cabins aft and two forward offer plenty of berths for a cruising or racing crew. The galley is forward of the dinette - quite remote from the cockpit - but being nearly over the boat' s center of gravity should be a good place to work at sea. The big news about the Turner 56, however, is the boat' s blinding speed. The delivery crew who brought the boat from Newport, R.I. to Annapolis found them selves at one point surfing down the northerly swells at 23 knots and once hit 25! And this is a cruising boat.
Smaller cruisers
Among the smaller boats on display, the trend has definitely turned to the racer cruiser model of cruising boat - some with a heavier emphasis on cruiser than others. Among the boats that are dedicated cruisers, the Saga 35 and the Cabo Rico 36 stand out as two attractive new entrants to the scene.
The Saga 35, a Perry design built in Canada, is the little sister to the Saga 43. A great small cruiser, the boat has ample room below for a couple to take it off for an extended cruise and will have the speed and seakeeping qualities of a boat that will be a pleasure to sail. The Cabo Rico 36 is an adaptation of the CR 34 and has all the qualities of the CR line of boats - quality construction, extremely fine detail, a moderate cruising rig and a heavier than average cruising hull.
If the Saga 35 would suit a couple who are seeking speedy passages, the CR 36 will suit those who want a luxurious smaller boat that will do it all and take them anywhere in safety and style.
Vilm 116
The new line of boats from German builder Hanse made their debut that the show and gained immediate recognition among those who are looking for fine designs and fair prices. The boats are fin-keel racer-cruisers that are known to have a very good turn of speed and fine sailing qualities. Moreover, with the benefit of a strong dollar and a weak Euro, the boats come into the U.S. very fairly priced.
Beneteau introduced to new boats at the show, the new 393 and First 36.7. The 393 is a continuation of the design trend Beneteau started last year with the 473 - raised deck house over the saloon, wide open decks, huge cockpit and broad transom, plenty of comfortable accommodations below and a very fair price. The 393 sails well and has a good turn of speed. The First 36.7 falls at the racing end of the racer-cruiser spectrum and has a remarkable turn of speed for a 36 footer. It is tender and quick and turns on a dime. Down below the boat follows the trends Beneteau set with the 40.7 and 47.7, with a simple but comfortable mahogany interior that offers three cabins and a standard main saloon. The 36.7 might be more of a speedster than most cruisers would want, but this boat will appeal to those who expect to sail close to the wind, as fast as possible and do so at a moderate price.
Of the mid-range boats at the show, the new Bruce Marek designed Cape Fear 38 stands out as one of the more interesting and radical in attendance. Somewhat like the Turner 56, the CF 38 has a fast looking hull with a very narrow entry forward and full, flat sections aft. With a good breeze, the 38 should be able to get up and really fly. Below decks there is a small double cabin aft under the cockpit, a larger double forward and bench settee berths in the main saloon. The galley is simple and useful, while the chart table is large and will work well for the navigator. The single head is aft of the chart table where is can do double duty as a wet locker. Not a boat for the meek or the weak, the CF 38 will appeal to cruisers who want to make lightning quick passages, good daily runs in lights airs and compete favorable in the offshore circuit. The boat was hull number one of the line and fresh out of a brand new factory, yet it was nicely finished, the detailing was excellent and the finish very good quality.
Multihulls
Every year the number of multihulls at the show increases, as does the average size of the boats on display. A few highlights from the show include:
Tayana Vancouver 350 Pilot
Contour Yachts of Canada introduced their new 50-foot trimaran, which follows in the footsteps of the C 47. The new boat, shown only in drawings and photos, looks like a solid, fast and fun cruising boat that will be capable of making many miles in comfort. Contour has earned a stellar reputation from multihull sailors over the years, so the new 50 should really shine.
Along the docks we found the Fontain-Pajot and Lagoon series of cruising cats to be better in construction and detailing than ever. Both lines cater to the charter companies as well as the cruising fleet, so the emphasis has been on pure comfort more than fine sailing qualities. Still, both brands offer a lot for the money.
The Voyage cats from South Africa, which also can be found in the Voyage Charter fleet, offer a level of performance not found in some of the other brands as well as ingenious interior design features. Among the production cats, the Voyage designs earn high marks from sailors as being good blue water cats.
At the top end of the cat range, the Lagoon 57, which is built on a semi-custom basis, offers her owners a huge amount of living space, a sensible double headsail cutter rig and a high level of quality in the finish. The Catana 47 has a well earned reputation for being one of the most capable cruising cats out there, with plenty of room below, good seakeeping characteristics and a fine turn of speed. Finally, the new Switch 51 has the look of a pure voyaging machine that will cross oceans with alacrity. Built in France, like the Catanas, the Switch is a family cruising cat on steroids. The boat in the show will be sailing in this year' s Caribbean 1500 and shooting to best the course record set last year by Steve and Linda Dashew aboard their 80-foot monohull Beowulf.
