Bristol 51: Review by Bob Perry

Bristol Yachts has had a long relationship with Dieter Empacher as its lead designer. Together they have established a consistent line of conservative cruising yachts that are both fast and handsome. I always think of Dieter's designs as very East Coast.

The Bristol 51.1 under sail.

Let's begin with the profile and sailplan. The deck lines are clean and unaffected. The result is very yachtlike and not in the least Euro. There is a strong sweep to the sheerline, kicking up about station 5.5 and emphasizing the handsome rake to the bow. The ample freeboard indicates that the designer is working at maximizing the usable interior volume. We all like low freeboard, but the designer must balance the visual effect of freeboard against the positive aspects of increased usable volume that one has below.

The Bristol 51 is rigged as a sloop with plenty of room in the foretriangle (J=21.5) for you to put in an optional staysail if you like. The mast is supported with single spreaders and fore and aft lowers. The sail area-to-displacement ratio is a conservative 15.73. This rig could be handled by a skilled owner with no help. If the rig were any taller, sailhandling could become a chore for the singlehanded sailer. The designer must balance the quest for power against the knowledge of just how the boat will be used and the style in which the typical owner will use it. One of my own most popular designs has a SA/D ratio of around 15. You must always look at the overall picture.

Accommodation targets for production yachts don't vary too much. The Bristol 51 is typical in this area of many yachts between 47 and 60 feet. There is an owner's stateroom aft, a stateroom forward, a crew stateroom and two heads, both with shower stalls. The Bristol 51 also has a lazarette. The galley is big with plenty of reefer and freezer space. Both heads are also big with bigger than adequate shower stalls. The aft double berth is arranged so that you can climb in from the sides. This arrangement seems to be nicely exploded. That's probably because I have been scratching my head trying to get the same layout into a 45-footer lately. By exploded I mean that there are very few compromised areas and no feeling at all of squashing in interior components.

The hull form is pure Empacher with steep deadrise, moderate BWL and a pronounced bustle aft. The keel is a shoal fin with centerboard. The rudder is partially balanced and hung on a half skeg. Note the rake forward at the top of the trailing edge. I would guess that this is all cosmetic, but it could have the effect of reduced interference drag. The shaft is absolutely horizontal and this is made possible by the volume aft added by the deep bustle. The high deadrise sections also aid in getting the engine in low. The 51.1 has a D/L ratio of 263.

Bristol is building the 51 with a solid laminate hull and a balsa cored deck. There is tankage for 250 gallons of water and 160 gallons of fuel. Now excuse me while I go below and put the leg of lamb in the oven, slip the newest Dwight Yoakam disc in the CD player and go looking for that last bottle of 1974 Eyrie Pinot Noir.

Boat Specifications

LOA	51'1"
LWL	42'
Beam	15'2"
Draft	5'4"-10'6"
Displacement	43700 lbs.
Ballast	19000 lbs.
Sail Area	1200 sq. ft.
SA/D	15.73
D/L	263
Auxiliary	Westerbeke 85
Fuel	160 gals.
Water	250 gals.