Brooklin Boat Yard will begin construction of 49-foot cold-molded sailboat designed by Jim Taylor of Marblehead, Massachusetts, in June. The yacht is a lightweight, performance-oriented sloop with a traditional aesthetic above the waterline and a modern underbody below. The yacht was commissioned by a repeat customer of Brooklin Boat Yard, and is scheduled to launch in spring of 2014. The design was developed specifically for single- or double-handed sailing on New England coastal waters as well as occasional competitive racing in a range of classes.
The new yacht is 49 feet overall with a waterline length of 35.1 feet and an 11.6-foot beam. Long overhangs increase the boat’s effective sailing length and stability with heel. This traditional feature is coupled with an underwater canoe body shape that’s rounded with low deadrise for less drag, especially in choppy water and during maneuvers. Her fin keel and spade rudder also reduce wetted area while lowering her vertical center of gravity for increased stability. Since the yacht will sail mostly northeastern ports, her keel’s leading edge is swept aft to shed weeds and lobster pots. Her saildrive features a folding prop to also minimize the risk of fouling.
“The long sailing length and narrow beam will give this design a meter boat feel,” said Jim Taylor, yacht designer. “Her deep, high aspect ratio appendages feature ample profile area, to provide a user-friendly ‘groove’ even when downspeed or in sloppy sea conditions. Her unusual combination of classic style with contemporary performance will set her apart from — and usually far ahead of — everything else on the water.
The boat will be built in cold-molded wood, a style for which Brooklin Boatyard is well-known. This approach not only results in high strength and toughness relative to weight, but it also provides very impressive acoustic and thermal insulation. The yacht will carry a Hall carbon rig and Harken deck gear. Competition Composites Inc. in Canada will build her carbon rudder.
“This yacht is highly customized for her owner and his favorite sailing haunts,” said Steve White, owner of Brooklin Boat Yard. “Not only does she have all the critical details to make her an ideal cruiser/racer for New England, but she’ll be a pleasure to sail — whether day-tripping with grandchildren or racing competitively with a handful of crew.
Brooklin Boat Yard will begin construction on the new yacht in mid-June after the yard’s latest projects, LYNETTE and IRIS, both Eggemoggin 47s, are finished and launched. SONNY, a 70-foot sailboat, will launch shortly thereafter in early August.
