BOATS
I make no apology for the
fact that the first
trailer-sailer on my list is a
Hunter. David Thomas
never designed a dud,
and his Hunter Medina
20 was one of the gems
in our range.
Following in the
footsteps of the
game-changing Hunter
Sonata One Design, the
smaller Medina 20 went
into production in 1979.
At 5.99m (19ft 8in) LOA,
5.38m (17ft 8in) LWL,
2.21m (7ft 3in) beam and
weighing 857kg
(1,890lb), the Medina has
a SA/Displacement ratio
of 20.31 and
Displacement/LWL ratio
of 153.94. So a good
yet steady turn of speed
is ensured.
Drawing 0.25-1.17m (10in-3ft 10in), the
Medina’s standard lifting keel system is
simple when compared to some of her
competitors.
There’s no complex worm jack – a line
connected to a braked winch mounted
on a removable alloy post lifts and lowers
the keel vertically.
Provided the lifting rope (some owners
fit wire) and winch are in good condition,
there’s not a lot to go wrong.
The top of the keel is wider than the foil
so it can’t fall through its slot. And once
lowered screw-down bolts on the top
hold it rigidly in place.
The rudder blade also lifts vertically (in a
transom mounted ‘box’) so is removable
for trailing or drying out.
You can find information at
hunterassociation.org.uk andhuntermedina.weebly.com
The Medina is also spacious for her
size. Her two settee/quarter berths and
V-berth forepeak provide sleeping space
for four while a simple galley looks after
catering. A chemical WC lurks under the
head of one of the forward berths.
I was delighted to hear from an owner
who still sails the Medina his father and
he bought new (as a kit) back in 1982.
Paul Jarman told me: “We looked at lots
of other possible options, but the Medina
stood out as a trailer-sailer.
“We crossed the Channel several times
and cruised most of the south and east
coasts. Melinda was towed to Greece
and Croatia by my parents when they
retired, and I also remember a lovely
holiday on the boat in the Sporades with
my wife.”
Paul also touched on the Medina’s
sportier side.
“We sailed in the Round the Island Race
several times when there was a fleet of
maybe ten Medinas. I think our best result
was second [in class]. She was equipped
for cruising; not stripped out for racing.
“We now keep Melinda on-shore at
Emsworth, sailing around Chichester
harbour with my now grown-up children.
Basically she is as sound today as she
was nearly 38 years ago.”Hunter Medina 20
COMPARABLE CHOICES
Similar size yachts
with vertically
lifting keels include
the Evolution 19
designed by Julian
Everitt, and the
Etap 20 designed
by van de Stadt.Evolution 19Etap 20The Hunter
Medina has a
good turn of
speed