MARCH 2016 http://www.yachtingmonthly.com 89OUR VERDICT ON THE BOAT
What’s she like to sail?
We tested the Performance version, hull no 1, and she was great
fun. She handles like a big dinghy, responding to every little
movement of the tiller. She’ll reward you when you get it right
and won’t crucify you if you get it wrong. To windward, her
groove is narrow and she needs to be sailed attentively to get
the best out of her, but doing so will give you a pointing angle of
around 28 degrees and a decent grin to boot. Sail her a little free
and she slows slightly but also becomes less demanding.
The cockpit seats are a little low but it matters little because
the coaming is low and comfortable to sit on and there are also
no winches to take up seating space. The boom is lower on the
Performance version, which does restrict headroom while tacking
and gybing, but the Cruising version has room for a sprayhood.
Off the wind with an asymmetric spinnaker set on the short
retractable pole, she fl ew along. Even without it her speed was
up in the sixes and sevens in the Force 5 we had over the two
days of testing.What’s she like in port and at anchor?
She’s not a boat I’d like to take extended cruising, only because
of her small size. That’s not to say it can’t be done, but I’d rather
save a little longer and go for her bigger sister, the Winner 9 –
just for the extra space in harbour. But for a week’s cruising she’ll
serve her masters well. She might not come with all mod cons,
but they are options. If you are considering spending more than
long weekends away, it might be prudent to think about what
you need on board to improve your comfort.
Headroom at the galley sink is 1.70m (5ft 7in), which is a
little low for me but it’s still perfectly workable. When sitting
in the saloon, she feels like a proper yacht with quality features
and attention to detail. The anchor locker is a bit shallow, but
it’s reasonable for the type of sailing she’ll do, and of course to
anchor you’ll need the optional bow roller. With a draught of
1.5m, 1m or less with daggerboards, she’s shallower than most of
her rivals, which opens up a wider range of cruising grounds.Would she suit you and your crew?
It’s easy to forget she is just 26ft long. She doesn’t feel like a
small boat when you’re seated below, her build quality is good
and only on deck do you realise (or remember) how much fun
smaller boats are to play with. She could be fi tted out to cruise
and, as pocket yachts go, she would make a great little coastal
cruiser. If you’re downsizing and want an easily-sailed smaller
boat, the Cruising version could be just what you need, with
enough comfort and just 1m draught.
For those with limited budgets or more basic needs, she offers
a way of getting a brand-new boat on the water for a relatively
modest amount. The savings in berthing, lift-out and any other
boat length-related costs will be substantial, especially if she’s
used as a trailer-sailer.
If you enjoy sailing and feeling the boat react as you sail her,
opt for the performance version, you won’t regret it. You could
even have the best of both and do as I would; go for the Cruising
interior and Performance tweaks that make sailing her such a joy.Would she
suit your style
of sailing?COASTAL
PORT-HOPPING
★★★★★CREEK
CRAWLING
★★★★★OFFSHORE
PASSAGE-MAKING
★★★★★TRADE WIND
VOYAGING
★★★★★HIGH-LATITUDE
ADVENTURE
★★★★★Q Price £66,816 Inc VAT
Q LOA 8m (26ft 3in)
Q LWL 7.30m (23ft 11in)
Q Beam 2.85m (9ft 4in)
Q Draught 1.5m or 1m (4ft 11in
or 3ft 3in), or daggerboards
Q Displacement
2,300kg (5,070 lb)
Q Ballast 900kg (1984 lb)
Q Ballast ratio 39.1(%)
Q Sail area 42m^2 (452sq ft)
Q SA/D ratio 24.5Q Diesel 70litres (15gal)
Q Water 70litres (15gal)
Q Engine 9hp
Q Transmission Saildrive
Q RCD category B
Q Designer Cees van Tongeren/
Van de Stadt Design
Q Builder Winner Yachts
Q UK Agent Winner Yachts UK
Q Te l +44 (0)1305 305 900
Q Website
http://www.winneryachts.co.ukWinner 8
GRAPHICS: MAXINE HEATHNEW BOAT TEST
The forward cabin is neatly laid out and the berth is over 2m (7ft) longFACTS AND FIGURES