Yachting Monthly - November 2015

76 http://www.yachtingmonthly.com NOVEMBER 2015

The liferaft can be

accessed from on

deck or in the water

The sheet winches are well

inboard, with good bracing

around the companionway

The metre-wide window

lets a vast amount of

light down below decks

She can also carry

a staysail on a

removable stay

The tack line from the

bowsprit can be led to

the pulpit and adjusted

from the cockpit

All sail controls are

within reach of the helm

NEW BOAT TEST

Key cruising

features

hinges on them: a nice touch.
The 1.00m x 0.64m (3ft 3in x 2ft 1in)
forward window, along with the high
coachroof windows, white-painted hull
sides and deckhead, hull ports and optional
overhead hatches make the saloon a really
bright space. There is a pair of grab-
handles at the aft end of the saloon table.
To call the forward area a cabin would
be erring on the generous, it’s a 1.9m (6ft
3in) long V-berth accessed though a 1m
(3ft 3in) high aperture. It does however
have the most amazing view up, out of that
large forward saloon window. it would,
however, need blinds for cruising in the
summer months unless you fancy waking
with the gulls at 0430! The bunk cushions
are hinged in the middle, which makes it
awkward to access the stowage forward
of the twin 100 litre flexible water tanks.

Stowage is limited to a mocha-coloured

shelf on the hull above each berth.

Aft of the galley, to port, is another

aperture into the aft ‘cabin’. Like the

forward area it lacks any easily accessible

stowage with the exception of a teak-

trimmed shelf. It might have been nice to

add a little padding to this shelf to give a

nook to sit and reflect in a little privacy,

as the rest of the cabin is open plan

(unless you want to sit and reflect in the

heads, of course). The heads opens to the

technical area aft, so ideally would need

a curtain to prevent stray water from the

shower entering that area. The heads itself

is simply fitted, with a couple of lockers

outboard. The overhead cockpit moulding

means it’s not the most spacious of areas.

Chart table

There stowage in and around the chart

table for everything but charts. There is

space in the chart table for folded charts,

but not A2 folios unless they are kept on the

table top. With no seat, navigation will have

to be done standing, or sitting at the saloon

table. There’s a 6° outboard rise to the

angle of the sole, which won’t worry anyone

at sea, but might irk some folks in port.

Galley

The rise in the floor is more apparent in

the galley. Ambitious food preparation

is probably not a high priority for a

typical owner of this boat, but I did

find that standing for a period long

enough to do washing up was a little

uncomfortable in port. This could be

because I have a lower back problem

• and it wouldn’t be a problem while
  sailing – but in harbour it felt odd.
  The galley is again simple and well laid
  out: a single sink and bracing from the
  stainless steel companionway grabrail.
  There’s a top-opening fridge below the
  Formica work surface and the stove has
  a good crash bar. There’s not a great deal
  of stowage, with pots and pans in an open
  area beneath the stove.

Maintenance

Access to the engine is from forward (via

the companionway steps) and either side.

Batteries and other boat systems are easy to

get at, in the excellent technical area aft of

the heads. There’s shelved storage outboard

to starboard and the batteries and fuel tank

sit on the centreline beneath the cockpit.

ABOVE: The large forward-facing saloon
window allows light to fill the saloon and
forward berth area, even with dark upholstery

Surfaces are painted, which can show knocks and

scratches. The galley is small but well laid out