Cruising World - February 2016

69

FEBRUARY

2016

cruisingworld.com

HANDS-ON SAILOR

involved a tenuous jury rig

of lashings to the lifelines.

The Ipanema 58 catamaran

from Fountaine Pajot sports

a well-designed stowage rack

on top of the davit structure,

keeping the toys safely se-

cured. The Bavaria Open 40

uses a swing-out kayak rack

that cradles the crafts when on

board and swings fl ush to the

stanchions when not in use,

opening up the deck forward.

Coming out of the ocean,

we fi nd that the fresh- water

shower located on the aft

swim platform (hot and cold,

no less) is a modern luxury

unknown to sailors of yore

(hence the moniker “crusty

old salt”).

LOUNGE LIZARDS

Being able to spread out and

fi nd personal areas is essential

for any ship’s harmony. Seats

incorporated into the pushpit

and especially the pulpit (for

dolphin watching), as seen on

the Leopard 40 and Passport 545,

create popular spaces from

stem to stern. The Jeanneau

54 takes this concept further

with a designated lounging

platform on the forward deck,

complete with its own mini bi-

mini. Cockpit bench cushions

prop up into chaise longues

or daybeds to make for per-

fect reading spots. Add in their

built-in drink holders, and you

may never return to work.

As the sun sets, the cockpit

becomes a yacht’s social center-

piece. Most modern cruising

boats relegate substantial space

to console-style drop-leaf ta-

bles, with some incorporating

refrigeration in the table itself.

The Dehler 46 has a pop-up ta-

ble light that illuminates the

dining area without blanking

out the beautiful night sky.

When the night chill sets

in, all but the hardiest retreat

below. On many of the newer

models, this is into cushy cap-

tain’s chairs rather than tradi-

tional bench settees. Aboard

the Hallberg-Rassy 43 MK III,

for example, a fi ddled cocktail

table separates the two chairs

for drinks and snacks.

There is no worry of the

vessel running dry with a

built-in liquor and wine lock-

er, as found on the Dufour

382 , nor of settling for plastic

glassware, because several

2016 models offer a wine-glass

rack designed to protect the

crystal in the roughest of seas.

On most cruising boats,

a good day ends with a good

book. Designated reading

lights that brightly illuminate

your book but don’t disturb

your sleeping mate are a must.

In fact, reading in bed is an

activity in which BOTY judge

Tim Murphy specializes.

During dockside tests, Mur-

phy reclines in every berth to

judge its suitability and com-

fort when cracking a book.

LIT UP

A prudent captain usually

does a deck tour in the mid-

dle of the night to ensure

the wind has not shifted, his

neighbors have not dragged

anchor, and all is well with the

watery world. They need no

longer wake the entire ship,

as fl oor-level courtesy lighting

leads the way to the compan-

ionway, much as track lighting

in airline aisles signals the

path to the exit doors.

NIGHTY NIGHT

Back in their berths, sailors

can settle in for a good night’s

sleep, with much attention

paid to the cushions, now

more appropriately called

mattresses, since many new

boats have incorporated

inner- spring or sophisticated

layered-foam systems.

Admittedly, one or even

many of these small features

does not a sound cruising

boat make. However, once

the basics of design, size and

structure have been achieved,

these thoughtful little touch-

es, in aggregate, ease the frus-

trations of limited space and

provide plenty of shoreside

amenities for the liveaboard

lifestyle.

Two-time circumnavigator Alvah

Simon served on the judging pan-

el for the 2016 Boat of the Year

contest.

PRECIOUS

CARGO, SAFE

STOWAGE

Judging from the numer-

ous little “wine cellars”

found on so many of the

new boats for 2016, it’s

pretty clear that lots of

sailors place a high priori-

ty on gracious living once

they’re aboard. One of the

neater arrangements the

Boat of the Year judges ob-

served was this designat-

ed wine locker disguised

beneath the fl oorboards

aboard the Dufour 382.

Out of the way in an area

of limited motion, it’s an

ideal place to store a case

of vino. Leave it to the

French, right?

SIMON SAYS

“It’s the daily litany of

many little things that

ultimately determines

the success and utility

of a smart, well-found

cruising boat.”

When it came time to think about clever

ways to kick back, the designers of the Jean-

neau 54 weren’t lying down on the job. The

little daybed on the foredeck, complete with

its own bimini, will be one of the most pop-

ular spots on the boat (above). So too will

this cool setup incorporated into the tran-

som boarding ladder and swim step (above

right). Surfboards and kayaks will fi t nicely

atop their rack on the double davits of the

Fountaine Pajot Ipanema 58 (right).

BILLY BLACK (TOP), ALVAH SIMON