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ELAN E5:
TWO WORLDS COLLIDED
I FIRST saw the Elan E5 at Las Palmas Marina while waiting for
the start of the 2014 Atlantic Rally for Cruisers. The boat like
many new cruiser racers has a wide transom incorporating a soft
chine and had been sailed by an Australian couple two handed
through the Med on to Las Palmas and were now doing the 2900
mile ARC race two handed. On being invited on board and
having a leisurely chat and a few drinks you notice that the boat is
well equipped with a few surprising innovations.
The boat was supplied for this test by Performance Cruising and was
brand new off the ship and still having it’s final detailing finished, to
the extent that the plastic covers were still on the cushions. Is it strange
to say that it had a new boat smell? Two owners with very different
needs bought this boat and this was their first time on the water. One
owner wanted a cruising boat and one a racing yacht.JAMIE WILMOT TEST SAILS
THE RACER/CRUISER.
MAIN: The boat was
easy to rig and unrig
with electric winches
and a furling headsail.
ABOVE: The Elan E5
has a wide transom
with soft chines.AUSTRALIAN SAILING (^) + YACHTING
APRIL-MAY 2015 MYSAILING.COM.AU