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xx xxx xxx xxx xx xx xxx xxx xxtested: PC55
he pilot cutters of the 19th
Century were working boats with
a legendary reputation for speed
and manoeuvrability as well as the ability
to be handled by just two crewmembers.
Plus, they looked absolutely gorgeous.
Sailors and non-sailors alike can admire
the elegant and purposeful lines of
original cutters such as the Jolie Brise or
Marguerite. Indeed the traditional pilot
cutter is described as the best yacht
d e sig n eve r.
It seems strange then that there is not
a greater choice of pilot cutter inspired
designs around today. One person who
is onto their enduring appeal more than
any other though is Andre Hoek. Hoek’s‘Pilot Classic’ range spans the whole size
spectrum, from the 33ft Essence and 37ft
Wally Nano to the 152ft Royal Huisman
built Elfje and even a 200ft+ project
currently on the boards.
Performance Classic Yachts (PC
Yachts) has created a production yacht
business around these Hoek designs
from 55-85ft. It is a five-year old British
company that subcontracts the semi-
custom builds to Metur Yachts in Bodrum,
Turkey. Metur, a classic yacht specialist,
has built numerous Hoek designs over the
last two decades, including two for Andre
Hoek himself.
The first PC Yacht was a wood
epoxy-built Pilot Classic 66 in 2014,The new Performance classic 55 sails well and
looks even beTTer, as Toby hodges discoveredT
›
64 November 2017