Ten-metre cruiser/racers been a staple of many major production boatbuilders for over four decades now. No surprise because this class ticks lots of boxes for the average family; small enough for easy two-handing, big enough for cruising and offering competitive club racing for those so inclined.
‘Built for sailors’ is the mission statement on the plaque at Italy’s Solaris yard and after a day spent on this slippery 50-footer Kevin Green would agree.
When you’re cruising, time becomes irrelevant and space is everything. The Bali 4.1 catamaran provides the ideal platform for taking it easy, with plenty of room for the family to spread out, chill and enjoy the journey.
It used to be that cruising in a yacht – compared to a launch – meant making compromises in terms of space. But the Bavaria C50 luxury cruiser turns that idea on its head, with more room down below than a small apartment.
Debuting in late 2017, Hanse’s handsome 548 quickly became a hit in our waters. Three are now owned by New Zealanders – and it’s not hard to see why the yacht resonates with discerning cruisers.
The Italian Solaris 47 is intended to meet both sides of the performance-cruiser equation – and reward the discerning sailor.
Multihulls offer a heady blend of cruising and chilling. To taste this happy mix you should explore Fountaine Pajot’s new Lucia 40, the latest addition to Auckland’s Ownaship fleet.
The summer of 2019 has been uncharacteristically lacking in wind – great for cruising, not so great for sailing. But our day on the new Dufour 520 Grand Large (GL) provided us with more than enough breeze to put this beamy cruiser through her paces.
Sometimes the stars align – the weather, the time, the opportunity – they all finally coalesce into place. And there I was, fingers on the composite wheel gently guiding the yacht upwind at 6.2 knots in a warm 10–12 knot NE wind.
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