“Having been involved in the build and campaigning of three C-class projects, I have to nominate the 25ft C-Class catamaran.” Known as the ‘Little Americas Cup’, the International Catamaran Challenge…
World’s coolest yachts
World’s Coolest Boats: The Dabchick class
“The ‘Dabbie’ was a very popular youth boat and one of the best training boats ever. Every person that made it in sailing in South Africa started out on the…
World’s Coolest Boats: The Olympic 470 class
The two-man 470 dinghy was designed by André Cornu over 50 years ago and been an Olympic boat since 1976. At the Olympic Sailing in Paris 2024 it will be…
World’s coolest yachts: Alejandra
There is nothing so cool as classic beauty. “Alejandra is my choice of a very cool yacht,” says designer Malcolm Mckeon. “I remember when this yacht was launched as she…
World’s coolest yachts: Initiatives-Coeur 3
Sam Davies’ entry in the 2020 Vendée Globe was Initiatives-Coeur 3, a well-proven Verdier-VPLP design (ex Foncia/Banque Populaire/Maître CoQ III) that had been reoptimised with second generation foils fitted –…
World’s coolest yachts: Open 7.50
The Open 7.50 is the fastest one-design sportsboat ever built. Designed by the Finot Group, it applies much of the developments from Open 50s and 60s ocean racing designs to…
World’s coolest yachts: Amaryllis
Amaryllis, and her replica Amaryllis II, are among the coolest yachts. I had the opportunity to see her in the Herreshoff Museum in Bristol, Rhode Island, during the 2010 Little…
World’s coolest yachts: Monitor – the 1955 foiling boat
“It has to be Monitor, of course! The father of all flying rockets!” says Desjoyeaux. One of the world’s first sailing hydrofoils, Monitor was created in 1955 by Gordon Baker,…
Coolest yachts: Class 40 Lift 2
The highly competitive Class 40 fleet has long been a proving ground for talent, both for designers and sailors, with many going on to the IMOCA class. “I’ve had the…
World’s coolest yachts: Rambler 88
Rambler 88 was designed as a giant slayer. After the loss of his Rambler 100, owner George David asked designer Juan Kouyoumdjian to create a boat that was capable of…
World’s coolest yachts: RC44
“For sure one of the coolest yachts is none other than the RC44 class created by Russell Coutts,” nominates Cameron Appleton. A strict one-design, the RC44 was co-designed by five-time…
Coolest yachts: the dhow
“I always have been impressed by the dhow, the traditional racing boats sailed in the United Arab Emirates,” says Bruno Dubois. “The 60ft yachts are particularly impressive.” The original dhow…
Coolest boats: Cadet dinghy
“I’ve been lucky enough to sail on a good selection of the ‘coolest’ yachts and I remember the excitement of the first time sailing each of them as I’m something…
World’s coolest yachts: Maxi 72 Ran II
The Maxi 72 Ran II was a dominant force both inshore and offshore, sailing an intense programme after its launch in 2009, including taking back-to-back wins in the Rolex Fastnet…
Coolest yachts: Quantum Racing
Terry Hutchinson is tactician for the Quantum Racing TP52 and nominates the team’s Botin-designed USA 52018. “The most recent Quantum Racing and this entire generation of TP52s have been a…
Coolest yachts: J/105
“The J/105 revolutionised downwind sailing in the sport as the first boat over 20ft with a retractable bowsprit and asymmetric spinnaker,” explains J-Boats founder Bob Johnstone. “The system was pioneered…
World’s coolest: IKA Kitefoil
“Watching the gracefulness of kitefoil racing had me mesmerised the first time I saw it,” explains Will Harris. “It is an example of pure efficiency and use of all and…
World’s coolest yachts: Windward Passage
“A very modern boat for her times: very large stern (almost like today’s naval architecture) and semi-round bilge hull made her very fast in reaching – and with a flush…
World’s coolest yachts: The Waszp
“I’d like to be able to say the AC40 [Women’s and Youth America’s Cup foiler] because hopefully – fingers crossed! – I will be in it and it’s definitely the…
The coolest record breaking boats
While hyper-luxury superyachts are clearly cool to look at (and would be very cool to own) there’s no denying that speed is cool and this collection of record breaking boats…