Swallow Yachts has produced stylish and practical water-ballasted yachts for many years. The wood-epoxy construction, rig options, performance and performance have made them popular.
And this year they have re-interpreted the brief that Alan Vines laid out for Fairey Marine and Uffa Fox: A fast, trailable, seaworthy family cruising yacht.
The Bay Cruiser 26 is a fascinating craft, full of practical and innovative ideas. In fibre-reinforced plastic, it perhaps doesn’t have the ‘soul’ or the pretty lines of the Atalanta? But at least it’s not white. Watch the short introduction video to get a feel of the design, or explore in more detail on the Swallow Yachts Bay Cruiser 26 web page.
What do you think?
- Trailable (40s and 2m 7s)
- Bowsprit for the downwind sails and the anchor (1m 4s)
- Sliding galley underneath the cockpit
- Large cockpit
- Cutaway well for the outboard and twin vertically lifting rudders, linked to the outboard for greater manoeuvrability (2m 12s)
- Lead-tipped lifting keel and water ballast
- Single-handed mast raising using clever geometry and the sheet winches with built-in rollers to position for trailing (2m 40s)
- Boom and mainsail employ a ‘cassette’ system meaning lines and sail are left in place for mast raising and lowering and trailing (2m 51s)
