Yachts are mere reflections of sailors’ dreams; mirrors held up to the aspirations of people
determined to indulge their passion. And passion is not necessarily a rational
impulse; it leads us sometimes to explore beyond the confines of the purely
practical. So if you consider the remarkable technical development of cruising
and racing sailing craft in recent years, it is nothing short of astounding that
smaller craft—in the popular 35- to 45-foot range—now offer features that were
once exclusive to much larger yachts. For cruising sailors as well as serious
racers, this is indeed a boon, and a temptation as well.
 Hinckley’s DS42. (Click image to enlarge)
But trends invariably and logically spawn countertrends, and
the boats featured here represent an impetus toward a new sensibility; a search
for simplicity that mirrors the desire of many sailors attracted by the absence
of increasingly underutilized features. The driving force behind this recent
trend goes beyond a mere quest for simplicity; it reflects the more fundamental
fact that many yacht owners, having achieved the means to indulge in as finely
developed a sailing craft as can be built, scarcely have the time to take
pleasure from it.
 Fontaine Design Group’s Friendship 40. (Click image to enlarge)
Designers enjoy the freedom offered by this emphasis. "Once we
realized that standing headroom was not necessary," commented Greg Matzat, head
designer at Sparkman & Stephens, architects of the Morris 36, "all sorts of
new design possibilities became available." Builders, while never stinting on
quality and safety, appreciate the straightforwardness. The most obvious and
visible aspect of all is that instead of maximizing interior volume, all the
daysailers have large cockpits and small cabins. Fancy dodgers, lifelines, all
those appurtenances of the cruising boat, can be minimized or even eliminated
altogether. If the weather is bad, you simply don’t go sailing.
Mainsheet, jib sheet, steering wheel, compass; distilling
sailing back to these basic necessities becomes hugely appealing, and the four
sailing vessels described here offer an excellent path back to the realization
of our dream of a lazy afternoon ruffling the water in a summer sou’wester.
 Morris Yachts’ Morris 36. (Click image to enlarge)
It’s tempting to draw comparisons between the boats described here, but that
would be doing them all a disservice. They reflect different philosophies and
different interpretations of their common theme. Each builder and designer has
drawn from his own experience and strengths. What they offer is proof that
variety does indeed improve the breed, and these builders and designers are
to be commended for offering such a range of choices. We sailors are the
beneficiaries.
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