Yacht design in the 2000s
PART 6
Popular Classics 2000-2010
By the beginning of the 2000s it was the norm for new yacht designs to have low centre of gravity keels, with generally bigger bulbs than previously, which dramatically improved the ultimate stability of these designs.
This additional stability also helped to reduce the amount of changes of sail area needed in a building breeze, or gusty conditions. Even shoal draught options were often given additional ballast in order to retain the stability of their deep draught sisterships.
Bow and stern overhangs continued to shorten, although it was not until towards the end of the decade that plumb bows were a common sight on new designs. By this time even the large production boatbuilders had started to adopt twin rudders for the first time.
The new millennium also saw continuations of other existing trends. In particular ideas that had originally been developed for the racing sphere – especially solo events across oceans or around the globe – were increasingly adopted by cruising yachts.
Jeanneau Sun Fast 37
2000
This model took an already successful hull – the Jacques Faroux-designed Sun Odyssey 37 – and added a deeper, low centre of gravity keel, plus an extra four feet to the height of the rig. The original boat had a well balanced hull shape, married to a powerful and deep spade rudder that held control long after many others had lost their grip.
The additional sail area transformed performance in light airs, while the more efficient keel helped to speed progress to windward. Improved deck hardware also made it easier to control sail shape and to depower the
