44 THE YEARS RIGHT OF FORMULA
The Formula 233 is a legendary design that dates back to the early 1960s. Despite the six decades since then, you’d be hard pressed today to find a better performing hull in the 23-foot (7m) range, especially when it comes to handling rough conditions.
This is a tough and sexy boat with a big open cockpit and a small vee-berth cuddy cabin. It offers versatility in use accompanied by visual appeal that still draws attention from both aficionados who recognise its proud heritage and from those who know nothing of its past but who still appreciate good design.
The 233 has a gun’l line carrying a reverse sheer around a slender beam over quite high topsides and a deep-vee hull that has finer forward sections to give a soft ride and with seakeeping abilities that are world renowned.
The design came from two famed names in the domains of powerboat engineering and offshore racing. They were led by the even more famous, and later infamous, ‘King Of Thunderboat Row’ Don Aronow (see Break-Out Panel).
Jim Wynne and Walt Walters were part of a team assembled
