25 BOATS THAT CHANGED THE WAY WE SAIL
There’s nothing like a list of ‘top boats’ to get the blood pumping. Everyone has their favourites, and everyone has their pet hates. This is my list of the 25 most influential boats, honed down from the list of 55 yachts I started with. I’ve tried to be objective and have included several boats I don’t particularly like but which have undeniably had an impact on sailing in the UK – and yes, it would be quite a different list if I was writing about another country.
If your favourite isn’t on the list, then send an email to yachtingmonthly@futurenet.com to argue the case for your best-loved boat. Ready? Take a deep breath…
NIC COMPTON is a marine journalist, writer, photographer and former journeyman shipwright. He grew up on boats in the Mediterranean before returning to the UK to complete his formal education.
He has written 20 books, mostly about boats, and regularly contributes to sailing magazines, including Yachting Monthly, Practical Boat Owner and Yachting World.
Nic previously owned a Victoria 26 and now sails his Freedom 33 ketch, Zelda which he keeps in the Med.
CENTAUR
Laurent Giles is best known for designing wholesome wooden cruising, yet his most successful design was the 26ft Centaur he designed for Westerly, of which a remarkable 2,444 were built between 1969 and 1980. It might not be the prettiest boat on the water, but it sure packs a lot of accommodation. It was one of the first production boats to be tank tested, so it sails surprisingly well too. Jack L Giles knew what he was doing.
