Easy Sailing. Six tips on whether you really have an “easy” boat

It isthe “leitmotif” of recent seasons: boating with more ease, less effort, and total safety. All encapsulated in two words: easy sailing. The possibility of “easy sailing” has been the cornerstone of many shipyards, which have over the past seasons modified their cruising range, and in some cases even replaced it.

Bavaria with its Cruisers, Beneteau with the Oceanis and Sense, Jeanneau on the Sun Odyssey, Dufour with Grand Large, Hanse (as with the 415, which you see on these pages), just to give a few examples. We usually focus on maneuvers and sails when it comes to easy sailing, but that is not all. To fully enjoy the boat the general layout of the deck is critical. Let’s take an example: in the past two years, more and more boats of smaller size, that is, under ten meters, on which people are opting for a double rudder wheel instead of a single one.

There are those who turn up their noses, but the advantage in terms of on-board mobility is undeniable. Especially now that fold-down stern mirrors have spread like wildfire….

SIX TIPS TO FIGURE OUT IF YOUR BOAT IS “EASY”

A popular option Maneuvering in port, thanks to the joystick, becomes easy. With one hand you can rotate the boat on itself or translate it sideways. Although the price is still quite high, there are many who request it as an equipment item when purchasing.

In cockpit Storage spaces, table with fold-down tops and handrails. The double wheel provides more convenient access toward the stern, where fold-down swim platforms have created a true living area.

Reach Winches The position of the winches is critical to allow the helmsman to adjust the sails by himself as well. Also important is the arrangement of stoppers. Verify that the sheets are working well.

The self-tacking jib With the evolution of sail plans, which want smaller bow sails than they used to be and therefore easier to handle, the choice of self-tacking jib becomes even easier to make, as good performance is still maintained.

From bow to stern The foredecks, by moving the headsail rails to the deckhouse, a solution we often see on boats of recent years, are clear and safer.

What about at load-bearing gaits? You don’t necessarily need a bowsprit to enjoy the gennaker or Code Zero (those sails that have now replaced the classic spi on cruising boats). Many anchor snouts are designed to fix the tack point comfortably.