USED Classic Boat. 6 Italian 70s-80s absolutely must-know

The landscape relating to Classic Bo ats-that is, production boats over twenty-five years old and launched since 1967-is a vast and ever-expanding one, made up of hulls of all shapes and sizes and, perhaps, not as easily “navigable” as one would often like. In light of this, in addition to our sections on Historic Classic Boats and Your Classic Boats, we have created a series of articles, aimed, boatyard by boatyard, or icon by icon, at exploring some exceptional hulls, projects fundamental to the evolution of boating. Riding on the wave of more than 25 previous articles (which you can find at the bottom of this one), it is now the turn of 6 boats just ‘out of the chorus,’ but absolutely must-know. Here, then, are 6 gems of Italian shipbuilding, exceptional boats that have made their mark on Italian sailing.

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6 Italian out of the chorus, 10-15 meters 70s/80s style

Sparkman & Stephens, Peterson and Bigoin. Robert Clark and the Malingers. Distinct, different signatures, each strong in its own precise design canons, grounded in profoundly different histories, philosophies and experiences. Some with thousands and thousands of projects behind them, others attested to the dozens, but nonetheless signatures that, each in their own way, have been able to mark Italian sailing. In this case, with 6 specific hulls, from 10 meters to 15 abundant.

IMPALA 35 (S&S.34)

specs: Shipyard 71; 10.45 x 3.08 m; 1969; Sparkman & Stephens

With the Impala 35 (also known as the S&S 34, when not produced by CN71), we tackle a 10-meter that is nothing short of legendary. She was built, almost simultaneously and with very few differences, between Great Britain, Australia (S&S 34) and Italy (Impala 35), thus giving rise to three distinct variants of a phenomenal design by Sparkman & Stephens. Suffice it to say that, as soon as she was launched, she was the overall winner of the 1969 Sydney – Hobart, beating far larger and more emblazoned boats. In short, a purest example of a hull straddling philosophies, with sleek, harmonious lines.

IMPALA 36

specs: Shipyard 71; 10.90 x 2.30 m; 1975; Doug Peterson

Produced from 1975 to 1977, looking at the Impala 36 one looks at a hull with a unique pedigree. A few years earlier, in fact, in 1973, a unique boat arrived on the scene, a plywood hull with unique lines that was destined to revolutionize ship design. It was Peterson’s Ganbare. Niccolò Puccinelli, owner of Cantiere Navale 71, immediately grasped the goodness of the design and built a production version. Thus was born the Impala 36, presented at the Genoa Boat Show in 1975. It is a small, jaw-dropping revolution, and Peterson becomes an Archistar like few others.

IMPALA 41

specs: Shipyard 71; 12.40 x 3.71 m; 1982; Sparkman & Stephens

A different twin of the Scandinavian Swan 411, this Italian is another gem of Italian sailing. Revised in lines in the deck by the same S&S studio, she was built in a few examples from CN71, proving, however, and immediately, to be an unreliable hull in offshore sailing, to say the least. Elegant, balanced, it is a must of 1980s sailing.

KOALA 39/38

specs: Nordcantieri; 11.70 x 3.60 m; 1970/1975; Michel Bigoin

Suitable for long sailing, marine in every aspect and highly appreciated, the Koala 39 is one of the great Nordcantieri projects of the early 1970s. The goodness of the design, however, is such that its qualities cannot be contained to the individual, so the shipyard turns again to Bigoin to make a re-styling of it just five years after the first design. Thus in 1975 the ‘updated’ version was born. It is the Koala 38. Even more comfortable, improved in lines, the latter is different in the deckhouse, now strong with an off-center hatch to improve its ergonomics as well. Philosophically, however, it is the same as its sister, thus offering an improved alternative with a more than proven pedigree.

KOALA 50

specs: Nordcantieri; 15.30 x 4.04 m; 1973; Robert Clark

Designed by Robert Clark and launched in 1973, the Koala 50 is one of the great Italian hulls of the early 1970s. Designed for the high seas, to be a safe and seaworthy hull, she would later become particularly famous for her participation in the first Whitbread, just in 1973. Aboard the CS&RB were Doi and Franco Malingri, who would finish 8, demonstrating the excellent qualities of the ‘little’ 50-footer. Ketch-rigged, the Koala 50 is indeed a solid boat with a powerful pace, a true offshore performance-cruiser capable, as demonstrated, of taking her owners around the world.

MOANA 45

specifications: Moana; 13.80 x 4.04 m; 1982; Malingri

After their experience on the CS&RB, i.e., the Whitbread Round the World Race and the various Ostars, Malingri decided to work on hulls that would adapt to all the lessons learned. Thus was born the Moana series, created to offer boats capable of going anywhere, in total tranquility, even on the longest of crossings. Prominent among them is the Moana 45, the most striking exponent of the entire series. Powerful, almost 14 meters long, it is a marine design and designed to withstand anything. Not for nothing, the entire rig and rigging are, voluntarily, oversized-that, rightly, at sea you never know.

USATO Classic Boat. Cinque piccole-grandi icone mediterranee (da 7 a 9 m)

Don’t miss previous articles:

• USED Classic Boat. ALPA ‘s top five boats from 9.5 to 12.6 m
• USED Classic Boat.
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• USED Classic Boat. The five best BARBERIS boats from 7 to 12.5 m
• USED Classic Boat. BAVARIA ‘s five best boats from 9.9 to 13.4 meters
• USED Classic Boat. BENETEAU ‘s five best boats (First) from 9.6 to 15.6 meters
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• USED Classic Boat. The five best boats from DUFOUR 9 to 12.8 meters
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• USED Classic Boat. The five best boats from the PARDO Dockyard (10- 19 m).
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• USED Classic Boat. Top Five J/Boats (7-12.5 m)
• USED Classic Boat. Jeanneau ‘s five best boats (Sun Odyssey) (7-15 m)
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• USED Classic Boat. Top Five Oyster Boats (11 – 20 m)
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