Classic Boat Cult | 7 meters overall: 5 ‘big’ miniature boats

Classic Boat Cult | 7 meters overall: 5 ‘big’ miniature boats

A threshold to the world of coastal cruising, small offshore and racing, as well as of uncompromising independence and ‘real’ sailing, the seven-meter segment was perhaps the one that best represented access to sailing for entire generations.
Range small and versatile, essential and very complete at the same time, it was perhaps the square footage that most, really, knew how to open sailing to the general public, igniting passions and churning out great champions.

Accomplicated in fact by the newly born serial production, the growing racing scene and the new economic availability, with the 1970s the ‘7-meter out-and-outs’ experienced a real boom, making themselves the maximum expression of what-between France, England and Italy-became perhaps the maximum moments of ‘democratization’ of sailing, an inevitable driving force for the birth of hulls that were nothing short of exceptional.
With this in mind, in hindsight, here are 5 outstanding examples*, iconic Classic Boats and, of course, strictly within the 7.00 to 7.99 meter limit.

TEQUILA

M 7.2 x 2.45; Philippe Harlè; 1971

Produced by Barberis starting in 1971, small, cabin cruiser and fast, the Tequila was one of Harlé’s great cults, who in just 7.20 meters knew how to sign a hull that was nothing short of complete. Heir to an undoubtedly successful IOR prototype, the production version materialized into an agile and snappy yet docile hull, simple in its handling, thus consecrating the project to public favor. To complete the package, a ‘sport’ version was later marketed as well, where, having lost the deckhouse in favor of a flush deck, the hull was improved so that even more potential could be extracted from it. In short, a great little treat.

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MISIL II

M 7.35 x 2.3; Olle Enderlein; 1972

Produced by Hallberg Rassy starting in 1972-also known as HR 24-the Misil II was a small masterpiece of the Scandinavian shipyard. Nothing more, nothing less. Signed by Enderlein, it was a hull completely outside HR logic; a fast, sporty boat that, by conception, was intended to be racer. However practical, comfortable and cabin cruiser, it soon became a sought-after gem, to say the least, both for elegance and practicality of solutions and for a temperament perhaps unique in a Hallberg Rassy of the time. Compact and fast, it is still a sought-after classic today. And upon closer inspection.

SAMOURAI

M 7.2 x 2.4; Michel Bigoin; 1968

Produced by CNSO in as many as 800 examples, signed by Michel Bigoin, the Samourai is, quite simply, the formula for success embodied. Deeply a child of the 1960s, small, yet habitable, fast and snappy, yet safe and seaworthy, it is a perfect little design, nothing more. Not for nothing, in 1974, did a couple sail on it from Fiumicino to the West Indies–that is enough to describe the exceptional Frenchman.

ARLECCHINO

M 7.48 x 2.5; Sciomachen; 1972

Produced by Sartini since 1972, Harlequin was undoubtedly, and primarily, a great project of 1970s Italy. Signed by the Sciomachen studio, she was a hull born for racing and nothing else, an exceptional Quarter Tonner, and not for nothing second placed in La Rochelle, at the 1971 Quarter Ton Cup-with Cino Ricci at the helm… A version suitable for cruising was then developed, depopulating along the Italian coasts. Small, but really splendid boat.

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Classic Boats. RIVET

M7.52 x 2.50; Fontana-Maletto-Navone; 1978

Produced by Errepidi / NegriNautica starting in 1978, the Rivetto was nothing less than a gem, exceptional design by the Lombard Fontana-Maletto-Navone archistars of the 1970s/80s. The prototype, Wahoo, won the 1978 Mini Ton Cup, then kicked off this cult series, stunning in performance and innovation. Sleek, fast and responsive, in just 7 meters it was also capable of offering plenty of space, providing much more than, overall, one might expect. Icon.

*Menuations needed, finally, for theAdventure 703 -small pearl, and to the segment’s big winner, the J/24, the quintessential 7-meter -omitted not out of neglect, but to leave room for the less talked-about…

What is the Classic Boat Club? It is the community by GdV dedicated to all fans of the ‘vintage’ world, a platform to enhance and share the design culture and spirit of sailing of the last century. Anyone can be a member: it’s super easy and offers a lot of benefits. Here is all the information about it!

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