This 1994 design was prepared for a boatyard who were at the early stages of negotiations with their client who had previously owned a Barracuda 45, and having considered purchasing second hand entered discussions for a ‘new wood epoxy one–off sailing yacht’.

Time was at a premium and the project was scheduled to launch within ten months of the first design meeting. This factor was a major driving force in the design process and dictated that the design be easy to build.

The yard brief was simple: length between 48’ & 62’, waterline between 45’ & 55’ and draft not more than 6’ – preferably less, and with the ability to dry out against a wall. And with the maximum sail area with the tallest mast possible.

The accommodation brief required that everything would fit inside a 50’ (15.5 m) hull which had only moderate beam, proper bilges, a pre-requisite and a system of both transverse and longitudinal watertight bulkheads. These essential factors became the envelope for a four cabin layout; two forward and two aft and each sharing a pair of heads with showers, and longitudinally separated by combined galley to starboard with full navigation station aft with proper large hearted and draining foul weather locker, and dinning area to port  with the capacity to seat eight comfortably.