Spirit 50CR
We’ve become accustomed to boats from Spirit Yachts that are as stunningly beautiful as they are practical. So in some ways the Ipswich-based company’s latest launch, unveiled at Southampton, didn’t reveal any big surprises. Nevertheless, a number of aspects of the boat are interesting.
It’s a bigger version of the 47CR from three years ago and set up to be easy to sail two-handed, with all key sail controls led back to the cockpit. The extra length is in the middle of the boat, which creates significantly more accommodation volume than the relatively modest increase in overall length would suggest. In addition, the boat benefits from many minor tweaks and improvements fed back by the owner of the 47CR.
This was also the first boat from Spirit Yachts – and as far as we know the first from any quality boatbuilder – with a Lignia deck. This Douglas fir timber is grown in sustainable forests and treated with resin to create a product with more longevity than teak. It also looks fabulous. Spirit’s managing director Nigel Stuart says it’s marginally harder to work than teak, which leads him to think it will have better wear resistance. An unexpected benefit for day-to-day practicality is that it dries more quickly than teak.
It’s easy to get carried away by the gorgeous finish and stunning lines of this boat. A modern classic in every sense, the slender hull lines and high-tech engineered timber construction, allied to a displacement of only nine tonnes, promise a fast, yet very easily handled boat.
Guide price ex VAT: £850,000 www.spirityachts.com
LOA 14.95m 49ft 1in LWL 10.50m 34ft 6in Beam 3.50m 11ft 9in Draught 2.05m 6ft 10in Displacement 9,000kg 19,850lb