THE Sweet SPOT

The SEAWIND 1600 is a long-range cruiser that looks just as good as it sails. cook to join any party taking place at the large dining table located to starboard out in the cockpit. There’s an indoor table with U-shaped seating as well to port of a forward-facing nav station.

The cockpit is covered by a Bimini that is supported by stainless posts aft and short carbon-fiber risers forward. It provides lots of shade, and the breeze blows through the space between the hard awning and cabin top. This space can be closed off, as can the cockpit sides and back with clear panels. Eight solar panels sit atop the Bimini and keep the battery bank fed (though AGM batteries are standard, the boat we sailed had an optional lithium-ion system).

Furniture throughout the boat is built using a honeycomb foam core and veneers to save weight and for strength. Hulls, deck and Bimini are all cored and infused using vinylester resin. An outside layer of Kevlar is added to the hulls for protection and to strengthen the areas around the daggerboards; carbon fiber reinforces the chainplates, bulkheads and stiffeners.

For power, the 1600 comes standard with 57 hp Yanmar diesels; the boat in Miami had a pair of optional 80 hp Yanmars that pushed us along at just over 8 knots at cruising speed and better than 9 in get-home-fast mode. With the larger engines and lots of other options, the 1600 carries a price tag of right around $1.2 million, delivered to the US East Coast. For that, you can enjoy your own sweet spot.

Mark Pillsbury is CW’S editor.