Here’s a first glimpse of a yacht to look out for this summer… a high-speed cruiser designed and built to participate in major Mediterranean regattas

There’s a new generation of not-quite-80ft monohulls on the water, 24m LOA being a watershed for various reasons, and a fair few more new builds of that size are in the pipeline. One of the most interesting (and quite likely one of the fastest) is a full custom Baltic 80 with an impressive power-to-weight ratio.

Commissioned by an experienced yachtsman – his first build with Baltic Yachts – the 23.99-metre Baltic 80 Custom is conceived as a high-speed offshore cruiser with the ability to win Mediterranean regattas. It’s a fiercely competitive circuit but she certainly has the design and build pedigree to be a strong contender.

The hull is a SPRINT carbon/epoxy and Corecell foam laminate

‘Performance cruising with ability to race what this boat is all about,’ says Baltic project manager Lars Gripenberg. The sleek, powerful hull makes those intentions clear with its low freeboard, chamfered reverse bow and a minimal coachroof styled by Jens Paulus. Distinctive and purposeful with a striking paint job in a colour described as old rosé offset by a jet black rig and details, she is sure to turn heads under sail and in harbour.

Design and construction
She’s a full custom project with naval architecture by judel/vrolijk. With a ballast ratio of more than 35 per cent plus a powerful hull shape that confers high form stability when slightly heeled, and SA:D (sail area : displacement ratio) of 41.5, her vital statistics tick all the theoretical boxes for exceptional sailing performance.

A two-part female mould was used in construction

‘Initially the concept was developed by extensive CFD and rating studies with a strong focus on racing performance,’ Rolf Vrolijk explains. ‘With the involvement of the actual customer, cruising and living features gained more importance.

‘We decided to keep the wide hull lines generating high stability for both purposes, powerful racing and comfortable cruising. The deck freeboard was pushed as low as possible to just suit the interior demands – a sleek look and an improved vertical centre of gravity.’

Her composite construction is state of the art. The hull and structural bulkheads are Sprint carbon/epoxy laminates with Corecell foam core and prepreg carbon reinforcement in high-load areas. The deck is prepreg carbon with Nomex core and foam-cored prepreg where it’s needed. The entire structure weighs just 6.5 tons.

She has twin rudders and a lifting keel from APM with a lead bulb and steel fin, housed in a solid prepreg carbon trunk that extends up to the deck to give a draught of 5.3m under sail, reducing to 3.5m in harbour.

‘We were able to reduce the weight of the yacht – with all interior and living comfort expected – to 36 tons in light ship conditions,’ Vrolijk says.

The deck is a prepreg carbon laminate with a Nomex core

On deck
‘Space is a very important consideration on this boat,’ Gripenberg explains. ‘The sail store is really big for an 80-footer.’ A large hatch in the flush foredeck gives access to a capacious sail locker that occupies prime real estate down below – on a typical cruiser-racer most of that space would be part of the owner’s suite.

The deck plan is impressively clean. There’s a track for a self-tacking cruising headsail and a removable pair of transverse tracks further aft for the racing genoa. The pushpit, stanchions and pop-up mooring cleats are all titanium, primarily to save weight but also to reduce maintenance.

The position of the forehatch shows the size of the sail store

The anchoring system is neat and simple with a snug recess in the bowsprit to hold the anchor securely while the yacht is under way, ready to deploy immediately when needed. ‘From a user point of view it’s the best solution, Gripenberg says. ‘It’s mostly out of sight but easy to use, nothing is hidden, no rotating parts and no secrets under water.’ There’s also a retractable hydraulic mooring winch on the foredeck for warping operations in harbour.

The vast, open cockpit creates a lot of open-air living space, while also being a well-judged dual purpose layout for cruising and racing. It’s designed with equal emphasis on easy handling by a crew of two and efficient operation by a full racing crew, who are likely to be a mix of professional and skilled amateur sailors. ‘The yacht offers enough winches for all headsail trimming and peel sets,’ Vrolijk says.

Relatively little wood is used in the interior finish. Instead, the owner opted to showcase some of the raw carbon laminates, which are offset with painted and fabric-covered surfaces

The mainsheet is on a six-ton captive reel winch below the deck next to the mast - and all other lines – sheets, halyards and runners – are controlled by four hydraulic Harken winches, two on each side of the cockpit just forward of the helm pedestals, with jammers for all the lines led aft from the mast. Large stowage bins for sheet and halyard tails, set in the aft ends of the coaming with top-hinged hatch lids, are an elegant and practical solution to avoid the usual snakes’ wedding of lines under foot on the cockpit sole.

In cruising mode there’s a simple and effective bimini on poles for shade. A big sprayhood deploys from a slim, U-shaped hatch in the coachroof and connects with the bimini to shelter the cockpit, which can be fully enclosed on three sides in foul weather.

Minimalist styling in the heads, with a rain room shower

Rig and sails
‘The sailplan is a double setup for cruising and racing,’ Gripenberg says. ‘The mast and furling boom are from Hall Spars, with carbon standing rigging.’ The foretriangle is large, with a hydraulic under-deck furler for racing as well as cruising headsails. There is a rotating padeye in the 1.9m long bowsprit for code sails of 55 per cent and 75 per cent girth, with sail area up to 445m². A 695m² gennaker is tacked to a fixed padeye on the end of the bowsprit and flown with a manual furler. The sail wardrobe is from North Sails and she has complete, separate sail packages for racing and cruising. ‘In close cooperation with yard, owner’s team and sailmaker, we achieved a versatile sailplan for both modes of use,’ Vrolijk says. ‘For cruising we reduced the upwind sail area by 10 per cent compared with the racing setup with a J1.5. The overall sail area is kept high with 409m² upwind.’

Down below
From the general arrangement it’s clear that this is a boat designed for private use, configured without any concessions for charter operation. The accommodation, for six guests in three cabins with a further cabin for two crew, is laid out to give much better than average weight distribution within the hull, which will have a positive impact on motion comfort at sea as well as boatspeed. ‘This layout would also work very well for a family sailing the boat without any crew, some friends on board and a lot of living space,’ Gripenberg says.

Instead of a huge, full-beam master suite in the forward half of the hull, the owner’s cabin is aft on the starboard side. It still has ample space, a big double bed and a nice en suite bathroom – and it’s a more practical, comfortable location than the forepeak for a cabin that will be used when the yacht is under way, especially when sailing offshore.

A bunk room for occasional racing crew to use on passage

There are two guest cabins forward of the mast, a large double and a smaller cabin with two single bunks. They share a large bathroom in the forepeak, which also serves as the main day heads on board. The saloon has a dining area to port with L-shaped seating around a table and a smaller seating unit on the centreline. To starboard there is a deeper sofa for relaxation and an aft-facing nav station with a large chart table. The galley, on the port-hand side, is notably spacious and open plan with the saloon.

The crew cabin, in the yacht’s port aft quarter, is designed to accommodate a couple and it is just as large as the double guest cabin up forward, with its own private en suite bathroom.

The galley layout should work well offshore. It also serves as a passageway between the saloon and the crew’s quarters

The interior styling is a collaboration between two designers, Jens Paulus and Axel Vervoordt. The first thing you notice is that there’s a lot less wood than usual in the finish. ‘We have it only on the cabin doors and the floorboards,’ Gripenberg says. ‘Most other surfaces are either painted or covered in fabric. The owner did not want it to look like an apartment, he wanted something different.’ The carbon keel trunk is a prominent feature and there are lots of carbon details – raw carbon, showcasing the quality of the yacht’s laminate structure.

Efficient systems
Smart choices have been made to ensure high levels of reliability and efficient operation. It’s all controlled by Baltic Yachts’ own in-house developed PLC. Most systems run off a 48V bank of Mastervolt lithium batteries and there’s a separate 24V service battery. In typical operating conditions there should be ample capacity to run the air conditioning all night long without needing to use the generator.

The stern garage is designed to accommodate a 3.95m jet RIB tender, fully inlfated and ready for rapid deployment

The propulsion setup is conventional with a 172kW Cummins diesel, ZF gearbox, shaft drive and folding propeller. In addition to the main Fischer Panda generator, a second 48V DC alternator is connected to the engine specifically for battery charging while the yacht is motoring. ‘You usually want to charge the batteries first thing in the morning so you run the generator. Then you can switch it off and continue charging from the engine while the yacht is motoring,’ Gripenberg explains. It’s also possible to fast-charge by running the generator and engine at the same time.

One final nice feature for cruising is the generously sized stern garage, which accommodates a fully inflated 3.95m jet RIB tender.

The Baltic 80 Custom is due to launch in early summer and might be seen cruising in northern Europe before heading down towards the Mediterranean. It’s likely that she’ll make her regatta début there in due course – and we await the first racing results with interest.

Click here for more information on Baltic Yachts »

The spectacular success of the Melges 15 already extends way beyond its obvious appeal to young racers...

Melges Performance Sailboats has always been a family-run company, so it’s hardly surprising that their latest design, the Melges 15, is drawing together sailors of all generations for some family-centric competition. Here’s one example: at a recent regatta, the first race was won by Dana Haig and her father/crew – just ahead of her sister Emily and Zoe Fisher. Crossing the line in third were Claudia and John Bartlett, the eventual winners of both the Grand Masters (age 60-69) and Couples trophies.

Like its still-thriving patriarch the Melges 24, the Melges 15 was designed by Reichel/Pugh and won Sailing World’s Boat of the Year shortly after its initial launch. This two-person dinghy incorporates many lessons learned over the past three decades. Maximum beam carries well aft along lengthy hard chines that both maximise stability and promote planing. The high boom, ergonomic cockpit and light sheet loads create a package that’s easy and fun – at any stage in life.

Teens love it
14-year-old Maija Andert raced the 2024 Winter Series #1 with her father, Chris, as crew. ‘What I like about sailing the Melges 15 is that people can rip at any age,’ Maija says. ‘People can be 70, and they’re rolling us!’ Older sister Anna agrees. ‘There’s Opti kids to old guys and we all learn from each other.’

Continuing education
Now that she’s out of school, Dana Haig says Melges 15 regattas are key to her next sailing chapter. ‘I get to continue to sail with the people I sailed with in college, but also sail with my Dad so it’s a family thing too. The winter series events are great, because they’re at the weekend and fit in well around a regular nine-to-five job.

‘The class is very centred around learning,’ she adds. ‘Melges does a great job of encouraging communication between sailors, talking about different settings and what works.’

Mid-life return to dinghy sailing
Dublin-based John Sheehy was an avid team racer in his 20s, but after starting a family he couldn’t find a sailing dinghy that fitted his new reality. A few years ago, he went searching for a boat he could sail with his three children and discovered the Melges 15. It ticked so many boxes that he immediately talked several friends into buying boats too; enough to order a full container (12). ‘I was very conscious of people saying, “Oh, another new class, why don't you sail X, Y, or Z instead?” But 80 per cent of our Melges 15 owners are coming back to dinghy sailing.’ The typical buyer didn't leave another class, he explains; like him, ‘they just hadn’t seen anything they wanted to sail, until now.’

John Reichel takes the lid off the Melges 15

This project was conceived right from the start to allow everyone from new sailors to experienced racers to not only have fun, but really get the most out of the boat very quickly.

The hull features a wide beam, a chine along most of the length, high stability and plenty of sail for fast, responsive, forgiving performance for a wide range of crew weights.

The Melges 15 design focuses not just on performance, but also durability and low maintenance, which is a necessity for any individuals or organisations looking to build their fleet for beginner instruction, junior sailing, club, or international racing. Built with the composite construction quality Melges Performance Sailboats is known for, these dinghies are sure to last for many years.

Over the course of 2019, our team at Reichel/Pugh worked closely with Melges to continually refine the deck and sail plan design and incorporated design improvements learned from sailing the prototype on Geneva Lake in Wisconsin. Ergonomics were a priority right from the start, with a deep cockpit and wide side decks for comfortable hiking. The daggerboard trunk and mainsheet block are supported on a low, central spine with enough depth to be a foot brace, but substantially lower than a conventional centreboard dinghy. Conspicuously absent are any uncomfortable athwartship supports in the cockpit.

The sail plan is thoroughly modern with a large jib and tight upwind sheeting angles. The square-top main provides plenty of power in a very efficient high-aspect planform. The large asymmetric spinnaker is easily handled and, with the bowsprit extended, provides plenty of power for planing off the wind. The rig utilises a ‘gnav’ above the boom rather than a conventional boom vang underneath, to provide more space and comfort for the crew.

‘I really enjoyed working on this project, the bottom line is that the Melges 15 has a very high fun-to-cost ratio in one high-quality package,’ concludes John Reichel.

Most of the Dublin fleet members are parents, he adds. ‘There's a family here, and the father and mother used to race together back in the day. So they sail together, their three kids sometimes crew for them, they sometimes crew for the kids – and the kids sail with each other or with their friends. So you have this kind of multiple use scenario. That’s exciting.’

Masters excitement
Perhaps the Melges 15’s most surprising demographic are the equally excited elders – not just parents and grandparents but couples and friends who want to sail something fast but comfortable. Four Mega Masters teams (70-plus) competed at the first 2024 Winter Series regatta, a division won by husband and wife windsurfing legends Ron and Bonnie Steele.

When trophies were handed out at the second Winter Series regatta, Grand Master winning skipper Claudia Bartlett was “a little shocked” to learn that she and her husband/crew were also the top-finishing couple. ‘We love the boat; we have grandchildren, they love the boat. It’s easy to sail and it’s so stable.’

The sailplan is thoroughly modern with a large jib, a high-aspect square top mainsail, tight sheeting angles and a big asymmetric kite for planing performance

Fast growth on both sides of the Atlantic
Eddie Cox, one of the Melges team members who helped develop the Melges 15, says that clubs all over the US are buying fleets because they offer a clear pathway from beginner to expert while providing a rare link between generations. ‘You can teach an adult in this boat, someone that's really never sailed before. And if your local club is also racing the boat, it's not going to be hard to get involved. The platform is so flexible, you can get people together who wouldn't normally be in the same boat or on the same racecourse. Youth sailors, the guy who owns a Melges 32; anybody can sail this boat. Clubs that want to bridge the gap between youth programmes and adult sailing, this boat seems to be fitting the bill.’

Fortunately, he adds, the boats are built to be ‘used and abused in an institutional setting, with a ton of extra durability. Your average beginner running into the dock, it's not going to be a catastrophic thing.’

In Europe, boats are already sailing in Scandinavia, Portugal and Switzerland. Another container will soon double the Dublin fleet numbers and John Sheehy says a third is in the works. It’s quite impressive growth from only a year ago, when he nervously rigged for the first time. ‘No one had ever even seen one and I’d persuaded everyone! But as soon as they sailed the boat, I mean, in anything over 10 knots, it’s a game changer. Now I keep saying to myself, “Imagine if this was your first experience of sailing; you pull one rope, and the spinnaker goes up... ”

The Melges 15’s winning combination of superb performance, high stability and excellent weight carrying ability allows a wide range of sailors to race against each other on an equal footing

Boats sell themselves
Sheehy says the M15’s stability was his biggest surprise. ‘I’m six foot three, 87 kilos, and when I step aboard it doesn’t tip. That gives me the confidence to push the boat as hard as I can downwind. I've had my eight-year-old trimming the kite at nine knots of boatspeed. And the other two, 12 and 10, we've done 14 knots together. From the beginner who can't believe the stability to the top racer who wants strict one design… when it's windy, we can all absolutely just let it rip! I'd like to say the success here in Ireland is all me, but the boat is the principal reason; you just put people in and it sells itself.’

Cox agrees. ‘I always say to our dealers, if there's any wind during your demo, I guarantee you're going to sell boats as soon as people put the kite up for the first time. Downwind, the boat takes off and performs.’ Excitingly fast but stable enough to feel comfortable in all conditions, that’s why this new class is already attracting hundreds of sailors to its annual championships.

History repeating itself?
Anyone thinking the Melges 15 might just be a flash in the pan should consider the ongoing success of its patriarch, the Melges 24. More than three decades after winning Sailing World’s Boat of the Year, there were close to 50 boats from 13 countries at the 2023 Melges 24 World Championship, sailed by a potent mix of professional and Corinthian sailors. What’s the secret to such impressive longevity? ‘I think it’s the support that we offer,’ Cox says. ‘If you need spare parts or replacement rigging, we have it all in stock – and we'll ship it pretty much the same day. That’s unheard of, at least in the US.’

Big fleets of Melges 15s are already established in both the US and Europe, and the class continues to grow rapidly

Strong classes, of course, help to maintain used boat values. ‘We just sold a new 24 to a gentleman in Chicago,’ Cox continues. ‘And he sold his old boat, which was from the early 2000s, for $10,000 more than he purchased it new from us, back in the day! If a boat’s taken care of and you can get new parts and equipment from us to keep boats fresh, they can last for a really long time.’

A lifetime of fun without leaving the family
With a third generation in charge at Melges Performance Sailboats, it’s quite fitting that three generations now gather together at Melges 15 regattas. ‘I think it really has everything to do with our company's culture of innovation,’ Eddie Cox says. ‘Harry III, I have to give him all the credit; he really instils thinking outside the box, how we can advance the sport but also make it more accessible.’

And as their newest class grows, smart buyers will look to Melges family history for the comforting assurance that this design will also be around for a generation or three. ‘The boats that we’ve had a lot of success with, ’Cox points out, ‘they've all been on the cutting edge. And I’d definitely put the Melges 15 in that category. There's a lot of doublehanded dinghies out there, but there's nothing that is a total package like the Melges 15.’

‘By accident or design,’ John Sheehy agrees, ‘Melges has created a new class of boat: a double-handed performance dinghy that almost anyone can sail. Now we're looking at the forecast saying, “Hey, it's 25 knots gusting 30. Let's go!” As someone who loves sailing and growing the sport, it's nice to see that enthusiasm being transferred to the next generation.’

Click here for more information on Melges »

The purposeful new Pegasus 50 will take you around the world in great comfort... And if you so wish, with an unladen displacement of less than 12 tonnes it can also do so rather quickly!

From the outset four key parameters – comfort, safety, quality and speed – informed the design of this comfortable yet fast 50ft ocean cruiser from Pegasus Yachts, resulting in a lightweight hi-tech boat that’s markedly different from mainstream offerings. It’s a formula that has attracted owners with a racing background, including some with world championship titles to their name. All of them are seeking an enjoyable and fast, yet manageable and reliable cruising yacht that will look after them in tough conditions.

Many designers have attempted to blend indoor and outdoor spaces on a monohull but few have been as successful as the Pegasus 50’s arrangement. A wide glazed sliding door between the cockpit and saloon maintains a connection between these areas, even in inclement weather, while giving a watch-keeper in the comfort of the saloon a full 360- degree view of the outside world.

The cockpit configuration of the Pegasus 50 is informed by recent developments in Imoca 60s and Class 40s. The layout is designed with safety in mind and full foul weather gear is rarely needed

Equally, the large windscreen and hardtop over the cockpit provide excellent protection against all conditions, whether sun, spray or rain, extending the range of situations in which the boat can be handled without resorting to wearing foul weather gear. This is a huge boost to both comfort and safety, especially when sailing short-handed. Surprisingly it’s still rare for a manufacturer of performance cruising yachts to address this issue, even though the past few years having seen huge developments in this respect in Imoca 60s and Class 40s. In better weather the cockpit and saloon can be opened up to provide an almost seamless space, separated by just two easy steps, creating a wonderful large, very comfortable and very ergonomic living area.

A watchkeeper in the deckhouse has a 360° field of vision

The “less is more” philosophy is responsible for much of the design’s appeal among extremely knowledgeable and experienced sailors. Pegasus Yachts’ co-founder, managing director and principal designer Marko Paš is forthright about the importance of this aspect: ‘I strongly believe that we don't have the resources in the boating sector to implement many of the new systems we are seeing fitted on many of today's boats in a way that is hassle free,’ he says. ‘Reducing complexity increases your freedom and minimises the dependency on others for maintenance and repairs.’ In a practical sense this means that, while voyaging, you are less likely to spend valuable time looking after unnecessarily complex systems, or be stuck for extended periods in a remote port waiting for spare parts, or qualified technicians, to be flown out.

Nevertheless, the Pegasus 50 has a carbon mast, high-quality sails and a watermaker as well as top-notch electronics and autopilots. These are all naturally essential elements of any contemporary yacht of this style, but beyond that there's a sensible limit to the amount of equipment on board. The key priority is to make all the systems as bulletproof as possible, with a high degree of redundancy where appropriate.

The Pegasus yard takes quality control very seriously

Standard equipment, for example, includes a spare macerator and seawater pump for the toilets, as well as a spare electric pump for the fresh water system. These may sound like small points, but they can make a critical difference when faced with a breakdown.

This philosophy also extends to the extras list. It’s not uncommon for options on a cruising yacht of this size to amount to a lot more than 50 per cent of the base price. However, Pegasus has taken the opposite approach as part of a policy to provide a complete turn-key package delivered to the owner as a fully equipped, completely assembled and tested boat. At handover the vessel is fully in commission with sails bent on, the rod rigging correctly tensioned and so on. There's even a trial sail with the sailmaker to ensure everything is in order.

As a result, although there were some differences between the early boats in terms of equipment and specification, most of the later boats are very similar, with a high level of standard equipment right down to towels, cutlery and bedding. ‘We learnt a lot in that respect from our early clients,’ says Paš. The key items that remain on the extras list therefore are less common pieces of kit which, at least historically, few owners have chosen, such as stern thrusters and Starlink terminals.

From the outset the intention was to create a lightweight boat that would be easy to handle and easy to sail well. The sail area to displacement ratio is fairly conservative, so the mast is relatively short. This reduces weight aloft, which in turn increases stability while also helping to reduce overall displacement. And smaller sails are, of course, easier to handle.

The lightest feasible displacement – the Pegasus 50 weighs only 11,700kg unladen – was also an important plank in the design concept, as a lighter boat requires a smaller sail area than a heavy one and is therefore intrinsically easier to handle. Structural engineering is by Giovanni Belgrano’s Pure Engineering in New Zealand, with involvement from Gurit. ‘The boat is engineered to be very lightweight, with strategic use of carbon,’ says Paš. ‘And we take good care over the production processes, including the infusion of mouldings, so the structure is very solid.’ Effective quality control is easy to overlook, but is a vital aspect of boatbuilding that Pegasus takes very seriously. Thermal imaging cameras, for instance, are used to monitor the effectiveness of the resin infusion process.

It’s very rare that the mainsail of a Pegasus 50 has to be reefed. Instead, as the breeze picks up you just switch from headsail to staysail

Modern hull lines and sail plan mean this is an easily driven boat and it’s easy to change gear for different conditions. As a result, the boat’s performance potential is such that experienced racers are guaranteed to get a thrill while comfortably cruising the oceans, without the need for a highly skilled team on board. ‘Most clients are experienced serial boat owners who know what they want and tell us they don't see an alternative in the market.’ says Paš. ‘Other than for very short periods they will almost always be sailing as a couple or as two friends. Our owners also have the experience to understand that we are offering something different and they like the boat’s speed.

‘But over the past 20 years raceboats have moved well away from the cruising world. Our clients typically want to do a Mediterranean / Caribbean programme, maybe continuing on to Polynesia. A couple of boats have also been up to the Norwegian fjords, but we always expect those who venture north to eventually return to one of the warmer parts of the world.’

Paš has now personally sailed more than 10,000 nautical miles on a Pegasus 50, yet so far has not needed to reef the mainsail. That might sound incredible to many, but anyone who has sailed extensively on a Class 40 will not be surprised. Despite being an extremely lightweight boat the 40 will also carry a full mainsail up to 30 knots of true wind, with a staysail (J2) and careful tweaking of mainsail trim, albeit with the help of 500kg of water ballast. Furling the J1 and switching to the staysail, which effectively doubles as a J2, in 17 to 18 knots of true wind is a perfect solution to maintain efficient sail shapes in stronger breezes with minimal effort.

Plenty of power on a reach with code sail, staysail and mainsail set

Attention to detail is another theme that runs right through every aspect of the Pegasus 50. This can be seen in everything from the exemplary manner in which the saloon and cockpit are connected together, to the twin technical rooms under the cockpit in which key systems are organised for quick and efficient maintenance. One side for is reserved for pumps and liquids, while the other houses the electrical systems. Both are accessed from big cockpit hatches and are only one step down from the cockpit level, with all service items positioned so that they can be accessed at eye level when sitting down. Equally, deck hatches are carefully arranged to maximise natural ventilation, both at anchor and under sail, including a pair of opening ports in the front of the coachroof. There’s also an extraction hood above the cooker with a transom exhaust and all cabins have top-notch variable speed Caframo Sirocco ll fans with timers. A similar level of detail has been applied to ensure grabrails are optimally positioned inside and out, while a deep toerail, plus substantial lifelines and stanchions, help maximise safety when working on deck.

Pegasus may be a small brand but it’s born of a huge amount of experience and is not afraid to plough its own furrow. ‘As a new small brand, we have to position ourselves in a different niche to the big yards,’ says Paš. The Pegasus formula – fast, comfortable, easy to sail short-handed, and easy to maintain – is enormously compelling.

A second Pegasus design is also under way. This will be another short-handed performance cruiser, but slightly larger at around 20 metres overall length. Conceptually it will follow a similar ethos as the Pegasus 50 and will be built using the same technologies, but will have a little more performance than the 50.

Click here for more information on Pegasus Yachts »

The use of naturally sourced rubber has allowed a remarkable step up in the sustainable manufacturing of technical clothing

High performance on the racecourse can come at a high cost to the environment, but Zhik’s new range of X wetsuits are performance-enhancing whilst being the least environmentally impactful yet seen in the sailing market.

The new X range of wetsuits aims to deliver a higher level of comfort, mobility, warmth, and all-round athletic performance than previous editions, while significantly reducing environmental impact. This is because Zhik has become the first manufacturer of sailing wetsuits to build its garments from Yulex natural rubber rather than traditional neoprene construction.

The integrated Yulex foam is a hardy plant-based material made from naturally sourced rubber. It was designed to replace the toxic production process of neoprene, which for many decades has been the material of choice for most wetsuit production. The new X range has no need for neoprene, thereby reducing the toxic aspects of wetsuit manufacture with absolutely no compromise to their performance on the racecourse.

The new X wetsuits are offered in a much broader choice of sizing, available in a wide range of body types and with a greater focus on the different shapes and sizing requirements for male and female sailors. Thanks to the new 3D body-mapped design, each wetsuit is tailored more closely to the individual to provide more comfort and a better fit.

For the first time, there are more female sizing options than there are for men, and Zhik has created a female specific design, with an interlocking top and pants, as an alternative to the skiff suit.

Drue Kerr, senior designer at Zhik, has worked hard with his team and a number of high-level sailors to research and develop the latest range. ‘We are proud to introduce our new line of X wetsuits, which have been designed in collaboration with world-renowned athletes from the Olympic classes and SailGP. Both the Superwarm X and the Microfleece X incorporate the highest quality materials and innovative technology to provide superior thermal insulation, comfort and mobility.

‘The new products demonstrate our ongoing commitment to a more sustainable future. Coupled with the rollout of new recycling programme, “reZHIKle”, we’re starting to close the loop on our environmental impact. Our material selection ensures the smallest impact possible at the start of a product lifecycle and the highest quality through the life of garment. We’re not only helping to protect the environment but we’re providing athletes with gear they can feel good about using.’

ReZHIKle is a recycling scheme which has already been rolled out successfully in Australia and New Zealand, enabling customers to bring in their old wetsuits which Zhik then sends to Upparel, a recycling brand. Damaged wetsuits are then shredded to create gym flooring, outdoor playground equipment and rubber protective mats, so the environmental waste from the wetsuit’s lifecycle is vastly improved.

In terms of their performance on and in the water, a major advantage over previous generations of wetsuit is the integration of graphene-infused fabrics which can return up to 20 per cent more body heat. This keeps the wearer warmer for longer, while increasing the ability to regulate temperatures in lowintensity activity as well as speeding up the drying process. And anyone who has experienced that unpleasant feeling of climbing into a cold, soggy wetsuit on the second or subsequent day of a week-long regatta will certainly appreciate the quick-drying of the X garments.

The Superwarm X range is completely lined with a new ultrafast dry fleece, which provides instant warmth and dries rapidly to keep athletes warm throughout a session on the water. It also features GBS (glued and blindstitched) seams and internal taping to ensure a water-tight fit, providing the ultimate protection against very cold water and wind chill.

The new range of X garments has been extensively battle-tested by some of the best in the business. Hattie Rogers is one of Britain’s most accomplished highperformance foiling sailors, competing in the singlehanded Waszp foiling dinghy and more recently signed up to Ineos Britannia for the Youth America’s Cup this autumn in Barcelona.

‘My favourite garment from the range is the Yulex Microfleece X Top,’ says Rogers. ‘I tested it in the middle of the UK winter whilst Waszp sailing and I stayed nice and warm throughout the session on the water and when packing up the boat afterwards. I’ve always found it easy to move in my Zhik kit but this top in particular allows me to sail without feeling restricted in any way.’

Click here for more information on Zhik  or visit your local Zhik dealer.