Roxane

Designed by Nigel Irens more famous for ocean racing catamarans, Roxane is a high performance/high tech traditional cruising yacht.

Her design uses carbon spars and a fully battened lug rig on a efficient and shallow draft hull (with centre board). Seen here is Mischief leading the way in the Solent Old Gaffers race a few years ago - she finished second.

Roxane is a boat Nigel designed and built for himself at just under 30 feet, there is a smaller sister ship Romilly at 22 feet.

Lots of details at Peter Holdens Roxane a& Romilly site.

ÉTOILE HORIZON

Naval Architect Patrick Balta has kindly given us permission to use pictures of this unusual, high tech gaff cutter ÉTOILE HORIZON (Star Horizon).



The modern interpretation of a gaff cutter was built in 2001 to run the Transat Jacques Vabre Open 50 class, Etoile Horizon then participated in the Route du Rhum 2002 with Bob Escoffier and holds the SNSM record in its class.

Since then the boat has been completely refurbished and is operated as a charter yacht



ÉTOILE HORIZON may be a gaff cutter, but she takes full advantage of modern technology. Hi-tech sails combined with carbon blocks, winches and running rigging for maximum efficiency. Built in Cedar epoxy, the spars are surprisingly of aluminium, overall she is a bit heavier than a carbon hull/rig combination. But Etoile Horizon is still a fast cruising boat and one which doesnt disappoint, she can sail at 11 knots upwind and over 15 knots on a reach.



Naval Architect Patrick Balta
Hull length 15.25m
Draught 2.00m
Sail area 280m2