SAIL.SailMagazine

Like the Lagoon 52, the SIG60 is a VPLP-designed catamaran, but that’s where the similarity ends. Lightweight carbon-fiber construction and a powerful sailplan guarantee outstanding performance from this cruiser-racer.

The last year has been kind to cruising-cat aficionados; most established builders have introduced new models, and some yards are showing their wares in the United States for the first time.

One of the true stars at the recent Strictly Sail boat show in Chicago was the Blue Jacket 40, which made its world debut there.

Two different boats, two different sail programs, and yet a surprising number of similarities: among them, the fact that even in this era of gee-whiz computer modeling, the human element still plays a major role in a sail’s ultimate success. 

It is not very often that Hull #2 of a design beats Hull #1 onto the water by a couple of decades—which is why Jay E. Paris, longtime technical editor of SAIL and designer of the 32-foot cruiser Petrel, laughs ruefully as he looks back at the lengthy build timeline of his boat.