SAIL.SailMagazine

You’re about to read a sneak preview of a sharp-looking new performance cruiser from Island Packet. Yes, you read it right—that Island Packet, the one renowned for tough, long-keeled, bluewater cruising yachts.

There’s a distinctly sporty look to the latest boat from Island Packet Yachts. With its twin wheels, fin keel, spade rudder and lofty rig, the Blue Jacket 40 marks a new direction for the Florida company, which has been building its line of distinctive-looking long-keeled bluewater cruisers for more than 30 years.

A strong lineup of new boats from domestic and foreign builders will be on display at the Newport International Boat show in September and the U.S. Sailboat Show in Annapolis in October. SAIL’s judging team will be inspecting them closely for the 2013 Best Boats awards.

South African yard Robertson & Caine has been a major force in the cruising multihull market ever since linking with charter giant The Moorings a decade ago. Its latest design is the Leopard 58, which will be known as the Moorings 5800 when in charter livery.

The announcement of a new boat from Nautor’s Swan is always a red letter day in the big-boat world, and designer German Frers Jr. was typically upbeat about the yard’s latest creation at an informal pre-launch party at the New York Yacht Club.