SAIL.SailMagazine

We were having so much fun, we lost track of where we were, and then Sploosh. We bumped the bulb into the mud at the mouth of the Severn River. No problem. We just rigged the portable winch on the cabin top, fed the hoisting line through the hole in the deck, and hoisted the keel until we were free. The keel is not designed to be adjustable under way, but this little escapade shows how beefy the keel trunk is (no damage), and how useful it is to be able to lift the keel when you need to. The keel retracts until the bulb meets the hull and the hull sits flat on a low trailer and can be easily launched from a ramp.

Under power

The boat has a 10 horsepower Yanmar diesel with a Saildrive unit and folding propeller. It has plenty of power to push the boat up to 7 knots, but the boat’s light air performance is so good that you may not want to turn the engine on except when the wind speed dial reads zero.

Vital statistics

Headroom: 5'9", Berths forward 6'9" (max), middle 4'11", aft 6'3", cockpit seats 4' x 8'

Specifications

PRICE: $82,346 (USD) (base, FOB British Columbia) includes deck hardware, standing rigging

BUILDER: Sylvana Yachts, Penticton, British Columbia, www.sylvanayachts.com

DESIGNER: Alan Andrews, Long Beach, CA, www.andrewsyachts.com

LOA: 28'

LWL: 25'9"

Beam: 9'10"

Draft: Max draft 7*

Displacement: 3,750 lbs

Ballast: 1,290 lbs

Sail area: main 326 sq ft, Jib 203 sq ft, a-sail 1,065 sq ft

Fuel/water/waste: 10/5/6.5 gals

Power: 10 hp Yanmar with saildrive

Displ.-length ratio: 98

Sail area-displ. ratio: 35

Ballast ratio: 34%

Our take

Pros:

• Lifting keel

• Light-air performance

• Decent accommodations

Cons:

• High freeboard

Conclusion

It sailed like a witch in the light stuff. The lifting keel saved us lots of trouble getting off a shoal. I didn’t bump my head too much down below, and the helm has a responsive feel that brought a smile to my face. Seems like Sylvana Yachts answered all the questions they were asked.

‹ Andrews 28