Spirited performer

There’s no denying it when you clap eyes on the latest boat to emerge from the Ipswich yard of Spirit Yachts. There is a lot to be said for old fashioned looks. With her long overhangs fore and aft and a glowing mahogany finish, the new 44E cruiser racer is a thing of beauty. And yet, this is a pioneering boat, designed and built to cross oceans in comfort without burning a drop of fossil fuel.

Compared to the pared-down, sleek lines of her larger sisters, the 44E offers more volume and therefore greater comfort for adventurous sailing. “These hulls have a little more beam and volume with increased displacement,” explains Spirit founder and head designer Sean McMillan.