24 HOUR TEST - ARCONA 345

There wasn't much wrong with its predecessor but could the new Arcona 345 get even closer to the ideal performance cruiser?

- Theo Stocker

SPECIFICATIONS

MAKE Arcona

MODEL 345

PRICE FROM £204,750 ex VAT

DESIGNER Stefan Qviberg

BUILDER Arcona Yachts

Bigger isn’t always better. Yes, the longer the boat the faster you go, theoretically, and the more space you get on board, but the bills go up exponentially, and the further you are away from the water and the beautiful feeling of wind and water balancing to create speed. In many ways, the best boat is the smallest boat you can get away with for the cruising you want to do.

So I was excited to take the baby of the Arcona range out for a spin last summer not just once, but twice, including an overnight, giving us over 24 hours aboard, letting us properly put the boat through her paces in a test that included night sailing through the Hurst Narrows, anchoring in Newtown Creek in the dark, swimming off the boat in the morning, making breakfast, washing up and even using the heads. In short, experiencing the boat as she is meant to be used. The 345 is an update of the Arcona 340, first launched a decade ago. When