NEW YACHTS

RUPERT HOLMES REPORTS ON A CROP OF ATTRACTIVE FAST CRUISERS

- RUPERT HOLMES

Arcona 50

Hull length 14.99m 49ft 2in Beam 4.60m 15ft lin Draught 2.95m, 2.5m or 2.2m 9ft 8in, 8ft 2in or 7ft 3in Displacement (deep keel) 13,900kg 30,650lb Ballast (deep keel) 4,600kg 10,140lb Price TBA arconayachts.se

This Swedish yard's new flagship represents more than just a step up in size - it's also the outcome of a different philosophy. This is especially apparent in the choice of designer X-Yachts' founder Niels Jeppesen.

Historically the bulk of the Arcona's clients were Swedish owners who kept their boats in one of the country's many archipelagos, where the combination of light displacement and tall rig was ideal for the local conditions, as well as allowing owners to race competitively.

That picture has changed over the past few years and CEO Urban Lagnéus tells us that the UK is now by far the company's biggest market. This larger model was also conceived from the outset as a boat for longer-distance sailing.

At the same time as the yard was looking to create a larger model, Arcona's long-standing in-house designer Stefan Qviberg passed away. "We therefore needed a new person to create this boat," says Lagnéus. "At that time, Niels and Ariadna Pons were setting up a new design office, so we had a meeting and discovered we all speak the same boat language, so it was an easy choice," he explained.

"Our aim for this one was an offshore yacht that will be quick when sailing long distances but it also has many comforts."