WEEKEND WARRIOR
Classic Boat|December 2020
The PTS26 motor launch, built in Holland but inspired by Swede CG Pettersson, is so popular that it’s changing the market
STEFFAN MEYRIC HUGHES
WEEKEND WARRIOR
It’s often been said that boats are like people; seldom if ever are they compared to talking bears. But this one, a shiny new PTS26 belonging to British designer Andrew Winch, is named after Baloo from the Jungle Book. The bear – at least the Disney version – is like the charming, naughty uncle who teaches you to steal apples and fight, so you might expect a vessel named after him to be similarly overpowering and rough around the edges. Thankfully, the PTS26 – even with the over specc’d 190bhp diesel this one has – is nothing like the singing bear and more like Bagheera, the reliable, well-mannered black panther: dad. But that name is already taken by the owner’s other boat – an 18ft Tofinou daysailer that comes out to sail in company on test day. And what a day that was, with just enough wind for Baloo to send spray flying, and for Andrew’s brother-in-law David to fill the sails on Bagheera. The warm, unbroken sun made it feel like the last summer’s day of 2020, stolen from autumn’s grasp.

This story is from the December 2020 edition of Classic Boat.

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This story is from the December 2020 edition of Classic Boat.

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