Breaking The Mold

Three cruisers with a difference

- Peter Nielsen

Slovenia’s Elan Yachts has been on a roll these last few years, introducing a number of new models designed by Briton Rob Humphreys. The latest is the Elan GT5, an interesting 43-footer that brings a fresh approach to the performance cruising genre.

Based on the beamy, hard-chined, twin ruddered hull of the sporty Elan E5 and carrying a generous sailplan, the GT5 will have plenty of zip, but it’s the accommodations and deck plan that make it stand out from the crowd. The standard cockpit is long, wide and well designed, with long benches and high coamings forward providing extra lounging comfort. Tick a few boxes on the options sheet and you can also have twin tables, a convertible sunbed, a barbecue, fridge and wet bar all built in—the same features usually only found on boats 10ftlonger.