Some people like to see the world by large motor boat. Others prefer ocean racing. Throughout the ages, though, long distance cruisers have come to the conclusion that the inherent stability, gentle motion, and inexpensive fuel of a cruising sailboat make it he ideal vehicle for them.

A cruising sailboat isn't always that easy to find, however. Until the mid 70's, production boat builders offered only racing boats, or, at best, cruisers that still lacked many qualities desired by the offshore sailor. In the 90' the price of a good new cruiser was beyound the means of anyone wishing to cast off. Often the owner would be tied to the banks well past their prime.

What are the golden qualities the cruising sailor prefers and why can't he find them in sailboats designed for racing? An ideal bluewater boat is built for comfort, seaworthiness, and good performance in all weather conditions. The racing sailboat, on the other hand, is designed to beat the latest racing handicap rules.

Rule beating sailboat designs tend to be rather uncomfortable, especially in anything except light air and smooth water. For racing, that's fine. But isn't it now obvious that as one wouldn't enter a fat double ender in the America's Cup race, neither should one go world cruising on a racing machine!

What, then, are the design criteria that give a cruising sailboat the desirable features mentioned above? To answer that question, one can look at the type of boats reknowned cruising people prefer. As a group they are very similar in hull form, rig, cabin, simplicity of working parts, and quality of construction.