Article in the Norwegian magazine Seilas

DEBUT DURING THE ARC SAILING:

Regatta boat for charter

Charter companies did not find good enough boats on the market and started their own shipyard. Now the first boat is sailing.

CHARTER: More 55 will have five cabins and if the benches in the lounge are also used, it can accommodate up to 14 people on board.

More Sailing is a Swedish charter company that has started its own shipyard in Croatia. More 55 is the first model. The boat is specially made for sporty sailing in the Caribbean and in the Mediterranean. Now the boat is sailing, and the first real test will be across the Atlantic. The boat will participate in the ARC which starts on 22 November.

Small fleet

At the shipyard in Split, ten identical boats will be built in the first instance. The idea is to have a fleet of similar boats that can compete against each other, both over the sea, and in regattas in the Caribbean and in the Mediterranean. The boat has a racing hull, but furnishings for charter. The hull is vacuum cast which gives a better weight-strength ratio. With low hourly rates in Croatia, the price will also be startlingly low.

Unique concept

The couple Einar Halldin and Malin Stom run More Sailing, and today have 45 boats in their fleet. They have participated with charter boats twice before in ARC, and experienced several weaknesses with the typical charter boats on such a trip, but also that boats in a higher price range are not adapted to sailing with many on board.

- Participating in ten similar boats in the same event will provide a unique experience, whether it is across the Atlantic, in the Caribbean or in the Mediterranean, Malin Stom said earlier this year.

The boats will be shipped home from the Caribbean after the season. It saves time and costs.

Fast and cheap

More 55 costs 355,000 with full equipment for sea sailing and charter. It is on the same level as an equipped boat from the French or German low-cost shipyards, but the new charter boats are more advanced built and have a keel of lead.

Compared to the Xp55, the More 55 is lighter, but also has less weight in the keel. The sailing area is also slightly smaller than the 55-footer from X-Yachts.

More 55 was designed by Cossutti Yacht Design who also designed Italy 13.98 which was named Boat of the Year in Europe 2013. Maurizio Cossutti is an expert on ORCi and has also optimized existing boats for the rule.

By: Axel Nissen-Lie axel@seilas.no