The offerings are plentiful, the competition is strong. Most of the small cruisers come from Poland. Now an Italian project has joined them. The Comet 26 may surprise you. It offers good touring comfort, is well built and is also available at a reasonable price.
Although Comar Yachts also has the new Comet 26 manufactured in Poland, the idea, design and concept originated in Italy. Comar's first attempt to gain a foothold in the small cruiser segment was put down on paper by designer Sergio Lupoli.
The starting point for this was favourable. With a width of almost three metres and an unusually high freeboard, the Comet 26 is more voluminous than many ships in this segment. All in all, it therefore appears larger at the jetty than comparable boats, and the interior is visibly more spacious. And, the Comet 26 is fully suitable for touring. Up to five people can spend the night on the boat in reasonable comfort. There is also a proper wet room with toilet and even shower facilities on board.
Despite some adversity during the sailing tests (mast breakage during the tests in Barcelona, flooding of the Tiber during the test in Rome), the boat was able to prove that it also has a lot to offer in terms of performance under sail. The test boat with the optional T-keel and a ballast ratio (lead bomb) of 28 per cent sailed pleasingly stiffly and very well balanced in the wind. The Comet 26 is equipped with a swivelling keel as standard and the rudder blade can be raised. This means that the draught can be varied from a minimum of 0.35 to a maximum of 1.75 metres.
The Comet 26 costs 37,940 euros with the basic equipment. This puts the boat in a good mid-range price bracket among comparable competitors of Polish origin. The small cruiser received a welcome boost with its nomination as European Yacht of the Year 2011.
The Comet 26 will be making its German debut at the boot trade fair in Düsseldorf (Hall 16, Stand D77).
Michael Good
Editor Test & Technology
