The lines are simply pleasing: the hull in the clinker look of the old fishing boats, lots of wood on deck, cream-coloured sails, a strong, positive deck step, a high bulwark - and all this in a handy small cruiser format between around 19 and 23 feet. British boats of this type have been a firm favourite on the European market for decades, for example from Cornish Crabbers.
But they are also heavy, the wooden gaff rig is not everyone's cup of tea and the sailing performance is rather leisurely. This bothered the owners of the Swallow Yachts shipyard in Wales, so the young boss Matt Newland set about carefully modernising the classic design in his company. The Baycruiser 23 is intended to combine modern sailing performance with "classic looks".
The way to get there is promising: a water ballast system to make the boat easier to trailer, a modern carbon fibre mast and boom and a slip-up rig with a flared main (but cream-coloured). Nevertheless, the classic lines are retained, the workmanship is high quality and the Baycruiser 23 is very suitable for cruising thanks to the outboard motor in the shaft.
During a test in light winds off the coast of Wales, YACHT tested the interesting small cruiser and was impressed by its sailing performance.
Also in the short test: The little brother of the Baycruiser 23, the 19-foot Bayraider Expedition - a classic daysailer that is even easier to trailer with a weight of only 500 kilograms without water ballast.
The detailed test now in YACHT No. 21.
Andreas Fritsch
Editor Travel
