A purpose-built world cruiser that is just as comfortable in the warmth of the tropics as it is communing with icebergs by Andrew Cross
Anyone who walked the docks in Annapolis at the 2014 boat show will likely remember seeing the Garcia Exploration 45. Along with the Allure 45, it’s gray, aluminum hull and salty look stuck out in a sea of white plastic.
The boat was Jimmy Cornell’s newest globetrotting cruiser Aventura IV that he had purpose-built by Garcia Yachting of France and is now one of their newest offerings with three distinct layouts. The boat was designed and built for Jimmy and crew to circumnavigate and for high latitude sailing adventures during his Blue Planet Odyssey Rally, which is going on now from destinations throughout the world.
But the boat wasn’t even supposed to be in Annapolis. Due to pack ice closing the Northwest Passage early for those going after the attempt, Cornell and his crew made the decision to turn back, which was a lucky one for us, as we got a chance to take the boat out for a spin on a blustery day in October after the show.
The sun was shining and the wind blowing in upwards of 20 knots when we got underway from the marina for our test sail on the Chesapeake Bay. Read the full review.
