In March, yacht designers Stephens Waring, based in Belfast, Maine, celebrated the launch of their latest creation, the 68-foot sloop . Cirrus. The custom sloop was designed for an experienced customer who has a waterfront property in Rockport, Maine, so his view all summer is of classic Maine-style boats that were designed and built in The Spirit of Tradition.
As designer Bob Stephens recounts, the design process for Cirrus began in 2017 with the owner’s. intention to build a modern, low slung Mediterranean-style performance cruiser that emphasized excellent sailing qualities combined with luxurious modern accommodations.
But, the coast of Maine offered a different sort of seascape and the design brief evolved to embrace the traditional look of classic designs from the 1960s, designs that were created in the age of the Cruising Club of America racing rules. The design would have a counter stern large enough for a dinghy garage under the cockpit. And, it would have a traditional bow.
But, once you look under the water, you can see that the designers have created a hull with a performance-style rudder and keel and a thoroughly modern hull shape. The idea was simply to marry the best of both worlds.
When the decision was made to go with the traditional look instead of the Mediterranean style, Stephens was able to take the interior design that had almost been completed and move it into the new hull concept. The result is a live-aboard, blue water cruising home that can accommodate six guests and two crew.
As you would expect, the beating heart of Cirrus’ interior is the large dinette that will seat eight and the huge sea-going galley. The owner plans to sail offshore so the galley has been equipped with fridge and freezers that will keep supplies for weeks at a time.
Two large quarter guest cabins are spacious enough for couples to be right at home for long cruises and passages. Extra attention was paid to the master suite forward of the saloon that has a double berth to port and a sofa to starboard. Using the boat’s full beam, the cabin is spacious and airy.
The designers and owner opted for a rig that could be handled by a couple or even a single watchkeeper with all sheets and control lines leading back to the cockpit. It has a tall fractional rig with swept-back spreaders that eliminate the need for running back stays.
The mainsail has an in-boom furling system that allows the crew to dial in just the exact amount of sail area needed to keep the boat balanced and sailing at her optimum polar numbers. The furling headsail is self-tacking, thereby eliminating the need to grind winches every time you tack.
A real head-turner, Cirrus will be the belle of every anchorage she enters and is an emphatic statement of American design ingenuity and the enduring appeal of the Spirit of Tradition.
Check out the Stephens Waring Design website here.
