Sometimes refining a well proven design reaps better results than starting with a blank sheet of paper since the designers and builders can learn from and improve on an already successful model. Such is the case with the new Seawind 1270 which replaces the popular 1260.
At 42 feet, the new cat from this well-regarded, Viet Nam-based builder falls right into the sweet spot for couples who cruise on their own yet want the room for family and friends to join them from time to time or when on passage. Everything is scaled so one person can handle almost all sailing and cruising activities.
The 1270 carries all of Seawind’s indoor-outdoor cruising DNA so the cockpit and saloon flow together in one open space with the saloon door retracted. The cockpit has a large settee aft and twin two-person seats at the twin helms with articulated back rests. Visibility forward through the huge saloon windows is excellent.
The 1270 is 15 inches longer that her predecessor and six inches wider. This additional space in league with the larger ports and deck hatches makes the interior seem much more spacious and accommodating. Finished in light colored veneers and white interior moldings, the atmosphere is bright and airy.
Seawind designs are known for their sailing performance and the 1270 will be no exception. The forward cross beam has been raised and the bowsprit extended. The rig has a large square-top mainsail with a self-tacking jib and a code zero mounted on the sprit. With single-line mainsail reefing, all sails can be raised, trimmed, reefed and dowsed from the cockpit by a single watch keeper.
Seawind is offering the 1270 with a sophisticated hybrid-electric propulsion system that will reduce the boat’s carbon footprint and make it self-sufficient when cruising in remote cruising grounds. This includes a huge 2040-watt solar array, a lithium battery bank, electric motors with a diesel back up, an induction stove and microwave and even an electric grill in the cockpit. In good weather and with wind to sail, you will seldom have to switch on the diesel engine.
The new 1270 will be ready for delivery in 2026 and should become one of the most popular offerings in the 40 to 45-foot segment of the sailing cat market. This is a size that really works for couples.
