Stephens Waring Design is celebrating the delivery of the 68-foot Cirrus, a carbon oceangoing yacht built by James Betts Enterprises in Anacortes, Wash.
Cirrus is a custom design for an American owner who has ocean sailing in mind. The idea is to combine classic styling and Spirit of Tradition looks with modern performance and onboard creature comforts.
According to the team at Stephens Waring, the yacht’s design evolved over time. The first conversation with the owner of Cirrus was in 2017, with a brief for a broad-beamed, low-profile, Mediterranean-style, all-carbon build.
Then, apparently, the owner saw classically styled yachts passing his waterside home in Rockport, Maine, and changed his mind.
“Having observed so many Spirit of Tradition yachts, the owner began gravitating towards that look,” Bob Stephens, partner and co-founder of Stephens Waring Design, stated in a press release. “Taking the fully developed and modern layout we’d already worked up, we wrapped it in a much more classic hull form. The client really liked that.
“There were also some clear functional advantages to this approach,” Stephens added. “For example, the extra stern length allowed us to vastly improve the tender garage under the cockpit, served by a wonderful drop-down swim platform. And we were able to use the counter space for longitudinal storage.”
Cirrus has a spoon-shaped bow and a modest counter stern with a hint of tumblehome. The coachroof is low profile, and a rigid dodger protects half the cockpit. A central wheel aft drives a spade rudder.
Modern hull design and underwater appendages, including the rudder and a fine bulb keel, make the boat fast and weatherly, according to the Stephens Waring team, which says Cirrus performs well in low winds and is capable of big daily totals on passages between the U.S. East Coast and Caribbean.
“The underwater lines are modern but moderate,” Stephens said. “We tuned the displacement/length ratio to offer high performance with comfort at sea, and the hull lines incorporate more deadrise than many modern boats to reduce pounding in a head sea. The bulb keel is deep and moderately narrow for minimal wetted surface while providing a forgiving section to provide a wide groove. And the large spade rudder is resistant to overloading and stalling for good manners upwind and downwind.”
The rig incorporates a keel-stepped, carbon-fiber mast, ECthree stays and laminate sails. The fractional rig and sweptback spreaders eliminate the need for running backstays, making Cirrus appropriately outfitted for short-handed sailing. Pushbutton sail controls ease maneuvers, and Cyclops load cells give a constant readout on rig tension.
Construction-wise, the hull and deck are vacuum-infused in carbon with foam core. The weight savings allow for systems such as air conditioning, a 20-bottle wine locker, a larger TV, a stand-up fridge/freezer and a separate deep freezer.
Accommodations are for six guests with quarters for two crew. The owner’s area has a sofa, extra stowage and what Stephens Waring describes as a large shower. In the salon, there’s a solid teak table for dining with views through the hull lights on either side. Skylights overhead allow in more natural light, and a chart table is nearby with full access to the boat’s systems.
What does Bob Stephens of Stephens Waring say about the yacht’s interior? “The accommodation on Cirrus is in another league. Working in a palette of warm teak and white paneling with dark wenge soles, we have created a real sense of timeless luxury. The saloon is open plan, with a very well-equipped galley and the chart table all connected to the same social space. One of my favorite features is the line of central hatches in the coachroof that provides a continuous bar of light down the center of the spacious saloon.”
Where to learn more: visit stephenswaring.com
