52' Keel / Centerboard Cruiser / Racer

PRINCIPAL DIMENSIONS

LOA     52.33 ft
LWL    42.42 ft
Beam Max   14.75 ft
Draft - CB up   5.25 ft
Draft - CB down   11.0 ft
Displacement   44,600 lbs
Ballast   20,950 lbs
Total Sail Area   1,313 sq ft
Main Engine   100 hp Westerbeke
Fuel      155 gallons
Water   260 gallons

DESIGNER'S COMMENTS

Dieter Empacher was commissioned by a New York client to design a 52' cruising racer centerboard sloop. The custom 52' was built of aluminum with closed spaced longitudinal frames. The owner, an experienced yachtsman, came to Dieter Empacher with an already worked out set of requirements. The yacht was designed for easy handling, shallow draft, high speed cruising, with excellent upwind characteristics due to the efficient deep draft centerboard. The medium to heavy displacement allowed the designer to incorporate an elegant and spacious interior without great compromise in sailing performance. The ends have been kept light.

The extremely difficult docking facilities for the owner required good maneuverability under power. Therefore, the designer chose a 100 horsepower engine with a three bladed feathering propeller located for the propeller's top efficiency.

Her sail plan is kept simple with a double-spreader rig that will allow sheeting the sail at a correct lead. The inner head-stay with running back-stays can be set up easily for heavy weather or offshore sailing. The Windward 52 is a perfect sample of what can be done for a moderate price with a semi-custom design.

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