Maxi 72: World’s coolest yachts

Yachting World has been asking top sailors and marine industry gurus to choose the coolest and most innovative yachts of our times, and Volvo Ocean Race winner Mike Sanderson nominated the Maxi 72. Here’s the report:

These boats don’t have a canting keel or daggerboards but they are incredibly fast, beautiful to sail – right in the sweet spot – and potent under IRC because they are so refined.

I sail on [Hap Fauth’s] Bella Mente and sometimes I get to helm the boat. It’s an incredible privilege to sail one.

You have 20 people on board and the ability to get guys grinding. It’s slick and efficient and highly developed.

The Volvo boats, by comparison, make it frustratingly hard to do a good job. They are hard to showcase and make it look easy because they are so short-staffed.

It’s the opposite in a Maxi 72; you have enough people to do anything you want.

For Yachting World’s list of cool boats, click here.