Kingfisher/Skandia: 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 offshore navigator Will Oxley nominated the Kingfisher/Skandia. Here’s the report:

Asking WIll Oxley to pick the coolest yacht he’s ever sailed is a tough choice, as his list includes Comanche, Sodebo Ultim, and the foil-assisted superyacht Raven.

“It was quite a difficult decision,” he recalls, “but I thought back to all the sailing I’ve done, and some of the most fun I ever had was in 2005 with Brian Thompson in the Transat Jacques Vabre on board Skandia – which was, of course, more famous as Kingfisher.”

Skandia was an Open 60 (now IMOCA) design by Owen Clarke built for Ellen MacArthur’s 2000 Vendée Globe campaign, in which she finished 2nd. The boat was later campaigned as Skandia by Nick Moloney, as well as Thompson and Oxley.

The 2005 TJV was sailed at a record-breaking pace. “I remember double-handing with Brian and doing nearly 100 miles in four hours,” says Oxley.

“This thing is tiller-steered and you’re strapped in. You’re getting water pouring down the deck, screaming along, just the two of you. I remember it being the most amazing sailing I’d ever done in my life at that point.”

Kingfisher/Skandia stats rating:
Top speed: 30+ knots
LOA: 18.28m/60ft
Launched: 2000
Berths: 1-2
Price: (build cost) £50,000
Adrenalin factor: 80%

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