New designs & the Sundowner day sailer
Sundowner; a performance day sailer designed by Paul Spooner is a superb example of "performance art" which embodies strict design criteria to create a yacht of character and style quite unlike any other.
The characteristics of the hull and rig make sailing simply a one sheet one tiller operation; easily manageable by one person. Her lifting keel reduces her draft to just over 1 metre and is hydraulically operated from the helm position with the main sheet. At 10 metres in length and 3.7 tons displacement she is easily handled in a marina with the option of diesel or electric drive.
She may be slightly heavier than her racing day boat contemporaries but is all the more comfortable for that, enabling a more relaxed sailing experience for her owner and any less experienced guests.
The entire yacht, including the rig has been carefully considered as a whole with respect to aesthetics and styling and she is to be constructed of the finest materials and workmanship using the best of traditional and modern techniques to the very highest standards.
The Sundowner complements Fairlie's fleet of new design cruising yachts, also designed by Paul Spooner, which range in size from 18 to 28m. These yachts mix traditional, classic yacht sea-keeping and styling with modern sail handling, performance and engineering to meet all the requirements of today's blue water cruising yachtsman.
