"The New" WINDWALKER

LOA—59’9"
LWL—— 45’9"
BEAM— 16’0"
DRAFT—6’5"/13'
DISP—— 55,000 lbs.
BALLAST - 22,000 lbs.
SAIL AREA- 1256 sq. ft

     We built  a new 60' Hood designed sailboat for Craig and Alice Cullen that is going to replace their present Seguin 44, WINDWALKER. The original parameters were to build a larger boat with the same style, but big enough for a few more comforts when living on board in the Caribbean. Since the Cullens wanted a sensible cruising boat that can sail anywhere, especially in their home waters of the Chesapeake, they needed a reasonable draft of 6’5" with a centerboard that increases the draft to 13'.
     The excitement of this boat is its relationship to earlier times in the middle eighties when the high-end sensible cruiser was in much demand. Perhaps the finest sailboats were built in the middle eighties by a variety of builders and it is a pleasure to put aesthetics and offshore characteristics as a priority again. We have designed several interiors for the Cullens to explore the center cockpit vs the aft cockpit layout. Although the centercockpit adds a great master aft cabin Alice and Craig opted for the aft cockpit which gives them a more open layout below and a much better sailing boat.
The layout we are building has a forward master cabin with a queen size berth on centerline for easy access from both port and starboard. There are two guest cabins one being in the aft port quarter and the other on the starboard side forward of the main salon. The main salon has a large area on the port side that acts as an office, nav station, and comfortable seating area. On the starboard side there is a U-shaped sitting area around the table with a pilot berth outboard.
     Another reason to use the aft cockpit design is the superior galley we can achieve. Alice enjoys cooking and a large galley offers plenty of counter space , open and airy with plenty of light. Being part of the main salon area adds a sense of room without isolating the cook from the conversation.
     The Cullens have been careful to allow compromise for each other. Craig needs a good offshore boat with excellent sea berths while sailing to and from the Caribbean and Alice wants a home away from home. (As Alice will tell you, her offshore passages take only a couple of hours at 30,000 feet)

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