ANTRIM 27 Designer's Comments (Design #62)

The Antrim 27 is a natural successor to the Ultimate 20, USI's popular entry into the sport boat market. Jeff Canepa's vision for the U20 blends the hot rod performance of a sport boat with the user-friendly stability and simplicity of a family weekend cruiser. Similarly, the Antrim 27 is lively and quick; and you'll have to buy one, cause there ain't no St. Nick.

The hull form, in combination with a deep bulb keel gives the boat a solid "big boat" feel and provides plenty of sail carrying power.  The keel retracts to 3'-6" draft, allowing access to shallow launch areas. Trailer height is low enough for convenience; but high enough to avoid road dirt. The deep, high aspect rudder ensures tight cornering ability, control when conditions get wild, and a light, sure touch on the helm.  Why have we avoided the fine bow and plumb stems that are in current vogue? Get out in the high winds and big waves.  You will marvel at the effortless helm.  When they other guys are nose diving and spinning out, you will be planing at double digit speeds.

A small, low overlap jib makes tacking easy.  Standard roller furling gets it stowed in a hurry.  A 345 square foot high roach main drives the boat upwind.  The prebent mast harmonizes with the mainsail for automated depowering in heavy air.  This flexible topmast system has proven its effectiveness on 18 foot skiffs and other high performance dinghies.

Offwind kick comes from a big masthead asymmetric spinnaker.  You say you want to sail deep?  This bow pole swings through a 60 degree arc. A unique line driver control swings the pole quickly and easily through the jibe.  Your "foredeck" person stands in the companionway.  Like the U20's, the retracting carbon bowsprit is deck mounted for safety and a clean interior.

Loose companionway sliders and lost hatch boards are fine for sailing in protected waters; but have no place at sea.  Our hatch board is a companionway step when stowed - always at hand, and fixed on a lanyard as prescribed by ORC rules. Outboards can be an annoyance, difficult to mount and smelly.  The open transom makes mounting easy on the Antrim 27, no more hanging off the stern of the boat with your feet hooked under the lifelines.  The motor stows in it's own private stateroom under the cockpit sole.  You can shut the door, and let the noisy brat out only when you need to. 

We said this was a family boat; and the women will be happy to see a comfortable sit down head with optional thick privacy curtain.  In case your kids still live at home, there is room for four big adults to sleep comfortably below.  Galley facilities are modest; but the counters can be comfortably worked from bench seating on centerline.  No more slumping under the side deck - there is room to sit bolt upright under the house.

Santa Cruz boat builders enjoy a well deserved reputation for quality construction.  The A27 will be built with the same care and skill that goes into the U20. Carbon fiber reinforcement is used in stress and stiffness critical areas. These include mast and bowsprit, rudder and keel, and a diamond pattern structural grid linking the keel, chainplates, and mast step.

I spent the summers of my youth cruising and gunkholing in the islands and harbors of New England.  My love of high performance sailing has called me to the race course for nearly forty years.  It is fitting that a boat which sports my name should fit these avocations so neatly. Those who love the sport can't help but enjoy this fast and friendly yacht.