The birth of a myth
50 years ago, Amel shipyard launched its first sailboats - the Copain, the Pampero, the Super Mistral Sport, the Meltem or the Euros 39. Then comes the famous Maramu, a world-class round the world sailing yacht, acclaimed for its robustness and finish. It was a large serial travel boat for the time.
In 1976, Henri Amel personally delivered a Meltem in Tahiti. During this navigation, Henri Amel designed the Maramu, collaborating remotely with Jacques Carteau. Amel
The Amel shipyard is evolving with the times. Today in 2019, we discover the Amel 60 a refined boat, but never ostentatious, a functional sailboat, but not rustic. In any case, it provokes a real desire to go around the world.
The Amel range, which one might think is conservative, has evolved over the decades to embrace technological advances in the yachting industry. Far from the fashion effects, the shipyard offers a tailor-made cruising sailboat that meets contemporary needs, but is very reliable.
The new Amel 60 downwind during its first voyage in Brittany © Amel
A contemporary sailboat
With the Amel 60, Berret-Racoupeau Yacht Design designed a unit with a relatively powerful hull to provide the necessary volume and load capacity in accordance with such a program. Under the hull, the double rudders suggest good control of the boat.
Amel 60 at anchor in Les Glénan © Amel
The Amel 60 is a Bermudan sloop. The choice of the carbon mast - equipped with push spreaders - is a top-of-the-range weapons logic. As a result, the light weight of the spar necessarily improves comfort on board. We notice a pair of flying runners to use with the staysail. We are told that they are recommended to sail in heavy seas for several days. It's the "belt and straps" spirit.
A 60' to sail with a reduced crew
The whole boat is organized around traffic on board, to facilitate life at sea and at anchor. But space and friendliness are not to be outdone.
Indeed, the cockpit seats around the table are extended by large rear-facing sunbathing areas.
Of course, the boat is very large, yet it is designed for a small crew, such as a family for example. This is how, on such a unit, technology comes to the service of the pleasure of sailing.
The port cockpit is perfectly sheltered by the very enveloping hard-top. Only the mainsail and downhaul sheets return within reach of the steering station. The wheel steering, precisely, is all about beauté?! It blends brown wood species and carbon fibre with elegant elegance.
Thanks to the electric controls, from this cockpit you can operate the windlass, thrusters, engine, reduce the mainsail or headsails.
Well protected in the cockpit, we have the necessary visibility to manoeuvre the sails. No need to leave the cockpit to get the web of time!
