Mojito 6.50 : The scow in cruise mode
At first glance, the Mojito 6.50 stands out from other cruising yachts in its category. The first thing you notice is the scow bow, the first marker of the boat's architectural choices. The principle is simple: to bring to cruising the shapes of the hull and in particular the voluminous bows "with big nose" crowned of success these last years in race. The boat can accommodate 4 people in design category C.
For this, the shipyard from Finistère has taken over the hull of its Maxi 6.50, from the successful naval architect David Raison. This Mini 6.50 has already been delivered to more than 30 units in 3 years. It has adapted a new deck plan, integrating the signature panoramic roof of the Mojito range and the fittings that we will mention in the second part of this test.
To enjoy the pleasures of beaching, a keel that can be raised with a hydraulic jack replaces the fixed keel. The lifting is done manually with a rod, reducing the draught from 1.85 m to 0.80 m. New rudders, shorter, not yet in place on the tested boat, will allow it to land on the sand without worry.
An uncastable sailboat
Keeping the safety elements specific to offshore racing, the Mojito 6.50 has several waterproof elements. In addition to the crash box, it is said to be waterproof, with watertight volumes under the front bench, as well as in the rear tips of each side.
A light boat in sandwich construction
Freed from the constraints of the Mini 6.50 rule, the shipyard has reviewed the sampling of the Mojito 6.50. The whole boat is made of a sandwich with a PET foam core, a recyclable plastic material. The lightening of the composite allows to compensate in part for the additional weight related to the cruising use. Their influence is limited, as all the fittings and the only bulkhead on board are also made of PET sandwich, although a wood veneer ensures the aesthetic illusion. The announced light displacement of the Mojito 6.50 is 1.2 T against 950 kg for its cousin the Maxi 6.50.
Flax fiber replaces glass on the Virgin Mojito
The first two boats, including the model we tried, were built in fiberglass, but the sailboat will be offered as a standard version in flax fiber construction. The sampling calculation was being finalized at the time of our test. Decks and hulls are produced by infusion, with a polyester resin. The method has already been tested by IDBmarine on a larger model, the Mojito 8.88, renamed Virgin Mojito.
A modern and simplified rig
The choice of simplicity also guides the definition of the rigging. The geometry of the aluminum mast with 2 heights of pushrods and its dimensioning allow to do without backstays and runners. A carbon bowsprit, semi-recessed in the deck, slides to carry an asymmetrical spinnaker, a must for modern sailboats. A spreader replaces the traditional genoa carriage and allows for 3-dimensional adjustment of the headsail's setting point. With an almost rectangular mainsail of 21 m², the boat has a sail area of 38 m² upwind and 85 m² downwind.
It's time to explore the interior and amenities of the Mojito in part 2 of this essay.
