We ask top sailors and marine industry gurus to choose the coolest and most innovative yachts of our times. This month Leo Goolden nominates the Nordic Folkboat\u201cThe humble Nordic Folkboat is, in my opinion, the \u2018world\u2019s coolest yacht\u2019, because it is so simple, so beautiful, and so versatile,\u201d says Goolden.
\n\u201cIt can be taken for a leisurely picnic sail, quickly transform into a finely-tuned class racer, or even set up for ocean voyaging \u2013 and will excel at all three, with minimal expense. What could possibly be cooler than that? As long as you don\u2019t mind low headroom and minimal amenities, a Nordic Folkboat will do whatever you ask it to.\u201d
\nDesigned as a clinker sloop in 1942, more than 4,000 Folkboats have since been built and they can be bought cheaply in various states of repair.
\n\u201cMy own experience was very formative,\u201d says Goolden. \u201cLorema (1947) was a beautiful boat, but had rot in the planks and lost a chainplate (and very shortly after, the mast) in the first blow.
\nPhoto: Tim Wright
\n\u201cI rebuilt her and, after a trip down the European coast, felt confident enough in Lorema to do a single-handed transatlantic voyage. I\u2019ve now moved on to bigger boats, but still miss the simplicity of the Nordic Folkboat, and one day I might just go back.\u201d
\nTake a look at the full list of Coolest Yachts
\nNordic Folkboat stats rating
\nTop speed: 6 knots
\nLOA: 7.68m\/25ft 3in
\nLaunched: 1942
\nBerths: 2-4
\nPrice: \u00a35,000-\u00a325,000
\nAdrenalin factor: 50%
\nLeo Goolden
\nLeo Goolden is a boatbuilder specialising in wooden boats, and a sailor and writer from Bristol in the UK. He bought and restored the 1910 gaff cutter Tally Ho over seven years in the US, documented on a popular YouTube channel. Prior to that he sailed his Folkboat to Antigua solo, and worked on big classics, including the 210ft schooner Adix.<\/p>\n
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We ask top sailors and marine industry gurus to choose the coolest and most innovative yachts of our times. This month Leo Goolden nominates the Nordic Folkboat\u201cThe humble Nordic Folkboat is, in my opinion, the \u2018world\u2019s coolest yacht\u2019, because it … <\/p>\n