We ask top sailors and marine industry gurus to choose the coolest yachts of our times. This month Will Oxley nominates the Kingfisher\/SkandiaAsking WIll Oxley to pick the coolest yacht he\u2019s ever sailed is a tough choice, as his list incudes Comanche, Sodebo Ultim, and the foil-assisted superyacht Raven. \u201cIt was quite a difficult decision,\u201d he recalls, \u201cbut I thought back to all the sailing I\u2019ve done, and some of the most fun I ever had was in 2005 with Brian Thompson in the Transat Jacques Vabre on board Skandia \u2013 which was, of course, more famous as Kingfisher.\u201d
\nSkandia was an Open 60 (now IMOCA) design by Owen Clarke built for Ellen MacArthur\u2019s 2000 Vend\u00e9e Globe campaign, in which she finished 2nd. The boat was later campaigned as Skandia by Nick Moloney, as well as Thompson and Oxley.
\nThe 2005 TJV was sailed at a record-breaking pace. \u201cI remember double-handing with Brian and doing nearly 100 miles in four hours,\u201d says Oxley.
\n\u201cThis thing is tiller-steered and you\u2019re strapped in. You\u2019re getting water pouring down the deck, screaming along, just the two of you. I remember it being the most amazing sailing I\u2019d ever done in my life at that point.\u201d
\nMake sure you check out our full list of\u00a0Coolest Yachts.
\nPhoto: Jon Nash\/OC Sailing Team\/DPPI Media\/Alamy
\nKingfisher\/Skandia stats rating
\nTop speed: 30+ knots
\nLOA: 18.28m\/60ft
\nLaunched: 2000
\nBerths: 1-2
\nPrice: (build cost) \u00a350,000
\nAdrenalin factor: 80%
\nWill Oxley
\nWill Oxley is one of the world\u2019s best offshore navigators, and has sailed some of the most exciting ocean race yachts ever built. Since skippering an entry in the 2000 BT Global Challenge, he has gone on to work on four Volvo Ocean Race campaigns, as well as Maxis, superyachts, and winning many of the bluewater classic races.<\/p>\n
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The post World\u2019s Coolest Yachts: Kingfisher\/Skandia appeared first on Yachting World.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
We ask top sailors and marine industry gurus to choose the coolest yachts of our times. This month Will Oxley nominates the Kingfisher\/SkandiaAsking WIll Oxley to pick the coolest yacht he\u2019s ever sailed is a tough choice, as his list … <\/p>\n