{"id":45223,"date":"2019-12-09T16:00:21","date_gmt":"2019-12-09T21:00:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/?p=45223"},"modified":"2023-05-06T17:56:31","modified_gmt":"2023-05-06T21:56:31","slug":"eagle-class-53-most-innovative","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/story\/sailboats\/eagle-class-53-most-innovative\/","title":{"rendered":"Eagle Class 53: Most Innovative"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\"Eagle <\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n
\n Fly, Eagle, Fly<\/span>\n Jon Whittle <\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t <\/figcaption>\n <\/section>\n\t\t\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s not every year that the BOTY panel presents a special prize to the Most Innovative<\/b> yacht they inspect and sail, but it\u2019s not every year that a truly radical\u2014even revolutionary\u2014vessel like the Eagle Class 53<\/b> appears in their sightlines, which made it an easy choice for the designation for 2020. There\u2019s simply never been anything like it, so much so that it was beyond characterization<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis is one of the finest examples of engineering and workmanship I\u2019ve ever seen,\u201d judge Ed Sherman said unequivocally. \u201cIt\u2019s more innovative than anything we\u2019ve ever seen, ever. It\u2019s just amazing how nicely this boat was finished. You know, with its wing sail and foils, you could say it\u2019s a totally bizarre boat in every aspect of its design, but it\u2019s done beautifully.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen we started talking to the builder, Tommy Gonzalez,\u201d Sherman continued, \u201che explained how it was really a team build, and they had to bring in some high-end experts from different areas of expertise and assemble them into a team to create this. The quality of the glasswork\u2014and I know it\u2019s carbon, but I still call it glasswork\u2014is simply outstanding. The quality of gear and kit that they assembled on it, and the way they executed it, was first-class. Even the paint job was first-class. It was all done perfectly and tastefully. I am just impressed and proud to say this was built by people who live and work in my home state of Rhode Island, who produced this very high level of craftsmanship.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

\n\n\u201cThe \u00adquality of gear and kit on this boat, and its \u00adassembly, was all first-class.\u201d\n\n<\/p>\n<\/cite><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt was a glimpse of the future,\u201d judge Ralph Naranjo added. \u201cIt was truly the epitome of the strength-to-weight ratio. From an engineering point of view, it refined the technology of composites, at least where it stands today. It mimicked what Boeing does with aircraft. It was a boat that was sculpted, not just engineered. And then I looked up and saw that solid wing, and was bedazzled by the fact that it rotates with the wind and was a sail I\u2019d never have to take down. That alone marveled me. All in all, she just works, and I\u2019m glad for those people who have the money and can capitalize on that level of R&D. This boat was truly a pleasure.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

\u201cI agree that the workmanship is incredible,\u201d judge Dan Spurr said. \u201cIt\u2019s interesting that the wing, the way it was described, actually can work as a storm sail. To get maximum performance, you would rely on the soft sail that attaches to the wing. But even without it, as we saw, it sails very quickly. It\u2019s just an amazing machine.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

So, Most Innovative indeed. Any questions?<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

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See All Winners:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

2020 Boats of the Year<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

Other Winners:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n