It appears that there is currently a clear choice for designers between either ‘modern’ or ‘traditional’ hull designs, which produce quite different handling characteristics. This provides a significant challenge for designers to adopt the significant benefits of both hull types, without inheriting any of the poor handling qualities. 

Where many Spirit of Tradition designs would rest with the traditionally-shaped hull and classic styling on deck and mate them with a “standard” high-performance Marconi sail plan, we’ve opted to fully embrace the period piece and supply Beaujolais with an in-character gaff rig and lengthy bowsprit. Not only does this fully commit to the genre used as inspiration, it also offers some powerful advantages.