WAYWARD WIN

Cruisers WAYWARD WIN

If you are looking for a yacht that is up to the challenges of offshore passage making, if you are looking for one that is quick enough to provide a spirited voyage and one that is pleasing to the eye, you should look into this Freedom 45 AC.

Designed by Gary Mull, the Freedom 45 has an underbody configuration that combines the best of what's modern - a wing keel (4'11"), and the best of what is traditional - a skeg-hung rudder. Above the water-line, broad beam, graceful sheer, a full aft section and good length on the waterline makes for for a yacht of great power, stability and speed potential.

In keeping with the more traditional look of this yacht, a sloop rig was chosen and refined to the point where it is every bit as easy to handle as the other rigs that have made Freedom's enviable reputation.

The large main and self-tending jib are set on an unstayed carbon spar. Handling this rig is a joy. No wonder it began with the mandate that a 110lb. person should be able to comfortably handle any sail function. The electric winch helps meet the mandate, as do the mainsheet and jib sheet layout. You will note that the blocks and tackle, winches and all gear are oversized. The use of full-length battens in the main and it's over sized, square topped roach makes it a real power plant. The Jib is a complement to it, providing a slot effect for superior windward performance. The jib is non-overlapping on a Hoyt Boom, so it never needs to be cast free and you may tack or jibe with a turn of the wheel. The set-up of this makes it easy for the helmsman to make all adjustments to accommodate different points of sail and seaways. The engine controls are located at the helm station along with the engine panel, so that at a glance you may check oil pressure, water temp, tachometer and hour meter.