offer plenty of buzz factor, and our greatest pleasure
comes in finding beautiful, out-of-the-way anchorages
where there are few, if any, other people. Our approach
to the design and engineering of Wind Horse reflects this
style of cruising.
SAFETY EQUALS COMFORT
The interior, with its “great room” layout, where
bridge, galley, laundry room, and saloon reside together,
works exceptionally well. Regardless of what either
of us is doing, we have 360-degree views and good
communication between us. This is beneficial whether
we’re on watch, maneuvering the boat in traffic, or
simply enjoying the scenery. The open layout also has
enabled us to see an amazing abundance of wildlife,
much of which we would have missed if the boat’s
interior had a more segmented arrangement. In addition,
the great room is located on the pitch and roll center, so
what motion gets past our stabilization system is barely
felt by the crew.
One of the issues we debated was the interior design
philosophy. With a stabilized motor vessel, did we really
need fiddle rails and handrails? We also wondered if the
interior layout should reflect seagoing requirements first,
as had been the norm with our sailing designs. Ninety-nine percent of the time, these concerns are unimportant,
but we like knowing that our yacht is designed for that
unexpected unpleasant weather that catches us on rare
occasions. Being set up for a worst-case scenario, we
have a level of confidence in the boat that we otherwise
would not. The interior details that help in adverse
weather also contribute to our everyday comfort.
The galley counters have 3-inch fiddle rails. The
saloon table has handrails around its perimeter, and we
can move throughout the interior always with at least
one hand on an overhead handhold. When we are at
