THE SAILOR’S CHOICE ... ADMIRAL BOAT INSURANCE
Verdict
The Rustler 44DS is most definitely
a yacht for the discerning owner
with a love of sound, traditional
craftsmanship and conservative
design. Although the R44 has
‘evolved’ from her smaller sister,
she has a personality of her own
and offers the long-term liveaboard
a level of comfort found only in the
most luxurious yachts.
Her performance under sail is
almost legendary and I’m sure a
visit to Rustler’s Falmouth premises
would soon convince you that
only the highest standards of build
quality are recognised at this small,
but thriving custom yacht builder.
For
• Build quality excellent
• Steadfast sailing performance
• Ability to customise
1
Against
• High coamings give her a top-
3
heavy look in the cockpit area
Performance
in the open sea and displays
a wonderful ability to shrug
off the waves without veering
off the apparent wind, making from her course. Undoubtedly
1 Performance a comfortable 6kn and even she will make good passage
Understandably, the sailing kept fairly dry in the cockpit. times and, more importantly,
characteristics of the R44 are The more the weather threw give the crew a comfortable
not unlike those of the R42, at us the more she dug in and and safe ride along the way.
which I have sailed twice got on with it. She tracked
– first in winds that rarely as if on rails and her steering 4 Downwind
dropped below 30kn, the gave no clues to the ordeal we By the time we turned for
second in a gentle F2. were putting her through. In home the wind had dropped
From the first experience I one gust of 45kn her coachroof isn’t enough of a gap between and, as we had no spinnaker,
can say categorically that she portlights even took a ducking, the two forestays to let the we crept gently back towards
is well mannered, extremely but still she refused to abandon large genoa through. This may Falmouth making the tea. The
powerful, reasonably quick her course. With the yankee sound tedious, but in reality first time I helmed the R42
for a bluewater cruiser and unfurled we surfed back into the winds will be light to on this course the wind was a
comfortable to live on when the River Fal at 10kn+ on a medium and many will plump steady 35kn with 45kn gusts,
the going gets rough. broad reach, but never once for electric winches anyway but I distinctly remember her
With a double reefed main did she appear over pressed. – or at least an electric furler. being as responsive and easy
and full staysail in heavy seas The second sail confirmed Under jib she tacked smartly to steer as she was here, in a
and winds gusting to 40kn+ she needs a large spinnaker to through 78º and slipped along mere 10kn of wind.
we sailed her between 40-45° keep up the pace in light airs. at 6kn in the 12kn breeze. We
kept full main all day in the
2 Closehauled light airs and, despite having 4
2
The R44 is well balanced with an in-mast furling main, its
light but positive steering and vertical battens allowed more
has a powerful feel to her. roach than most.
Closehauled, she falls into a
groove with ease and tracks 3 Reaching
straight with little help from Unfurling the genoa gave us
the helm. Tim’s 95 per cent noticeably more power, right
self-tacking jib makes tacking up to 50º off the apparent wind
a cinch and removes the need before it became too much for
for excessive winch grinding her. Our speeds rose to 7kn
when beating up a narrow on a close reach, increasing
channel or river. Tacking the to 7.5kn beam on to the
genoa, however, requires freshening breeze.
furling it first, because there She is a steady performer
July 09 Sailing Today 71
ST147 New
RUSTLER_RTG.indd 85 14/5/09 15:53:18
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