Under the Skin
handed racing. ‘The winches have been moved closer to the wheels so that all sheets can be managed by the helmsman,’ Rajapakse says. Composite twin wheels are another notable upgrade to the standard spec, along with larger steering pedestals, which incorporate sturdy grab rails, and teak-topped bench seats. All laid teak on Elan yachts is “framed” with additional strips of teak set along the edges of the vulnerable end grain to protect it. The E4’s German mainsheet system has been changed to a T-system (which the other models already had) because it’s safer to use, easier to maintain and requires less rope. The E-Line yachts’ cockpits have also been refined for cruising, Rajapakse says. ‘They can now be equipped with additional storage boxes and a swimming platform can be added.’ Crew safety has also been slightly enhanced by ducting lines and sheets out of the way to reduce potential trip hazards and by enabling the crew to retract the bowsprit from the cockpit.
Ocean Racing Pedigree Elan’s existing E-Line hulls are well suited to their new dual role: a lot quicker and more agile than most cruising yachts, but also easier to sail short-handed and more comfortable to live aboard than your average IRC racer. Some of these boats’ stand-out features – powerful, hard-chined aft sections, low-slung bulbed keels and twin rudders – are inspired by developments in Grand Prix ocean racing as their designer, Rob Humphreys, explains. ‘To make a link between
wholesome racer-cruisers and full-on trans-oceanic greyhounds may seem tenuous,’ he says, ‘and any direct translation of features from Volvo, Vendée or Class 40 type formats to the wider commercial sphere is never going to deliver the same proportional performance gains. However, it doesn’t mean to say that such features are carried over merely as marketing decoration or
The E-Line yachts’ interiors have been completely redesigned and made much more comfortable, with high quality
natural oak joinery
throughout. Beamy hulls allow for a very wide, sociable saloon and much larger than average galley and chart table. The electrical and plumbing systems have also been upgraded. But despite adding all this extra cruising kit in the standard spec, Elan has actually managed to reduce the overall weight of the boats’ interiors
style statements, especially when there is a direct cause and effect in the development of a model range.’ This cause and effect goes back about 10 years, Humphreys says: ‘Sailors were increasingly seeking exciting sailing without sacrificing the dual role of comfortable cruising and part of this was the trend towards more powerful sterns with coincidentally more accommodating cockpits and better access to the water while at anchor.
‘With Elan, as we developed this aspect we moved early into twin rudders, which liberated afterbody power and space, and, in turn, we worked on increased form stability with more powerful aft sections, sectional shapes which dealt with operational heel angles but conveniently truncated beyond those angles by an integrated chine. ‘Whilst a chine might deliver a direct performance return on a Volvo or Open-style boat as it does in a powerboat, shedding wetted surface drag, on a moderate displacement yacht its contribution is more towards form stability.’
Bulbed keels lower the boats’ centre of gravity as much as possible, which allows their displacement to be reduced for a given level of build weight, interior fit-out and righting moment. Deep draught is crucial in this regard, Humphreys explains: the gain is magnified in proportion to the VCG (Vertical Centre of Gravity) gain. ‘What we have developed over the years for Elan is a cohesive range which displays many features honed in the unforgiving world of trans- oceanic racing, but with performance expectation proportional to a plausible impact,’ Humpreys says, citing the Elan 350, which evolved into the E4. ‘It was one of the first production boats that would actually plane rather than surf. Given the right ownership and dedication, such as by Tor Hove in Norway in what is a large and competitive short-handed fleet, a frugally appointed Elan 350 is devastatingly fast in the light and heavy, against any competition.’
Elan has a long history of innovation in composite manufacturing. It was a pioneer of glassfibre boatbuilding in the late 1940s and one of the first to use vacuum infusion in yacht hulls, some 20 years ago. Today, it uses a process called 3D VAIL (vacuum- assisted infusion lamination). ‘3D VAIL incorporates the whole structure of the yacht with the hull,’ Rajapakse says. ‘There is no secondary lamination, which makes the hull extremely stiff and limits the loss of force due to flexing. The hull’s closed cell structure makes it even more rigid – it's a common anecdote among Elan owners that when other yachts get damaged in accidents or crack under harsh conditions, Elan yachts are the ones still standing.’ ‘Also, 3D VAIL ensures that the whole lamination is done at once, which means there is much less margin for error. This makes our yachts much more durable.’ Owners can add even more strength to their yachts by upgrading the resin used in the hull from polyester to vinylester.
All Change Down Below While most of the exterior upgrades to the E-Line range are subtle refinements and improvements, the boats’ interiors have been completely redesigned with comfortable cruising in mind and the fit-out has been comprehensively upgraded. The standard spec now feels a lot more luxurious throughout, with plush upholstery and natural oak veneered joinery with solid wood trim. The hatches overhead are fitted with integral shades and blinds. Thanks to these yachts’ wide beam, the main living space easily accommodates a settee with a full- sized, forward-facing chart table hidden inside – it’s deployed when needed by flipping the settee – as well as a large, fully equipped L-shaped galley with ample worktop space and stowage. The saloon is an elegant and sociable space where a full crew can lounge comfortably around the dining table with plenty of elbow room and a good view out. The boats’ electrical systems have been upgraded, with full Bluetooth capabilities, plenty of USB ports and the DAME Award-winning SIMarine control panel – an impressive piece of kit that combines sophisticated digital controls with analogue overrides – now fitted as standard. Doesn’t all this cruising kit add weight and affect the boats’ performance? Not so, says Rajapakse. ‘Even though it was redesigned to be more cruising- friendly, we have actually reduced the weight of the interior.’
www.elan-yachts.com
q SEAHORSE 67
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