Scandinavian Cruisers

Scandinavian Cruisers and SYDI continue to develop new designs that bring back the style and performance of yesteryear with up-to-date technology.

Starting with the SC 40, Scandinavian Cruisers (SC) in Beijing, China, wanted to bring elegance back to yacht design and sailing. To do that, one has to look back in history when men were men, women were women, and sailboats had short waterlines and long overhangs. Think of the 30 Square Meter boats of 100+ years ago.

SYDI drew the SC 40 first, but before actually building it, Scandinavian Cruisers decided to bring out a smaller version, the SC 20, in order to test the market reaction with a less pricey boat. This was an in-house development shrinking down and modifying the larger sister. SYDI did not have any direct participation in the SC 20, but it is nevertheless proving to be a pretty nice sailer.

Following right on the transom of the SC 20, on suggestions from the nascent SC dealer network, Scandinavian Cruisers also decided to develop a rowing/sailing whitehall or dory, in fiberglass but with clinker styling, as an even more fundamental family watercraft. And so was born the Scandinavian Dory 18, a Roger Long design that was already available for do-it-yourself construction from plans. SYDI did participate directly in this design because SC wanted to expand the original rowing-only configuration to a sailing boat as well. The retractable rudder and daggerboard had to be hi-tech carbon fiber construction, and the rig had to be simple, efficient, and, of course, free-standing.

Click on the images below to get to the full stories of each boat. Since the SC 20 and SD 18 were developed and introduced at essentially the same time, their stories are together on the same page, leading with the SC 20, and scroll down to see the SD 18. The SC 20 has already been seen at the early 2010 European boat shows, and both the SC 20 and SD 18 will make their US debut this year at Newport and Annapolis.

Links: (L-M-R): SC 40; SC 20; SD 18.

You may also visit Scandinavian Cruisers at www.scandinaviancruisers.com.