Pictured above is the Shipman 63 on her maiden sail. The Shipman line of boats is built by Seaway of Bled, Slovenia, which specializes in fast, modern cruising boats. Already the 63 has been compared favorably in speed to an Open 60, yet she is a luxury cruiser. The company�s philosophy is to build light, high-tech, fast cruising boats because lighter boats are easier to handle.
The boats come with quality components such as Hall carbon spars and UK-Halsey bluewater sails. Both the 63 and their 50-footer are aimed at sailors in their 50s and 60s who are accomplished sailors, but are losing some of their youthful vigor.
Shipman makes luxury yachts less expensively because of eastern Europe�s inexpensive labor and because the company lowered the complexity and cost of construction by using 3D computer design and robotic milling equipment to cut precise hull and deck panels that can be fitted together with an advanced epoxy by less skilled workers.
The Shipman 63 was officially launched in Portoroz, Slovenia, on July 19th. One of the finalists for the European Yacht of the Year 2005, Frenchman Michel Desjoyeaux (the legendary ocean crossing solo racer) was given the honor of being the first to take the Shipman 63 out on Slovenian waters, demonstrating the single handed capability of the yacht.
For more information and more photos go to: www.shipman.dk
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