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Cherubini 48
Overview
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The Cherubini 48 is stunning. Long and low, with a clipper bow, bowsprit, and schooner rig, she integrates classic themes in American sailboats -- the schooner America, the clipper ships, the Grand Banks fishing schooners, and racing schooners of the 1930s. Below decks, she reflects the classic elegance of the finest yachts.
While traditional in appearance, she is fast and fully contemporary in her construction and outfitting. She is a modern classic. |
Amazing Grace |
The Cherubini 48 was designed by John Cherubini and is similar to her smaller sister, the Cherubini 44. She has a long waterline, narrow hull, large divided rig, and shallow Sheel keel (which opens up vast areas of Chesapeake Bay and the Bahamas).
A slick hull and schooner rig result in a fast boat, particularly when reaching. Cherubini 48 Adventurer has won her class repeatedly (1995, 1999, 2000, 2006), twice with all-over line honors, in the Great Chesapeake Bay Schooner Race. Sistership Antonina was second in Class A in the same race, 2007, averaging 9.5 knots for the 127 mile race. Muñequita was just two seconds behind (corrected time) in the same race. Muñequita had previously won the Gloucester Schooner Festival in 2007. Harmony won the Hong Kong to Manila race (1996, Cruising Division) in heavy airs, with bursts of speed over 13 knots. Needless to say, these racing victories demonstrate the skippers' skills and luck, but a fast boat sure helps. |
Adventurer
photo courtesy of spinsheet.com |
How is it possible that Harmony sailed 50 percent higher than her mathematical hull speed and Antonina averaged almost 7 percent above her mathematical hull speed for a 13 hour race? The Cherubini 48 is so narrow and her entry into the water is so fine that she creates a small bow wave and she can cut through that bow wave, enabling sustained speeds well above the normal "hull speed." We are not aware of any other cruising mono hull boat with this ability to sail beyond hull speed for sustained periods of time. (Check these descriptions by owners.)
The distinctive feature of a schooner rig is its flexibility. In light airs, schooners can carry light sails high between their masts, giving an extra boost. In storms, large sails can be furled and schooners can easily easily sail (or heave to) on main staysail, sometimes along with the fore staysail.
Perhaps least obvious but most important, the Cherubini hull form (narrow, slack bilges, long keel) means a more comfortable boat at sea. Carl Adler's Sail Calculator website computes that the Cherubini 48 has a "Motion Comfort" index of 41. A well known contemporary boat of similar size has an index of 26. These numbers mean that the Cherubini 48 has slower rolling and pitching motions; the hull slices the water instead of pounding it. Moreover, the cabin sole is well under the water line and bunks are near the water line, where boat motion is the least. Sailors who have ventured to sea in a modern, wide, shallow hulled boat will sense the difference immediately. Voyagers on the Cherubini 48 will arrive at their destination not only quickly but comfortably. The Cherubini 48 design is optimized to function as a real sail boat at sea, not as a house at the marina.
Conservative, time-proven design and construction methods as well as personal attention to every detail ensure that every Cherubini 48 meets a discriminating owner's standards. Two deck arrangements and interior plans are available, each accommodating two couples in wonderful comfort. (Another web page illustrates her interior arrangements.) |
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Antonina
shows off her fisherman staysail
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The yachts are typically equipped with electric winches and sail handling equipment, complete electronic systems, air conditioning, and a bow thruster. Her profile may be traditional, but her equipment is state-of-the-art. These boats are built to order at the hightest standards of strength and finish, with the finest materials, custom crafted to meet the needs and dreams of the individual owner.
The Cherubini 48 staysail schooner is not for everyone, and production is limited. But for those serious yachtsmen who demand the very finest quality in design, construction, finsish, and performance, both at sea in in port, this breathtaking beauty is the only yacht to have.
White Hawk
With her cut-away keel forward, balanced hull, and large rudder, the Cherubini 48 tracks well and has a remarkably light, sensitive helm. It is hard to believe she is a large, heavy boat.
Harmony
Winner, Cruising Division
China Sea Race, 1996 |
