Founded in 2019, the Swedish yacht builder Shogun Yachts, has always had a singular mission: they build only narrow, all carbon performance cruisers for two people to explore the world in comfort and at much higher than average sailing speeds.
The design of the Shogun 43 looks somewhat radical in the modern world of extra-beamy cruisers with high topsides. Instead, the 43 is long and narrow and has quite low topsides. It also has a pronounced hard chines the full length of the hull that are large enough to actually provide real form stability and thus will reduce heeling upwind and will add a lot of power when reaching and running in fun sailing conditions. At 150 degrees apparent with a full main and a Code 0 flying the 43 will be a rocket ship.
Distinctive features include the reverse, wave-piercing bow, the broad open transom and the low-slung cabin top. Also, the mast is fairly far aft which reduces the relative size of the mainsail while providing a larger than usual fore triangle for a self-tacking jib.
This is supposed to be a couple’s cruiser that is easy to sail so grinding in the sheets of large genoas is not part of the design solution. A large self-tacking jib is the right answer.
Shogun is committed to keeping their boats light and stiff, so the hull and deck are all carbon fiber as is the mast. The difference between carbon and fiberglass construction can turn in to hundreds of pounds and thus knots of boat speed.
The 43 has two basic versions, the ultra-performance model with a deep T-bulb keel and a taller rig that handles a square top main or the cruising version with a shallower keel and pin-head mainsail.
The accommodations are remarkably spacious considering the basic design decisions that created this performance hull and rig. Three double sleeping cabins, one forward and two aft, provide a fairly standard layout for up to six crew. The saloon has a centerline table with bench settees. The galley is aft to port and the nav station across from it.
The finish work is what you would expect from a Scandinavian builder, simple, elegant and constructed with impeccable craftsmanship.
If you are looking for a cruising boat that is not out of the usual cookie cutter and one that will sail circles around the boat that are, the new Shogun 43 might just be the boat for you.
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