Renown marine photographer Billy Black was commissioned by Hylas Yachts to create a pictorial portrait of the new German Frers-designed Hylas 60 that was launched to the U.S. market at the Miami International Boat Show in February. Cruising Compass and Blue Water Sailing are pleased to be the first publishers to present these all new photos to the sailing public.
The 60-foot sloop is a spectacular modern take on the enduring Hylas theme of creating true blue water boats that are elegant, comfortable and swift under sail.
For more information on the new Hylas 60, log on to Hylas Yachts’ website here.
With a tall fractional rig, the 60 was conceived to be a couple’s boat that can be handled by a lone watch stander. Note the 110% jib and the in-mast furling mainsail. All deploying, reefing and furling of working sails can be managed from the cockpit.
The saloon is large enough for parties but laid out for passage making, too, with an L-shaped dinette and a bench settee across from it. Both of these will make good sea berths. The chart table is down one step and aft to port. This is command central for the skipper and navigator and laid out for all the electronics a passage making boat requires.Both cockpit designs have a large drop-leaf table on the centerline and the spaces have been delineated between the active sailing areas aft by the helms and the lounging areas forward.The 60’s lines are sleek and modern, she has a long waterline for a high average speed potential and a built-in bow sprit that doubles as a tack for downwind sails and the bow roller for the anchor.The broad stern has a wide fold-down transom and access to dinghy storage underneath the cockpit. The huge hull windows provide a lot of natural light inside the saloon and sleeping cabins.The 60’s cockpit is huge and comes in two versions. For a 60 with a large after stateroom, you’ll find a low raised bridge deck forward of the twin wheels. For a 60 with twin after stateroom, there is no bridge deck so the cockpit flows on one level from the stern to the companionway. In both designs, all sailing lines and sheets run aft to primary electric winches at each helm.The long and large galley is in the passageway that leads aft to the master cabin or the starboard stateroom. It has multiple fridges, large sinks, a large stove and oven and plenty of storage areas for cutlery, dinnerware, glasses and all the supplies live-aboard cruisers need.The forward cabin will be the master cabin in the four-cabin layout or the main guest cabin in the aft master cabin layout. It is spacious and has a walk-around double berth, plenty of hanging space and storage for clothes and extra gear. There is an upper-and-lower kids or crew cabin just aft on the port side. This is also a great sea-going cabin as it is nearly over the boat’s center of gravity.In the three-cabin version, the large after cabin and en-suite head fill the entire aft end of the hull. The berth is huge and there are benches on both sides. The head is huge with its own shower stall. With the large hull windows, this will be a wonderful cabin for living aboard for extended periods.
