It is not often that we put the words “couple’s performance cruiser” in the same headline as the words “67- foot ultimate.” That’s big boat for a couple. But, therein lies the story of the new Pegasus 67.
The new design, from the creators of the handsome Pegasus 50, have taken the concepts that make the 50 an ideal couple’s blue-water cruiser and expanded on them. They admit that the new design actually has the volume of a modern 60-footer and with a moderate rig, light displacement and a thoroughly modern and mechanized sail handling system the boat is indeed well within the capabilities of an experienced couple.
One look at her lines and you can see that this is not a floating condo. Her topsides are low and the sheer straight as an arrow. Her bow is nicely shaped to deflect spray and to make deploying an anchor easy. Note the sweet shape pf the stern that has a shallow run that will generate a smooth, untroubled wake. This enhances speed and, given the right conditions, can enable the 67 to break onto a modest plane.
The cockpit is wide but it is also quite deep and it is protected by the hard dodger and overhead top that will make the crew secure in ugly weather and on long night watches. One of the benefits of the 67-foot length and the large cockpit is the wide hydraulic stern platform that folds down to reveal a dinghy garage under the cockpit sole.
The design has an 18-foot beam, which is quite narrow and calculates out to a 27-percent beam-to-length ratio. In combination with the long waterline and this narrow water-plane, the 67 will be easily driven, will have very high average speeds and an alacrity to windward. The twin rudders will provide finger-tip steering that the autopilot will appreciate.
The rig is set up with a slab reefed mainsail that sheets to the top of the cockpit arch and can be reefed by one person from the cockpit. The headsails are split into three, with an inner staysail, a genoa and a downwind sail on a roller from the bow. Again, one person can manage deploying and furling all three sails from the cockpit.
As a couple’s liveaboard home, the 67 has a full width master suite forward of the saloon with a centerline double, sofas on both sides that could also be sea berths, and a roomy head and shower forward. The forepeak is reserved for a sail locker and other storage.
Two quarter cabins are tucked under the cockpit and side decks and these will both make good sea berths as they are near the boat’s center of gravity. One supposes that a storage area, workroom or home office could replace one of these cabins.
The saloon is a big open space with a galley that has been set up to be both the center of the boat’s social life and a great sea-going galley The deep U-shape provides plenty of places to brace a hip or a knee so you can work with both hands while cooking and washing up in bouncy conditions. This will appeal to seasoned blue water sailors.
The dinette will seat six easily, but it looks like it might even accommodate up to eight in a pinch. This means that entertaining friends from around the anchorage will be a snap.
We’ve been aboard the Pegasus 50 and came away impressed with the design’s blue water pedigree. The new 67 takes all of that and refines it into a truly elegant new design.
