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Taylor 44

Sforzando

Concept: 44-foot Grand Prix racer

SFORZANDO was designed for a recidivist ‘knowledgeable New England yachtsman’, a long time client and friend, who wanted a more contemporary version of his earlier IMS winner, the T-42 DRUMBEAT. Race wins were an obvious priority, but so were aesthetics, so the new design gave the boxy, short overhang raceboat look a wide berth. ‘The visuals’ were developed very carefully, starting with those of DRUMBEAT, and the resulting profile boast overhangs that are considerably longer and more stylish than those of most contemporary racers When not racing, the SFORZANDO was to be suited for daysailing with family and friends, so her interior favors wide open social space over privacy in individual cabins. It is elegantly finished ‘Herreshoff style,’ with most surfaces carefully faired and painted eggshell white, with varnished cherry trim, and a teak and holly cabin sole.

Construction; Composite sandwich hull and deck

SFORZANDO’s hull is laminated of FRP reinforced skins of pre-impregnated largely unidirectional S-glass and KEVLAR fibers, (carbon was penalized under the rules), laid over aircraft grade ‘Baltek’ balsa cores. The deck is a similar laminate of FRP skins over balsa core, with additional laminate in way of all deck hardware, mainly unidirectional fiber oriented to precisely follow the expected load paths. Epoxy resins were used throughout, and all laminates were vacuum bagged and post cured to elevated temperatures. Both hull and deck are locally reinforced with unidirectional KEVLAR to minimize the longitudinal deflections resulting from the headstay, backstay and mast compression loadings. Methodical weight control was a high priority, and all moldings and components were carefully weighed before assembly.

Noteworthy Details:

SFORZANDO was designed to the ‘Cruiser/Racer’ requirements of the IMS Regulations, because the owner wished to race against his ‘owner-driver’ peers rather than hired gun professionals. These regulations mandated seats and coamings in the cockpit, and specific cruising requirements below. The ergonomics and style of each element had to be appropriate for both racing and daysailing, which made developing their details a challenge, but they have contributed to SFORZANDO’s long lasting appeal. A special emphasis was given to very high quality acoustic engineering, which was successful in keeping both the mechanical noise down and the sound system’s music uncompromised. Her 50 hp Yanmar Saildrive auxiliary give her unmatched speed under power, and her a sophisticated four spreader HallSpar carbon rig drives her equally far ahead of the pack under sail. SFORZANDO has been optimized for IRC with a new keel that significantly increases her stability, makes her even easier to sail, and increases her straightline speed upwind.

Comments:

SFORZANDO is optimized for racing in light to moderate air and smooth water New England, but with an additional focus on comfortable and practical shorthanded day sailing in Buzzards Bay. This suggested a masthead rig that would be fully powered up with appropriate stability not only when flying a full overlap genoa with a racing crew on the rail, but also when flying a small working jib when daysailing. SFORZANDO is a classic example of a great all-around boat that is stylish, versatile, fast and fun, and she keeps right on winning no matter what the conditions, or handicap system.

Racing highlights:

• NYYC Herreshoff Medal

  SFORZANDO has won this medal for a remarkable second time in 2008, having won it previously in 2002. The Club makes the award only when merited, for exceptional overall performance during a season. The original trophy was given by Captain Nathanael Herreshoff in April 1926. The permanent trophy is a tablet retained by the club and inscribed with the name of the winner year. A suitable ‘keeper’ is awarded to the yacht. It is a very select group that can lay claim to one Herreshoff Medal, let alone two.

• NYYC Annual Regatta

  SFORZANDO has won her IRC class in this event 3 of the last 4 years, and has five wins and two 2nd’s over nine years. She went 4-1-1-1 in 2008., following a 3-1-1-1 win in 2007, and capping an incredible run of 12 wins in the last 16 Annual Regatta races she has sailed. She has consistently turned back top competitors such as the Corby 41.1, Ker 11.3, Farr 40, Melges 32, IMX 45, and Swan 45.

• NYYC Summer RW

  SFORZANDO won this biennial event handily in 2008, by whopping 14 pts over Farr 395 and highly touted IRC Mills/King/Summit 40, earning Blair Brown a well-deserved Rolex for his top overall performance. SFZ was a close 2nd 2006, and a hard luck 2nd in 2002 due to a jammed halyard. (She was a DNF in 2004, after being disabled by a port-tack competitor)

• PHRF NE Championships

  SFORZANDO has two 1st’s and a 2nd in the three years she has competed.

• IMS Worlds

  SFORZANDO 3rd in a hotly contested grand prix international fleet.

Photos:

Gallery of Photos by Amory Ross