Minorca Yachts Specialist, Rob Welling reflects on Minorca’s American debut and provides insight into what American boaters can expect from this new line, created by Sasga Yachts in conjunction with the award-winning Barracuda Yacht Design team. You can find the Islander 34 and 42 flybridge on display at all major Florida boat shows this season. View upcoming events to learn more!

HOW WAS MINORCA RECEIVED BY THE NEW ENGLAND BOATING COMMUNITY?
“The NE boating community welcomed us with open arms. The Minorca line, with it’s traditional lines and subtle contemporary touches has been a real head turner. A lot of people who saw us in the press turned out to see them firsthand, at which point they’re even more impressed when they really dig into the quality of the build.”

WHAT SETS  MINORCA APART FROM COMPARABLE BUILDERS ON THE MARKET TODAY?
“I think on the surface what sets the Minorca line apart is though it’s a new line we’re introducing to the US market, the parent company Sasga has been a respected and successful builder in Europe for 40 years. Given their rich traditional heritage, while using state of the art technology, they’ve come up with a truly timeless, classic line of yachts built to today’s highest standards. These days you see a lot of wild features and boats trying to be flashy, with gadgets and gimmicks, many of which will be outdated in a few years. The Minorca line offers simple, clean, purposeful design and well-thought out lines both above and below the waterline. Not to mention things like real teak, a Resin-infused hull (vs. traditional layup), Divinicyl Coring (vs. Balsa)…the list goes on! Also, the interior space is very well utilized on all the models – the full beam second stateroom on the 34 being a prime example.”

“From a pricing standpoint, as a new offering in the US, we’ve come in at a very competitive price point – which, when considering the build quality of a Minorca versus the perceived competition, offers a phenomenal value to early buyers.”

AS A BOAT CAPTAIN, WHAT ARE SOME THE DESIGN OR PERFORMANCE FEATURES YOU FIND APPEALING?
“As a captain, I have to say the success of the hull design is something that stands out to me. The boats hold a CE-A rating and it shows given the chance. The plumb bow, with the soft, round chine entry forward, offers a very soft ride in a variety of conditions. The build quality really shines when the weather turns south – no creaking, no bending, they’ve proven to be a comfortable, stable, safe platform in my opinion. Lastly, from a buyer’s perspective, the cabins are some of the quietest I’ve ever had the opportunity to enjoy. When the generator is even quieter than the air conditioner, you know you’re in for a good night’s sleep!”