Blue Water Sailing Magazine – Hylas H60 Review

“Our friends at Hylas Yachts have been teasing us and the Hylas family with the drawings and renderings of the new German Frers-designed Hylas 60 for many months. On paper, it looked stunning and represents a new direction for the long-time Hylas builder Queen Long. So, it was with a bit of glee that I got to see the new 60 in the flesh in February at the Miami boat show. Even though it was stem to the floating docks with a display float on one side and another sailboat on the other, you could see right away that the 60 is something different something that will turn a lot of heads.

With a broad transom, and a dinghy garage inside, sweeping sheer lines and a very low-profile cabin top, the boat is stylishly modem yet instantly a classic. Company president Peggy Huang was there and beaming from ear to car at the great response the public and the press have expressed on first seeing the 60. American sales director Kevin Wensley volunteered to give me a walk-through of the boat and was able to point out a lot of details that might have been missed on a first pass.

The brief for the 60 was to create a luxurious family cruising boat that has very clean lines, uncluttered decks and superior sailing performance. Everything on deck is tidy and hidden away. The roller furling headsail has the drum under the deck. The windlass and chain locker are also under the deck. All halyards and control lines at the mast lead aft through under-deck conduits (each line has its own private tube) to the electric winches at the twin helms. Even the deck cleats are folding models that are stylish and unobtrusive.

With a tall fractional rig, the 60 was conceived to be a couple’s boat that can be handled by a lone watchstander. Note the 110-percent jib and the in-mast furling mainsail. All deploying, reefing and furling of working sails can be managed from the cockpit The 60’s cockpit is huge and comes in two versions. For a 60 with a large after stateroom under the cockpit, you’ll find a low raised bridgedeck forward of the twin wheels. For a 60 with twin after stateroom, there is no bridgedeck 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. 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 can be laid out in either three-cabin or four-cabin accommodation plans as noted. The three-cabin plan had the master stateroom aft under the cockpits as noted. Or, you can opt for the four-cabin version that has two quarter cabins aft and no need for a bridgedeck. In both plans, the cabins forward offer a double berth in the forepeak and an upper and lower bunk arrangement in the smaller cabin just aft and to port. These cabins share a large head. In the three-cabin version, the large after cabin and en-suite head fill the entire aft end of the hull. 11w 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. The saloon in both versions has an L-shaped dinette to port with the proper chart table aft of it. Across is a bench settee and the large galley lies in the passageway leading aft to the after cabin. With large hull windows and overhead hatches, the saloon and the sleeping cabins are full of light and have excellent ventilation. The long and large galley is in the passage-way 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.

In the first Hylas 60, the builders decided to make a real style statement. Instead of the traditional teak bulkhead and joinery, they opted for a very light-coloured wood without the bright varnish that you are used to seeing on a Hylas yachts. The look is very modern and the effect in the combination with the natural light, the pale joinery and the light-coloured fabrics on the settees is bright, airy and welcoming. We’ll be sailing the new 60 as soon as possible and will come back with a full, in-depth report.”

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For further information, brochures and price lists, please contact us. Grabau International are exclusive European sales agents for Hylas Sailing and Power Yachts.