WHIRLWIND XII

when Noel Lister commissioned me to design the ultimate high performance cruising yacht he was continuing his involvement with sailing that had spanned twenty years and eleven yachts under the name Whirlwind.

The new Whirlwind was originally designed at 95 feet. After a preliminary study I encouraged Noel to increase the overall length to above the magical 100 foot figure, which gave the interior a volume to comfortably accommodate an owner's large stateroom and two double guest cabins, in addition to separate dining and social areas, a spacious galley and generous crew accommodation.

While the new yacht was to be handled and maintained by a small crew, Noel Lister did not want to give up the sparkling performance he enjoyed in his racing days. This required the single masted rig which we felt was possible only with the automated rig systems manufactured by Marquip and the new generation of large size Lewmar winches. These new products were gaining credibility during the time Whirlwind XII was conceived. Use of this new technology would enable a rig that gave the best possible sailing performance to be handled by a crew of no more than four. This is in dramatic contrast to the old J-class racing yachts that set sails of the same dimensions, which required a fit and experienced crew of 30. Whirlwind XII would reflect these magnificent sailing vessels in size but achieve a new standard of convenience and comfort.

An additional requirement for this new yacht was the incorporation of a pilot house which would offer protection to the main cockpit, where on-deck dining was planned, and to create a pleasant protected social area where guests could relax when the sun was too hot or the wind too cold.