Alpa A9 Information, Review, Specs

The Alpa A9 emerged from an era of profound change in boat manufacturing, as Alpa Yachts, founded in 1956 by Danilo Cattadori, was among the pioneers in Europe to embrace fiberglass as a primary material. This marked a "true revolution," moving beyond traditional wood construction. The A9's production run, from 1967 to 1970, falls within Alpa's period of expanding from smaller, high-performance dinghies into larger cruising yachts, following their early success with models like the Flying Dutchman.

The design of the Alpa A9 was overseen by John Illingworth, a figure often credited as the "founding father of modern ocean racing". Illingworth, who also collaborated with Angus Primrose, specialized in optimizing yacht rigs and deck plans to maximize performance. This philosophy is evident in the Alpa A9, which, despite its dimensions, was conceived with a "significantly more speedy hull design" for its time.

Sailing Performance and Handling

The Alpa A9, with a length overall of just under 30 feet and a waterline length of nearly 22 feet, exhibits characteristics of a robust and capable cruiser. Her design ratios provide insight into her likely performance and handling.

With a Sail Area to Displacement (SA/D) ratio of approximately 13.5, the Alpa A9 is not optimized for extreme light-air performance. This figure suggests she will require a moderate breeze to truly come alive, performing most effectively in moderate to stronger winds. Her Ballast to Displacement (B/D) ratio stands at a healthy 0.423. This relatively high ratio indicates a stiff and stable vessel, capable of standing up to more wind and offering a comfortable motion in a seaway, a desirable trait for cruising. Furthermore, her Displacement to Length (D/L) ratio of around 362 places her firmly in the category of a heavier, more traditional cruiser rather than a lightweight performance machine. While the designer reportedly aimed for a "speedy hull design," this speed would likely be relative to other heavy displacement cruisers of her era, prioritizing seaworthiness and stability over outright racing prowess.

Accommodations and Layout

While specific detailed descriptions of the Alpa A9's interior layout are scarce in readily available information, a boat of its size and vintage (late 1960s) would typically feature a functional, if compact, interior suitable for coastal cruising or weekend trips. Interiors of Alpa yachts from this period were generally known for quality fiberglass construction complemented by wood joinery. It is common to find features such as a V-berth forward, a main salon with settees that convert to berths, a galley area, and a basic head compartment. Some references suggest the interior featured wood cabinets and green carpeting, indicative of the typical finish materials used during that period. The design prioritizes robust construction and seaworthiness over expansive living spaces, typical of many European designs from this era.