While the digital footprint of Ultimate Sailboats is now largely dormant, this American boat builder played a distinct role in the performance sailing arena, particularly through its association with the agile and popular Ultimate 20. Emerging in the mid-1990s, Ultimate Sailboats contributed to the production of a design that captivated racers and performance enthusiasts alike.
The Origin Story
The genesis of Ultimate Sailboats is closely tied to the vision of Jeff Canepa. Canepa, seeking to bring a specific performance sailboat to life, established Ultimate Sailboats. For the production, he enlisted the expertise of Ron Moore, the esteemed Santa Cruz boatbuilder renowned for his work on ultra-light and ultra-fast boats, including the iconic Moore 24. This collaboration underscored a commitment to high-performance design and construction from the outset.
History and Evolution
Ultimate Sailboats' most notable contribution was its involvement in the production of the Ultimate 20. This highly regarded trailerable sailboat, designed by Jim Antrim and Jeff Canepa, first hit the water in 1994. While Ultimate Sailboats played a role, the Ultimate 20 was also built by several other prominent American boat manufacturers over its production run, including Moore Sailboats, Santa Cruz Yachts, Abbott Boats, Columbia Yachts, and W. D. Schock Corp.
There is also a mention of an "Ultimate 18," with its hull initially produced by Mouldcraft Yachts using a hot moulded ply process, which then served as a plug for a fiberglass mold. It is plausible that this model either preceded or was a companion to the Ultimate 20, further establishing the company's focus on performance-oriented designs.
Design Philosophy and Identity
Ultimate Sailboats, through its primary offering, the Ultimate 20, cultivated a reputation for producing exhilarating, high-performance racing sailboats. The Ultimate 20 was conceived as a one-design racer, emphasizing speed, responsiveness, and competitive sailing. Its design reflected a philosophy geared towards accessible performance, allowing sailors to experience the thrill of racing in a manageable and trailerable package. The collaboration with naval architects Jim Antrim and Jeff Canepa highlighted a focus on modern, efficient hull forms suitable for competitive sailing.
Iconic Models and Legacy
The undisputed iconic model associated with Ultimate Sailboats is the Ultimate 20. Introduced in 1994, this sportboat quickly gained traction within the sailing community for its combination of speed, ease of handling, and trailerability. Approximately 160 Ultimate 20 boats were produced for the North American market, solidifying its place as a significant one-design class. Its impact lay in offering an exciting, high-performance racing experience that was also practical for transport and launching, fostering a vibrant racing scene around the design.
The Builder Today
As of the current time, Ultimate Sailboats does not appear to be an active boat builder in North America, with no present active builders for the Ultimate 20 design. While the specific timeline of the company's cessation of operations is not widely documented, inquiries directed to the company at some point went unanswered, suggesting its operational status declined. Despite the company's short-lived presence, its legacy endures through the enduring popularity and active class association of the Ultimate 20, a testament to the design's quality and the vision that brought it to life. Owners of Ultimate 20s continue to form a strong community, participating in races and maintaining the spirit of this nimble performance sailboat.
