Windship 80 Information, Review, Specs

History and Design

Windship Yachts, founded in 1980 by William Waite, quickly carved a niche in the marine industry for creating larger, custom, and semi-custom cruising yachts. The Windship 80, first introduced in 1989, emerged from this philosophy of crafting spacious and comfortable vessels without compromising on luxury. While detailed design philosophies specific to the Windship 80 are not widely documented, the builder's overarching ethos focused on providing clients with significant input into their vessel's specifications and amenities, ensuring a tailored yachting experience. Although Windship Yachts itself handled design and sales, the construction of some of their vessels, including models like the Windship 60, was undertaken by collaborators such as Trident Shipworks in Tampa, Florida. The company's operations concluded after 1991, meaning the Windship 80 had a very limited production run, contributing to its unique status in the luxury yacht market.

Sailing Performance and Handling

With a robust displacement of 115,000 pounds and a length overall of 79 feet, the Windship 80 is a substantial sailing yacht. Her displacement-to-length ratio (D/L) of approximately 170.7 indicates a relatively light displacement for her impressive length, suggesting a design that prioritizes respectable cruising speeds rather than being a heavy, slow cruiser. The sail area-to-displacement ratio (SA/D) of around 16.7 suggests a balanced sail plan, capable of providing ample power in a range of conditions without being overly sensitive in lighter airs.

A notable feature is her cutter rig, which breaks the yacht's sail area into smaller, more manageable sails, making her easier to handle, particularly in offshore conditions. This configuration is well-suited for extended passages, providing flexibility in sail deployment. The vessel's unique centerboard keel allows for a variable draft, ranging from a minimum of 6.92 feet to a maximum of 18.42 feet. This feature offers significant advantages, enabling access to shallower anchorages and improving upwind performance and stability when the board is fully deployed. While the ballast-to-displacement ratio of approximately 0.23 is lower than some traditional heavy displacement monohulls, the Windship 80's substantial beam of 18.67 feet likely contributes to significant form stability, further enhanced by the deep draft achieved with the centerboard lowered.

Accommodations and Layout

Designed for global luxury cruising, the interior of the Windship 80 would have been highly customized to individual owner preferences, reflecting Windship Yachts' commitment to bespoke projects. While specific layout diagrams are not widely published, a vessel of this size and pedigree would typically feature extensive living spaces. These would likely include multiple staterooms with en-suite heads, a spacious main salon for dining and entertaining, a well-appointed galley, and dedicated navigation and helm areas. Given the company's focus on luxury and comfort, the interiors would have been finished with high-quality materials, possibly featuring fine wood joinery, ample storage, and robust systems designed for extended self-sufficiency. The generous beam would have allowed for expansive and comfortable living areas, providing a sense of grandeur and openness below deck.