Design and Construction
The hull is a hand-laid, glass-fibre-reinforced polyester laminate with no core, carrying a white topside set off by a double narrow dark-blue boot-top and a matching decorative stripe at the hull sheer decorative double stripe at the top. Petterson gave her a 1.40-metre cast-iron fin keel weighing 720 kg, suspended on two U-profile iron bars laminated into the keel section and secured by four 20 mm stainless bolts to those carriers. A free-standing rudder hangs from a small skeg laminated firmly to a 25 mm stainless rudder post. Inside, the saloon and forecastle berths are GRP sections laminated into the hull, a detail that visibly increases hull rigidity, while the cabinet bent-boards are matt-lacquered wood and the quarter-berth ends and aft locker seats use stable marine plywood with topcoat.
Rig and Handling
Petterson's unrestricted brief produced a sporty, fast yacht whose hardware arrangement and deck layout are plainly tuned to a racing mindset. Tested in winds from 1 to 5 Beaufort, the 806 showed outstanding course stability yet answered sensitively to tiny rudder movements, and could be manoeuvred as easily as a lighter boat three metres shorter outstanding course stability. Her light-windward ardency did not worsen as heel increased, she bore off into stronger gusts without difficulty, and she slipped into waves without rigidity or awkwardness while making almost no stern wave. Even under standard sails and a jib alone, speed impressed; period test sailors judged her sailing qualities excellent enough to satisfy seasoned regatta sailors, and noted that all trimming options remained simple and functional in use.
Accommodations
Despite the sports focus, the 806 surprised her testers with a spacious interior and adequate comfort for families and weekend tours. The berths and locker seating form a coherent living space, with the saloon berth section running into the quarter-berth finished in GRP inner lining. Bent-wood detailing in matt lacquer and marine plywood gives the cabin a finished, purposeful character rather than a stripped race-shell feel.
Equipment and Power
As a standard item, the 806 carries an engine mount with a reinforced surface sized for an outboard of up to 6 HP reinforced surface for an outboard motor, letting an owner choose a portable auxiliary rather than a fixed inboard. The standard sail wardrobe measured by the builder lists a 15.52 m² mainsail, a 18.67 m² genoa I, a 12.21 m² jib, and a 45.88 m² spinnaker — a range that supports both club racing and relaxed coastal sailing.
The Verdict
The International 806 is a rare thing: a small series-built Petterson design that behaves like a dedicated racer yet carries real weekending room. Her hand-laid hull, bolted cast-iron fin, and berth structure speak to a focused construction approach, and the on-water record shows a boat that is both forgiving in gusts and precise on the helm.
Pros
- Outstanding course stability with fingertip rudder response
- Manoeuvres like a boat three metres shorter
- GRP berth sections add genuine hull rigidity
- Roomy interior for a 26-foot racer-cruiser
- Simple, functional sail trimming at the helm
Cons
- Sport-focused deck layout may challenge less race-minded owners
- Auxiliary limited to a 6 HP outboard on a standard mount
