Design and Construction
Sean McMillan designed the Spirit 46 for British-based Spirit Yachts, a yard he established in the early 1990s. The marque draws subtle variations on 1930s classic yacht design, combining long overhangs, low profiles, and smooth lines with contemporary underwater profiles.
What sets Spirit apart from almost every other builder of traditional-style series yachts is its wood/epoxy construction. The 46 is built on laminated ring frames, usually fashioned from Brazilian cedar, with an Oregon pine keelson. The first layer of Brazilian cedar planking is glued to the ring frames to form a monocoque structure. This is faired before a series of double-diagonal, cold-molded veneers is applied.
A layer of glass/epoxy stabilizes the surface beneath the Awlgrip finish, and West System Epoxy bonds the structure throughout. The deck is swept teak, the brightwork is highly varnished Brazilian mahogany, and custom hardware is used throughout.
The keel consists of an SG steel foil with a torpedo-shaped lead ballast bulb bolted to it. A stainless-steel rudderstock supports a finely tuned, foam-filled, balanced spade rudder encapsulated in a carbon skin. McMillan says the hull has a firm turn in the bilge for good form stability, along with shallow rocker.
The ballast bulb accounts for 45 percent of the boat’s 9,900 pounds of displacement. The yard’s RCD Category A rating covers F8 winds and 4m waves, with a maximum capacity of six persons.
Rig and Handling
The Spirit 46 carries a fractional Bermudan sloop rig, and the reviewed examples stepped a tall Southern Spars carbon rig. Its deep fin keel, ballast bulb, and spade rudder helped it track well to weather.
Test sailors found the boat extremely close-winded, tacking through 60 degrees. Reaching, the knot meter climbed into double figures and topped out at nearly 11 knots. With a reef tucked in, the boat made up to almost seven and a half knots upwind. A different Spirit 46 had recorded 21 knots of boat speed during a race the previous year.
Despite rather sporty weather, the deck stayed nearly dry. Light ends and some flare in the bow allowed the boat to rise over waves rather than plow through them. The tiller is feathery-light.
Under power, the 18-hp Yanmar GM-20 produced a solid seven knots at 2,500 rpm. The boat’s dimensions and displacement also allow it to be transported easily and economically by road or sea.
Deck and Accommodations
Some Spirit 46s were delivered without lifelines, giving them the appearance of an old 6-Meter.
McMillan has delivered previous 46s with several accommodation plans, including an open layout, one cabin, and two cabins. The builder describes the boats as virtually custom, with owners able to specify any interior they want.
A fairly standard arrangement places a V-berth and head forward, opposing settees and a dining table in the central saloon, and the galley and navigation station at the foot of the companionway. Headroom is about five feet two inches—the one compromise below.
Fuel capacity is a modest 13 gallons, while water capacity is 25 gallons.
Refits and Ownership
There is an active community of Spirit 46 racing yachts in the UK and the Mediterranean, although the boat can be sailed anywhere in the world.
Spirit Yachts are designed to remain as beautiful in 100 years as they are today. Preserving that intent requires consistent upkeep of the finish systems, particularly given the wood/epoxy construction, cold-molded veneers, and varnished mahogany brightwork. The custom hardware and carbon rig are specialist items when renewal falls due.
The Verdict
The Spirit 46 is a distinctive modern classic, combining 1930s styling with a lightweight wood/epoxy hull and contemporary underwater performance. It is genuinely fast, close-winded, and a joy to helm. Low headroom and the custom nature of individual boats, however, mean it best suits owners who value character and racecourse pace over interior volume.
Pros
- Lightweight wood/epoxy construction with cold-molded veneers and epoxy bonding
- Tall carbon rig and deep fin-bulb keel, with test results including nearly 11 knots reaching and tacking through 60 degrees
- Active racing communities in the UK and Mediterranean
- Virtually custom interior layouts available
Cons
- Headroom of only about 5 feet 2 inches
- Some examples were delivered without lifelines
- Modest 13-gallon fuel and 25-gallon water capacity
