Design and Construction
In the VX One Design review, a test sailor described a square-top main, low freeboard, fine plumb bow and a wide stern with a hard chine that softens as it runs forward along the topsides. The chine isn’t merely cosmetic: when the boat heels slightly onto it at speed in waves, the hull form develops its maximum righting moment and power in those conditions.
The structure uses biaxial E-glass fabric infused with vinylester resin on either side of a Divinicell foam core. Components are bonded with a structural adhesive that chemically becomes part of the assembly. The extruded, anodized aluminum keel fin is built for shape retention and durability, with a lead bulb below. The rudder has a high-performance carbon-glass profile.
During a capsize-style wipeout, the ballast bulb pulled the boat upright again while the spreaders remained just above the waves.
Rig and Sail Handling
Bennett’s rigging philosophy is KISS—keep it simple—and the boat reflects it. The clear-coated carbon mast, boom and gennaker prod are paired with a GNAV, an above-boom vang that leaves the crew a clear route across the cockpit during tacks and gybes.
The self-tacking jib runs on a Harken radial track and uses a recessed furler. A barber hauler allows the crew to adjust the setup for different sea states. Both the jib sheet and barber-hauler lines exit a single swivelling double jammer under the foredeck.
A skiff-style mainsheet comes directly off the boom. A floor-mounted modification exists, though most crews return to the boom-mounted arrangement. Downwind, a large-mouth gennaker launcher and single-line halyard retrieval system make the asymmetric spinnaker approachable to handle. The chute is generous enough to allow easy hoists and drops with a two-patch kite.
In 12–16 knots of breeze, with gusts reaching 18 knots, the VX One review reported that the boat “lit up” and reached 16 knots downwind with ease. An earlier prototype recorded 13 knots on GPS before a slow response to a puff brought the run to an end.
Cockpit and Day-Sailing Practicality
The VX One is an open boat, with no cabin in the traditional sense, but its cockpit is thoughtfully arranged. The simple, uncluttered cockpit provides storage for day gear and provisions, along with under-deck paddle stowage.
The side decks are comfortable for hiking, with straps under which the crew can tuck their feet. Test sailors reported that they still had feeling in their legs after a long beat. The wide, shallow cockpit carries toestraps and a modest collection of control lines, and the boat can be sailed without hiking like an Olympic gold medallist.
Ownership, Transport and Class Structure
Around 100 boats had been built to strict one-design rules by the time European expansion began. The first was launched in the USA in 2012.
The lifting keel is raised with the main halyard. The boat can then travel on a combi trailer behind a normal saloon car, while a single-point lift simplifies crane handling.
A slightly depowered version was offered for lighter sailors or newcomers. A turbocharged variant—without the ballast bulb, but with trapezes and a masthead spinnaker—was also envisioned, though it wasn’t the standard boat.
The Verdict
The VX One is a rare proposition: a genuinely high-performance keelboat that ordinary sailors can drive hard without becoming exhausted. Its chine-driven hull, simple carbon rig and forgiving stability make it a compelling club racer and a surprisingly enjoyable daysailer.
Pros
- Chine hull generates substantial power and righting moment when heeled at speed
- GNAV and self-tacking jib keep the cockpit clear and easy to cross
- Trailerable, with a single-point lift
- Approachable asymmetric-spinnaker handling
- One-design class with no paid professional programs and open to all sailors
Cons
- Open cockpit provides no sheltered accommodation
- Sources differ on displacement and draft figures across the documentation
- Boom-mounted, skiff-style mainsheet takes some crews time to get used to
