Design and Construction
Mackay’s VX Two pairs a familiar Evo hull with a deck configured specifically for an intermediate doublehanded skiff team. The wide, shallow, open cockpit gives the skipper and crew room to move and adds righting moment when both are hiking, while angled cockpit tank contours keep that hiking position comfortable. Construction is light and deliberate: the builder’s attention to detail is what gets the boat to 209 pounds all-up, and the hull is solid fiberglass with a lead centreboard and kick-up rudder. The flip-up rudder carries a quick-release skewer and the daggerboard slots flush into its trunk, but the foils themselves are super-high-aspect specimens with razor-sharp edges that will need careful handling off the water. Righting lines run beneath the rails, and a 145-pound sailor can right the boat alone using the daggerboard after a capsize.
Rig and Handling
The VX Two is equipped with a fully battened square-top main, a full-batten jib, and an asymmetric spinnaker flown from a carbon fibre retractable bowsprit through a large chute. The mainsheet runs straight off the boom, skiff-style, which clears the cockpit and puts sail load at hand for easy trimming, while floating jib leads and smooth halyard purchases at the mast let the forward crew make quick, dynamic mode changes. A jib luff zip speeds rig-up, and the spinnaker uses a single-line launch-and-retrieval system for a high-clew kite pulled through a large foredeck throat into a sock. Test sailors found the kite easy to trim thanks to its narrow clew box, similar to a 49er or 29er. The rig is a tapered one-piece carbon extrusion, though the builder has indicated future rigs will be two-part. Spars are clear-coated carbon tubes assembled by Mackay, and the boat is beautifully balanced to provide a near-perfect handling experience across all points of sail, achieving new speed levels with ease.
Accommodations
As a hiking skiff, the VX Two has no cabin or berths; its “accommodation” is the open cockpit itself. The wide, shallow layout lets the two crew shift weight and hike effectively, and the angled tank contours noted by test sailors make prolonged hiking sustainable. Centralized controls sit within easy reach of both helm and crew for quick adjustments, and any excess water is shipped straight through the open transom rather than collecting in the boat.
Equipment and Ownership
The full package arrives with all Robline ropes and sheets, foils, rudderstock, tiller extension, pole, hiking straps, boom, and Bluewave turnbuckles, while the rig package adds mast, stays, halyards, and boom; sails are not included and may be built by any sailmaker to strict class rules. A well-balanced light beach aluminium trolley ships with the boat, making launching, retrieving, and shoreline transport straightforward. The controls are simple and the systems easy to use, which keeps ownership approachable for a team stepping up from junior skiffs.
The Verdict
The VX Two is a thoughtfully detuned evolution of a pure racing skiff: same fast hull as the Evo, but a deck and rig tuned for a developing doublehanded team. It rewards active crew work without burying an intermediate pair in unmanageable systems, and its light weight, open transom, and kick-up foils make beach sailing practical. The sharp high-aspect foils and carbon rig demand respect in storage and rigging, but the boat’s balance and simplicity are genuine strengths.
Pros
- Identical Evo hull delivers proven skiff performance
- Open, wide cockpit with comfortable hiking contours and strong righting moment
- Boom-mounted mainsheet and floating jib leads keep the cockpit clear and adjustable
- Light trolley and kick-up foils make launching and retrieving easy
Cons
- High-aspect foils with razor edges need careful care off the water
- Sails not included in base package
- Single-piece carbon rig slated to change in future builds
