Design and Construction
The Centurion 59 carries 21,500 kg of displacement against 7,500 kg of lead ballast, a 34.2 ballast-to-displacement ratio that the design data describes as a moderate amount of ballast for the weight. A displacement-to-length ratio of 211.9 puts her in the moderate displacement category rather than the heavy-ocean-trawler end of the spectrum, while a comfort ratio of 39.4 marks her as a moderate bluewater cruising boat. The capsize screening value of 1.7 is cited as evidence that she is well suited to bluewater sailing. The hull itself is solid fiberglass (GRP), built by Wauquiez in Neuville-en-Ferrain during the late-1980s to mid-1990s window when the Centurion line sat among the larger offshore yachts the marque offered.
Rig and Handling
She is cutter rigged, and the sail plan is the source of her performance character. With a sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 20.7, the Centurion 59 falls into the relatively high-performance band for a yacht of her size and ballast — a figure that, paired with the moderate displacement and 16-foot-5 beam, suggests a boat that can carry canvas and move without being a featherweight racer. The fin keel with spade rudder gives her the directional agility expected of a Dubois cruiser rather than the sluggish tracking of a full-keeled voyager, and the 8-foot-10 draft is a considered compromise for offshore stability against shallow-anchoragem access.
The Verdict
The Wauquiez Centurion 59 is a low-volume, Dubois-designed offshore cutter built in a tight seven-year window, with performance ratios that place her firmly among moderate-displacement bluewater cruisers of above-average sail drive. The scarcity of hulls and the specificity of the design brief make her a distinctive find rather than a common brokerage staple.
Pros
- Ed Dubois design with fin keel and spade rudder for agile handling
- Relatively high-performance sail-area-to-displacement profile
- Capsize screening of 1.7 and comfort ratio of 39.4 suit bluewater cruising
- Solid fiberglass hull built by Wauquiez in France
Cons
- Only 22 built, so spares and comparable sales are scarce
- 8-foot-10 draft limits shallow-water access
