Just introduced at the Palm Beach show, the Minorca 34 is an entirely new entry, a light-filled, well-built Spanish cruiser being represented in the U.S. by SYS Yacht Sales of Jupiter and Sarasota, Florida. The two-cabin, one-head Minorca, made in the Balearic island of the same name, has an exceptional design on the outside, with gentle curves almost everywhere,while the interior is bright and open in a contemporary style that just as easily could be at home in Scandanavia as in the coast of Spain.
Although new to the U.S., the Minorca 34 has already been displayed in Europe, winning the 2016 Croatia Boat of the Year Award and ending up as a finalist for the 2016 European Powerboat of the Year Award, two impressive achievements. In terms of styling, engineering and design, the Minorca 34 is in a category by itself. It actually is built by Sasga Yachts in Minorca, which made fishing boats for generations before starting its cruising fleet. “We’ve been building boats that cruise all around the world for 40 years,” said José Luis Sastre Gardés, the head of Minorca. In fact, they’ve made 3,000 boats before starting the current line, which runs from 34 to 68 feet. Minorcas now are a combination of old world craftsmanship (the joinerwork is excellent) and modern technology. “The high quality, excellent use of space and economical hull designs are a perfect for today’s boater,” said Paul Flannery, director of SYS Yachts Sales.
The curved cockpit is part of the aft hull that seems to flow out a bit from the rest of the boat, allowing for more space, and is protected overhead by the extended cabintop. You enter the salon through large glass doors, framed in teak; combined with high, large windows all around, they let in an extraordinary amount of natural light. A settee is to port, with the galley forward. A raised dinette table with seating is to starboard, just aft of the raised teak helm and teak wheel. The forward side windows open for ventilation. The interior design is clean, straightforward and elegant.
Below, the master is forward with just one step up on the sides to the bed. You enter the guest stateroom on the starboard side and then the two single beds are laid out athwartships under the helm and galley. The head, with a telephone shower, is to port. The resin-infused hull is efficient throughout the speed range, burning just 3.5 gph at 8 knots and 12 gph at 16 knots. Top speed with twin 220-hp Yanmars is 19 knots.
Specs.: LOA: 34’0”; Beam: 12’3”; Draft: 3’7”; Disp.: 17,000 lbs.; Fuel: 172 gals.; Water: 92 gals.; Power: 2×220-hp Yanmar 6BY3 diesels. http://minorcayachts.com http://sysyacht.com
