Peter Janssen is absent from On Watch this week for the first time in almost eight years. He has retired at the venerable age of 88. As the co-founder and editor of the newsletter, he produced 400 editions and wrote more than four thousand articles. For a seasoned journalist, that is a lot. For a man already in his eighties when we founded Cruising Odyssey, the achievement is legendary.
So, as I take the helm and steer Cruising Compass into its next chapter, I want to offer Peter my gratitude and appreciation for all he did and all he does. He will be missed by all of the Cruising Odyssey family.
Peter lived for a time aboard his Grand Banks 36 in a marina near New York. So, it is only appropriate that we launch issue 401 with a preview of the brand-new Grand Banks 62 that was just announced last week.
Grand Banks 62, a Portrait of Grace, Style and Efficiency
The new Grand Banks 62 has been designed to replace the highly successful GB 60 and continues the evolution of the Grand Banks design philosophy that began when CEO Mark Richards, founder of Palm Beach Yachts, assumed leadership of the brand.
Founded in 1953, Grand Banks pioneered the trawler-cruising market with handsome, traditional designs that cruised efficiently at eight knots. The Grand Banks 36, the original model, became the archetype for all the cruising trawlers that followed.
Today, eight knots does not meet the needs of all modern cruisers. As Mark Richards notes, “Our aim is to deliver game changing long-distance cruising yachts that demonstrate that range doesn’t mean you need to wallow around at 8 knots. The Grand Banks philosophy proves that a 20-knot cruising speed can be accomplished efficiently and safely.”
With a background in grand prix sailboat racing and high-tech composite boat building techniques, Richards and his team developed the V-Warp design and build processes and adapted them to the latest models of Grand Banks.
The new 62’s hull design has all of the trademarks of V-Warp technology: fine entry, a graceful curvature amidships and a minimum of deadrise at the transom.
With the standard twin Volvo 900-horsepower D13 engines, the 62 will have a top speed in the mid-30s range and a comfortable cruising speed of 28 knots. For cruisers who are looking for long range efficiency, the 62 will burn an estimated 32 gallons an hour at 20 knots or 1.5 gallons per mile.
Grand Banks also offers as options Volvo D13s rated at 1,000 horsepower with straight shafts or Volvo IPS 1200S engines rated at 900-horsepower each.
The new 62 renderings show a three-cabin, three-head arrangement forward. Larger than the 60, the new design has a spacious master suite amidship, a VIP guest cabin forward and an enlarged third cabin, each with its own head.
The salon will be bathed in light from the large windows. The lower helm has excellent 360-degree sight lines so helming and navigating in inclement weather or at night will be safe and comfortable.
The U-shaped galley is aft so it connects via a large sliding window with the cockpit. This arrangement is great when entertaining and dining al fresco in the cockpit.
The main helm is on the flybridge, with access via an inside stairway. One popular option can be to transform the flying bridge into an enclosed Skylounge that will be warm, safe and dry in all weather.
Note that the bridge deck extends far enough aft to make room for an inflatable dinghy that will be raised and lowered with a crane.
Grand Banks is known for its high quality workmanship throughout the build, especially in the finished joinery and cabinetry. The builder also works very closely with each customer to deliver a premium yacht that reflects their taste, style and personal requirements.
As Mark Richards notes, “Grand Banks has really evolved into a custom builder over the past 10 years, yet with the advantages and scale of a production builder. We enjoy working with our owners to ensure we realize their dreams and vision. That’s a really fun part of the process.”
The new Grand Banks 62 offers all of the seakeeping qualities, cruising speeds and range and comfort that will make a cruising couple or a family proud for decades to come.
