Overview

I attended a conference a while back where a designer and builder of exquisite yachts gave a talk to a body of peers. The topic ‘Life is too short to build an ugly boat’. This pearl has stuck with me for years. Granted, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but there are some creations that transcend that convention, and are simply beautiful. I put the Ted Hood Bristol 47.7 in this genre of fine yachts. The 1987 Bristol 47.7 aft cockpit, keel centerboard ‘RANGER’ exemplifies the qualities that blend form and function into a beautiful, masterful creation. This is a vessel that looks stately at dockside and turns heads under sail. It is not a new design by any means. It was first built in 1979..the last one, hull # 75, left the Bristol yard in 1994. In this world of high speed, high tech, gimmicks and gadgets, the Bristol 47.7 has stood the test of time.