Sailboat Profile: Sylvana Yachts Andrews 28

The Andrews 28 being named Sailing World magazine’s Best Club Racer for 2009 has deservedly earned the boat some notoriety.  Having won silver wherever it has competed has generated interest from racing sailors.  Having an interior actually sized for adults has gotten the attention of cruising sailors and their families.  Using state of the art materials, components, and manufacturing techniques has appealed to the "boat geeks" and the technically inclined crowd.  Having an award-winning designer on the team has lent instant credibility to the project.

The Andrews 28 was designed by Alan Andrews, an award winning designer who was involved in very aspect of the boat’s development.  Builder Ivan Ivandic of Sylvana Yachts in Penticton, BC, Canada worked closely with Andrews to limit weight while maximizing stiffness and strength.  Sylvana owns all of the molds required to make the boat and its components.  The boat is female molded and vacuum infused using a vinylester resin, E-glass, and closed cell PVC foam sandwich construction with reinforcements in high load areas.  In addition to making the boat light and strong, this also provides excellent resistance to blistering.  Here is the breakdown of the boat’s numbers:

When sailors get their first exposure to the Andrews 28, one nearly universal first impression is that the boat is built extremely well.  Attention to detail is everywhere.  Stem to stern the A28 fairly screams quality.  The boat's bow is nearly plumb and the open transom is functional.  Freeboard is somewhat higher than one might expect, but this is how a boat the size of the 28 manages to provide enough headroom for below decks livability.  From the carbon fiber rig to the retractable inverted T keel, the designer and builder have conspired to create a well-appointed and equipped cruiser that is remarkably fast.  Or a light, stiff, and fast racer that has more than its share of amenities for cruising.  Either way the boat owners are happy and the builder is busy.

The interior of the boat features 5'11" of headroom.  There is a convertible V berth forward in the bow and port and starboard settees flanking the keel trunk amidships with a fold up table between them.  Flanking the companionway are the galley to port and the navigation station to starboard.  The galley includes an integral icebox, a sink with hand pump, a one burner Origo stove, and storage below.  Aft of the galley is a double berth extending under the cockpit.  Aft of the nav station is the roller door enclosed marine head, with a large wet storage locker aft.  The companionway steps tilt forward to reveal the 10 HP Yanmar 1GM10 diesel auxiliary with a SD20 saildrive.  This engine arrangement is easy to access and maintain as well as extremely reliable.  While there is no wood grain or teak anywhere on the boat, every interior component is easy to maintain cored composite fiberglass.  There are storage cubbies under every cushion.  A 110V shore power connection is standard.

On deck, the boat is set up for non-overlapping headsails, a loose footed main, and a huge asymmetrical spinnaker flown from the masthead on a retractable carbon sprit.  Both North Sails and Quantum Sails are on board with top quality sail packages designed for the boat. The 5/6 fractional rig is of all carbon fiber construction and built by Forte.  Controls are well thought out and easily handled by racers and cruisers alike.  Forward controls are led aft to the companionway.  The aft controls and mainsheet can easily be worked by the helmsman.  Tiller steering is used to control the carbon fiber rudder.  Wichard, Andersen, Harken, and Spinlock hardware is used for rig and sail controls.  The boat can be raced with as few as three crew members and easily singlehanded or cruised by a couple.  Stability is enhanced by the nearly half ton of ballast in the bulb down at the end of the keel.  PHRF ratings for the A28 average in the low 90s.

Sail away cost of the boat with a custom trailer, a top quality suit of sails, and a racing electronics package will be around $110,000 USD.  When one considers the value inherent in owning a true low maintenance, dual-purpose boat on which a crew can win silver one weekend and cruise with real comfort and convenience the next, it’s easy to see why the A28 has been so well reviewed by the sailing press and well received by its owners.

For more information about the Andrews 28 including options pricing, news and reviews, and more photos, visit the Sylvana Yachts website.

Thanks to Ivan Ivandic and the Sylvana Yachts team for their assistance with this article.