Elaine Bunting takes a look at the Discovery 58, which looks every inch the competent world-girdler
This is the British yard’s newest thoroughbred cruiser, a development of the Discovery 57 with a more modern coachroof profile. The Discovery 58 looks every inch as competent a world-girdler and her new owner thinks so too. He and his wife previously owned a Discovery 55 that they cruised to New Zealand and have remained enthusiastically loyal, saying that this is “a boat that looks after you”.
If you already know the Discovery range, you’ll be aware that these Ron Holland designs are moderate-displacement and with a manageable-sized, cutter-rigged sailplan, with self-tacking jib and 140 per cent genoa. They are designed to be handled without too much excitement by a couple. The interior by Ken Freivokh is comfortable, bright and airy, with a raised saloon seating area and navigator’s station.
A great deal of care has gone into making the boat easy and safe to move around in at sea, and there are some very fine details, such as the curved companionway that took more than 200 hours to make. It is designed to, and would, make a very comfortable home from home.
The deck saloon
What impresses just as much about the Discovery is how deeply the company understands what it means for an owner to manage and run their own boat. The engine room has excellent access, and it’s easy to get at the watermaker and fuel separation filters. The passageway galley will be safe and secure on both tacks. There are watertight bulkheads, good stowage forward, a monumental stemhead fitting and chain stopper that could hold a frigate.
Small, but important details abound: the gas locker is right beside the midships ladder, so it’s easy to lift the bottle onto a pontoon – or, more likely round the world, straight into the dinghy.
The Discovery doesn’t set the pulse racing, but would you enjoy living on board for the long haul? I’d say.
Price ex VAT £1,260,000, but including a very high spec. www.discoveryyachts.com
Watch out for a full test in Yachting World in the August issue
This is an extract from a feature in Yachting World April 2015