Perry Design Review: Concordia 52

This newest Concordia has been designed by the S&S office and aimed at the sailor desiring a semi-custom yacht built to the highest standards. The designers have also tried to optimize the IMS racing potential. This design is conservative, to say the least, as far as styling goes, but every effort has been made to make this a sparkling performer. I find this design very typical of the current work from the S&S office.

The Concordia 52.

I don't have a midsection of this design, but I assume we are looking at a section with moderate from stability with a relatively broad BWL. Note the absence aft of any skeglet forward of the rudder. Note also the lack of any kink in the buttocks in order to flatten out the buttocks aft of the rudder post. Like the J/44, this is a perfectly fair and undisturbed canoe body. The soft, round profile to the forefoot indicates V-shaped sections and I would guess the midsection approaches tangent at the centerline. The bow overhang is too short for my eye. I think this general style of yacht would look better with another 16 inches of LOA. That would give it a nice, stretched, classic look. The D/L ratio is 229.

The Concordia 52 is available with either elliptical fin keel or shoal fin with wigs. I measured the negative attack angle on this wing to be about 3.5 degrees. The wings are also quite long, appearing to start at about the 40 percent chord position. The rudder is a big, partially balanced space.

Once again, I think we are looking at someone's painstaking work with pen and ink. Note how crisp and black the lines of the drawings are. The plan and inboard profile view shows wonderful drafting. This is a clear indication that someone likes his work. I give Mr. or Ms. X an "A" for drafting.

Working with 52 feet LOA, the Concordia starts with a long cockpit with huge lazarette and then comfortably opens to an extremely comfortable interior. I have seen this basic layout squeezed into 40-footers. Of course it doesn't work, unless you like rat mazes. But at 52 feet this layout spreads out and all the basic components assume big man-sized proportions. The nav area, galley, both heads and both staterooms are all spaciously laid out. I particularly like the galley and nav areas. Custom interiors are available.

Hull construction uses Divinycell foam core with E-glass skins, vacuum bagged with epoxy resin. Bulkheads use the vacuum bag technique with glass over foam or honeycomb.

The name Concordia is magic in yachting circles. It began with the famous Concordia Yawl designed by Ray Hung and Bill Harris. The 52 give this yard another chance at establishing a modern classic.

Boat Specifications

LOA	53.33'
LWL	42'
Beam	15.4'
Draft	10' or 7'
Displacement	38000 lbs.
Ballast	18500 lbs.
Sail Area	1310 sq. ft.
D/L	229
Sa/D	18.54
Auxiliary	Westerbeke 70
Fuel	110 gals.
Water	225 gals.