Hunter horizon 23

[Iheartsailing]

Hello there,
I am considering a hunter horizon 23 as my next boat. The large accommodation appeals to me greatly. I was wondering how they perform when the wind gets up and if I could cross the channel in one?
Thanks

 

[johnalison]

I've not sailed one but an early piece of advice I was given was to choose a designer before choosing a boat. David Thomas is highly regarded, so the Horizon can be expected to sail well. So far as I know, the Horizon series sail well for bilge keepers with that level of accommodation, but there is a physical limit to what a 23' boat can be expected to do. We used to cross the channel and North Sea in a Mystere, which is only a bit bigger, and a Horizon is certainly well capable of doing this. I would think that an enjoyable crossing would be limited to about the top of force 4.

 

[Rum Run]

A pal in the club has one. Accommodation seems good, and it's not unattractive. But it is around 8 minutes in the hour slower than my Anderson 22 and 5 minutes in the hour slower than a Trident 24.
I understand it bounces around a bit in rough weather which may be due to the high volume hull, but surely will go cross channel in the right weather.

 

[Halcyon Yachts]

Hello there,
I am considering a hunter horizon 23 as my next boat. The large accommodation appeals to me greatly. I was wondering how they perform when the wind gets up and if I could cross the channel in one?
Thanks

They are fabulous boats... I would happily cross the channel in one!

It's true, they are not the fastest - but they are comfortable and seaworthy!

Pete

 

[johnalison]

A pal in the club has one. Accommodation seems good, and it's not unattractive. But it is around 8 minutes in the hour slower than my Anderson 22 and 5 minutes in the hour slower than a Trident 24.
I understand it bounces around a bit in rough weather which may be due to the high volume hull, but surely will go cross channel in the right weather.

That doesn't sound right to me. Perhaps you should give your pal some sailing lessons.

 

[Lucky Duck]

The hull is from a Hunter Duette which was the twin keel version of the Sonata which I would necessarily describe as high volume

 

[AngusMcDoon]

The hull is from a Hunter Duette which was the twin keel version of the Sonata which I would necessarily describe as high volume

My Dad had a Duette & he sailed it all over the place including across the North Sea, so if a Duette can do it the Horizon certainly can.

 

[Rum Run]

That doesn't sound right to me. Perhaps you should give your pal some sailing lessons.

I have no figures to back this up but I think the rig is smaller and less tweakable than the Sonata, while it has more wetted area.

 

[Lucky Duck]

The jib is smaller as it is a self tacker but the mainsail was enlarged to compsensate for this, if the hull is the same how can the wetted area be different?

 

[Rum Run]

The jib is smaller as it is a self tacker but the mainsail was enlarged to compsensate for this, if the hull is the same how can the wetted area be different?

Twin keel.
Of course it may be operator error, or luck, or weed, or it may be the spirit of Oliver Lee pushing me faster, I dunno.
Mind you I recently beat a 30+' racey boat in a 4hr 30min race by 22mins, but that is mostly accounted for by NHC numbers.

 

[niccapotamus]

Hello there,
I am considering a hunter horizon 23 as my next boat. The large accommodation appeals to me greatly. I was wondering how they perform when the wind gets up and if I could cross the channel in one?
Thanks

I know of a good one for sale in our club (it is lying in portsmouth) - give me a shout if you would like contact details for the owner