Reporting from Boot Dusseldorf 2024 Alex Smith takes us on a tour of the Windy 29 Hurácan, production for which has reportedly already been pre-sold up to 2025
When you witness Windy’s new Hurácan 29, it could hardly be the work of anyone else. Designed by Espen Øino, it ticks all the classical Windy boxes with a step-free deep-vee hull, a choice of petrol or diesel inboard engines, a deep, secure cockpit and a finely raked foredeck.
As you would expect, a step-through screen enables that cockpit to occupy the full beam here and the way the space is used is again very classical.
At the forward end, a pair of rotating offshore helm seats backs onto a starboard dinette and a corner seat to port. That port seat can also be specced as a compact wet bar with a sink, a top-loading fridge and a bin. And in common with other Windy sportscruisers, the big aft sunpad integrates with the aft end of the dinette, leaving the port side deck nice and open and enabling you to slide the backrest fore and aft one-handed.
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Given the potent profile of this boat, the accommodation also looks pretty good. The port galley sidesteps the issue of restricted headroom by positioning the sink at the aft end, beneath the curved aperture for the sliding door.
There’s a decent bit of workspace too, plus a quick-grab chest fridge beneath the cockpit deck, within easy reach of your left hand. And if you want to use this boat for weekending, there’s a permanent open-plan double in the V of the bow, plus a starboard heads compartment with decent space and light.
While the show boat was fitted with a Yanmar 370, which will apparently be good for about 44 knots, the most common fit-out is likely to use Volvo Penta’s weightier D6-440 for around 45 knots.
Petrol fans also have the option of a V8 430 for about 47 knots but in all cases, there’s plenty of space in the engine bay (and plenty of access for servicing) plus a neat little transverse compartment around the leading edge for a quick-rig bimini.
The style here is interesting though. In place of cool Nordic modesty, we have aggressively contoured helm seats and rude flashes of upholstery colour, thanks to Fareham-based Design Unlimited.
Whether all this stylistic exuberance is a shade too gregarious is a matter for debate but if the idea is to bring an extra dose of dynamism and youthfulness to the mix, it appears to have worked. Slotting neatly between the 27 Solano and the 32 Grand Zonda, this long awaited successor to the 29 Coho is already sold out until 2025.
Windy 29 Huracán specifications
LOA: 29ft 3in (8.91m)
Beam: 8ft 10in (2.70m)
Engines: Diesel/petrol inboard 370-440hp
Top speed: 47 knots
Price: pending
Contact: windyboats.com
