Kay Cottee 56

It was easy to locate the Kay Cottee 56 at this year's Sanctuary Cove and Sydney Boat Shows - just follow the longest queue. Although it's more than a decade since Kay Cottee became the first woman to sail around the world alone and non-stop, her achievement and personality remain highly valued in the public consciousness, judging by the thrilled response of many show-goers when they discovered that Kay herself was conducting the guided tours of her new boat.

Curiosity about the type of boat Cottee would build for herself as the next step on from her now-retired globetrotter - the Cavalier 37 First Lady - was also running high.

In a nutshell, the KC 56 feels a lot bigger than 56ft and has the solid, steady motion through a seaway that says "serious ocean passagemaker". It's loaded with just about every marine accessory you could name to reduce the effort of sailing and increase the homestyle comforts, and it's got a woodyard full of Australian timbers - mainly Tasmanian blackwood and oak - below decks.

The overall impression is one of sumptuous luxury, which tallies with the price tag of $2.3 million for this Signature Edition version (including many more options than the standard Fixed Keel spec). It is certainly made to impress at the marina, but that's where the story starts rather than ends, because the boat really is set up for long-range bluewater cruising. It's a very big boat for a couple to manage, but it's set up to allow them to do so in great comfort, provided they have the budget and the commitment to maintenance required by all the equipment onboard.

HYDRAULIC LIFT KEEL
Kay Cottee and her husband Peter Sutton have set up a boatbuilding concern near Yamba on the NSW north coast to produce the 56 in fibreglass/foam sandwich. Because it served as the plug for the moulds, the first boat is built of cedar, ‘glass and epoxy.

The Signature Edition includes a hydraulic lift keel that can reduce the draft to around 1.6m ("perfect for Lord Howe Island", Kay says), without impacting drastically on the open-plan saloon layout. The casing for the keel is cleverly concealed as a central benchseat.

Cottee has drawn on her own boatbuilding and sailing experience to develop the overall concept and run the project on a day-to-day basis. Others involved include Barry Kean as production manager, David Lambourne of Brisbane who did the three-spreader anodised aluminium rig, and David Hayes of Gosford who did the stainless steel work. Initial design work was by Sydney-based designer Scott Jutson.

PUSH-BUTTON CRUISING
There are two helmstations, and both are set up to allow the steerer to carry out all the major functions by pushing the correct button for port or starboard primary winches, the bow thruster, anchor windlass and keel lift mechanism.

It's a big rig, with a 70ft mast and an overlapping masthead genoa. While all that sail area will be appreciated in moderate conditions out on the ocean, so will the labour-saving devices including the LeisureFurl boom (sure to be a godsend in allowing effortless reefing of the battened mainsail), the self-tacking staysail and Harken roller-furlers for both headsails.

The cockpit layout is made for entertaining, with ample comfy seating and a central table for those alfresco meals, while the mainsheet traveller is out of the way on the coachroof.

It's not possible to see over the coachhouse when sitting on the seats behind the wheels, but according to Kay, this hasn't proved to be a problem, with the Coursemaster 750 hydraulic autopilot actually doing most of the steering.

Those who relish the pleasures of 'holding the handle' should prepare for the fact that the 56's steering is quite heavy. A little more 'give' once the system settles in may lighten the load.

Winches and deck gear are by the Italian company Antal, from the Australian importer, Gineico, which also supplied the stylish light fittings below decks. The backstay and boom vang are hydraulic.

Lazarette locker space is substantial, with enough room for full-sized oars and all manner of cruising gear.

Kay is particularly proud of the workshop located forward of the master cabin and accessed through a large foredeck hatch. It houses a workbench, vice and room for storage of all manner of fastenings, fittings, etc.

DECK SALOON STYLE
The 56 is probably best called a low-profile deck saloon, allowing the advantages of improved light, vision and sense of spaciousness in the saloon without compromising the yacht's sheerline with a chunky coachhouse.

The saloon includes the dinette/lounge area to port with hydraulic-lift table, opposite the navstation (set up with all the electronic navigation and communication mod cons and boat management systems) and an entertainment centre including Samsung SyncMaster flatscreen monitor and five-stack CD/DVD.

Down a step forward of the saloon area is the galley to port with extensive facilities including a dishwasher and microwave, and a breakfast nook to starboard.

There are three private cabins, each with ensuites; the master cabin is forward and has a queen-sized berth and ensuite including a full-height shower and Corian benchtop with china basin. The aft cabin to port (designed by Cottee for her young son, Lee) has twin single bunks and a smaller ensuite, while the starboard side aft cabin has a double berth and a large ensuite, which can also double as the dayhead and includes a washing machine/dryer housed in the shower compartment.

There are two air-conditioning units: one for the cabins and another for the living area, while the aft cabins both have glass underwater viewing windows.

With so many power-hungry devices onboard, a reliable power and storage system is a necessity. Battery power is some 1760 amp/hrs, with 16 6V house batteries and two 12V batteries for the 140hp Yanmar diesel and the 8kVa generator. There is also a 140amp alternator.

It's hard to think of any item that has been omitted from the 56 Signature Edition. Although the first boat is on the market, Cottee hopes that hull number two or three will be her own and plans an extensive round-Australia cruise - with friends. Who wants to go single-handing, when there's so much to share aboard the 56?