2026 Elan Yachts 65

Elan SixtyFive: A Carbon-Epoxy Bluewater Cruiser Built on IMOCA Racing Technology

1. General Information

The Elan SixtyFive is the first yacht in an entirely new performance-cruising range from the Slovenian builder, marking a deliberate pivot away from the family-cruiser market Elan built its name on. Co-designed with long-time partner J&J Design and IMOCA veteran Guillaume Verdier, she is built in vacuum-infused carbon-epoxy to a light displacement roughly half that of a typical bluewater cruiser her size, a difference that translates directly into performance: the design team predicts she will sail faster than the true wind up to 11 knots and plane from around 14 knots.

She is aimed at an experienced owner-sailor who wants genuine racing-derived performance without giving up the comfort or safety needed for serious ocean passages, whether that is cruising with family and friends or crossing an ocean short-handed. Below decks, the layout puts a spacious forward owner's suite with a walk-in wardrobe alongside three or four further en-suite cabins, and just a single metre of height difference between cockpit and saloon keeps movement around the boat easy underway.

2. Construction and Design

Every structural decision on the SixtyFive traces back to IMOCA and America's Cup racing practice. The forward-protected cockpit position, borrowed directly from IMOCA round-the-world racers, gives full shelter from the elements while still allowing autopilot control, powered sail trim and clear sightlines to the sails and sea, and can be heated or air-conditioned depending on the cruising ground.

Digital load monitoring and a custom IMOCA-style autopilot are built in from the outset rather than added afterwards, while power-assisted furling headsails and captive electric winches let a shorthanded crew, or a single sailor, handle a 65-foot yacht safely in a wide range of conditions. Below, lightweight sandwich furniture keeps weight down without compromising fit and finish, and the gently sloping companionway is kept low specifically to make the transition between cockpit and saloon effortless at sea.

3. Key Features

• Carbon-Epoxy Construction – Vacuum-infused carbon-epoxy build gives a light displacement roughly half that of a comparable bluewater cruiser, transforming both performance and motion under sail.

• IMOCA-Derived Cockpit and Systems – A forward-protected helm position, digital load monitoring and a custom IMOCA-style autopilot bring round-the-world race technology to shorthanded cruising.

• J&J Design and Guillaume Verdier Pedigree – Naval architecture from long-time Elan partner J&J Design, working alongside IMOCA and America's Cup designer Guillaume Verdier.

• Genuine Performance Under Sail – Predicted to sail faster than true wind speed up to 11 knots and plane from around 14 knots, well beyond typical bluewater cruiser performance.

• Ensuite Accommodation for Up to Five Cabins – A forward owner's suite with walk-in wardrobe plus three or four further en-suite guest cabins.

4. Summary

The Elan SixtyFive is aimed at an owner-sailor who wants the technology and performance of round-the-world racing brought into a genuinely liveable bluewater cruiser, someone who values sailing the boat as much as arriving on it. She will suit an experienced couple or small crew planning ocean passages who do not want to trade speed and engagement for comfort, and equally an owner who simply wants their 65-footer to sail noticeably better than the competition. As the first model in Elan's new premium performance range, alongside the forthcoming SeventyThree and Eighty, the SixtyFive represents a considerable strategic bet by an 80-year-old builder better known historically for family cruisers, and early reviews suggest the ambition is well founded.