Constructed by the Scandinavian boat manufacturer Windy Boats, the splendid Windy 26 Kharma boat has been nominated for the ‘2013 Motor Boat of the Year Awards’. The Windy 26 Kharma is a lovely weekender that mixes up extraordinary performance with luxurious as well as versatile on–board living.
Windy 26 Kharma weekender running
The 26 Karma has been selected for ‘Best New Boat’ in the ‘Performance & Superboat’ category. The winner will be announced at the 2013 London International Boat Show (12-20 January).
A successor to the much-lauded 25 Mirage, the 26 Kharma boasts the same superlative deep-vee hull, high performance, and razor sharp handling. However, thanks to new resin-infusion build techniques, the new model delivers more boat for the same weight than its predecessor.
The key to the entire Kharma concept is in its superb cockpit canopy design, described by one experienced magazine editor as “the easiest system I have ever seen.” As Ben Toogood of UK Windy dealer Berthon explains: “It only takes a few minutes to put the canopy up – you raise the engine hatch and out it comes. It means that you can instantly turn the cockpit into a dry, comfortable living space – somewhere you can spend a lot more time.”
As well as folding table and practical seating, the cockpit features a drawer fridge under the helm seat and a concealed sink on the port side. Further adding to the boat’s versatility is the upholstered back rest which can be placed forward or aft, creating a thwartships sofa with sunbed behind, or a more sociable sunlounging spot enclosed within the cockpit seating area.
Down below, the Windy 26 Kharma boat has one large and luxurious double berth, with a sea-toilet installed centrally under a strut-supported hatch.
The Kharma comes with an impressive range of engine options, both petrol and diesel, up to a maximum of 600hp which give it a top speed considerably in excess of 40 knots.
Windy 26 Kharma Statistics:
Length overall 7.88m (25ft 10in)
Beam 2.46m (8ft 1in)
Draught 0.90m (2ft 11in)
Displacement 2.2 tonnes approx
Engine options
1 x 170hp Volvo Penta D3 DP
1 x 220hp Volvo Penta D3 DP
2 x 260hp Volvo Penta D4 DP
2 x 300hp Volvo Penta D4 DP
Petrol engines also available
Fuel capacity 300lt (79 US gal)
Water capacity 70lt (18.5 US gal)
Maximum speed 43 knots
Cruising speed 30+ knots
Cruising range 250 nautical miles
Designer Hans-Jørgen Johnsen, Windy
