Let´s dream a bit. Imagine yourself being a writer. An author. There´s a sketch of a book in your head. Just an outline, a faint idea. You get up in the morning, your cozy little office already nicely warm. Sitting down on the stool, just wearing a bathrobe, you take a look out of the window in front of you: Icy-cold blue water, no wind at all. Like a mirrow. You smile, as you fold up your laptop, Word loads, the draft manuscript opens. A cursor blinks impationatly just as if it wants to get you to punch in the next thousand or so of words, further completing your story.
It´s the perfect place to seek inspiration. Clean, light-suffused and quiet. Your writer´s desk is a boat office in fact. The boat gently moving at anchor in a remote bay somewhere deep down south. Where no crowded marinas grind your gears and no enervating stupid goofballs´bass-drum-hammering power boats dash by leaving a wake of chaos. Here, you are simply and completely alone. Just you and some occasional seal swimming by, sneaking sweetly into your bow cabin before diving again, trying to snatch some fresh fish.
Your wife, she already woke up a bit earlier than you, hears you are awake and brings you a hot steaming black tea, a slice of fresh lemon and two chunks of suger. Just as you love it. She´s so sweet! You give her a kiss on her cheeks and promise to join her for a late brakfast after you´ve finished the current chapter. How much of a lucky guy are you?!
Twenty minutes or so – time doesn´t really matter here – you get dressed up properly and leave the front cabin. The laptop is folded down. The saloon is filled with the mouth watering scent of some crusty bacon and scrambled eggs. Your wife waves, smiling, whilst cutting some green chive from the little plant pot´s parade of fresh herbs. This will be a perfect day! You can see it, because the sun is already flodding the boat´s interior with golden sunlight: A rare occasion down here. A lucky day and you have an idea …
Lattitudes made comfortable
As you pass through the saloon to reach for the back of the boat, you are wearing no shoes at all. The boat´s heating system is constantly holding a nice and warm temperature. The system is capable to being timed when to heat up which area of the boat to which temperature. It´s a state-of-the art hot-water heating system: Efficient and above all, quiet.
You also don´t need to wear shoes because the whole boat is insulated thoroughly. That´s not only the hull and the deck but also the floor boards of the yacht, creating a nice, closed „capsule“ that will be absolutely comfortable even in the coldest (and also warmest) lattitudes. It´s just a button push away to adjust what comfort you need.
As a skillful skipper, you quickly sit down at the navigator´s chart table which is placed just behind the front windows. On the large chart plotter the anchor watch-app is activated. Luckily, no wind outside and thus no stress whatsoever on the chain. Are there any new AIS-blips around? It would be a rare sight, given the extreme remote place you brought your yacht to, but who knows? Maybe another sympathetic sailing couple on their explorational time-out?
Comfort becomes rugged
As it will take some minutes for the breakfast to be ready to feast upon, you slip into your warm sailing boots, open the thick, insulated doors, climb out of the boat outside into the fresh, icy-cold air. You close these heavy doors quickly as you don´t want to let in too much of the coldness, these things will not just keep the warmth inside but also even the heaviest of breaking waves and wash outside.
This, your sailing author´s writing office, is indeed a rugged yacht! She can take a heavy beating. The fixed dodger, more like an „open“ pilot house, offers protection even in hard storms and will master any skirmishes your boat will be thrown into even by the rattiest God of the Seas.
Back there at the double steering wheel helm stations, much high up over the water, the high freeboard and deistance to the brawling seas will be conveyed into perceived and actual safety. More than that, when sailing in „nicer“ waters and calmer winds, the boat instantly turns into a lush, comfortable and luxurious cruising vessel: Think comfy cushions and a large sun-blocking bimini will make any longer sun-battered sailing leg a sheer pleasure.
There´s no blip on the AIS. If there was, you could call them up via VHF and invite them to come over. Your 60-feet boat can take on many guests, everything is designed to accomodate guests in a nice and luxurious environment. You have more than enough treats aboard, both food and beverages, to spontanously throw a sailor´s dinner for your fellow sailing friends. What a dream … just, imagine!
Welcome aboard Garcia´s flagship
Well, this was just a little excursion into my mind. I am sure, many of you have similar ideas of sailing: Exploring the more remote areas of our planets is a niche – in terms of how many people will really be able to pull a sailing adventure like this through – but is a huge thing. Books describing the arctic and antartcic voyages are flourishing, many YouTube-Channels and instagram-accounts are there to be followed.
Garcia Yachts is one of the few brands specialized in making the boats of choice when sailing into those remote, wild and somewhat dangerous areas is on your list. I´ve had the chance to roam freely onboard the Garcia Exploration 60 during Cannes Yachting Festival 2024 just an hour or so before the official opening of the boat show. Uninterrupted time being alone, time to let my mind fly …
So, let´s start our walkthrough of this exploration cruiser up on deck, beginning with her large transom section. There is no folding bathing platform to start with. This would be something rather awkward aboard a boat like this. Nevertheless, even when you decide to take your morning swim around the boat, the transom alone is even wider than many folding platforms on other boats.
There are three rugged doors into the aft lazarettes. Here, your deflated dighy, the outboard engine and loads of stuff can be stowed away safely for pasage. A four-step ladder leading into the cockpit-deck shows the height difference from the water level to the socializing area. I would say, it´s very unlikely that a wave will be able to make ist way up here. A look into the lazarette reveals the absolutely bullet proof rudder-construction, heavy metal rudder trunks featuring self-aligning Jefa steering.
A walk on the deck
We walk along the side deck, you notice that the railing is of a different type: There is no wobbling, no loose cables. Of those there are three and you scratch your head, it feels as if the whole protection is a bit higher than on ordinary sailing boats you´ve been on until now.
The boat is filled with little details which makes sailing easier. It´s just details but something that is unknown to owners of the usual „suspects“ of industrial production boats: For example, amidships, there´s a hatch under which all inlets for the tanks are located. Instead of having to run around from bow to stern to refill and refuel, this is a central „hub“ at the widest part of the hull.
Looking at the modern mast, which of course sports on this boat a classy full battened main, held up by a mighty Reckmann hydraulic boom kicker, you´ll see that all lines are diverted aft to guarantee a safe and easy working on all lines from within the protected confines of the cockpoit/dodger. But there are also the good ol´ “Granny Bars“, adding significantly to the safety of anyone who might have to get up here when underway.
Of course, a boat like the Garcia 60 which is much more destined to high storms, high waves and take a hard beating, the weight distribution of the hull is thought-through. Being a centerboarder with internal hill ballast, the centerboard is heavy indeed but does not contribute much to the ballast. In this, any extra Kilogram of weight is welcome and must be put as low and as possible and as much to the center pivotal point of the hull. Of course, the windlass and anchor chain stowage is just before the mast foot.
She wants to be beautiful, of course, but with a Garcia, ultimately, function follows form. You can see it in so many little things. Just like the deck hatches. When all shipyards try to make their yachts as „flush“ as possible – which indeed looks awesome and beautiful and may not be any problem on Mediterranean yachts – the French shipyards equips the Garcia with them good old aluminium-framed watertight rugged hatches. Of course, the front windows are angled down to make for perfect sight even in heavy wash and rain.
Walking on the deck, long lasting Cork is used to provide a nice anti-skid surface and at least some kind of „Teak“-classic looks. I have seen some Cork-floored boats already and I must say it grows on me more and more. Onto a boat like the Garcia, this sustainable material definitely looks great and makes sense. On the fore deck the ex-anchor chain locker (now empty since the chain is in a central locker deep down near the bilge), so much extra stowage is created.
The two front lockers are cordoned off, making them two separated watertight compartments to put in fenders, (another?) dinghy, foldable marina bikes, diving equipment or whatever you like. The double bow roller intgrated into the massive aluminium bow sprit is a testament to the ruggedness of the boat: Anchoring in 70 knots of wind may require two strong anchors, being so far away from any civilization definitely calls for a back-up hook.
The reference in comfortable exploration yachts
Garcia makes aluminium yachts. Built by French Grand Large Yachting Group, this brand tackles the „real“ explorers and sailing couples who decide to leave the usual paths around the world. Apart from smaller one-off or semi-custom shipyards, Garcia is the largest and most well-known manufacturer of exploration yachts. Heavy, rugged boats that can take a beating – and last a lifetime.
In this, Grand Large Yachting has a very interesting offer: Either you go for their Allures, which I love to call „beautiful rugged cruising“ or you choose the full-aluminium Garcia for talking serious. Rand Large Yachting will further diversify their offer. An indicator was the fitting of more performance-oriented swing-keels onto the Allures lately. But back to our „go anywhere“-yacht. Garcias are the reference for exploration cruising. When the Bestevaer may be a dream yacht for many for sure, this boat is so far away especially in financial matters. The Garcia is no bargain, not at all, but maybe a bit more „attainable“? Even though, looking at the picture above, she is quite an impressive appearance: Even the gracious Allures 51.9 looks a bit thwarted when moored next to her.
Inside the Garcia Exploration 60
What was a really interesting feat for me was the level of luxury aboards this ship. I mean, 60 feet is a boat size that even with the „ordinary“ production boat companies is beyond 1.5 Million Euros. This boat easy double the price. So, ho wouldn´t expect at least some luxurious amenities aboard? But what was raising my interest was the fact that the Garcia 60 seems to display much more of it, then other brands in the same field. A Boreal for example is attracting the same clientel, but won´t „show off“ as much luxury.
In the saloon, first of all, you notice that you aren´t „down in the basement“ at all. The boat features a raised saloon-approach. This fact plus the relatively high feeboard of the hull creates an almost catamaran-like interio feeling. Being high up above the waves, especially for not-so-ambitious crewmembers and kids especially will make for a much perceived safety. The saloon, at first glance, has a pretty standard layout. Which is doesn´t have at all!
To starboard side – another 30 or so Centimeters higher (and there´s a reason for this, we will talk about that later) – is the large dining area. A very (!) comfortable U-settee, rich fitted with extra-thick cushions, around a very, very elaborately finished salon table (a shoutout to Garcia´s carpenters!) with a breathtaking 360 degree round view through the thick insulated windows. This is just jawdropping: Imagine you are anchoring in a remote icy bay off Antarctica …
Vis-a-vis the inevitable Captain´s sofa is positioned with a specialty of Garcia: The forward facing secondary helm station. To be precise, this is even the tertiary helm station as the secondary is to be found underneath the hard dodger in the cockpit. At this helm station, you can take full control over the ship and drive it, for example when the weather is too cold outside. I once talked with Jimmy Cornell who at some point worked as a counsellor and consultant for Garcia´s development team. This is something he was emphasising a lot, very practical and safe in really adverse conditions!
Into the catacombs
The Captain´s sofa „hides“ a secret. Remember when I said that the Garcia Exploration 60 appears to me to be kind of putting the term „luxury“ in „exploration“ up a notch? Well, here´s a prime example: Just by folding up one of the sofa cushions, an entry appears. Lights are switched on and you start to understand why the saloon and both sofas is raised in the first place: This creates so much volume underneath!
Whilst in classic boats the space between the underside of the floorboards and the actual hull is minimal, usually leaving no more room as to stow away some canned food or bottles of wine and beer, in a raised-saloon boat like the Garcia 60 nearly a full deck-level is created. No standing height of course, but a huge volume that can house many things.
For the Garcia 60 the port-side of this „tween deck“ is filled with auxilliary machinery. The encapsulated mighty generator finds its location underneath here, as well as the fuel polishing and other equipment. The level of electronic and electric fitting is exemplary: All wires, pipes and cables are expertly worked out, marked and labelled.
This of course „frees“ the classic engine room as most of the equipment would have been to have mounted inside here. The machinery will profit from this: More free moiving space around the mighty Volvo-Penta D-400 200 Diesel engine on the one hand and far less excess heat and vibrations for the auxilliary bits which can be mounted far away. By the way, there are surprises everywhere:
Opening one of the maintenance hatches, a literal palette of no less than ten (!) valve controls appears. The Garcia 60 has two main Diesel tanks with a fuel capacity of no less than impressive 2.500 liters. I mentioned the fuel polishing system, whoch is a must have for boats operating that far away from any civilization, these 10 valves are another detail: All along the fuel circle from the tank to the engine there are 5 possible shutdown points in case something happens. Instead of having to clean and work on the whole length of the piping in some breakedown scenario, this will make finding and working on the issues easier and more effective.
An upper brand´s fiishing quality
The Garcia Exploration 60 spoils owners and guests alike with an interior finishing quality of the highest kind. The joinery is of a heavy duty quality, as an example just look at these thick corners and end-strips. The handcraft quality is exceptional, but judging from the massive amount of hard wood used here, those pieces of furniture will last, well, maybe as long as the aluminium hull!
You will see these nicely done but also „heavy“ quality furniture all over the place in the cabins. The owner´s cabin of the boat – when chosen in „Family“ or „Standard“ layout (more on that later) features a large double half-island bed positoned a bit offset onto the starboard-side of the cabin. Sleeping here in a heavy seastate will be especially safe when on starboard-tack. The problem, as with any island bed-design, will be the tack of the opposite side. Thatswhy hard lee-cloth (a fold-up plank) is standard on the Garcia 60 to prevent the occupants from falling out.
The bed „cuddles“ behind the large center channel in which the anchor chain falls down and the system for lowering the centerboard is housed. It´s kind of „around the corner“ and thus – even when the door to the cabin is left open, will preserve some visual privacy. The cabin has a lot of stowage, but there´s even more.
Standard, Owner´s and Family layout
Garcia shipyard offers three layouts for the boat and that is the most exciting thing. You know how much I love single aft owner´s suites á la Oyster? Well, you can have one of these in the Garcia 60 as well! It´s a pity that this was not the layout-version on display here in Cannes, but just by looking at the layout drawing I can imagine the sheer plus in luxury when ordered. Clearly, this would by my layout!
Well, the version on display at the Croisette was the „Family“-layout with no less than four cabins. That is why the largest on this yacht is in the bow, making this one the owner´s cabin. From there, further more to the front, two doors appear. The left one opens up a workshop/storage room you´d find on any exploration vessel. The right one leads into the owner´s bathroom.
I really liked the owner´s bathroom, which didn´t comes in over-exaggerating luxury, but breathes pure functionality. It is not even very big: A thing any oceangoing sailor will appreciate as it is much safer to use the toilet or do the personal hygiene in a more confined space where you can find a safe grab at any time than to being thrown about in a dancehall-like open room.
The two aft cabins are almost identical. In this „Family“-version there are two of them, the „Standard“-version will feature only the starboard-side aft cabin with a huge (!) aft locker and stowage room. Again, I would have loved seeing the single aft owner´s suite which looks so tempting in the alyout graphics. The guest cabins however are very roomy with exceptionally large headroom above: No claustrophobic seizures to be feared here!
The „main“ bathroom is to starboard side, functioning also as the day bath when sailing. It will be easily reached from the cockpit above as well as from the aft cabin and the fourth, I call it the „pilot´s“ cabin which I will show you later. This bathroom has a toilet and a nice closed off shower. An amenity, the portside aft bathroom doesn´t have.
A bit awkward in the starboard-side bathroom was the absolutely huge „cathedral“ like ceiling! I am 1.86 meters tall and I couldn´t open up the two ventilation portlights. They are much higher than 2 meters and this needs for a small ladder or something. Maybe the shipyard will come up with a solution here: This was totally unpractical.
Other than that, it is impressive how much volume this boat has and how cleverly it is used! Remember the „hidden“ entry into the auxilliary machine room? Well, on the starboard side, opposite it, there´s another, the fourth, cabin. It´s double bed is placed deep, deep down in the hull and even given the fact that this cabin has a hull window, catching a glimpse of what happens outside will need you to get up. Nevertheless, 2 more people can sleep here. Your kids, guests or the crew if the boat has one.
Let´s discover the end of the world …
This cabin, in my mind, is the perfect place to be left „clean“ and used as a stowage for food when going on a long haul expidition. I´d go for the „Owner“-layout with a large aft cabin for me and my wife and one single bow cabin for my kids or occasional guests. The fourth „pilot´s“ cabin would be my food store.
Which brings us to the galley. It is located where it should be, to port side. Also, very deep low down in the ship´s hull. A huge five burner stove and a nicely sized worktop will make any ship´s cook work a delightful galley ballet. There are even twi nice large hull windows.
Plenty of stowage for crockery, dishes and all kinds of kitchen stuff. Clearly, for a boat that will sail very long legs at a time to reach the far destinations, the galley is a much, much more important part of the boat than, let´s say, for an ordinary cruising yacht where most of the time the people will eat out in a marina´s restaurant at the waterfront. The only thing I found which takes a bit to get used to were the large steps down, which you will have to take care of when working in that area: Risk of stumbling.
And there´s even more for the houskeeping, or shall I say „boatkeeping“? Between the main front bulkhead (saloon, mast foot) and the forward owner´s cabin, after going down two or three steps, there´s a houshold-utility´s room. It features a washer-dryer combination and even more freezing- and cooling capacity. What I really liked is the fact that even here, as well as in all the other „no guest areas“ the finishing quality is as high as in the more representative areas of this boat.
Is this the ultimate exploration sailing yacht?
Of course, it is in the eye of the beholder. As for the Garcia Exploration-series, according to sales and lead times for the next available production slots, these yachts definitely hit a spot! The Garcia Exploration 60 is a huge boat for sure. She conveys a sense of ruggedness and safety combined with a so far for me personally unmatched level of natural light, coziness and luxury. This is why I ultimately called this article „Luxploration“ – for me, Garcia is synonymous with „luxury exploration“.
Leaving this boat at the pontoon in Cannes, I think back to my imaginary author, who, with his beloved wife, anchors somewhere down south in a remote bay of Antarctica. I am sure, writing a book aboard one of these must be the ultimate experience and the best possible homebase for a creative mind. Well, I´d volunteer to check it out …
You may also find interesting to read these related articles:
At the Garcia/Allures shipyard of Cherbourg
Interview with Jimmy Cornell on long haul cruising
A day in France: Should I buy an Allures?