• With the Camira, Windy have upheld their tradition of producing mouth-watering sports cruisers.
  • … another Windy classic that will cause some serious consideration for those with the budget available.
  • Thrusting forward from standstill, the auto trim ensures the props are biting to their optimum and the boat is held at the correct angle of attack.

Simon Everett enjoys a spot of luxury by exploring the changes made to the newly reworked Camira 39 from the Windy stable.

Nothing stands still. There is always movement and progress, especially in the world of boats. The winds of change have blown a refreshing breeze over Windy’s 39ft model to give customers more room on board and a warmer, less clinical atmosphere to the welcoming accommodation. The same, proven offshore hull platform has been used and it gives similar performance to the acclaimed Zonda 31, at around 45 knots, but from twin D6 engines.

The original Windy 39 sports cockpit has been reworked to create what Windy call their ‘sun pad layout’. The previous arrangement provided a 2m garage, the new layout allows for a 2.4m tender to be stowed. The bathing platform has been extended and there is the option to specify a hydraulic version. The cockpit can be covered with a very neat canopy that lifts on gas struts and is tensioned electronically. One person can raise the canopy in seconds – it is lifted without tension, then at the press of a button the electronic tensioners pull everything taut evenly. It is very similar to the convertible hood on a modern cabriolet.

With the canopy in place and the cockpit heating turned on, the Camira becomes a boat for proper winter use, thereby extending the season and giving the owner a longer time on the water throughout the year. Some of the best days of boating, although shorter, are when it’s bright and sunny in January, when you more or less have the place to yourself. It really is fabulous.

Side decks have been eschewed for forward access. Steps through the windscreen save space and create greater room down below. And in another change from the earlier, sports version, the bulkheads have progressed from a rather stark, light grey to a warmer, more homely feel with a wood veneer finish. The accommodation is spacious enough and is lit throughout by LED downlights in the deckhead to augment the natural lighting.

The layout is typical sports cruiser with the main cabin forward, heads compartment to port and second cabin accessed through a cabin door aft of the starboard galley. The second cabin extends below the helm and cockpit, so the headroom is limited, but there is plenty of width to the berths and stowage for clothing. The main cabin has a raised double berth and a hanging locker plus drawers, and it benefits from standing headroom around the foot of the bed.

Right next door is a really plush heads and shower compartment, with full standing headroom, despite the seemingly low profile of the boat. In typical Scandinavian style, the ablution accoutrements are very stylish in a simple, understated kind of way.

The galley sits between the two cabins, so the smell of bacon in the morning should ensure a good start to the day for many! The basic cooking facilities comprise a microwave down below, with a full-sized fridge and worktop with hot and cold sink. For more elaborate cooking there are cockpit options including a choice of gas- or diesel-fired hob or specialist marine barbecue – either will go well with the built-in wet bar on the port side.

It is difficult to describe the wide-ranging high-quality aspects of a Windy. Many of them are intangible – a case of the whole is more than the sum of its parts. The boat is conceived as a glorious dayboat with long-weekend capability for a family. As such, this capability will certainly prove to be more than up to the job and maintain stature in mixed company.

The performance-orientated hull is constructed from high-tech resin infusion laminates for torsional rigidity and lighter weight without sacrificing strength. The twin D6 engines drive through duo-prop sterndrives with power steering and auto trim, which can be switched to manual in trying circumstances or for greater reward at the helm. In auto mode, though, acceleration from standstill onto the plane is taken care of by the sensors, and the optimum angle of attack is maintained throughout the transition from displacement to plane, and held there for the duration of the passage.

The cockpit layout has been changed slightly from the original sports version to this, the new ‘sun pad’ model. The differences are slight but change the entire appearance of the cockpit – a bit like moving the furniture around in a favourite room. To start with, the garage will now house an extra 0.4m of tender with room for a 2.4m RIB. The after end can either be furnished with a larger-area swim platform or a hydraulic bathing platform as an option, which is useful where berth space is limited or restricted for length.

The massive sun pad is created by dropping the table and using an infill to level the area – and the backrest slides aft, creating an enormous, upholstered area within the safety of the cockpit, while retaining a through walkway from the bathing platform to the cabin. Below the sun pad the mighty motors reside quietly, like a slumbering pair of dragons in their cave just waiting to be awoken. Access within the engine bay is sufficient for day-to-day checks, but for serious maintenance the lid will lift off completely.

Any Windy boat is about driving, though. It is a very serious driver’s boat with a top speed approaching 45 knots and the kind of handling that could be made use of in a James Bond film. The joy of the Camira lies in her totally relaxed manner on the water. Her very creditable top speed makes for rapid progress, should you want it, and the phenomenally capable Windy hull is kindly enough to keep the speed up even when conditions are against you. The extremely stiff hull just brushes off waves with disdain and a slight nod of her head. Putting the wheel over imparts an immediate response as the hull heels to the command and carves beautifully into the turn – but in a completely unflustered manner, not the frenetic frenzy of activity that you get from lesser hulls.

Thrusting forward from standstill, the auto trim ensures the props are biting to their optimum and the boat is held at the correct angle of attack. This is set up by the factory and is adjustable to suit. It works by reacting to the engine revs and their rate of increase. In getting such a heavy boat moving so easily and rapidly, little differences like this can add to the enjoyment of the driving experience. It all just makes life so much easier, as with similar little nuances such as electronic handbrakes or automatic transmission. Some will see it as taking the fun out of driving, others will embrace the freedom from thought it brings. If you want to take over yourself, it is easy to turn off.

With the Camira, Windy have upheld their tradition of producing mouth-watering sports cruisers. She is one of the best-handling, best-looking, fast sub-40ft sports cruisers available, and another Windy classic that will cause some serious consideration for those with the budget available.


Specifications

Length overall: 12.27m
Beam: 3.69m
Dry weight: 7600kg
Engines: 2 x D6 @ 370hp or 400hp
Fuel tank: 840 litres
Freshwater tank: 215 litres
Max. speed: Approx. 45 knots
Cruising speed: 38 knots
Cruising range: Approx. 270nm


Performance Figures

RPM Knots
600 4.3
1000 7.5
1500 10.0
1750 13.5 planing
2000 16.7
2250 20.7
2500 26.2
3000 34.2
3600 43.6


Price

TBA


Contact

Berthon Boat Company
The Old Shipyard
Bath Road
Lymington
SO41 3YL

Telephone: 01590 673312

www.berthon.co.uk