A unique fleet of nine pretty special light wind racers, inspired by the classic 40 m2 Square Metre Boat also known as Skerrycruiser or Skärgårdskryssare, is now sailing on Lake Balaton. Insights into this class, which is only known in Hungary.
With the collapse of communism in Hungary in 1989, the economy of scarcity also ended on the water. After decades of hardship, during which locals lovingly maintained and sailed their aged wooden skerry cruisers, an agile, light and fast 11:Metre One design on the lake was initially irritating. We can do better than that, thought Dénes Paulovits in a country with a considerable archipelago cruising tradition.
How the Pauger 70 came about
In the early nineties, he prepared the construction of a new 40 m2 plastic skerry cruiser. When he noticed that the hull of the wooden boat was asymmetrical when removing the mold, he stopped and designed a completely new boat based on the 40 Glória and Tabu: flat-bottomed and modern, from the striking stem to the cabin superstructure to the rapidly inclined transom. It was given a modern keel fin with a free-standing rudder blade and was rigged with a stately twin-sailed mast, set slightly aft, for light wind sailing. The 70 resulted from the initially planned nominal sail area, which in a classic archipelago cruiser consists of the mainsail ∆ ≈ + 85% of the headsail ∆.
Die Pauger 70 ist gut betucht und mit Klüverbaum für den Gennaker unterwegs – Foto Privat
In 1995-98, the yard newly founded by Paulovics built seven boats. A ravishingly modern, yet slender yacht – just as many variants were built in Sweden in the 1970s, only more consistently tailored to sailing and without the usual concessions to shipboard life or trade fair aspects.
Impressive sail carrying capacity
The sail geometry of the Pauger 70 is reminiscent of the seventies and eighties, when classic 40 m2 and 75 m2 archipelago cruisers were prepared for long-distance regattas on Lake Constance, Lake Chiemsee and Lake Garda, and were a hit until the advent of the modern Libera classes. With mainsail and genoa, the impressive sail load factor of 5.7 is achieved, with top genoa it is 6.3.
The understandable aversion of sailors of genuine, i.e. rule-compliant, archipelago cruisers in all archipelago cruising areas of the world to the modern, significantly more sailed newbuilds was answered without much ado with the creation of a separate class.
Men’s and sea toys
The Pauger 70 was intended for the Plattensee blue ribbon long-distance regatta and was successful until the catamarans appeared. Six or seven Pauger 70s often took part in the Blue Riband. On one occasion, the entire fleet, now consisting of nine boats, was even represented.
Länge über Alles
15 m
Länge Wasserlinie
12,50 m
Breite
2,10 m
Verhältnis von Länge zu Breite
7,1
Bauweise Rumpf und Deck
Balsa-Sandwich Laminat
Masthöhe über Deck
16,85 – 17,90 m
Groß
50 m2
Genua
50 m2
Topgenua
70 m2
Gennaker
220 m2
Verdrängung
5,2 t
Ballast/Ballastanteil
3,5 t/67 %
Tiefgang
1,70 oder 1,90 m
With a standard genoa of 100 m2, a top genoa of 120 m2 and a downwind sail area of 270 m2, the crew of six to eight is kept busy even in light winds. When the wind is fresh and the boat is heeling, Pauger 70 sailing becomes a challenge, and when it is stronger, it becomes an endurance test for crew and material.
Pauger 70 compared to the 40 m2 skerry cruiser
Although the Pauger 70 does not quite reach the height of a classic forty, it is faster. Thanks to its length and flat overhangs raised out of the water, it lies more calmly in the water than a conventional 40 m2 skerry cruiser. She scores points with greater speed when under sail. In strong winds, the Pauger 70 starts to planing. The low-torsion and robust design is also remarkable. The enormous amount of ballast offers considerable end stability, and reefing must be carried out correspondingly late. With a lot of heel, the slim long line offers reasonably symmetrical waterlines. Added to this is the low upwind yaw. Slightly aft swept spreaders forgive late set backstays.
In addition to boat builder Paulovics, Peter Gerlóczy and Gábor Lehoczky were also committed to the Pauger 70. In view of the reputation of the class and the normal human weekend and regatta enthusiasm, it is not surprising that Hungarian Olympic sailors have been seen on board time and again.
Air mattresses, tents with gas and suitable sprays are recommended for overnight stays on sailing weekends or during the summer vacations, provided the local mosquitoes are not already aware of the measures.
Zeigt her Eure Spiegel: sechs Pauger 70 am Plattensee – Foto Privat
The world of beautiful yachts on Lake Balaton
Dénes Paulovits made a name for himself as a boat builder with this exotic boat. The Pauger 70 was his first independent product. The number of units is remarkable for such an exotic boat with a small customer base. Today, Pauger Carbon Composites is the manufacturer of the Russel Coutts 44, Imoca 60 boats such as OceanLabs, Initiative Coeur or Bureau Vallée 2, other special designs and a specialist for carbon masts up to 30 m in length.
The elegance of the boat and its sailing characteristics explain why the Pauger 70 has a loyal fan club. The fleet now consists of nine boats named Orpheus, Capella, Krajcár, Gulipán, Pannónia, Anna, Iroquois, Honfoglaló and Bankonzult. The video shows what the boat makes out of nothing. The world of beautiful yachts on Lake Balaton.
Do you know more about the Pauger 70?
This portal lives from insiders. So your remarks help to improve this article. If you can contribute with additions, photos, or drawings? Please send your notes. Photo above by Pauger Carbon Composites: Pauger 70 Anna. Updated July 5, 25.→ Subscribe Newsletter and you won’t miss future articles.
