SAINT BARBARA is a cruising and racing sloop designed by Erik Sponberg for a client who was deeply involved in both the design and construction process. The client supplied CNC-cut components as the boat’s construction progressed.

The hull was constructed using cedar strips, over which a carbon fiber skin was applied to both the interior and exterior. This method ensured a lightweight yet strong structure. An experimental foresail handling system, developed collaboratively by the client and Sponberg, enables full sail management from the cockpit. Water ballast tanks provide increased righting moments when conditions demand it.

An innovative dagger keel and dagger rudder, also designed by the client, allow for a shoal draft in shallow waters. The custom carbon fiber mast was created with a plug jointly built by Van Dam and the client. Many features of the boat are experimental, offering the client the opportunity to refine various systems and optimize performance.

The client selected Van Dam for their advanced CAD capabilities, extensive experience in crafting unique boats, and willingness to collaborate on his ideas. After her launch—and following a victory in her first race—the boat’s owner remarked, “She is silky smooth through the water, the smoothest sailboat I have ever sailed.”