Bermuda 40 history

Regarded as one of the most influential sailboat designs of the 20th century, the Hinckley Bermuda 40 has cemented its place in maritime history

Our Mission

The Bermuda 40 Association is dedicated to celebrating, preserving, and sharing the rich heritage of the iconic Hinckley Bermuda 40 sailboat. We are a community of passionate owners and admirers committed to maintaining the craftsmanship, performance, and timeless elegance of these classic yachts.

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This boat has stood the test of time, and although the design is now almost 60 years old, many people still consider the Bermuda 40 one of the most beautiful yachts afloat.

Naval Architect, Jack Horner

The Visionary Designer

The Bermuda 40 was the brainchild of renowned naval architect William H. Tripp Jr., whose innovative designs combined cutting-edge engineering with timeless elegance. Tripp's masterful eye created sailboats that were both high-performance yachts and aesthetic masterpieces that continue to turn heads more than six decades later.

Taking inspiration from his Block Island 40—one of the earliest production fiberglass sailboats of the late 1950s—the Bermuda 40 represented a significant evolutionary leap. Tripp combined the latest materials and construction techniques with his innovative design philosophy, creating what many consider his finest work.

Built for Bluewater Adventures

The Bermuda 40s were constructed at Hinckley's legendary boatyard in Southwest Harbor, Maine, where master shipwrights employed meticulous attention to detail using only the finest materials. It has been said that Hinckley built "a wooden boat inside a fiberglass hull"—combining traditional craftsmanship with revolutionary materials.

From the brilliant varnished exterior teak trim to the warm teak and mahogany interiors featuring the signature solid teak and holly cabin sole—these yachts are truly works of art on the water. But the Bermuda 40 was no delicate flower—it was a ruggedly built passagemaker designed for incredible durability and seaworthiness.

The hull construction used hand-laid woven rovings, mat, and bidirectional fiberglass fabrics, creating exceptional strength-to-weight ratios. This "solid fiberglass construction" methodology provided the ultimate in durability, enabling these yachts to handle the most challenging offshore conditions with confidence.

Production Legacy

203

Hulls Built

32

Years in Production

1959

Hull #1 Launched

1991

Final Hull Delivered

Evolution Through Three Generations

Over its remarkable production run from 1959 to 1991, the Bermuda 40 evolved through three distinct models, each incorporating refinements while maintaining Tripp's original vision:

Mark I

The Original Custom

(1959-1962)

  • The original Bermuda 40 Custom established the timeless proportions that would define the entire series. Built with a traditional full keel and elegant long-overhanging bow, these early hulls featured a 47-foot bridge clearance and carried 725 square feet of sail area.

  • The yawl rig was the configuration of choice during this era, perfectly complementing the yacht's classic lines and providing excellent balance for both cruising and racing. These founding hulls set the standard for the legendary seaworthiness and beauty that would characterize all Bermuda 40s to follow.

Mark II

Refined Performance

(1963-1967)

  • The Mark II represented thoughtful evolution while maintaining the design's core character. The most significant enhancement was the addition of an airfoil centerboard, improving windward performance without sacrificing the full keel's seaworthiness. The mainmast was raised slightly to 49 feet 3 inches bridge clearance, increasing total sail area to 741 square feet for enhanced light-air performance.

  • The yawl rig remained the preferred configuration, though numerous other refinements were incorporated based on owner feedback and advancing marine technology.

Mark III
Modern Performance

(1968-1991)

  • The Mark III underwent the most substantial changes in response to the new IOR racing rule and evolving performance expectations. Working with Peter Cooper of Sound Spar, Bill Tripp dramatically increased the aspect ratio of both main and mizzen masts. The mainmast was raised a full four feet three inches and moved aft nearly two feet, significantly enlarging the foretriangle.

  • This major rig change raised the center of effort, necessitating an additional 1,000 pounds of ballast in the keel. The added weight caused the boat to sit lower on her marks, effectively adding a foot to her waterline length. These changes successfully maintained the Bermuda 40's competitive edge through nearly two decades of production.

Sloop or Yawl Configurations

  • The Bermuda 40 was offered in both sloop and yawl configurations, catering to different sailing preferences and rating rules of the era. The sloop rig provided a streamlined, efficient setup, while the yawl variant added a smaller mizzen mast for improved downwind performance, better balance, and easier handling in various conditions.

open water

Proven in Racing and Bluewater Cruising

From its conception, the Bermuda 40 was designed as a capable bluewater cruiser that could confidently handle the most challenging offshore conditions. This focus on seaworthiness and performance paid dividends as Bermuda 40s achieved remarkable feats across the world's oceans.

Legendary Ocean Passages

Perhaps most notably, John Guzzwell's famous solo circumnavigations in the 1960s marked the first time this incredible feat was achieved in a production fiberglass yacht. Multiple Bermuda 40s have since completed circumnavigations, with their proven ability to handle heavy weather inspiring great confidence in owners venturing to distant shores.

Another notable passage includes Richard G. Gantt Sr. double-handing with his wife Edythe on Celerity ‘85 M III Yawl, covering over 37k miles over 17 years from 1987 to 2010.

These and other adventures truly demonstrated the design’s exceptional seaworthiness and reliability in the world’s most demanding waters.

Racing Achievements

While designed primarily as luxurious cruising yachts, Bermuda 40s also proved formidable competitors on the racecourse. Their sleek lines, responsive handling, and excellent balance made them consistent performers in prestigious offshore races.

Notable racing achievements include multiple victories in the iconic Newport-Bermuda Race, with several hulls winning overall on corrected time. The design's ability to maintain speed in varying conditions while providing crew comfort made them favorites among serious ocean racers.

Members Connie and Michael Cone exemplified this racing spirit by winning the prestigious 2014 Newport-Bermuda St. David's Lighthouse Trophy in their 1987 MIII Bermuda 40 Yawl, ‘Actaea’, proving these classic designs remain competitive against modern yachts.

A Lasting Legacy

Today, more than six decades after Hull #1 Huntress was launched in 1959, the Hinckley Bermuda 40 remains an iconic symbol of American yacht design and construction excellence. Both Huntress and Fireice (the 203rd and final hull) continue sailing the Chesapeake Bay today, a testament to the enduring quality of these remarkable vessels.

With their timeless beauty, graceful long overhangs, and exquisite teak brightwork, these classic yachts represent everything increasingly rare in today's production boat market. In an era of modern designs that often resemble "fat wedges of pie with a stick in the middle," the Bermuda 40's elegant lines and warm varnished details create an unmistakable presence on the water.

As a founding member of the National Sailing Hall of Fame and through the dedication of owners worldwide, the Bermuda 40's heritage continues to inspire new generations of sailors who appreciate the marriage of performance, beauty, and proven seaworthiness that defines these exceptional yachts.

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The B40 is to be bought on the day that the full significance of 'you only have one life to live' becomes clear.

- Bermuda 40 Owner

Be Part of This Legacy

Join the community of passionate owners who continue to celebrate and preserve the heritage of these remarkable yachts. Whether you're a current or previous owner of this classic yacht, we welcome you to be part of the Bermuda 40 story.