Alerion Yachts
Alerion Yachts represents the gold standard in modern classic daysailers and short-handed performance cruisers. Renowned for their striking traditional overhangs, low topsides, and effortless sail-handling systems, Alerion yachts seamlessly combine the aesthetic grace of traditional New England boatbuilding with the speed and convenience of modern underwater appendages and composite construction.
Celebrated for their responsive handling, ergonomic cockpits, and immediate underway readiness, Alerion sailing yachts are designed around a singular philosophy: maximizing time spent on the water with minimal crew effort. Whether out for a solo sunset sail, participating in club-level PHRF racing, or coastal cruising for a weekend away, Alerion delivers pure sailing joy without the heavy physical demands or rigging complexity of conventional cruisers.
Wellington Yacht Partners brings extensive, hands-on experience to the pre-owned Alerion market. Based in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, our brokers have spent decades navigating, listing, and selling classic New England designs across the full Alerion lineage, including the iconic Alerion Express 28, the high-performance Sport series, and larger cruising models. Whether buying or selling, we offer trusted, knowledgeable guidance to ensure a seamless transaction. Browse our current pre-owned Alerion yachts for sale below, or contact our brokers to discuss finding or listing a specific model.
Current Listings
TONIC
Pedigree & Performance
Brand History & Legacy
A Legacy of Heritage: The Pioneer of the Modern Daysailer
The Alerion story began with an inspiration drawn from Nathanael Herreshoff’s personal daysailer, Alerion III. In the late 1980s, naval architect Carl Schumacher modernized this classic concept by pairing timeless aesthetic lines above the waterline with a high-efficiency modern underbody, and Garry Hoyt later refined the formula with his jib boom and bulbed fin keel. Manufactured over the decades by premier builders, including TPI Composites and USWatercraft in Rhode Island, Alerion established an entirely new category in recreational sailing: the high-performance, single-handed daysailer built to modern composite standards.
Design & Craftsmanship
Classic Lines Meet Single-Handed Innovation
Every Alerion yacht is built around effortless operation, structural stiffness, and classic design integrity. Signature features, such as the Hoyt Jib Boom for self-tacking efficiency, carbon fiber spars, and under-deck line routing, keep cockpits clean, clutter-free, and safe. Modern fin keels with elliptical bulbs pair with balanced spade or carbon rudder stock to provide exceptional tracking, high initial stability, and feather-light helm control. Below deck and on coamings, hand-finished teak, varnish accents, and bright, functional accommodation layouts preserve a traditional yachting feel without compromising low-maintenance ownership.
Key Features & Model Variations
The Alerion Express Series (Classic Daysailers & Cruisers: 20′ to 41′)
The foundational lineup that defined modern daysailing, offering graceful lines, balanced sail plans, and instant sailing capability.
- Alerion Express 28: The iconic flagship model featuring a Hoyt Jib Boom, deep cockpit coamings, Yanmar diesel auxiliary, and optional Scheel or fin keel arrangements.
- Alerion Express 33 & 38: Mid-sized and larger models featuring expanded interior staterooms, enclosed heads, and standing headroom while retaining true single-handed sail controls.
- Alerion 41: The flagship coastal cruiser featuring dual-stateroom accommodations, custom joinery, and shorthanded push-button sail handling.
The Alerion Sport Series (Performance Daysailers: 30′ to 33′)
Engineered for sailors seeking an extra turn of speed, lighter displacement, and sprit-rigged performance for club racing and fast coastal passages.
- Modern composite rigging: Hall Spars carbon fiber masts, retractable bowsprits, and asymmetric spinnakers for rapid acceleration downwind.
- Performance underwater foils: High-aspect keels and balanced spade rudders that deliver crisp responsiveness and tight tacking angles.
What Sets Alerion Apart
Choosing an Alerion means investing in effortless sailing capability, timeless beauty, and strong market demand.
Unmatched single-handed ease
The combination of a Hoyt Jib Boom, mainsheet controls within arm’s reach of the tiller or wheel, and self-tailing winches makes solo sailing effortless.
Timeless New England styling
Low freeboard, sweeping sheer lines, varnished teak trim, and overhangs turn heads in every harbor.
Pure sailing dynamics
Modern fin keels and spade rudders offer crisp, responsive sailing characteristics that outperform traditional full-keel classics.
Turn-key operational readiness
No lifelines to rig and minimal setup required, allowing owners to remove the sail cover and be under sail within minutes.
Strong resale demand
Due to build quality and timeless styling, pre-owned Alerion yachts command steady demand and retain value across brokerage markets.
Frequently Asked Questions
Alerion yachts are engineered specifically for short-handed or solo operation. Key features include the self-tacking Hoyt Jib Boom, mainsheets and control lines led under-deck directly to the helm position, and simple furling systems. A solo skipper can raise, trim, and douse sails without ever leaving the cockpit.
The Hoyt Jib Boom is a self-tacking pedestal boom that holds the jib out at a constant angle when sailing off the wind. Unlike traditional self-tacking jibs that twist and lose power downwind, the Hoyt boom acts as a rigid strut, maintaining optimal sail shape on all points of sail without requiring manual whisker poles or complex rigging adjustments.
While larger models like the Alerion 41 are capable of coastal passages and offshore trips, the Alerion line is primarily optimized for daysailing, club racing, and short-term coastal cruising. Their low freeboards, expansive open cockpits, and focused interior volumes prioritize instant accessibility, stability, and ease of handling over heavy-displacement, long-term ocean passage-making.
Buyers should have a professional marine surveyor check the core integrity of the sandwich hull and deck laminate using a moisture meter, particularly around deck fittings and stanchions. Key inspection areas include the condition of the gelcoat, rudder bearings, standing rigging, Hoyt Jib Boom mounting hardware, and maintenance records for the Yanmar diesel engine or sail-drive unit.
Wellington Yacht Partners assists clients in buying and selling pre-owned Alerion sailing yachts. Based in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, close to where many Alerion models were built, our brokers have first-hand experience with the entire Alerion lineup. Contact our brokers or explore our online listings to get started.