The Victoria 26 Sailboat

The Victoria 26 is essentially the same boat as the Frances 26, but built in the UK by Victoria Marine and renamed the Victoria 26. The Frances 26 had a smaller and lower coachroof than the Victoria 26. There was also a version of the Victoria 26 built in the US by Victoria Yachts, designed by G. William McVay.

The Victoria 26 has a simple but nicely finished interior, with four berths, a separate heads, and a galley. The forward cabin has a V-berth, the saloon has two settee berths, and the head is located aft to port. The galley is opposite to starboard, with a sink, a stove, and a cool box. There is also a chart table and a hanging locker.

Victoria Marine offered semi-custom build, so interior layouts may vary from the example illustrated above. Some boats may have different arrangements of berths, storage, or equipment.

The Victoria 26 has a cutter rig, with a mainsail, a staysail, and a yankee jib. Some boats may have roller furling on the headsails, or slab reefing on the mainsail. The mast is deck-stepped, and supported by stainless steel wire rigging.

The Victoria 26 has a long fin keel with encapsulated lead ballast and a sternpost-hung rudder. There are no other keel options available for this boat.

The Victoria 26 is a heavy displacement cruising boat that is slightly underpowered. It needs a stiff breeze to get going, and may require motor-sailing in light winds. However, it is very stable and seaworthy and can handle rough conditions well. It is not very fast or agile, but it is comfortable and easy to handle.

The average cost of a secondhand Victoria 26 may vary depending on the condition, equipment, and location of the boat. However, based on some online listings, it may range from £15,000 to £25,000.

No, Victoria Marine ceased trading in 1998. However, there is an owners association called The Victoria Shadow Association that provides support and information for owners of Victoria and Frances boats.

Chuck Paine, the designer of the Victoria 26, has created many other sailboats, such as Able 42, Annie 30, Apogee 50, Bougainvillaea 54, Bougainvillaea 62, Bowman 40, Bowman 42, Bowman 48, Cabo Rico 40/42, Cabo Rico 42 Pilot, and many more.