Impala 28

Description

The Impala 28 is a British one-design offshore racer-cruiser designed by David Thomas in 1977 and built primarily by Hunter Boats (UK) until 1985, with around 155 hulls produced. At 27 feet 10 inches LOA with a narrow 9-foot 4-inch beam and an ultra-light displacement of just 4,400 lbs (1,900 lbs ballast in a deep 5-foot 6-inch fin keel), it was created as a direct competitor to the highly successful Contessa 28, but with dramatically better speed and far more exciting handling. The fractional masthead rig carries a modest but very efficient 340 sq ft upwind (fully battened main + 100–110% blade jib) and a large symmetrical spinnaker, giving sparkling performance in all conditions and PHRF ratings typically in the 150–165 range. Below decks it is starkly minimalist—two settee berths, two quarter berths, a tiny forepeak, and a portable head—because every ounce was sacrificed for boat speed. Fast, twitchy, and demanding yet remarkably seaworthy (several made successful transatlantics), the Impala quickly established one of the strongest and longest-lived one-design classes in the UK, with national championships still fiercely contested every year on the Solent and in Scotland. Out of production for decades, the Impala 28 remains a cult classic among sailors who value pure performance and close racing above comfort, and well-maintained examples are highly prized on the second-hand market.