Why We Chose the Seawind 1600 and How She’s Carried Us Around the World
When we started seriously dreaming of sailing around the world with our eight-year-old son, we had one non-negotiable: our boat had to be as much a home as a high-performing bluewater cruiser. She needed to be safe, fast, and manageable for two people — but also comfortable enough to live aboard for years.
After much research, conversations with owners, and more late-night YouTube deep dives than we care to admit, one name kept surfacing – Seawind. And the 1600 was everything we’d been looking for: fast, strong, and cleverly designed for liveaboard life.
Why We Chose the Seawind 1600
We were drawn to the 1600’s combination of comfort, simplicity, and performance. She offers the best of both worlds – light enough to sail beautifully, yet solid and spacious enough to inspire confidence and relatively easy living while offshore.
From a design perspective, the Seawind 1600 is a real sailor’s boat. The protected helms make watch-keeping safe and social. The visibility from the saloon means whoever’s off-watch can still feel connected to what’s happening outside. And the galley layout allows safe cooking even in rough seas – something that becomes surprisingly important on those longer passages!
Beyond performance, Seawind’s philosophy resonated with how we wanted to live. Every inch of space serves a purpose. Storage is generous without feeling bulky, ventilation is excellent, and the natural light makes her feel open and calm. When you’re circumnavigating, these details define whether life at sea feels like endurance… or joy.
How She’s Performed in the World ARC
We joined the World ARC 2025-26 fleet in Saint Lucia and have since sailed more than 20,000 nautical miles across the Caribbean, Pacific, and Indian Oceans. Along the way, Pure Joy has lived up to her name.
We’re not racers by any stretch, but the Seawind 1600 has kept us moving swiftly on every leg. In light winds, she glides effortlessly; in heavier conditions, she feels solid and composed. We surfed trade-wind swells in winds of over 25 knots and still enjoyed dinner at the saloon table that night.
Within the rally, Pure Joy has held her own among a fleet that includes performance monohulls and high-end catamarans. She’s often near the front of the pack, but more importantly, she gets us there safely, comfortably, and ready to drop anchor with a smile.
For our family of three (plus rotating crew), life aboard has been beautifully simple. The natural airflow and shaded cockpit make tropical living easy, while the solar and lithium setup allows us to stay off-grid for weeks at a time. Maintenance has been straightforward – a huge plus when you’re thousands of miles from the nearest chandlery.
We did opt for a few ‘extras’ when commissioning Pure Joy, all of which have helped her to earn her reputation for being speedy, strong and comfortable:
- Performance sails – GPL lightskins carbon composite sails
- Downwind sails – asymmetric spinnaker, Wingaker
- Spare,fully redundant, autopilot system
- Fuel polishing system
- Upgraded 80HP Engines
- Upgraded chain & anchor
- Carbon Shrouds
- Starlink
- Iridium Satellite System
- Mastervolt alternators x2 (no generator)
- Separate drinking water tank (for bottled water only)
- Ice maker
- Dishwasher
From the squalls of the South Pacific to the calms of the Indian Ocean, the 1600 has proven herself as a capable, forgiving, and a genuinely enjoyable world cruiser.
What We’d Do Differently Next Time
If we were to build another World ARC-ready catamaran, we wouldn’t change much. But redundancy is king! The only major thing we would do differently next time would be to have an upgraded version of the watermaker option from Seawind and to have a second (back-up) watermaker in place as well.
Looking Back
As we near the final legs of the rally, I often think back to the day we first stepped aboard Pure Joy at the Seawind yard in Vietnam. We wanted a vessel that could take us safely to the far side of the world and back — and she has done that with grace, speed, and reliability.
The Seawind 1600 has been more than just our boat; she’s been our floating home, classroom, and compass for two unforgettable years.
Truthfully, the Seawind 1600 has been exactly what her name promised: Pure Joy – a boat that’s carried us safely, swiftly, and happily around the world.
Joy and David Poole are sailing around the world aboard their Seawind 1600 Pure Joy with their eight-year-old son, Elliot, as part of the World ARC Rally. They share stories, photos, and reflections from their circumnavigation on Instagram @sailingpurejoy and at www.sailingpurejoy.com. Elliot gives his view on their adventure via his vlog.