BILL LEE 40 1973

Introducing Panache, a stunning 40-foot custom offshore racing sloop designed and built by the renowned William "Bill" Lee in 1973. She represents one of the pioneering vessels from Lee's early boatbuilding endeavor in Santa Cruz/Soquel. With a design philosophy centered around ultra-light displacement and high performance, Panache embodies the idea that "light is fast - fast is fun," a principle that has influenced the sailing community for decades. Originally owned by Roderic "Rod" Park and home-ported in the San Francisco Bay area, Panache made her mark by competing in the prestigious 1973 Transpacific Yacht Race, where Bill Lee himself sailed alongside Park. Her impressive racing history includes notable finishes such as 2nd in Class B in both the 1973 and 1975 Transpac races, and a 5th place finish in 1977, along with further participation in subsequent races. Panache is not just a racing yacht; she is a significant piece of maritime history that laid the groundwork for the Bill Lee Ultra-Light Displacement Boat (ULDB) movement. By challenging conventional boat design, Lee created a vessel that could accelerate onto a plane and surf downwind, paving the way for future lightweight racing legends like Chutzpah and the iconic Merlin.

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