Cayman 28: The Gentleman’s Skiff

The Cayman 28 is making waves in the sailing community, proudly dubbed ‘the gentleman’s skiff’ by Code Yachts in Hungary. This sleek boat, designed by Mark Mills, features a full carbon build and fun extensions for hiking racks that add to its appeal.

Originally crafted as a one-off for a client in the Cayman Islands, the Cayman 28 quickly gained popularity, leading to more orders. Those interested in understated luxury on the water are certainly taking notice!

The first outing for this impressive vessel was nothing short of spectacular. The Cayman 28 took part in the Blue Riband race around Lake Balaton, one of the largest races in the world with a staggering 600 boats participating. Mark Mills himself reflected on the experience, stating it was both thrilling and beautiful, despite the challenge of a shake-down sail at such a grand event.

Equipped with a simple backstayless rig along with necessary adjustments for the main and jib sheets, the Cayman 28 eliminates the need for bulky winches. Instead, it utilizes a low-profile Harken Snubbair winch located on the rack to manage the sheets easily.

The design for the hiking racks can support up to five sailors, and when fully extended, it broadens the beam to an impressive 3.9 meters! This configuration significantly boosts the boat’s righting moment — a handy advantage while racing. Notably, one of the early models has already reached impressive speeds of over 21 knots!