Valiant 40 owners love their boats with an almost religious fervor. That’s not surprising, considering that the Valiant 40 gives them a combination of characteristics summed up in the term it introduced: performance cruiser.

Designed in 1973 by a youthful Bob Perry, the Valiant offered something most cruising boats just didn’t have then – the ability to sail fast. The skeghung rudder and modified fin keel give the double ended hull a level of quickness and maneuverability unheard of in cruising boats of the time. This, combined with comfortable cruising interior and an exceptionally strong hull, made the Valiant 40 a veritable sailing phenomenon.

Originally built by Uniflite in Washington, Rich Worstell (a Valiant dealer) took over production when they went out of business. With a commitment to never compromising the boat’s renowned integrity, Worstell built a loyalty among owners. He went on to build larger and smaller Valiants and today his Texas plant is busy turning out Valiant 42s, a Perry-designed evolution of the 40.

200 Valiant 40s were built before production ended in 1992. Today there is a permanent waiting list for used models. Would-be owners can expect a long wait – a survey showed that half are still sailed by their original owners. The outsized appeal of the Valiant 40 once earned it the label of “cult boat”. Much of the boat’s popularity derives from its remarkable achievements under sail. It has been the boat of choice for a number of circumnavigators and has finished at the top of fleets in some of the world’s most challenging races, including the Singlehanded Transatlantic and the BOC Challenge. According to Worstell, no Valiant 40 has suffered a disabling failure.