At first glance, the Andrews 28 looks like a MORC racer from days gone by, with a high, initially unappealing cabin top. But with that high cabin top, high freeboard, and plumb bow, the boat has an incredible amount of interior volume. In an era where everything else is low-slung, racy and angular, this one somehow manages to carry all that interior volume and still sail gracefully through the water, upwind and downwind. While it's certainly capable of doing a lot more than banging around the cans, this little Alan Andrews rocket is exactly what you want for weeknight club racing.

The boat is a result of the boat builder, Ivan Ivandic's love for the Laser 28. With a desire for a higher-tech and drier boat, Ivandic took it upon himself to build his own. Originally from the Czech Republic, Ivandic once owned a powerboat-building company in his native country, but when it came time to build his dream boat, he moved to Vancouver, Canada, with his brother, Vladimer, contacted designer Alan Andrews, built a factory, and started working on the 28 under the name of Sylvana Yachts.

"The Andrews 28 is a well-executed project that benefited from its three-year development cycle," said Stewart. "It's from a hands-on builder that had a clear vision of the yacht he wanted, a modern Laser 28."

The deck layout reflects both the designer and the builder's years of racing experience. The tiller is well aft, but the boat's wide beam allows the helmsman an unobstructed view of the headsail, which is flown from a continuous-line roller-furling unit. The cockpit was comfortable. The finish is outstanding, and the boat sails incredibly well, with a light feel to the helm. Unlike many boats, its slippery hull makes nary a noise as it passes through the water. This is a result of Andrew's keen attention to the design of a boat's underbody and foils.