A book-featured beauty whose long waterline and joinery still turn heads — and make miles.
Few sailboats earn a place in The World’s Best Sailboats, but the Cherubini 44 did — and this 1986 example, S/V MAGIC, shows exactly why. Broker Mike Rybas walks through a yacht that is as much a piece of craftsmanship as it is a capable cruiser, with a long waterline and moderate displacement that hint more at a modern performance cruiser than a heavy offshore boat.
On the day of the tour, MAGIC ghosts along at four to five knots in just five to six knots of true wind — a fair demonstration of her light-air ability. Her sail inventory is all new or nearly new: headsails on roller furling, mainsail tamed by a stack pack, and easy handling from the cockpit.
Belowdecks: Where Cherubini Shines
Step below and the joinery does the talking. The salon is the centerpiece — a butterfly hatch overhead delivers ventilation and natural light, and the port settee converts to an additional berth. Rybas points out the elegant ports: pull two chocks and they vent even in rain; remove the lens entirely for full airflow. Small details, beautifully executed.
The galley is compact but well-sorted, with a double sink, gimbaled stove, and deep refrigeration and freezer space. Quarter berths flank the companionway and swallow foul-weather gear and go-to items. A partition closes off the aft cabin from the rest of the boat, and the head is accessible from two doors — forward and aft of that partition. Forward, the V-berth continues the theme with meticulous port and starboard cabinetry and a comfortable centerline berth.
Systems
Power comes from a 75-horsepower Mercedes diesel, easily accessed by lifting the companionway ladder. Supporting systems include a dual Racor fuel filter setup, a 125-amp Balmar alternator, and an external regulator — a sensible package for a cruising sailor.
Where She Sits in the Market
The Cherubini 44 is a boutique boat, and inventory reflects it. For grounding:
| Active Cherubini listings | 2 |
|---|---|
| Asking range | $149,000 – $285,000 |
| Median asking | $217,000 |
With so few on the market at any given moment, a well-kept example like MAGIC is worth a closer look.