Blue Diamond Makes Her Splash in St Francis Bay
As the tide came in just before dawn, Blue Diamond made her splash on 21 March 2026, in St. Francis Bay. What a special moment, watching all those months of hard work finally meeting the water for the first time. And this particular launch made it even more special: the same days Blue Diamond was finding her waterline, the Balance 580 was named in SAIL Magazine’s Top 10 Best Boats 2026.
A Custom Balance 580 Built for Speed
Blue Diamond is no ordinary 580. Her owner Rich is a returning Balance sailor – he took delivery of a Balance 526 in 2020 and never looked back. When a second retirement and a long-planned circumnavigation brought him back to St. Francis Bay, he had one guiding vision:
“I really don’t like to go slow.”
That vision shaped every decision on this build. Twin 110hp engines replace the standard fitment, delivering cruising speeds of 10 to 13 knots under power. The full Carbon XP build extends to the rig and standing rigging. Hydraulic furlers on the cutter rig and speed-rewind winches at the helm mean Blue Diamond can be managed single-handed in any conditions. And in the galley, a working hydroponic garden ensures fresh produce on every passage – a detail as practical as it is inspired.
Fair Winds, Blue Diamond
Congratulations to Rich and to the entire build team in St. Francis Bay. Blue Diamond heads offshore with a circumnavigation finally within reach. We wish her and her crew deep water and fair winds on every ocean ahead.
About the Balance 580
The Balance 580 is a high-performance luxury voyager designed by Philip Berman and Anton du Toit, built for sailors with speed in their hearts but luxury on their minds. At 17.78m (58.32ft) with a 209.1m² sail plan, the Balance 580 is built in St. Francis Bay, South Africa, and has been named a SAIL Magazine Top 10 Best Boats 2026 winner. Available in Carbon Cross and full carbon XP hull configurations, with layouts ranging from 3 to 5 cabins.
