Launch Day in St Francis Bay
Roam made her exit from the factory to an African sunrise, mast stepped and ready for the water. At Balance, every launch comes with a tradition: the entire build team pulls on the new boat’s t-shirt, a moment of shared pride in the work of many hands that brought one boat to life. Roam’s crew photo says it all.
The weather threw some serious wind at the lead-up days. Sunday delivered a classic St Francis winter surprise: a downpour that cleared into a calm winter’s day. Roam splashed in style.
A Custom Hull: Metallic Wrap and Cephalopod Tentacles
Her hull carries a custom metallic wrap featuring giant cephalopod tentacles, a bold oceanic statement that reflects exactly the kind of personalisation the Balance build process is designed to accommodate. Every hull is built to one owner’s spec, and Roam’s owners knew exactly what they wanted.
Balance 526 Performance and Build
The 526 is built on a foam core, carbon-reinforced hull with dual daggerboards and the signature VersaHelm, giving the crew the choice to steer from an elevated open-air position in fair weather or drop into a fully protected station when conditions change. The 526 has been compared to a BMW M Series on the water, a high-performance hull that remains manageable for a family sailing short-handed.
Hull 32 sits near the end of the 526 production run, which closes at Hull 36 to make way for the Balance 540.
Fair Winds, Hutcheson Family
Roam is on the water now, doing exactly what she was built for. We wish the Hutcheson family fair winds and unforgettable miles ahead.
