Speed, safety, strength and silence: these four elements are at the core of the R/P-NAUTA 151’, a one-off, bluewater performance sloop with general concept by Nauta Design in build at the Royal Huisman shipyard.
“Combining comfort and safety to explore the world in an extremely lightweight yacht that was competitive in superyacht regattas wasn’t an easy task,” says Mario Pedol, co-founder of Nauta Design in Milan. “The owner wanted a solid, autonomous and safe yacht that was also efficient and modern with a powerful sail plan.” The request came from a repeat client for whom Nauta had previously designed a 34m sailing yacht based on a broadly similar brief.
The owner was ready to step up in size to 46 meters, but he wanted to retain the spirit of his former yacht, including the deckhouse design.
“The deckhouse is essential, as it allows one to look outside and see the sea while seated in the main salon,” says Massimo Gino, Nauta Design co-founder and partner.
Although carbon-fibre construction was considered early on in the project, the design team eventually opted for an aluminium project that could still provide high performance but combines robustness and acoustic comfort for extended bluewater sailing.
“I started thinking that an aluminium hull weighs 60–70% more than a carbon boat, but the weight of the hull and deck is only about 15% of the total weight of a sailing yacht,” says Pedol. “Our early intuition was that an aluminium construction sailing yacht could be much lighter than the existing aluminium fleet. Royal Huisman supported this vision with enthusiasm and accepted the challenging target of building a light displacement yacht. Extensive research work and calculations confirmed our initial thought.”
To ensure optimal performance, longstanding Nauta partners Reichel/Pugh were selected by the client for the naval architecture. Reichel/Pugh designed and managed a Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) study, bringing in America’s Cup CFD specialists Caponnetto Hueber and Giorgio Provinciali for the Velocity Prediction Program (VPP) performance analysis. This was a comprehensive hull design study to improve sea keeping and motion, both motoring and sailing at various speeds and heel angles in different wave conditions, while also improving real and ORCsy rated performance.
Reichel/Pugh ultimately tested twelve models before developing the final hull shape. The VPP results indicate that, in 10 knots of breeze, the R/P-Nauta 151 will sail upwind under the mainsail and jib with a boat speed of almost 13 knots and nearly 18 knots when reaching a wind angle of 90° in a 15 knot breeze.
The exterior profile is defined by an unobtrusive deckhouse that blends gracefully with the austere sheer line. Royal Huisman has embraced Nauta’s bid to make the yacht as light as possible by blending aluminium with carbon-composite construction. The deckhouse, guest cockpit and hardtop are all in carbon fibre by Rondal, Royal Huisman’s sister company, who are also building the Panamax carbon mast, boom and the yacht’s integrated sail-handling system.
For easy handling, the sail operations are governed by weight-optimized Rondal captive winches for sheets and mainsail halyard. The running backstays are tensioned by Cariboni Magic Trims on both sides, and the synchronized retrievers have their own captive winches.
This automatic system allows one to sail at all times, even in cruising mode, with the powerful square top mainsail up, to provide the owner with an unforgettable sailing experience.
Royal Huisman is a Dutch shipyard established in 1884 in Ronduite, building and refitting custom luxury sailing and motor yachts at its shipyard in Vollenhove, the Netherlands.
Credits: Nauta Design
As Cockwells Modern & Classic Boatbuilding celebrates its 25th year of building beautiful bespoke craft for a discerning clientele, the acclaimed British boatbuilder continues to share its unstoppable flair for distinctive design with the unveiling of its 9m Modular Tender at this year’s Monaco Yacht Show (MYS21), which takes place in the Principality from 22 to 25 September.For superyachts that require a flexible craft for use by guests and crew, Cockwells’ new 9m Modular Tender features ingeniously-designed custom modules that are lowered on board a base boat to transform it into a luxurious enclosed limousine; a fast guest transfer shuttle with jockey-style seating for up to 12 guests; a beach club with DJ station and BBQ grill; or, indeed, any other bespoke module to match precise specifications.With a proven seaworthy hull that makes for a comfortable ride, the 9m Modular Tender’s twin 200hp diesel engines possess the power to transport a small car or all-terrain vehicle at 44 knots whilst an electrically-operated integrated bow ramp allows easy boarding and loading from ship, shore and sand.Cockwells will also reveal its concept for a 13m Open Catamaran Tender at the event, which combines expansive open seating areas for relaxation with stable, fast ride characteristics to deliver the ultimate superyacht tender or luxury day boat.Based on our existing well-tried and tested catamaran hull, and paired with twin 725hp Volvo D11 engines driving Hamilton Jet drives to offer a top speed of 50 knots, this exuberant addition to Cockwells’ portfolio delivers clean lines and superyacht-quality finish to create a craft that will turn heads wherever she ventures.A bow ramp that folds hydraulically and a raising t-top Bimini which lowers electronically for stowage in the mothership’s garage can also be incorporated as optional extras.A confidential 12m version of this Open Catamaran Tender is already in build at Cockwells’ Mylor Creek Boatyard in Cornwall and is due for launch later this year.“We mark our 25th year in business as a reputable brand, a growing company that is globally respected and one of the largest and most well-established tender builders in the industry,” comments Founder & Managing Director, Dave Cockwell.Cockwells Modern & Classic Boatbuilding is based in Mylor Creek Boatyard near Falmouth in Cornwall, at the westerly edge of the UK, build bespoke superyacht tenders, motor launches and sailing yachts in any material.Credits: Cockwells Modern & Classic Boatbuilding
September 17, 2021
My Secret is a 46.71 meter luxury motor yacht. She was built in Netherlands by Heesen Yachts and delivered in 2012. She has been just recently sold, with Hakan Altinel of Altinel Shipyards representing the buyer and David Westwood at TWW Yachts representing the seller in the deal.My Secret was asking € 19.5 million and spent about 20 months on the market.The yacht design was developed by Bannenberg & Rowell and Omega Architects.The hull is made of steel and the superstructure is made of aluminum, with a beam of 8.83 m and a draft of 2.85 m. This adds up to a gross tonnage of 491 tons.She is powered by MTU engines of 1340 hp each giving her a maximum speed of 15 knots and a cruising speed of 12 knots. My Secret's maximum range is estimated at 4200 nautical miles.She is ready to receive in six luxurious cabins up to twelve guests, surrounded by the care of nine crew members.Founded in 1978, the famous Dutch shipyard is located in Oss. Heesen Yachts during its work, has produced more than 170 yachts.
September 17, 2021
Heesen has shared the news of the next major step in the construction of the 60m, all-aluminium Project Skyfall, YN 19959. In a complex operation over several days in September, three large mobile cranes lowered the main engines onto their mounts, and then hoisted the superstructure into place over the waiting hull. The exterior of this high-speed vessel is a sport fisherman in yacht disguise, complete with cockpit, fighting chair and storage for 40 rods was created by Frank Laupman of Omega Architects. When it came to selecting the hull colour, Heesen and Omega Architects narrowed the choice down to five, all from Awlgrip’s long-lasting palette of high performance, high gloss, durable marine coatings: Vestal White, Eggshell, Desert Tan, Ice Blue and Medium Gray.Skyfall’s owner wanted something out of the ordinary, but not too drastic. He chose ‘Desert Tan’, described by Awlgrip as “calming and low key, this is a subtle and luxurious shade. Yellowy in its base tone, it suggests a vast desert landscape where adventure beckons.” When complete in 2023, Heesen’s most powerful yacht to date will be accompanied by a custom tender, built by Vanquish to a Guido de Groot design that will mirror the mother ship down to the last brushstroke. Her Fast Displacement Hull Form is optimised for performance and efficiency and has gyro stabilisers and interceptor trim plates to maintain the correct running angle under way. SkyFall will be able to reach a top speed of 37 knots in light load conditions, thanks to the 22,000 horsepower produced by four MTU 20V4000 engines driving four Kongsberg S90 water jets.Project SkyFall will now remain in shed number nine for outfitting until Spring 2023 when she will leave the harbour of Oss for intensive trials in the North Sea.Heesen Yachts is a Dutch ship building company that specializes in custom-built superyachts in aluminium and steel from 30m to 70m in size. Founded in 1978, it has launched more than 170 yachts since its inception.Credits: Heesen Yachts
September 17, 2021
American company Denison Yachting will not only attend the 29th annual Monaco Yacht Show with 47m Heesen yacht Asya, but also has announced its plans to open an office in Monaco as part of a larger European expansion; it will be the first office that Denison will open in Europe. The new Monaco office will be led by Jeremy Roche who has a respected history in the superyacht industry and the skills to lead a new team. Denison plans to open its new Monaco office in Fall of 2021.“We’re excited to build on the brand that Denison established in the United States, and to service U.S. clients who may own yachts in the Mediterranean,” commented Superyacht Director, Ben Farnborough. “It also provides the opportunity to expand Denison’s yacht management, charter division, crew placement, and brokerage reach by being on the ground in Monaco with a foot in the door in Europe.”Denison Yachting has long been a leader in the yachting industry, with a rich family history dating back to 1948 with the start of Broward Marine in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Today, the company provides complete yachting services worldwide, from sales and charters to yacht management and new construction. Credits: Denison Yachting; Unsplash.com
September 16, 2021
Royal Huisman has turned the 46m performance cruiser, project 405 aka Reichel / Pugh – Nauta 151. The turning of the modern performance hull at Royal Huisman’s newbuild facilities is an important milestone in the build process. It marks the start of the outfitting, during which various carefully selected and especially developed components will be fitted to ensure that this vessel will be both extremely lightweight and – compared to existing carbon composite superyachts – very competitive in regattas.At the same time, this radical new concept will offer all the benefits associated with existing Royal Huisman yachts: comfort, low noise levels, and optimal world cruising characteristics. The modern and powerful hull shape of Royal Huisman project 405, with its straight bow, wide transom, and twin rudders, capably embodies the naval architecture and hydrodynamic design by Reichel / Pugh Yacht Design, who have an impressive reputation for creating high-performance designs. The construction on the inside is based on the optimal use of the materials. For example, the hull of project 405 is a high-grade mix of aluminum and carbon composite, utilizing a semi-automated parametric structural optimization process. During sixteen iterations that are part of the shipyard’s new “Featherlight” method, the structural weight is reduced with an admirable 11% compared to conventional methods, whilst maintaining stiffness of the hull and ensuring structural integrity. The trunk for the retractable keel, the deckhouse, guest cockpit and hardtop will all be carbon composite, and are currently being manufactured “next door”, at Rondal. The shipyard’s sister company is skillfully bringing to life, the intriguing shapes envisaged by Nauta Design, who are responsible for the yacht’s general concept, exterior and interior design.In addition, Rondal and its partners are working on optimizing the yacht’s performance by applying various innovations to the yacht’s integrated sail handling system, such as carbon electric captive winches, and the state-of-the-art Panamax carbon rig. The latter was developed with structured luff sails in mind from the outset: reducing the load on the hardware means that the rig can be significantly lighter, as well. This will be the first large newbuild yacht to launch with a configuration based on this method of rig design and engineering. Royal Huisman project 405 will be delivered to her owners in 2022. Royal Huisman is a Dutch shipyard established in 1884 in Ronduite, building and refitting custom luxury sailing and motor yachts at its shipyard in Vollenhove, the Netherlands.Credits: Royal Huisman
September 16, 2021