Southern Wind Launches New SWS Blog Community

 

The prominent South African luxury yacht builder, Southern Wind, is delighted to present the launch of the new SWS Blog Community. Some of SWS owners as well as crew are happy to share their Blue Water Experiences and invite all the enthusiastic sailors or simply passionate to follow them through their yachts blogs.

 

 

SW 100 RS superyacht Cape Arrow by Southern Wind

 

 

The SWS blogs community will also christen Cape Arrow superyacht‘s sailing blog. Cape Arrow will leave from Tenerife on November 26th competing in the Transatlantic Superyacht Regatta. Captain Andrea Balzarini and crew invite everybody to stay tuned on the yacht’s sailing blog and to track Cape Arrow Atlantic crossing as well as her next destinations and regattas.

 

Transatlantic Challenge: Swan yachts to participate in the 2012 ARC

November 23, 2012

Sunday, 25 November, will see the beginning of the well known Atlantic Rally for Cruisers (ARC), organised by the World Cruising Club. Yachts from 30 countries will participate in the transatlantic crossing from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria to the Caribbean destination of St. Lucia. The 2,700 nautical mile passage on the NE tradewinds route takes between 14 and 21 days.

 

 

Swan 62 yacht Albatros in action on previous ARC race - Photo credit: Manfred Kerstan

 

 

The ARC entry list stands at 230 boats, the majority of which are sailed by family and friends on the adventure of a lifetime. Of the fleet, Swan is well represented with 19 Swan yachts taking part ranging from the Swan 40 yacht Storm Svale to the Swan 80 superyacht Berenice. Italian owned Swan 80 Berenice is the largest boat competing this year and took line honours in the 2010 ARC. The Swans will be competing for the Swan Transatlantic Challenge Trophy, produced by Asprey, as part of the Swan Challenge Series which recognises Swan owners competing in the most important international offshore regattas.

ClubSwan member Manfred Kerstan will be taking part in the 2012 edition of the ARC with his Swan 62 sailing yacht Albatros. This will be his 18th ARC, his first transatlantic crossing was in 1986.

“I am especially looking forward to this event as I have won it 3 times already and now I want to be the first man to sail in 20 ARCs, as I plan to do about another 5 or 6 years. As I am now retired, the ARC is a good way for me to spend the winter in the Caribbean on my Swan 62 Albatros, and then the summer in Ibiza. Finding crew is never hard as many people would love to take part in this race,” said Manfred Kerstan, owner of Swan 62 yacht Albatros.

Also preparing for the ARC is Swan 45 Satori, entered into the racing division and skippered by Gideon Messink, Swan agent for the Benelux region. Anita van Oeveren, who is crewing on Satori commented: “We are really looking forward to the ARC; it’s the first time Satori has entered so it will be a new experience. We decided to enter so we can sail in the events over in the Caribbean up until the end of the season, before returning to Holland. The team is a selection of experienced sailors, who all share the same dream – to complete the ARC once. For me, I am especially looking forward to crossing the Atlantic, downwind under spinnaker. However, sailing with seven crew members and no shower will also prove interesting!”

Swan 62 sailing yacht Albatros - previous ARC race Photo by Manfred Kerstan

The other Swan 45 taking part, in the cruising division is German Swan 45 High Yield, owned by Hanns Ostmeier.

There are three Swan 48s lining up on Sunday for the start, two Australian owned Swans, and a British Swan, Zen owned by John Bainbridge. John’s daughter Joanne is sailing onboard with him creating a father-daughter team.

“I have been sailing Swans now for about 8 years starting out on the Swan 45 circuit and completed my first Transatlantic when I was 19.  I have been trying to complete another ARC ever since and sail again with my father on board our Swan 48, Zen. This will be my second major offshore event and I cannot wait to get started, it will be great to have some time away from everyday life and really enjoy time on our boat together,” said Joanne Bainbridge.

At 1245 on Sunday 25th November the gun for the RORC Racing Division will sound, followed by the Cruising division at 1300.

From 11th – 15th March 2013, the Swan class will be descending on the British Virgin Islands for the Rolex Swan Cup, hosted by Yacht Club Costa Smeralda. This will include four days of sailing and socialising for ClubSwan members and friends.

Nautor’s Swan wishes all competitors a successful Atlantic crossing!

 

A record number of Oyster yachts to cross Atlantic

November 19, 2012

Based in Las Palmas since the beginning of November, the Oyster Support Team has been quite busy providing owners of a record 39 Oyster yachts crossing the Atlantic this year from Gran Canaria, with essential system checks as well as advice on last minute preparations ahead of the 2700 mile transatlantic event.

 

Oyster yachts - Image credit: PPL Media

 

The owners of 12 Oyster yachts participating in the Oyster World Rally have formed a ‘group’ which set out from Gran Canaria on the 12th November ahead of the popular annual ARC. The fleet is heading to Antigua for the start of the World Rally on the 6th January 2013, with some of the yachts making a planned stopover in the Cape Verde islands en-route to the Caribbean and prior to their voyage of a lifetime.

A further 24 Oysters are taking part in this year’s ARC, which is due to depart for St Lucia on the 25th November. The remaining 3 Oyster yachts are crossing the Atlantic independently and have also taken advantage of the complimentary pre-crossing check offered by our team of experts in Las Palmas.

It is possible to follow the progress of the Oyster yachts taking part in this year’s ARC via the world’s largest satellite-based tracking provider – Yellowbrick.

 

Moonen 84 superyacht ETOILE D’AZUR to be refitted by Moonen Shipyards

November 13, 2012

The prominent Dutch company, Moonen Shipyards, is proud to announce that they have received the order for a refit of the Moonen 84 motor yacht Etoile d’Azur. Launched in 2007, the 26-metre superyacht Etoile d’Azur is still in the hands of her original owner, who had already taken her to the Caribbean on her own bottom and now plans an extensive cruise of the Norwegian fjords and beyond. First, however, Etoile d’Azur will come back to Moonen where she will be warmly welcomed by plenty of the craftsmen who originally constructed this successful global cruiser.

Moonen 84 motor yacht Etoile d'Azur

Designed by René van der Velden, luxury yacht Etoile d’Azur is the seventh of eight Moonen 84 displacement motoryachts launched between 2002 and 2008. “It is a real pleasure for us to welcome back a yacht of this pedigree,” says Niek van Twillert, head of design and development at Moonen Shipyards. “The owner has already clocked up some impressive mileage on his superyacht, including a transatlantic crossing. Now Etoile d’Azur is going to embark on a major cruise to Scandinavia and other northern European locations. The owner specifically arranged everything so that the refit could take place at Moonen en-route from her normal birth in southern Spain. He is also considering some serious sailing plans for the future, including having Etoile d’Azur transported to New Zealand and then cruising her all the way back to Europe. One thing is for sure, she will be ready for anything and everything once we have completed this extensive refit.”

The Etoile d’Azur yacht project will include a comprehensive paint job and the installation of an electrical zero speed stabilisation system in place of the existing hydraulic system. This solution has already been successfully deployed on the Moonen 82 fast displacement motor yacht My Way, which was launched earlier this year. The electrical system requires approximately half the power of its hydraulic zero-speed alternative. Moreover, as it does not require a larger generator there will be no synchronisation required, which offers considerable cost savings.

Another major part of the refit will be an extension of the flybridge aft. This will serve as a cover for the main deck aft area, creating even more shading for alfresco dining. In addition, the enhanced flybridge deck space will facilitate the owner’s desire to carry more watersport toys onboard, including scooters, in addition to the tender and jetski currently stored in this location while underway. Last but not least, various cosmetic changes will be made to Etoile d’Azur yacht‘s interior and systems while the electrics will be updated where required.

 

A scale model of the ER175 superyacht concept by Erdevicki and ICON Yachts on display at the 2012 MYS

November 09, 2012

Erdevicki Inc. and ICON Yachts attended this year’s Monaco Yacht Show with a scale model of the High Speed Yacht ER175 concept on display. There was a detailed representation of the ER175 superyacht design in an amazing metallic silver livery with a true scale modelling of the underwater profile, propulsion as well as stabilisers.

 

 

A scale model of the ER175 superyacht concept by Erdevicki and ICON Yachts nominated for the Yacht & Aviation

 

 

The model of the 54-metre ER175 yacht was initially commissioned to evaluate the design form, especially the bulletshaped bow and inverted upper section of the stem. The design came above expectations and the conclusion is that there will not be any major changes to the hull or superstructure design.

The ER175 superyacht concept is a futuristic looking vessel with sleek lines and pleasing profile, a comfortable interior and an ample deck space for leisure and entertaining. The yacht, with a streamlined and elegant hull, features three full decks plus a fly bridge all elegantly incorporated within the aerodynamic superstructure and ergonomically designed layout.

Luxury yacht ER175 concept

The three-deck luxury yacht ER175 design provides a spacious interior and generous deck space, whilst the luxurious accommodation sports a full beam, extra large owners stateroom with his and hers head on the main deck separated from all other accommodation, a generous galley leading into the full size dining area and spacious saloon with bar opening onto a veranda large enough to accommodate all guests.

Four or five full size guest suites are located on the lower deck with direct access to the main deck and separated from the crew quarters. The exceptional 175ft ER175 yacht is under 500 GRT and designed to be built as a semi-displacement hull and superstructure in aluminium alloy with 31 plus knots speed and the Transatlantic range at cruising speed.

54m superyacht ER175 concept - rear view

Technical Specifications of the ER175 yacht concept:

Length Overall 175’ 2” 53,39 m
Length on Waterline 169’ 9” 51,74 m
Beam 30’ 3” 9,22 m
Draught 8’ 9” 2,67 m

 

Swan Mediterranean Challenge 2012 Winner Swan 80 yacht PLIS PLAY

November 07, 2012

Following her success in the Rolex Middle Sea Race, the splendid Swan 80 sailing yacht Plis Play has won this year’s Swan Mediterranean Challenge trophy. Having placed 6th overall at the 2012 Rolex Swan Cup which took place in September in Porto Cervo, the Spanish Plis Play superyacht helmed by Vicente Garcia Torres, has become the first placed Swan in the record 83-strong international fleet which sailed 606 nautical miles round Sicily.

 

 

 

Swan 80 sailing yacht Plis Play - Photo credit: Kurt Arrigo - Rolex 2012

 

 

 

This year’s Rolex Middle Sea Race was one of pure dedication due to light winds. The competitors desperately searched for breeze as the fleet expanded and compressed. Swan 80 luxury yacht Plis Play was the highest placed Swan, finishing in 6 days and 4 hours, securing an impressive 8th place overall and finishing within 24 hours of Esimit Europa 2 yacht who took line honours.

Second place in the Swan Mediterranean Challenge was awarded to the British Swan 56 yacht Noonmark VI, racing as part of Class 3 in the Rolex Middle Sea Race.

Starting and finishing in Malta, the race takes in some beautiful sights including the deep azure waters of Sicily and the Strait of Messina, as well as the islands of Pantelleria and Lampedusa. The most outstanding feature is the active Stromboli volcano as a course mark.

The prestigious Swan Challenge trophies designed by Asprey are awarded to the best placed Swan competition in the most important offshore races around the world. The Swan Transatlantic Challenge is the next trophy to be contested.

 

New 65m motor yacht SEA BULL concept by NEDSHIP

October 25, 2012

NEDSHIP is delighted to present their latest 65m motor yacht SEA BULL concept. The new SEA BULL superyacht concept is closing a gap in the already spectacular series of NEDSHIP yachts, between the high performing Strand-Craft series and the breathtaking 105m megayacht Sovereign concept.

The latest 65-metre megayacht SEA BULL concept by NEDSHIP

The function and storage of a Trawler, the elegance of a Mega yacht and the performance of a Sport yacht.

In collaboration with Brokers, Owners and Crew members, lots of practical and reliable design features came into the 65m SEA BULL yacht concept. The design team went on this project the opposite way as normally doing. The designers packed the vessel with all possible features. It makes a project much easier to cancel some parts than to add things which were normally not foreseen in the design.

The challenge was to realize as much wishes as possible on a Mega yacht this size by having a view on the limitations yacht owners sometimes not thinking about that they are existing. With this hand in hand design work, the SEA BULL superyacht gets several features into, which are normally offered only on much bigger vessels on the market.

One feature is the heli hangar, another one is the practical integration of a sub marine for 3 Pax, a third one is a 160 sqm owner’s suite with a 13 meters long swimming pool. And all these on a yacht in the size of 60m to 65m.

The task on the general look of the luxury yacht SEA BULL was to keep her still with a sportive but not very extreme appearance, to stay still timeless for the future. A well approved fast displacement hull design offers a perfect stability and economical operation. As the vessel can be built in several materials as Alu/Steel or Carbon, NEDSHIP also offers plenty of possibilities for the owner in features, latest qualities and technique as well as interesting price solutions on a +60m yacht.

The complete service, crew and operating units went into the lower deck, which makes the separation between crew and guests easier and creates more space for the guests and crew.

NEDSHIP luxury motor yacht SEA BULL concept

The main deck is mainly foreseen for the 5 guest suites (one of them as a VIP Suite). All guest suites will have an extra outside walkway with integrated balconies which brings a lot of day light into each cabin. Other than that the main deck is offering 2 huge salon areas which can be arranged to the ideas of the owner.

The upper deck is more the private deck for the owner. Once the heli is not on board SEA BULL yacht, the heli deck offers a 13m swimming pool and a huge terrace for the owner. Or the heli can also have its location on the bow heli pad.

The sun deck is again the area for the guests and offers plenty of variations and space for events or meetings.

Powered by MTU 2000/4000, the vessel is able to realize speeds between 17kn and 29 kn and a transatlantic range. The 65m megayacht SEA BULL will offer at high sea in open Ocean conditions a much saver stability than the most advanced multi hulls on the market.

Some of the features on the extravagant SEA BULL yacht available on owners request:
• Heli pad including the option on a heli hangar (EC 135)
• Sub marine C-Explorer 3
• Garage space in total approx. 200 sqm, including a car operation and up to 4 boat tenders and other equippment
• Beach Club with huge platforms on sea level
• 13m swimming pool
• Master suite approx 160 sqm with all amenities
• 5 guest suites (one of them as VIP), each connected to the outside walkway with integrated balconies
• various entertainment and salon areas
• Guest elevator for all decks
• Carbon construction, as usual by NEDSHIPGROUP for high performing and economical yachts
• available as 60m or 65m Version in plenty of different configurations

 

Du Toit Yacht Design launch the Open Ocean 750 Luxury Sports Expedition Yacht QUO VADIS

October 03, 2012

Constructed by the South African shipyard, Two Oceans Marine, in Cape Town, the 75-foot motor yacht Quo Vadis has been recently launched by Du Toit Yacht Design. Quo Vadis yacht is a lovely, expedition catamaran, belonging to the Open Ocean 750 series.

 

 

Open Ocean 750 Expedition Sports Yacht Quo Vadis designed by Du Toit Yacht Design

 

 

The Open Ocean 750 Expedition yacht Quo Vadis is essentially the big sister of the very successful Open Ocean 630 yacht. She was designed for a keen game fisherman as the mother ship for the game fishing boat, the Two Oceans 48 Sports Fisher. Comfortable accommodation for game fishing expeditions is provided, whether private or charter.

With powerful engines and a large fuel capacity, the luxury catamaran yacht Quo Vadis is capable of towing the game fishing boat for long distances, and has been designed for transatlantic use. Accommodation is comfortable and practical for a group of keen game fishermen for a long or short game fishing trip, and luxurious by expedition yacht standards.

Luxury catamaran yacht Quo Vadis - rear view

Principal Dimensions of the Open Ocean 750 Expedition Yacht Quo Vadis:

LWL 21.8 m 71.52 ft
LOA 22.62 m 74.21 ft
Beam Overall 10.57 m 34.67 ft
Draft 1.10 m 52, 920 lbs
Displacement (DWL) 24, 000 kgs 52, 920 lbs
Motors (Cummins QSB5.9-305 MCD) 2 x 228 kW 2 X 305 HP

 

Francois Chevalier’s 100ft Maxi Scow yacht and WallyCento superyacht concepts

October 01, 2012

Francois Chevalier’s 100ft Maxi Scow yacht and the WallyCento superyacht concepts are original out-and-out racer designs, unveiling an excellent combination of today’s most generalised trends for breaking speed limits with the designer’s talent to look into the breadth of working concepts in yachting history and formalise proposals that could establish themselves as skilful prize winners, promoting the scow bow as the future cornerstone in building outstanding racing yachts. The designer himself, Mr Chevalier, writes …

1 The two MScow yacht projects (overture) - Maxi Scow and Wally Cento by Francois Chavalier YD

“I had had early etchings for these two 100ft sailing yachts, which I named MScow, laying on my draftboard since last summer, together with a Volvo Open 70 and an IMOCA Open 60. When the Volvo Ocean Race announced that future editions would use a one-design, I decided to finalise the two 100ft projects: a WallyCento and a Maxi Scow.”

Figure 2- Sailing Yacht WallyCento, lines, sections, profile and half-deck

Figure 3- WallyCento yacht - sailplan

Figure 4 - WallyCento, interior layout

“The reason to design yet another Wally lies in the designation of the WallyCento rule itself: owners remain keen on the combination of comfort, performance, modern design and bleeding edge technology in a yacht. Even if the WallyCento open box rule forbids canting keels and includes a minimum displacement figure, she remains true to the Wally essence which has begot its prestigious fleet: simple handling, automated sailing systems, utterly flush decks, light and minimalist interior spaces.”

Figure 5 - MaxiScow superyacht, lines, sections, profile and half-deck

Figure 6 - Sailing Yacht MaxiScow, sailplan

Figure 7- MaxiScow yacht, interior layout

“The “Record” designation of the MaxiScow version, which features a more lightweight displacement and a canting keel, rid of all the modcons and automation usually presented in Wallys, targets ocean records and line honours in crewed races such as the Newport-Bermuda, the Fastnet or the Sydney-Hobart.”

“As featured in the wetted surface diagrams comparing the MScow concept with conventional monohulls when heeling, the key advantage of the MScow is her underbody, which under a heel sails at an angle which would be three times smaller than a conventional yacht. On the one hand, the righting moment is a lot more efficient, whether or not she is fitted with a canting keel, and on the other hand, the keel remains in the centerline under sail: The result is the MSow’s better ability in pointing to windward, by one or two degrees depending on configuration.”

“To improve the sailing platform’s performance, the bowsprit can be orientated and the clew of headsails can be adjusted in the lateral plane.”

WallyCento and Maxi Scow compared with conventional 100-footer

“On a level plane, the lines of the WallyCento and MaxiScow yacht are reminiscent of a windsurfing board.On a heel, the angle of the wetted line with the centerline is a third of that of a conventional racing 100-footer.

“As far back as the 1970s, I made a concept for a crossoceanic windsurf designated for a double-handed Transatlantic race. As for many projects of this kind, the model is still hanging on my office wall. The idea remerged ten years ago when I wrote an article investigating the origins of planing hulls. The craze which governed the American skimming dishes at the turn of the twentieth century, with waterline length as the only limitation, had given me the idea to develop an IMOCA Open 60 for the Vendée Globe single-handed circumnavigation race.”

“I decided to develop a progressive chine-bilged scow, and instead of a pram bow, I proceeded to cut away the stem very significantly to avoid wave slamming as much as possible. By tapering the bow both in height and in width, shocks with head waves are dampened significantly and the scow skims the surface immediately and displaces as little water as possible.”

 

François Chevalier Sailing Yacht MaxiScow and WallyCento

Specifications: WallyCento

Naval Architecture: Francois Chevalier YD

Build: carbonfibre, built to WallyCento open rule

Shipyard: the yacht can be built at Multiplast (France), Green Marine (UK) or Cookson Boats (New Zealand)

LOA: 100ft (30.48m)

Load Waterline Length: 87ft 7in (26.70m)

Beam: 23ft 7in (7.20 m)

Draught: maximum 20ft 4in (6.20m), Min 14ft 9in(4.50m) dropkeel

Displacement 45 tonnes

Air Draught: 147ft 8in (45m)

Mainsail + Jib area: 6,370sqft (592m²)

Mainsail + gennaker area 11,000sqft (1000m²)

Specifications: MaxiScow

Naval architecture: Francois Chevalier YD

Build: carbonfibe

Shipyard: The yacht can be built at Multiplast (France), Green Marine (UK) or Cookson Boats (New Zealand).

Length Over All: 100ft (30.48m)

Load Waterline Length: 87ft 7 in (26.70m)

Beam: 23ft 7in (7.20m)

Draught: 18ft 4in (4.50m) canting keell

Displacement: 38 tonnes

Air draught: 150ft 11in (46m)

Mainsail + jib area: 6,760sqft (628m²)

Mainsail + gennaker area: 11,900sqft (1110m²)

 

Sea Axe FYS Vessel GARCON 4 ACE – support vessel to 87m Lurssen ACE Yacht

Being present at this year’s Monaco Yacht Show, CharterWorld was invited aboard the unique and very impressive Sea Axe FYS Vessel Garcon 4 Ace, the support vessel to the magnificent 87m luxury yacht Ace by Lurssen. Garcon support vessel is designed to accompany the ‘mother ship’, carrying all the superyacht toys, tenders, fuel and a range of other equipment, which could not be stored aboard a superyacht. Garcon comfortably accommodates up to 21 crew and staff, and is ideal for accommodating a relief crew for a large superyacht, featuring a large captain’s cabin and comfortable additional crew accommodation. One of the most impressive features is her deck, which has been equipped with a helipad able of supporting a large helicopter with maximum take-off weight of 5000kg. Sea Axe Fast Yacht Support Vessel Garcon 4 Ace was built by Damen with marketing and sales by Amels.

Garcon for Ace FYS vessel - A support vessel to the Lurssen yacht ACE

Sea Axe Yacht Support Vessels

Imagine never again being distracted or inconvenienced by crew handling a 40-foot tender or small sailboat; disposing of tons of wastewater or trash; taking on fuel, lubes, or stores; deploying water toys; preparing to land the helicopter; or even scouting for an anchorage in a remote bay. The SEA AXE FYS, just like Garcon, stows all the things you need for a long cruise, but which you don’t want cluttering your very private space. With a powerful double-knuckle crane, it’s a practical ticket to total freedom and enjoyment of the yachting experience. The SEA AXE can be configured to a maximum boat speed of 28 knots, with transatlantic range. This means you get all the comforts you expect, every time, everywhere.

Garcon 4 Ace - Luxury support vessel to motor yacht Ace

DAMEN has designed, delivered, and continues building a series of Fast Crew Suppliers and Patrol Boats to meet demand among a variety of clients around the globe, including many national Coast Guards. The FYS is the only yacht-oriented craft with the same SEA AXE hull form and capabilities as these working boats. The essence of the SEA AXE performance is that it is not required to significantly slow down in heavy weather and large seas. Therefore, it can carry its load of vehicles, fuels, supplies, and other amenities and, with its reliable speed, reach a prescribed destination in advance, to prepare for the arrival of the mother ship and her guests, by deploying tenders and toys as needed.

Damen FYS vessel Garcon 4 Ace

Efficiency

In the early 1990s DAMEN and Technical University of Delft studied effects of lengthening hulls without changing shapes. They found that efficiency, operability, and running costs all improved, with little added building cost. They refined the bow, confirming in tank tests that this reduces vertical acceleration and slamming, which cause seasickness and force a crew to slow down. They then developed a new hull form, superior to the “Wave Piercer”. They called it “AXE BOW” because the forefoot is deeper than the keel, resembling an axe. The SEA AXE is very efficient in smooth water. It has up to 15% less resistance, better seakeeping in large waves, up to 75% less vertical acceleration than other fast ships, and resists broaching in following seas.

Arrival Garcon - a Sea Axe Fast Yacht Support Vessel to the motor yacht ACE by Lurssen

Practicality

The FYS was conceived to enhance each owner’s chosen lifestyle, and equally to assist every crew’s logistic and operating needs. Set on a standard SEA AXE hull, the FYS can easily be configured to the requirements of any superyacht, with open or partially covered main deck, auxiliary cabins, and variable General Arrangement. This is a vessel of great practicality. The FYS delivers improved economical performance, with an already proven reduction in fuel consumption of as much as 18% over “standard” fast supply vessels. It is also practical in the way it “delivers the goods,” unburdening the mother ship in countless ways. Its performance is reliable and sustainable. After experiencing a four-hour endurance test aboard a SEA AXE supply vessel, in Force 7 winds and rough sea conditions, an experienced captain was quoted as saying: “I don’t believe that any other ship of this limited size and weight can come close to this sustained speed for such a long time in these conditions.”

Garcon a 67m fast yacht support vessel to the luxury superyacht ACE

Quality of the interior finish

One important aspect that will clearly distinguish the SEA AXE FAST YACHT SUPPORT vessel from lesser support boats, and set it apart from commercial service vessels, is the quality of the interior finish of the permanent accommodations. This is not the usual inexpensive industrial finish. It has been elevated to match the style and feeling of the crew areas of the current LIMITED EDITIONS AMELS 177s now in production. This means that high-quality, practical material will be used to create pleasant surroundings to support the crew’s morale, just as on the mother ship. It is the maintaining of such high standards that will make the FYS even more attractive to crews – as well as owners.

Security

Because SEA AXE supply and patrol vessels are designed and built to endure constant duty at sea, have long range, and maintain predictable speeds regardless of weather conditions, they are outfitted with reliable multi-engine power trains and their bridges are equipped with top professional control, monitoring and communications components. The FYS will meet these strict standards in every way and have optional Dynamic Positioning, a great convenience when manoeuvring near the mother ship. In addition to these important specifications, wheelhouse windows are canted forward to eliminate glare, as on most commercial ships. With such close attention to detail and the typical DAMEN drive for design excellence, the result is a vessel in which captain and crew will feel the highest level of confidence and security in being able to perform their duties for the mother ship.

Sea Axe Garcon in dock

The sea axe Fast Yacht Support vessel could not have been developed by a single entity alone. It required cooperative technical efforts and the market experience of three renowned Dutch organisations – DAMEN, Technical University of Delft, and the towing-tank MARIN – each with a specialty that harmonised with the others. The initial thrust came from DAMEN’s headquarters in Holland. There, more than 20 years ago, top management saw the need to develop a fast offshore commercial supply vessel that could withstand heavy weather, as routine storms are no excuse for halting offshore work.

HULL MATERIAL: STEEL

SUPERSTRUCTURE: Aluminium + STEEL

LENGTH OVERALL: 67.15 METERS (220.3 FEET)

LENGTH WATERLINE: 66.91 MetreS (219.5 FEET)

BEAM MOULDED: 11.20 MetreS (36.7 FEET

DEPTH AT SIDES: 5.40 MetreS (17.7 FEET)

DRAUGHT FULL LOAD: 4.00 MetreS (13.1 FEET)

DISPLACEMENT: 1150 METRIC TONS

GROSS TONNAGE: 1128 GT

SPEED, MAX AT 100% MCR: 18–25 KNOTS

RANGE AT 18 KNOTS: 4500 NAUTICAL MILES

CREW / STAFF (other layouts possible ): 21 PERSONS

FUEL CAPACITY (fys + cargo): 300 CUBIC MetreS

FRESH WATER CAPACITY: 42 CUBIC MetreS

DECK SPACE (excluding helicopter landing area ): 235 SQUARE Metres

Interior deck storage (excluding crew accommodation ): 140 SQUARE Metres

Audi Hamilton Island Race Week Australia

The centuries old saying, ‘If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again,’ will be ringing true for Melbourne yachtsman Ross Wilson and his crew at Audi Hamilton Island Race Week 2010.

They have been on the podium in their performance cruising division at Race Week on four of the six occasions they have campaigned Wilson’s Beneteau 47.7, Eagle Rock, but they have yet to be the winner.

Well, if Wilson is looking for any sort of good omen pointing towards victory this time, maybe Eagle Rock being the 50th yacht to register on the already impressive entry list might just be it.

‘Hopefully this year will be the one for the big win,’ said Wilson. ‘Race Week is the only regatta we do each year, so if persistence has anything to do with winning we certainly have to be a chance.’

In all, Wilson has competed at Audi Hamilton Island Race Week 11 times, and while winning would be special for him, that fact that he and his crew have so much fun each year is what keeps bringing them back.

‘Race Week is an exceptional regatta,’ he said. ‘We love it because we can enjoy some fantastic racing over a very short period of time in superb tropical surroundings, and the fun on shore isn’t bad either. Everything about Race Week is special.

‘I get a great crew of mates together – half from Sydney and half from Melbourne – plus a couple youngsters who can go forward of the mast, because we’re getting too long in the tooth for that, then we head to Hamo for a good time.’

What will be the 27th staging of Audi Hamilton Island Race Week is scheduled for August 20 to 28. Rod Jones, who is a two time winner of the Race Week champion crown in the IRC Grand Prix Division, currently holds the honour of having the smallest entry this year with his 6.2 metres long Sb3 sportboat, Club Marine Blue. This year’s list already reflects the broad base of the competition that is always enjoyed at Race Week: there is just about every possible type of keelboat already entered, starting with some casual cruisers in the non-spinnaker division and working up from there.  The largest to date is the 50-metre long superyacht Perseus. Kiwi offshore legend and Race Week regular, Jim Farmer, has entered his 52-footer, Georgia, out of Auckland, and Sydneysider Stephen Ainsworth is on the list with his impressive Grand Prix 63-footer, Loki.

Yacht Perseus

All information regarding Audi Hamilton Island Race Week 2010 is on the website – hamiltonislandraceweek.com.au This includes the Notice of Race and entry form plus details of the exciting, and very diverse, social agenda planned for the week.

Already more than 30 yacht owners have registered for the spectacular event. It will be staged from August 20 to 28 on the tropical waters of Queensland’s Whitsunday region where Hamilton Island stands as the centrepiece.

The entry list already reflects the incredibly wide range of racing being offered this year, and it also shows how far people are planning to travel to be at what is Australia’s most awarded regatta. The smallest entry to date is the eight-metre long Lorna Rose Too, owned by Tasmanian Mike Wearne, and not far behind in the size stakes is Tony Horkings’ Farr 30, Farrst One, from Southport Yacht Club on the Gold Coast. Then, at the other end of the spectrum is the massive 50-metre long superyacht, Perseus, which will be taking in Race Week as part of an 18-month cruise through the Pacific.

Audi Hamilton Island Race Week 2010

This will be the first time that Superyachts have competed at the regatta. Another first will come at the Grand Prix level of racing this year: Hamilton Island’s owner, Bob Oatley, has decided that for the first time he will have both his Sydney Hobart race record holder, the 30.2-metre long supermaxi Wild Oats XI, and the smaller Wild Oats X, at the series.

Supermaxi Yacht Wild Oats XI

The first entry to be lodged came from Lake Macquarie yachtsman Noel Gough with his Northshore 38, Excapade: ‘I had no option but to get the entry in as soon as they opened on-line,’ said Gough. ‘My crew has been at me during the entire summer season, wanting to make sure I’d committed to Race Week. So, the only way I could get them off my back was to enter as early as possible. ‘This is my fourth Race Week. For us it’s all about mates having fun both on the water and on shore. There’s no regatta like it. You want for nothing. We can’t wait to be there.’

If you are interested in chartering a racing performance yacht or any type of sailing yacht in the Whitsundays, Australia, the South Pacific or worldwide, please chat with the charter specialists – CharterWorld.