Yachting Developments has revealed that they are soon to launch what they claim to be the Southern Hemisphere's largest composite sloop, a 37m fast cruising yacht. Designed by Dubois Naval Architects the yacht is currently under construction at Yachting Developments Hobsonville facility in Auckland.

Being a keen sailor, the owner's brief was for a comfortable cruising boat that would also perform well in all conditions and be as well suited to bucket-style racing as it would to luxury chartering. Involved in the project Hall Spars NZ are building the 48.3m carbon fibre mast and furling boom, while Doyle Sails NZ are supplying a suit of its latest generation stratis sails, one of the first sets to be built with its new membrane forming equipment at its new Avondale loft.  

The yacht also reflects modern thinking and design internally,  with UK based Design Unlimited drawing up an interior that would feel clean, spacious and uncluttered with striking finishes. The interior is being manufactured in-house by Yachting Developments cabinetry team featuring custom glass pieces and specialist paint finishes with textured leather and shagreen wrapped panels. With the yacht intended for use as a charter boat, the configuration of the cabins has been designed for maximum versatility and flexibility.

The double berths in the port and starboard guest cabins can be turned into twin berths and both cabins also feature a pullman berth. The full width master cabin can be portioned off to create a smaller master cabin plus twin bunk cabin arrangement. The "his and hers" ensuites in the master cabin in full cabin mode become an ensuite for the master and an ensuite for the bunk cabin when the partition is in place.

Waddilove Yachts has acted as owner's representative from first concept, steering the project through design selection, yard tendering and overseeing the build. The boat will spend the first few months of the Antipodean summer around the east coast of Australia and New Zealand before heading off into the South Pacific for a season of chartering.

Adam Turner

Related links

Yachting Developments - company profile  | company website

Dubois Naval Architects - company profile | company website