Archive for the ‘Superyacht’ Category

Following the stepping of a new Southern Spar carbon rig, the 45 metre superyacht Salperton IV returned to Palma to have new Doyle Stratis high performance sails fitted.

With the order only placed in July 2011, it was a very tight schedule to complete the design and production of such a large project, but it was achieved with flying colors.

Following the sail trials, Doyle Palma Director, Quinten “Quinny” Houry said “The mainsail fits perfectly and looks and feels really fast. The Genoas have a great shape and will boost performance. The Stratis production system enables us to produce a quality performance sail that we expect to last longer than alternatives.”

Quinny was also very pleased with the success of the innovative furling batten system, a joint development between Doyle Sailmakers and Southern Spars, which works superbly. Small track cars are installed on the luff and these are able to furl around the boom, allowing the sail to be stowed, but still allowing for low friction cars on the mainsail luff.

The new sail program included mainsail, reacher, jib and purpose built racing blade genoa. This blade genoa was fitted with C-Tech air battens. These feature high pressure tubing along the leech. When connected to an air supply the batten pockets are pressurized. This system allows for fast sail changes without having to install, remove or store long battens.

Doyle Sailmakers is pleased to announce the appointment of renowned world class sailing professional Mike Sanderson. Mike will be joining the team at the beginning of June 2011 as Director of Sales and Partner for the Doyle New Zealand and Sydney operation.

Doyle New Zealand’s Managing Director Chris McMaster comments, "We have achieved considerable growth in recent times and the development and ongoing R&D with Stratis puts us in an ideal position now to join forces with one of the most influential professionals in the world of sailboat racing. Mike’s experience and personality perfectly complement our business; this development will allow us to increase the pace of our expansion into the Grand Prix sailboat racing market.”

Mike Sanderson was ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year in 2006, a veteran of three America’s Cup campaigns and two times Whitbread/Volvo Ocean Race winner.

Mike brings with him a wealth of experience having been involved on the technical side of sail programs and as part of the design and build teams for both Team ABN AMRO boats, as well as Skippering ABN AMRO One to one of the most convincing Volvo victories in the race’s history.

In addition, Mike has extensive Superyacht experience including the high profile race boats Mari Cha III and IV, which between them have dominated the Trans Atlantic Monohull record over the last twelve years.

Mike Sanderson and Head of Design, Richard Bouzaid, together present a formidable team with a huge amount of knowledge, skill and contacts in this field. Between them they have been involved at the premier level of America’s Cup, Volvo Ocean Race, Grand Prix racing, as well as local campaigns on both the technical side as well as in sailing capacities.

The knowledge base at Doyle Sailmakers with respect to design and sail making is now second to none, and combined with the high performance results being achieved by Stratis laminates, Doyle Sailmakers can continue to offer their customers the optimum sail product.

Doyle Sailmakers’ increasing share of the market can be credited to the success of the Stratis facility and the company’s continual commitment to innovation and advancing design.

Doyle Sailmakers is proud to have sponsored the St. Barths Bucket Regatta held March 25-27, 2011. This year marked the 25th year of Bucket racing – and the 15th edition of the St Barths Bucket. Of the 40 superyachts competing in this legendary event, 15 were new to the Bucket fleet. The average length of yacht was a staggering 64 meters. Lined up bow to stern, the yachts would measure almost three kilometers.

It was a spectacular sight to be seen with the 89m dyna rig Maltese Falcon, 75m Mirabella V and 58m Kokomo III all on the same starting line at the 2011 St. Barths Bucket with 100% Doyle Sails.

During three days of racing, the fleet of 40 superyachts raced around the volcanic island counterclockwise on day one, tackled the infamous “Not So Wiggly Course” on day two, and on day three raced around the island clockwise. The fleet is divided into three categories: Les Elegantes des Mers for the J Class, Les Grandes Dames des Mers for the Cruising Class, and Les Gazelles des Mers for the Racing Class, making the racing more equally competitive and safer. The races are pursuit format, with staggered starts according to each yacht’s rating. The slowest boat is first off the line, and the rest of the fleet starts at time intervals determined by each boat’s predicted elapsed time around the course. Theoretically in a pursuit race, all the yachts will cross the finish line at the same time.

Mirabella V and Kokomo III carried the latest Doyle Stratis sails, while Maltese Falcon carried her 25,791 square feet of Dacron Doyle sails that have taken her over 90,000 miles.

The 96´sloop Symmetry with a full inventory of Doyle Stratis upwind and Doyle downwind sails came in 3rd Overall and 2nd in Les Gazelles.

Perhaps the belle of the ball was the 37m AXIA, one of the smallest yachts in Les Grandes Dames, who won her class with her new Doyle Stratis sails.

The Ron Holland designed Blue Too came in 3rd in Les Grand Dames. Blue Too was delivered to its new Owner just six weeks before the Bucket. Blue Too was powered by Doyle Stratis Carbon/Vectran sails and Doyle downwind sails. This was the owner’s first Bucket as an Owner and what an impressive first Bucket it was for him, the Captain and Crew.

In addition to coming in 3rd in class, Blue Too won the Alloy Cup, for best performance by an Alloy Yacht. The four Alloy Yacht competitors included: Kokomo III 58m, Genevieve 38m, Blue Too 34m, and Paraiso 32m.

The 38m P2 won the Perini Navi Cup, awarded to the Perini-Navi Yacht with the best result. Of the 40 yachts competing, the seven Perini-Navi yachts include: Maltese Falcon 88m, Parsifal III 54m, Klosters 47m, Antara 46m, Helios II 45m, and P2 38m.

Maltese Falcon won the Vitter’s Shipyard Seamanship Trophy, awarded to the yacht that demonstrates the best seamanship and sportsmanship in the interest of promoting safety on the race course. This award recognizes the yacht that best demonstrates the understanding that superyachts have serious limitations operating safely in close quarters and value safety well above performance.

In addition to coming in 1st in Les Grand Dames, AXIA also successfully defended the Skullduggery Cravat, holding the trophy for the best Bucket humor for 3 years running. The Skullduggery Cravat is awarded to the yacht and crew who display the best Bucket humor and promulgates non-adult behavior.

To view more photos click here of the 2011 St. Barths Bucket.

Doyle Sailmakers is proud to sponsor the 2011 St Barths Bucket and celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Bucket Regattas. Doyle Sailmakers extends its congratulations to the Bucket organizers and to the superyacht owners and crew for the growth of the Bucket Regattas and of superyacht racing in general.

Numerous superyachts with Doyle sails will be taking part in the 2011 St Barths Bucket including: Axia, Blue Too, Drumbeg, Helios, Hetairos, Kokomo III, Maltese Falcon, Mirabella V, Moonbird, P2, Paraiso, Song of the Sea, Symmetry and White Wings.

Doyle Stratis.

If you want the strongest, most reliable sails, choose Doyle Stratis. Mirabella V had her new Doyle Stratis mainsail fitted and trialed in St. Martin yesterday. Mirabella V is the largest sloop in the world: the single-masted vessel is 75-meters long (247 feet), and that mast also happens to be the world’s tallest, with the world’s largest main attached to it.

The scale of Mirabella V’s sails required novel engineering, taking full advantage of Doyle’s extensive superyacht experience, from material development to novel construction techniques.

Mirabella V’s mainsail measures 1,200 square meters (12,900 square feet). Building and designing Stratis membranes for this sized boat facilitated the need for a new view on the engineering and safety margins. Tyler Doyle modeled the loads using Doyle’s combined CFD-FEA program and designed the structural load paths to best address the enormous loads that this boat will generate. The Stratis main was built in Doyle’s custom built 32,000 square foot superyacht manufacuring facilty in Salem, MA.

In 2004, when Mirabella was first launched, Doyle invented the “Segmented Mainsail” and “Compression Spring Battens” to allow a sail of Mirabella’s size and complexity to be manufactured, handled and serviced efficiently. With the "Segmented Mainsail" design, the new Stratis mainsail is composed of three separate, yet interdependent, sections. Two full-length battens join the segments at the top and bottom edges to form the complete sail. Building the sail in these segments makes construction, transport and service significantly easier.

The batten development for Mirabella V was largely a question of optimization: at the required batten stiffness, what is the maximum toughness that could be achieved while minimizing weight aloft? The "Compression Spring Battens" clearly demonstrate Doyle Sailmakers’ commitment to durability and toughness.

Just a year ago Kokomo III was outfitted with 3,038 square meters (32,700 square feet) of Doyle Stratis. Her Gennaker at 2,227 square meters (23,971 square feet) is the largest sail ever constructed. To read more about Kokomo, click here.

Mirabella V’s Website

Kokomo Sets Sail with 3,038 Square Meters of Doyle Stratis

The beautiful 52m ketch Nazenin V built by RMK Marine has been honored with with a Judges Special Accomondation at the prestigious World Superyacht Awards 2010. Reaching the finalist stage was a great achievement for Nazenin V. With 90 entries and just 53 as finalists within the different categories, Nazenin V was one of 5 finalists in the category for Best Sailing Yacht 45m+.

The judges commented “Nazenin v is a stunning Yacht and we are pleased to make this exclusive award to her. The outstanding design and finish quality on Nazenin V shows exceptional achievement by the whole team; from the designers and suppliers to the highly experienced RMK Marine workforce.”

Nazenin V is an elegant, classic Sparkman & Stephens designed long distance cruising ketch. Her fine hull and long overhangs allow for comfortable cruising with the predictable and easy motion of the yacht. Nazenin V is built utilizing many modern materials and equipment, which enhance the performance of the ketch, allowing for easier handling when sailing. The masts and spars are all Carbon Fibre as is the rudder in order to optimize the performance and handling characteristics. The main mast carries a powered elevator/crow’s nest right up to the head of the genoa that apart from providing excellent access for the crew gives a quite magnificent view for guests.

Nazenin V is optimized to balance performance, seaworthiness, and comfortable handling on all points of sail. Nazenin’s sail area pushes the upper limits for a boat 52 meters in length. A generous sail plan, including an oversized mizzen mast, gives Nazenin V numerous options and configurations for sailing. Furling head and staysails ease the handling of a full complement of D4 sails from Doyle Sailmakers. The end result is a yacht that  drives effortlessly and points incredibly well.

Below deck there is a modern interpretation of a classic raised and fielded teak paneled interior with all contemporary equipment that would be expected on such a yacht. The design of the interior is by Redman Whiteley Dixon Ltd (RWD) who interpreted the owner’s requirements to design a truly elegant interior for this large sailing yacht, encompassing all of his extensive yachting experience and love of the sea. The joinery was executed with great attention to the detail, with sycamore inlays in the doors and architraves being matched to the table tops and chairs, fluted columns and patterned marble floors using local stone and craftsmen. Extensive use was made of the local craftsmanship available to customize the details, such as considerable amounts of carving work onboard like the handrails and the corbel under the passageway console tables.

Throughout the yacht there are numerous artworks on display from the owner’s extensive and eclectic collections highlighting the owner’s wish to see Nazenin V as a means of expressing his passion for both sailing and the arts.