Boat International magazine

I am one of the fortunate few who seem to be immune to seasickness. But for some, it can prove not only an inconvenience but also, potentially, the end of their cruising dreams. Superyacht owners Alex and Renate Dreyfoos thought that their ambitions for world cruising would be scuppered by a particular sensitivity to the affliction – so much so that even the latest stabilisers had failed to mitigate the mal de mer. But a new hull design developed for commercial applications by Abeking & Rasmussen in Germany would be their saviour. Labelled SWATH (Small Waterplane Area Twin Hull) the unusual design had proven incredibly stable in a seaway. Dreyfoos adapted the design, and the result – Silver Cloud (see BI 297) – has taken them around the world seasickness free.

Now Abeking & Rasmussen is looking to develop the concept further for superyachts and has teamed up with Reymond Langton Design to create a striking 62m concept that offers not only the stability of the SWATH platform, but also vast interior volume and an abundance of deck space. We went to Cuxhaven in Germany to spend some time aboard a commercial SWATH and get the lowdown on the technology. Could this be a design trend of the future?

Meanwhile, Italian builder Arcadia Yachts has taken a different approach to superyachting of the future. When its angular Arcadia 85 first appeared a couple of years ago it certainly got tongues wagging, thanks in part to the glass superstructure that contained arrays of photovoltaic cells. Now the yard has launched its first 115, named M Ocean, which continues the distinctive design DNA and packs in the same technological foresight.

This month, we also start a new series of exclusive owner interviews. Mark Chisnell met up with digital and telecoms titan Charles Dunstone for lunch to talk about his passion for yachting.

One last thing… It was pointed out to me as I was writing this that my apparent immunity to seasickness is a blessing that I do not appreciate enough. I contest this assertion. Cooking a roast chicken dinner (with all the trimmings) for the crew of an non-stabilisered 39m motor yacht on passage mid-Mistral because the chef was laid flat was one thing; being ‘volunteered’ to unblock the heads of a 32-footer in a Force 9 mid-Atlantic was quite another. Yes, I think SWATH has quite the future in yachting…

Tim Thomas, Editor

M OCEAN Arcadia Yachts’ ‘Made in Naples’ range is designed with the philosophy of openness to the sea and the open air. M Ocean, the largest build so far, embodies these inspiring principles

HARBOUR ISLAND What began as a straightforward build turned into a larger no-holds-barred project when the owner and Newcastle Shipyards prioritised quality over build time - this is the 54.9m result

MERLIN 100 A Turkish client’s request for a motor sailer that blended a modern hull shape with traditional lines produced the Merlin 100, and spawned a new series of sailing yacht

SUPERYACHT DESIGN: SWATH Conceived and built for stability in rough seas, the twin-hulled SWATH is making a determined shift from commercial ugly duckling to superyacht swan		LUNCH WITH CHARLES DUNSTON The drive that made Charles Dunstone’s business fortune has also been channelled into his long-time passion: high-tech, high-adrenaline yacht racing		CRUISING THE BOSPHORUS A visit to Istanbul offers the chance to experience a country that straddles two continents with culture, history, hustle and bustle as well as Bosphorus islands to escape to on your superyacht

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