Boat International magazine

Pale, dull and damp though it was, January had its highlights. For a start, I hopped over to Holland to interview Sander Sinot about the design of the magnificent Musashi, which was launched last year from Feadship’s Koninklijke De Vries yard in Makkum. His work on the boat is impressive – Japanese style meets art deco in a luxuriously understated interior, where every item down to the last tap and handle was custom designed by Sinot.

I also dropped in on Dykstra Naval Architects to interview Erik Wassen, the man largely responsible for the lines, styling, rig, deck layout and other key elements of the mighty carbon ketch Hetairos. When we first took an in-depth look at the build of the project at Baltic Yachts in our July 2010 edition, it was already apparent that this yacht was pushing boundaries in every area of design and construction. But talking to Wassen, I was even more stunned by the level of detail and the extent of the engineering and technology involved.

Unsurprisingly, she took line honours in the Transatlantic Superyacht Regatta & Maxi Yacht Cup 2011, reaching Virgin Gorda from the Canaries in a little over eight days. She hit speeds of close to 26 knots, and notched up 400-mile days – not bad for a yacht effectively making her first serious offshore passage. You can read all about Hetairos in our onboard feature and our ‘making of...’ special.

Back in the office, we have been working hard to improve our Brokerage News pages. This month, alongside key data, facts and figures on the current state of the market, you will also find an extended analysis of the 2011 market from the viewpoint of key brokers. It makes for interesting reading.

Tim Thomas, Editor

MUSASHI Named after a 16th Century samurai, this 87.78m yacht seamlessly combines cool Japanese minimalism, art deco accents and plenty of glass for chic, light-filled living spaces

HETAIROS The technologically advanced and luxurious 66.7m carbon ketch Hetairos hit 25.7 knots and took line honours in her first outing at the Transatlantic Superyacht Regatta & Maxi Cup

GERMANIA NOVA YACHT Experts and passionate amateurs helped a brave owner create this replica of the famous 1908 sailing yacht Germania – but with the benefits of modern technology

NORDHAVN 76 Nordhavn builds practical motor yachts for a specialised, adventurous market, and its new 23m fits that mould: not especially pretty, but tough as hell		ANTIGUA CHEFS’ COMPETITION Using local ingredients and international experience, some of the world’s best chefs battled it out in yacht kitchens at the annual Concours de Chef in Antigua		THROUGH THE NORTHWEST PASSAGE Braving changeable seas and sub-zero temperatures, dodging icebergs and polar bears, Arcadia becomes just the 159th vessel to transit the Northwest Passage across the Arctic Circle

Experience Boat International on the iPad

Alongside flexible ways to read the features you will also be able to engage with extended picture galleries, video footage and interviews related to our print content. Amongst this month's highlights are videos of Musashi under way and interviews with key players at the launch of Ben Ainslie's new racing team, as well as a picture gallery peek behind the scenes of the making of Hetairos.

Buy the iPad app now

Buy past issues of Boat International now