Shuttleworth Design debut new 70m and 32m futuristic trimarans

19 January 2015 • Written by Risa Merl

Shuttleworth Design, creators of the award-winning yacht Adastra, has revealed the first glimpse of its new 70-metre and 32-metre trimarans.

The new designs are released in conjunction with Shuttleworth Design’s new website, launching this week, which will profile the new Shuttleworth 70M and 32M trimarans along with an 80-metre also in development.

The 42.5-metre power trimaran superyacht Adastra redefined the superyacht landscape when she came on the scene, winning her designers John and Orion Shuttleworth the award for Naval Architecture and Newcomer of the Year in the 2013 ShowBoats Design Awards and a Judges Commendation in the Exterior Design & Styling Award – displacement motor yachts 30-59.99m category.

“The new designs are in response to increased interest in both larger and smaller trimarans, similar to Adastra, but with greater accommodation in relation to length,” says Orion Shuttleworth of Shuttleworth Design in an interview with Boat International.

The latest Shuttleworth trimaran designs are based on the ground-breaking naval architecture principles developed for the Adastra yacht concept. Don’t let the far-out styling fool you – the slender, shallow-draft hull forms are designed to slice through waves with minimal resistance, reducing fuel consumption, improving passenger comfort and enabling faster transit in rough conditions. Unlike a similarly sized monohull, the shape of the Shuttleworth-designed multi-hull vessels mean they require no additional stabilisation. According to her designers, rolling at rest is virtually eliminated by the outriggers.

With 14,000 miles under her keel, Adastra has certainly been tested and been proven to be a comfortable oceangoing vessel, even facing 50-knot winds and four-metre seas. She can cruise at 17 to 20 knots and has an incredible range of 10,000 nautical miles. State-of-the-art composite engineering was used to achieve a combination of light weight and strength required to create a highly fuel-efficient vessel.

“Of course, we used all of what we learnt from the design of Adastra and carried this forward into the new design, but we had to completely rethink the accommodation,” Shuttleworth tells Boat International. “The challenge was to find ways increase interior volume while maintaining similar overall proportions that result in exceptional seakeeping and fuel efficiency.”

Like her little sister superyacht Adastra, the new Shuttleworth 70M will have a noteworthy range of 7,000 miles at 14 knots and will reach a top speed of 25 knots and 30 knots with alternative engine options. The layout of the 70-metre yacht has been designed in order to optimise guest privacy and comfort, with a focus on the flow of her 12 guests and 14 crew. A central column houses the crew and guest staircases, elevator and technical area, this also separates the crew areas and allows crew members to move between decks without impinging on guests. Along with crew accommodation, the lower deck will host an aft garage with 7.5-metre tender, Hobie cat, dive storage and a folding beach club.

“At 70 metres, we are able to add an entire upper deck and push the main deck accommodation out into the wings, making full use of the vessel’s beam,” says Orion Shuttleworth. “We have maintained the overall proportions we wanted and kept an optimum clearance between the underside of the wings and the waterline so as not to induce slamming.

The upper deck, which is dedicated to her owner, has sliding doors forward leading to a deck with a lounge area and huge sun beds, while the aft upper deck has a private al fresco dining space. According to Shuttleworth, at 70-metres and up, the wings of the vessels can be utilised for accommodation as well, which allows for a massively beamy main deck unrivalled on monohull vessels of similar LOA. In addition to a lounge and dining area – which can be opened onto the lounge to create one giant 21-metre wide living space – the main deck can host a gym, four guest staterooms and a VIP suite set in the bow. Fold-out balconies over the wings will give the main deck a doubly open feel and amazing views of the sea.

Smaller than trimaran yacht Adastra, the Shuttleworth 32M is designed to redefine long-distance voyaging yachts in this size range as an ultra-modern take on the explorer yacht while still being well suited as a weekend cruiser. With a wrap-around glass pilothouse, she even looks the part. According to her designers, “Her rugged ‘explorer’ style exterior maximises interior volume to provide spacious and comfortable accommodation whilst still maintaining unrivalled seakeeping, stability and efficiency.”

“The 32m can be enjoyed equally as an inshore cruiser or long-range explorer,” says Shuttleworth. “She is comfortable and practical for use for short cruises and weekend trips, however, her range, fuel efficiency, seakeeping and heavy weather capability make her the ideal vessel for ocean exploring.

“The layout and facilities have also been carefully considered to make the vessel comfortable to live aboard for long periods of time,” he continues. “She will have a very respectable top speed of 23 knots, allowing you to outrun bad weather when at sea and hop quickly between anchorages when coastal cruising. When at anchor, the outriggers will virtually eliminate roll, making the vessel very comfortable to be aboard. Without the need for gyroscopic stabilisers, the generators can be turned off allowing the owners and guests to relax comfortably in the quiet and peaceful surroundings of the anchorage.”

Power is planned as a single 1,150hp C18 Caterpillar engine with an additional 110hp engine in each outrigger for manoeuvring and to serve as back-up propulsion. The Shuttleworth 32M is predicted to achieve a top speed of 23 knots and a range of 6,000 nautical miles at 12 knots.

The Shuttleworth 32M is designed for ease of operation, so she could be operated and maintained by minimal crew or even her owners alone.

“Engines, generators and other systems are installed for ease of access and ample workshop space is provided. Dinghies and toys have launching and retrieval systems that are reliable, simple and quick to use. The living space is open plan but practical and can be compartmentalised when required. Massive storage space is provided in the wings for supplies, spares and emergency gear,” says Shuttleworth.

It's exciting to see these new and innovative designs emerge from a design house that is responsible for bringing us one of the most innovative yachts to hit the water in recent times. We look forward to reporting when the next forward-thinking Shuttleworth Design is underway.

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