topdeckI S S U E N U M B E R 8

T o m o r r o w ’ s Y a c h T s T o d a Y

Skipper’s briefing

I am pleased to report that despite the difficult times our design studio remains as busy as ever. Indeed, there have been some encouraging signs, with the majority of our production clients worldwide

continuing to develop and, in some cases accelerating the development of new designs ready for the inevitable improvement in the economic climate. It is also heartening to report that we are also working with start up companies, not afraid to launch their businesses, even though we are at a very low point in the economic cycle.

One of this year’s highlights has been the launch of our first model for Performance Yachts, the PY-100 ‘Liara’. She will be making her public debut at this years Monaco Yacht Show, but has already been making quite a name for herself on the racing circuit. It has taken a huge amount of effort on the part of everybody concerned to produce a yacht which we believe really does offer the best of both worlds – fast cruising in light airs and competitive racing, but all in luxurious comfort. Our work continues for Performance Yachts as the range expands.

With my likening for Far Eastern food, it was a pleasure to pay my first visit to the South Korea Yacht Show and give a presentation on our company and my experiences over the last 25 years of designing and eating in the Far East. As a mark of celebration, we are showcasing the Johnson Yachts 125 featured on page 5.

As to the immediate future, we have some very innovative Superyacht projects in progress and expect that the coming year will be challenging... but exciting!

Performance Yachts Illustrated here is the Performance Yachts PY-125, the current

flagship of the Performance Yachts series; the PY-100, PY-109 and the PY-115 complete the range.

We are particularly pleased in being instrumental in bringing one of Australia’s top Superyacht Builders on board as a partner builder of the PY range. Azzura Marine employs some of the best craftsmen in the world, who are highly skilled in both traditional and high tech yacht building.

The PY-125 is a state of the art, lifting keel composite flagship, and will be an exceptionally powerful sailing yacht with the PY focus on light air performance. Its spacious, beautifully executed interior, for an owner’s party of eight and crew of six will feature as its centrepiece a large single level raised saloon with panoramic views.

Sencora 52Last years Topdeck had a sneak preview of the vessel shown here;

the Sencora 52 metre has been in development for the last couple of years.

This long waterline, lean, composite vessel, was designed for a client who required a motor yacht with ocean crossing range and capabilities. The resulting hull shape, combined with the weight advantage of composite construction will be a comfortable, efficient and economic vessel.

This design is not your average tri deck motor yacht. Influences on the design have come as much from large modern sailing yachts. The distribution of the accommodation clearly reflects a design destined to spend extensive time at sea.

The distinctly ‘Far East’ theme to this years Topdeck starts with the magnificent Johnson 125. Johnson has been our client for the last

25 years and the latest line, which started with the 87 in 2002, now has a brand new flagship in the shape of the 125.

With the 87 we brought superyacht styling down to a significantly smaller vessel, and the 125 continues the theme to the extent that rather than superyacht, she is perhaps better described as a ‘compact megayacht’!

Why?

A split level owners suite, believed to be a first on a yacht of this size, sees an office, dressing room and bathroom on the lower level with steps up to the bedroom and its panoramic views on the next. ‘Private and ‘public’ deck areas for formal and informal entertaining, a large open area on the flybridge complete with Jacuzzi and sun pads, and a choice of three dining areas on three decks are just a few of the many features on this beautiful motor yacht that help her to ‘megayacht’ status.

Johnson 125

Liara PY-100

We are delighted with ‘Liara’, whose owner’s previous yacht was also designed by us. We faced the challenge of providing a competitive regatta yacht,

but also a comfortable, sea-kindly cruising home, knowing that to achieve these requirements would involve us in one of the most detailed endeavours we have ever undertaken.

‘Liara’ is the first Dixon Yacht Design vessel in the Performance Yachts range, and her launch marked the culmination of several years work by our team to produce a yacht which, can honestly be said, to take the design of larger cruising yachts a significant step forward.

Her exceptionally ‘slippery’ hull, largely constructed of carbon and epoxy, is driven by a very large sloop rig. This combination

of features ensures she does not ‘stand still’ like so many other cruising yachts in light air conditions. These two features alone would justify the word ‘different’, but it is the other elements in her design, some small in themselves and too many to list here, that have also contributed significantly to her success.

The result is a yacht which is exceptionally fast in light airs, very spacious and comfortable to live on and which has already been proved on the ‘race track’. The commendations from journalists the world over have come thick and fast; one writing recently, “You will leave ‘Liara’ reluctantly, but with the genuine pleasure that comes from seeing something so carefully thought out and well made.”

This stunning semi-production 60 foot catamaran was commissioned by GHI Yachts in South Korea and is designed to satisfy demand for local day charters whilst also being attractive to overseas markets.

She follows the trend in large cruising catamarans in featuring a flying bridge, complete with helm station and sailing controls. Our design has a particularly spacious and practical area with an aft section dedicated to guests and entertainment with the forward section accommodating the sailing functions.

It is important on charter focused vessels to provide flexible external spaces, and on this vessel, with its emphasis on day charters and the increase number of guests on board, we have three separate zones; the flybridge, a large aft deck, and a foredeck cockpit and sunbathing area.

The vessels alloy construction allows great flexibility in the internal layout and would normally feature four equal guest cabins all with spacious en-suite facilities.

The Korean Cat

We have been working with companies in the Far East for over 25 years and as a result have considerable experience of their working practices and requirements. Only a few years ago most

of these companies’ production was destined for established markets in Europe and the Americas. With growing wealth and aspirations in their own countries this situation is changing. There can be no doubt that boat sales in countries like China and Korea will expand dramatically in the next few years.

The portfolio of companies with whom we work continues to grow with two of our newer clients in China, Hansheng Yachtbuilding, the Gallop range, and Xing Rui Yachtbuilding, the Sease range, both developing their second Dixon Yacht Design powerboat designs.

European styling and our substantial knowledge of production engineering methods has allowed both these builders, and our other clients in the Far East, to develop and bring into production, modern, quality products in a short period of time.

The Far East

Sease 62

Gallop 58

Moody 41, 45 & 62

Early 2008 saw the launch of the ‘revolutionary’ Moody 45DS which brought a totally new approach to cruising yacht design.

This unique concept of ‘one level’ living is being repeated in the 45’s larger sister, the 62DS, which received her world premier at the Southampton Boat Show.

We were obviously delighted when asked by Hanse Yachts, the new owners of the Moody ‘brand’, to continue our long relationship with the name. Even more delighted when Hanse showed their serious commitment to developing new ranges of Moody’s. The DS range was only the start and has now been joined by the ‘Classic’ series. The first two yachts in the series have already been launched, the 41 and the 45, and they combine our latest design principles and production practices with a styling which is more in keeping with the Moody tradition. The result; excellent performance, living space and comfort wrapped in a timeless exterior.

Classic 41. Courtesy of Hanse Yachts

Classic 45. Courtesy of Hanse Yachts

62DS. Courtesy of Hanse Yachts

Dixon Yacht Design is delighted to be working with one of the world’s largest boat builders

Azimut, on the new Azimut Magellano range of semi-displacement motor yachts designed by Ken Freivokh Design. We have been given the responsibility for the naval architecture and production engineering and have, through an involved and extensive tank testing program, developed an innovative hull form.

The design aims were two fold; efficient cruising at semi-displacement speeds and comfortable sea kindly cruising at displacement speeds. As can be seen from the graph, there is a significant reduction in hull resistance at semi-displacement speeds over an equivalent planing hull, giving better fuel economy and a longer cruising range.

To assess the motoring capabilities in a seaway we commissioned a series of radio controlled scale model tests carried out in various sea states up to a full size equivalent significant wave height of 4.5 metres. The results showed that the Magellano will have excellent directional stability and the ability to operate at high speeds in large following seas, without broaching or bow diving. This hull form exhibits a longer roll period and a higher damping coefficient than a typical planning hull form, which will increase passenger comfort at sea and anchor!

Azimut 74 Magellano

Dixon YaCHt DeSiGnt: +44 (0)1489 572337 f: +44 (0)1489 559134

e: info@dixonyachtdesign.com

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