Project Sapphire was designed for an imaginary owner who has three major goals for his next new boat. Firstly, it has to carry the overall aesthetic of an explorer-style yacht, whilst remaining sleek and minimalist in form and detail. Secondly, it must be light and airy, with a spacious and relaxed interior that allows easy indoor-outdoor flow, so that the owners and their guests can truly enjoy the experience of being at sea. And finally, it must be capable of operating efficiently and comfortably on long ocean passages, using hybrid propulsion and energy-recovery systems, whilst keeping the owners and their guests safe in the some of the more treacherous waters of the world.
The resulting design is this 73m displacement motoryacht. The long, straight lines with plumb bow and minimalist exterior address this first criteria. The aesthetic is long and sleek but carries the raw, functional forms of trawlers and explorers.
The vast expanses of glass and overhanging wings on the salon deck flood the enormous central atrium with natural light. The area is immensely spacious and is decorated in a relaxed, comfortable fashion.
Addressing the final criteria is a long slender hullform with plumb bow and semi-bulbous bow sections, creating a fast hull with low resistance and dampened pitching moment. This is all driven by a hybrid diesel-electric propulsion system given an 8,000nm range at 18 knots. A number of external features have also been designed to minimize the threat of piracy, including minimal access points and lack of external stairways.
Project Sapphire has also been designed to use our Aperto 8.5m open tender and Barrel-Back 8.3m tender designs.
Specifications
LOA – 73.5m | LWL – 73.0m | BOA – 14.5m | Draft – 2.5m | Displ. – 986 tonnes | Power – 3,300hp
Guests – 12 | Crew – 16 | Construction – Aluminium | Class – GL
Propulsion – Diesel-electric Azimuth pod-drive system | Range 8,000nm | Speed – 18 knots (cruise.)
