SUPERYACHT #9
Summer 2006
Article selected from our quarterly magazine dedicated to the largest
and most luxurious boats with information, interviews, technical
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Article by
Lino Pastorelli
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TERRANOVA YACHTS - EXPLORER 85
Terranova Yachts is a recent yard on the displacement yacht scene.
It brought an interesting proposal to the last Cannes Boat Show,
the Explorer 85. The silhouette alone made her stand out among the
other vessels at the quay, and a visit aboard confirmed the
decisive and original character of this graceful "explorer yacht".
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TECHNICAL DATA
LOA: 25.90 metres
Homologation length: 23.99 metres
Beam: 7.12 metres
Draught: 1.80 metres
Displacement: 80 t.
Engines: 2 x MAN 700 HP
Cruising speed: 15 knots
Maximum speed: 16 knots
Fuel tanks: 6000 litres
Water tanks: 3400 litres
Classification EC Class: "A"
For further information: Terranova Yachts, Porto di
Lavagna Box 16/17-16033 Lavagna (GE), Italy, phone.+ 39 0185
370164, fax +39 0185 368579, www.terranovayacht.com, email terranovayacht@tin.it
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Giancarlo Pedetti, the yard's managing director and also the brain
behind this line of boats, has wide experience of displacement
hulls, both as dealer and sailor, and his clear ideas led to this
coupling of luxury and reliability in an 85' that could be
euphemistically defined as a superyacht with a tugboat's heart. It
is built in laminated fibreglass with isophtalic resins,
monolithic for the quick-works, sandwich for the topsides and
deck. As well as a keel with a fairly pronounced skeg, there are
various longitudinal reinforcement members laid at 50 cm centres
while a steel support for the engines is set in the bottom
structure. The hull is of the semi-displacement type, designed by
Inigo Toledo at the Barracuda Design studio of Madrid, and gives a
maximum speed of 16 knots. Cruising speed lies between 10 knots at
1200 rpm - with a very low consumption of roughly 50 l/h - and 15
knots at 2000 rpm with maximum consumption of 120 l/h. The engine
room well explains the philosophy behind the design: the two 700
HP MAN engines are housed in a spacious and rational environment.
There are special devices for bypassing the cooling fluids from
one engine to the other or using the propellants as bilge pumps.
On this subject it should be pointed out that the whole pumping
gear - already fairly oversized - is also doubled: sewage, dirty
water, bilges, autoclaves, diesel etc. The choice of mechanical
motors - the Kobelt controls at the various stations are
electronic but have an electromechanical transducer - means
maximum reliability and gives the possibility of having mechanical
levers in the engine room which can be activated manually and
without current. This feature, together with the manual diesel
pump for filling the daily tank, ensures that you can always be
under way. The generator units, compressors and battery chargers
are also doubled. The desalination system supplies 4320 litres of
fresh water daily and the 117.000 btu conditioner sends warm or
cool air to every space aboard. A workbench and the space for a
sink complete this ordered environment which we regretfully leave
to continue to the upper decks. The main deck, in spite of two
wicker armchairs in the cockpit for contemplation, reveals another
"expedition" aspect of the boat: a 500 Kg crane in the bow, which
can launch the 50 HP outboard inflatable dinghy in all weathers,
and two chunky electric winches (optionally hydraulic) for
handling the 180 Kg anchors, each with 120 metres of chain. Access
to the crew's quarters is from this section of the deck: two
double cabins with private bathrooms, somewhat sacrificed to the
big anchor chain guide-tubes. Access to the saloon is by a sliding
door in glass and steel. The interior strikes you with the
sobriety and elegance of the décor, common to all the
yacht's interiors: cherry for the walls and furniture, curtains
and sofas in natural fabrics, lacquered wood ceilings, flooring in
iroko, an extremely classic style. Corner sofas with a low central
coffee table provide areas for conversation, watching films on the
big plasma screen or for reading one of the great many books from
the Explorer's library. The windows make the space very bright,
like the separate dining room forward of the quarter, accessed by
way of a small landing. A soberly inlaid table and eight chairs
welcome guests to a room that evokes yachts of a far greater size.
The adjacent galley is laid out in a rational U-shape where double
sink, six plate electro-ceramic cooker with aspirator hood,
dishwasher, washing machine, 500 litre-plus fridge/freezer
(compressors in engine room), work surface and plenty storage
space are set in Schiffini aluminium and steel. A door leads to
the deck without passing through the living area. Opposite the
galley there is a staircase down to the night area and up to the
bridge. The lower deck has a fairly classic layout which can,
however, be varied according to requirements. You can have a fifth
cabin or turn one of the existing ones into a sauna, gym or study.
Amidships, next to the engine room and extending the whole width
of the beam, the owner's cabin has a king size bed, various
wardrobes, a dressing table and a conversation corner with two
blue leather sofas set at right angles. There are three guest
cabins: a large one forward with double bed and sofa, and at the
sides two opposite cabins with twin beds and a third foldaway
where required. The décor is the same everywhere: cherry
wood, light-coloured moquette, lacquered ceilings and sober,
vaguely neoclassical boiseries. Of course each cabin has a private
bathroom with shower area in marble and glass, raised level WC and
bidet and a marble surface for the washbasin. Rather
democratically, the four bathrooms are more or less the same,
without much difference between the owner's and the guests'.
Continuing to the upper decks we come to the bridge: an adjustable
seat for the helmsman, chart table, double drawers for
instruments, with sliding closure both for aesthetic reasons and
to avoid too much light when under way at night. For the various
controls there is a line of analogue instruments for both engines
and systems. Navigational equipment is complete: GPS, radar
chartplotter, autopilot, echo sounder, log, VHF, satellite
telephone, SSB. From the wheelhouse you have great all-round
visibility while the external stations are used for manoeuvres in
dock. Aft of this room there is a small saloon with sofa, plasma
TV, day-toilet and stainless steel retractable washbasin. You can
follow the steering of the yacht, watch a film or go onto the
surrounding 360° "Portuguese Deck". It is higher than the
quay and, once protected by wickerwork, is a favourite place for
outdoor meals or sunbathing in absolute peace. The flying bridge
above is accessed by an internal stairway: a spacious locker in
the fake funnel contains all the sundeck cushions. The various
aerials are also mounted on this bridge, including Sat TV.
Superyacht has sailed a lot in the Ligurian Sea on Explorer 85:
the absence of noise and vibrations, the manoeuvrability at sea
and in port, and these 15 knots, not too fast but fast enough to
see Portofino become Lavagna in a reasonable time, the feeling of
calm aboard: it all evokes the advantages of an unusual and
fascinating style of sailing aboard a vessel that is absolutely
suitable for both the domestic horizons of Tigullio and for others
far more distant and exotic.
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