SUPERYACHT #12
Spring 2007
Article selected from our quarterly magazine dedicated to the largest
and most luxurious boats with information, interviews, technical
articles, images and yachting news
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Article by
Angelo Colombo, photos by Albert Brunstingi
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VITTERS SHIPYARD MYSTÈRE
Mystère is a 43 metre sloop built in
accordance with her owner's precise requirements. He asked the
designers for high performance and a draft that would permit sailing
in relatively shallow waters. The latter request in particular was in
stark contrast with the need for a powerful sail plan that could also
assure a good pace on a reach and in light winds.
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TECHNICAL DATA
LOA: 43.20 m
Length on waterline: 38.50 m
Beam: 8.80 m
Draft: 3.50/5.75 m
Light displacement: 190.000 Kg
Ballast: 40.000 Kg
Water tanks: 5.800 litres
Fuel tanks: 12.700 litres
Hull construction material: aluminium
Superstructure construction material: carbon
Classification: Lloyd's SSC + 100 A1
Engine: 830 HP MTU 12V 183TE72.
For further information contact: Vitters Shipyard B.V., Stouweweg 33, 8064 PD Zwartslus, The Netherlands; tel. +31 (0)38 3867145; fax +31 (0)38 3868433; email info@vitters.com; website www.vitters.com.
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But Vitters Shipyard
took up the challenge and set out to design Mystère with the
naval architects of the Bill Tripp Design studio. Further requests
were for welcoming interiors that could house crew and 8 to 9
passengers also for long periods, and the whole was to be in line with
top international classifications. Before talking about the interior
compartmentalisation we'd like to describe the solutions adopted by
Bill Tripp Design to resolve problems of a technical nature in meeting
the owner's needs. Firstly, the material chosen for the hull was
aluminium while carbon was preferred for the superstructures, this
with view to keeping the centre of gravity as low as possible even
when the drop keel is in the "short" position. Because one of the
developments necessary in order to have a powerful sail plan and a
reduced draft when required involved the mobile keel system which can
reduce draft from 5.75 metres to 3.50. This solution permitted the
development of deck gear suited to the owner's desire for a vessel
that was powerful even in light wind conditions, as well as being able
to approach the coast even in shoal water. Handling of the running
rigging is electromechanically assisted throughout so the yacht can be
sailed by a crew of six. There's also the very attractive possibility
of handling the powerful sail plan from the cockpit which houses the
controls for prompt intervention on all the rigging. There is no
classic wheelhouse: the helmsmen's outdoor positions are aft, in a
double version to facilitate control of the sail plan on all points of
sailing. In place of the classic wheel there are electronic controls
for both rudder and sails. Everything aboard Mystère turns out
to be the result of careful study aimed at a modern design whose
strong point is the combination of high performance and liveability.
To optimise the latter the yard decided to locate the engine room
slightly forward of the amidships zone, succeeding in creating a very
spacious area which houses all the onboard systems. These can be
easily inspected and are accessible from the crew's quarters forward
by means of a further safety door. This solution meant that the
owner's suite could be developed aft, with two double beds, saloon,
dressing room and spacious bathroom, as well as another two cabins
with twin beds and private bathroom. The owner's suite is accessed
from the aft area of the deck which overlooks an open air lounge for
his personal use. There is also access from the central corridor. An
unusual solution on yachts of this kind, but even more so if we
consider that this is a sloop whose performance is one of her strong
points. As we said earlier, the crew's quarters are located forward
where there is also a single cabin with private bathroom for an extra
guest. For the crew there are two cabins in the forepeak, with bunk
beds and bathrooms, the captain's cabin with double bed, plus a mess
and services area. Special mention goes to the great saloon within the
deckhouse. The latter is not raised very high but it gives very
pleasant natural light and total visibility of the deck and the
exterior. The saloon is furnished with a C-shaped sofa and central
table on the port side and an L-shaped sofa with coffee table on the
starboard side. The relaxation area has a sofa and table to which two
further chairs can be added by turning the indoor bridge seats towards
the stern. In practice the indoor bridge becomes a sharable area in
leisure moments. As for the exterior, the interesting solution adopted
at the stern is outstanding: the folding transom, which doubles as a
bathing platform, conceals the garage for the tender, with a fully
automatic system for launching and recovery.
The aft gangway is also retractable into the hull, and the bathing
platform is equipped with an extractable ladder in stainless steel for
returning aboard after a swim out at sea. The teak deck is
characterised by the clean lines of a racer, without obstacles any
kind but rich in equipment in proportion to the powerful sail plan.
The bridge is aft with two complete command stations from which all
the running rigging can be handled simply by pressing keys. Many of
the onboard accessories - such as the big electric winches - come from
the Dutch firm Rondal, a sector expert that can also supply equipment
ad hoc for special boats. In this case customising is particularly
notable in the great drums for the sheets, located on the sides of the
superstructure aft, a decidedly interesting solution. As may well be
expected of Vitters, Mystère is a yacht that is sure to be
talked about for the avant-garde technical solutions found everywhere
aboard, as we saw for ourselves during her presentation in Amsterdam
in June. The interiors, by Dick Young Design Ltd, feature a choice of
modern, decisive lines that produce an essential but not minimalist
style, capable of expressing elegance but without recourse to complex
ornamentation. Very welcoming throughout, the interiors of
Mystère highlight her owner's personal choices both in the
furnishings and colours. But the work of Dick Young Design, in
combination with solutions such as the aft opening of the owner's
suite onto a terrace over the sea, is certainly worthy of note.
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