SUPERYACHT #13
Summer 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
Corradino Corbò
Photos by
Nicolas Claris
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COUACH YACHT 3300 FLY
High technology, researched design, great space given to
personalisation: the new direction of the celebrated French yard has
reinforced a more than century-old tradition, finding its most
outstanding standard-bearer in the 3300 Fly.
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TECHNICAL DATA
Design: Guy Couach Studio
LOA 35.00 m.
Waterline length 33.00 m.
Beam: 6.80 m.
Draught: 1.70 m.
Displacement: 90 t.
Guest cabins: 4/5
Crew cabins: 3
Engines: MTU 16V2000 M93 2 x 2.400 HP
Fuel tanks: 20.000 litres
Water tanks: 2.000 litres
Design Category: A
For further information: Shipbuilder: Couach, Rue de L'Yser - 33470
Gujan-Mestras (France). Tel. 0033 5 56223550; fax 56660820. Website
www.couach.com; email couach@couach.com
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With the experience handed down through four generations of
shipbuilders since 1897, culminating in the new company set-up, the
French yard Couach is seen today as one of the most advanced worldwide
at a technological level. Experimentation with new materials,
development of new procedures, research in the fields of hydrodynamics
and design are the keystones of its technical department which,
especially after the expansion of the early 2000's, handles a
considerable interchange of experiences between the military and
pleasure craft sectors. The latter - expressed in the Flying Bridge,
Yacht and Open lines - covers a range that is in constant growth,
urged on as it is by an equally effervescent demand. What customers
are after substantially is a well balanced mix of high technology and
customisation: two elements which may clash but which the Gujan-
Mestras yard has miraculously showed itself capable of coupling, above
all with the latest creations. This time the vessel that has attracted
great interest is the 3300 Fly which, presented in preview at the
Cannes Boat Show, has already found three lucky owners and therefore
might be spotted in the Mediterranean this upcoming summer season. In
no way unworthy of the French brand's name, this is a 33 metre cruiser
in Kevlar, including the superstructure. Extremely lean, in accordance
with the style that currently characterises Couach production, she
might even seem a hull of offshore derivation if her considerable
constitution didn't unequivocally declare that she belongs to the
"ship" category. The trained eye will note plenty of analogies with
the 2800 Open model - of which there already about fifteen in
circulation - including the form of the hull and certain architectonic
motifs; just as it is easy to imagine what the yard has drawn on for
the upcoming 3000 Fly. Well, it's precisely this close generational
link between the various models that shows how the principle of
evolution makes even a first time vessel - as in the case of our 3300
- seem already mature and perfected, as if it were a production veteran.
What contributes to this striking impression is the fact that the new
Fly is already offered with four interior variants, which goes to show
that Couach has its ideas clear about possible end uses: the four
cabin version - with a sumptuous owner's suite amidships - for a more
private use; the five cabin version, more or less similar in layout
and size, for charter; the "baie ronde" version with an added circular
dinette that increases seating capacity in the spacious saloon, and
the "baie droite" version which is more open towards the cockpit and
therefore brighter and more airy. The yard in any case is willing to
carry out customisation interventions that are not merely limited to
stylistic retouching. So though we can't actually talk about custom
built craft we're pretty close to it. The principle that allows such
flexibility is clearly visible in the deck plans where it's easy to
see the modularity of certain elements which, like on a chessboard,
can be moved within a well defined grid. For example, in the case of
the 4 and 5 cabin versions the only sector undergoing radical
modification is the central one, which accounts for around 18 percent
of the longitudinal development of the hull. Which is like saying at
the end of the day, appearances notwithstanding, the option
possibility certainly doesn't revolutionise the overall construction
process. At functional level however this 18 percent means the
difference between a really grand and spacious owner's cabin - we
already called it sumptuous - and a couple of comfortable double bed
cabins. So with the rest remaining the same, in the 4 cabin version
the "VIP" stateroom (fully forward) is promoted without any
modification to the owner's in the 5 cabin configuration. And, believe
me, it isn't a makeshift thing.
Even less demanding, again at constructional level but certainly not
insignificant at practical level, is the saloon option. The
possibility of having a sheltered dining area near the entrance -
which means in close contact with the cockpit - suggests a seeking of
light that we might define as more "Nordic"; whereas the choice of
assigning greater openness to the living area, compensated by an
external dining area that exploits the semicircular sofa right at the
stern, makes you think more of Mediterranean climates. To resolve any
of the owner's Hamlet type doubts there is in any case the flying
bridge which, quite aside from the possible choices made for the lower
decks, remains an extremely welcoming and well equipped place. The
outdoor command bridge on the port side leaves space for the access
stairway which, linked with the side corridor of the deck below,
offers a handier and more protected passage. Setting out from the
helmsman's station towards the extending part aft, the space is
organised in a bar area with a well equipped counter and a spacious C-
shaped seating arrangement with two tables mounted on columns. Right
behind them there's a perfectly circular Jacuzzi which also separates
the area from the sundeck, the latter consisting of two L-shaped sofas
and two well cushioned areas with ample space for six.
Let's now look at another aspect of the Couach philosophy which we
find unmistakeably and perfectly implemented here. We're talking about
the crew's quarters, to which the French yard pays great attention,
justly considering them a factor of prime importance both for the crew
themselves and the guests who will certainly get better service from a
satisfied crew. Well then, this yacht has a cabin with double bed and
private bathroom for the captain, plus two transformable cabins (with
shared bathroom) for the crew: it's all well separated from the
private areas but, as is appropriate, in close proximity to the
technical zones. On the subject of which we should make special
mention of the garage - about 30 square metres - which is easily
accessed both from the outside, by way of the fine stern bridge, and
from the inside by way of the laundry room. This second possibility
was designed in order to allow full exploitation of the area while
under way, so maintenance could be carried out on the service boats at
a time when they certainly would not be required for use. The space is
such as to house a 5 metre plus tender, two jet-skis and two mopeds,
as well as a compressed air tank for recharging scuba bottles and a
locker for personal equipment.
All this and much more on a yacht whose classy interiors and attention
to detail are coupled with high performances: you zip along at a
maximum speed of more than 32 knots, with the benefit of a
soundproofing system that almost silences the potent pair of 2.400 HP
MTUs at full power. What's more important is that at the economical
cruising speed of 18 knots there's a range of more than 2.200 miles.
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