R

egular readers of MBY may remember
our infamous test of Safehaven Marine’s
Barracuda SV11 back in 2016. Billed
as the toughest boat test ever, we took
it into the teeth of a gale outside Cork
Harbour in search of the biggest waves we
could fi nd. The SV11 won the battle but
not without losing its radar dome, which
was ripped from its mountings by a 20ft wall of green water.
So when Safehaven Marine’s founder Frank Kowalski decided
to build an even bigger, faster version of the Barracuda, the XSV
17, he needed to fi nd a fresh challenge that would leave a lasting
impression on the military bigwigs and commercial hard nuts
who make up his customer base.
Being an Irish boatbuilder, a non-stop circumnavigation of
Ireland was the obvious choice, but even this seemed a little too
tame for such a hardcore machine. Instead, he decided to try and
set a new record for circumnavigating Ireland via Rockall, a barren
rock 270nm north-west of Ireland. Not only would this push the
total mileage past 1,000nm but it included a 540nm open-water
stretch into the heart of the North Atlantic, taking in some of the
roughest and most notorious seas on the planet. This would test
every aspect of the new boat’s performance, including its range,
reliability, speed and above all, its ability to maintain a fast cruising
pace for hours on end, whatever the sea state. If he and his team
could pull it off, it’d satisfy even the most demanding customers.

BUILT FOR SPEED
With their mission decided, the team set about prepping the
boat. The Barracuda XSV 17 is a high-speed 58ft craft designed
for search and rescue missions or as a naval interceptor. Powered

by a pair of 1,000hp Caterpillar C12.9 diesel engines on surface

drives, it’s capable of 54 knots fl at out. But its real strength is its

rough-weather seakeeping. Built from lightweight FRP cored

composites, the unique deep-vee hull form allows it to operate in

two distinct modes, fully planing and wave piercing. The constant

24° deadrise hull incorporates twin chines to promote effi cient

planing but narrows towards the bow into a super slender stem.

This is designed to run clear of the water at speed but when

38

TRAVEL

Thunder Child

roars along the

Irish coastline

Stopping for fuel on

the journey north

Rough-weather

testing outside

Cork harbour

Suspension seats

help absorb any

sudden impacts