Yachts International — July-August 2017

august

2017

27

above and left: VPLP is developing an automated wing sail system for its
Komorebi concept, a 282-foot trimaran.

completely most of the time—apart from generators—is underap­

preciated,” Wallis says. “I think part of the problem is that motor­

yacht owners discount sails because they don’t understand them,

are worried by extra crew requirements and don’t like heeling over.

On the other hand, sailing yacht owners probably want performance

and think motorsailers are old clunkers.”

The fact is, even cruiser­racer sailing yachts spend relatively

little time under sail alone, especially during long crossings with

reduced crew. Too little wind and the yachts make heavy headway;

too much and they risk breaking expensive spars and sails.

A sail­assisted vessel not only provides much less heeling with

the interior volume and deck space of a motoryacht, but it also

offers image­conscious owners the opportunity to flaunt their green

credentials.

Who knows? The concept just might turn the motorsailer into

the new icon of cool.