http://www.boatinternational.com | June 2017matt-varnished walnut and the simplified raised panels are off-white.
Hardware is a tasteful gunmetal that complements the carbon fibre
spars and sails and the deep grey pearl of the topsides.
One of the more modern interior features of the yacht is a drop-
down wall panel between the galley and saloon that creates an
informal breakfast bar. While the cabinetry looks rich, 80 per cent of
the interior is veneered foam core to save weight. The added teak
doghouse is carbon fibre with teak veneer.
Sadly, in the middle of the project Beeldsnijder passed away. While
Hoek Design transferred his hand-drawn sketches to AutoCAD
details, Michiel de Vos of deVosdeVries design was brought in to
complete details for interior manufacturer List and choose soft goods
with the owner. In the small town way in which everything in
maritime Holland seems just a few degrees of separation apart, de
Vos formerly worked with Beeldsnijder before starting his own firm
and earlier sailed as second engineer on the J Class Shamrock.
First and foremost, this is a racing yacht and the owner is
committed to providing everything to work towards victory, says
Captain Paul Kelly, a veteran of the classic schooners Borkumriff IV,
Atlantic and Eleanora. Part of that commitment is assembling his 2017
race crew to sail on the boat in sea trials in Holland and then to
assemble for full-on practice throughout April in Palma.
“We have the benefit of 20 years of development on Ranger and five
or six on Lionheart,” notes Kelly. “I think we are in a better position
right out of the packet. Of course, they have the years of practice but
our 28 crew have really settled into their roles.” All of the permanent
crew also race.
“The boat is an absolutely incredible fusion of 1937 design and 2017
technology,” says Kelly. “We look like 1937 but strip away the veneer
and we are as modern as they come.” Contrasting the J with his
previous charges he is quick to note “this one is a lot easier to drive”.
Moder Svea, which translates from Old Norse as “Mother Sweden”,
has been the patriotic symbol of the country since the mid-1600s.
Usually depicted as a powerful female warrior, Svea seems the perfect
name for a yacht that will carry a country’s seafaring heritage onto
the world stage when the Js do battle during an America’s Cup for the
first time since 1937. B“The boat is a fusion of 1937 design and 2017
technology. We look like 1937 but strip away
the veneer and we are as modern as they come”
need to see what’s happening on the lee side. We felt it would be better
to create a shallow cockpit and recess the bottom of the wheel in a
well to give the helmsman a better position.” Unlike many of the
details of the J Class, the layout and dimensions of the cockpit and
the position of the wheel and winches are not part of the regulations.
Svea’s cockpit is one of the standout features. Hoek and the owner’s
team revised the plan, essentially splitting the sailing functions into
two cockpits. The afterguard – helmsman, tactician, main and jib
sheet trimmers and the team on the running backstays – are in
constant visual communication and within easy hearing distance of
each other while the halyard and spinnaker trimming winches and
their crew are forward of the doghouse. It’s an inspired set-up for fast,
quiet communication, says Vittorio Pappa of the Hoek Design office,
noting there are no winches behind the helmsman. When in cruising
mode, a U-shaped framework clips in around the edge of the cockpit
to provide comfortable seating for 10 around a gleaming teak table.
“The owner has an experienced racing team and they took the lead
in working with Southern Spars, Harken and North Sails in concert
with the engineers for the yard,” said van Ineveld. “From a sail
handling point of view, she is likely to be the most aggressive J yet.”
The owner wanted an interior with an owner’s suite plus two
en suite guest cabins, a comfortable combination saloon and
appropriate quarters for six permanent crew. He chose Pieter
Beeldsnijder to draw an interior that would nod to the classics, but
not become a costume drama. For example, the joinery is open grainAbove: the boat’s hardware is in a tasteful gunmetal that complements the carbon fibre spars and sails and the deep grey pearl of the topsidesRight: the interior design is a nod to the
classics with joinery in open grain matt-
varnished walnut and off-white simplified
panels. While the cabinetry looks rich, most
of the interior is a veneered foam core to save
weight. In addition to the owner’s suite there
are two en suite guest cabins, a combination
saloon and quarters for six permanent crew0123456789 0123456789147
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