http://www.boatinternational.com | June 2018PHOTOGRAPHY: GILLES MARTIN-RAGET; CARLO BORLENGHI
T
he Yacht Club de Monaco magnetises the attention: this Norman Foster-designed, boat-
inspired marvel (complete with towering masts) leaves most superyachts that line its dock
literally and metaphorically in the shade. It’s a special 30 metre sailing boat, then, that can pry
admiring stares away from both the club and the massive white motor yachts that sit alongside her.
But then Tango, the latest hull in the Wallycento series, is rather unusual. She has a striking black carbon
hull and rig, and a flush teak deck that seems to stretch far beyond her true length. She is the second Wally
for a repeat client, and the fourth Wallycento, but it’s immediately clear that she difers from her siblings,
thanks to her unique design team: Pininfarina for the interior, and Mills Design for the naval architecture
and exterior design, which was developed in collaboration with Wally.
Leaving Port Hercules for a sea trial between Monaco and Cap Ferrat, conditions are light, with only
six knots of true wind – but it is enough to get a glimpse of the potential of this cruiser-racer. In a few
seconds, the new 3Di sails from North Sails are up, creating a cathedral of carbon. “The deck hardware is
powerful and fast: it takes only seven seconds to hoist the jib!” says Wally founder Luca Bassani.
This technical wizardry, which the owner describes as “the most advanced technologies in construction,
systems, rig and sail handling”, were vital to the brief. After all, he was attracted to the Wallycento in the
first place because “I never sailed at 25 knots and always wanted to know what it’d feel like”.In race mode, Tango has a crew of
24 and in their first oicial regatta,
last year’s Les Voiles de Saint-
Tropez, they made an immediate
impact, winning one race and
finishing sixth overall. When
converted into a cruiser, there’s
room for six guests in three cabins
and four crew139