ELEGANCE

You started with a Spirit 52 custom new build, what was your brief to the designers and what did you particularly enjoy about the design and build process?

The brief for Blue Minx was to build a cruiser-racer, capable of doing long passages in comfort with the possibility to go off-grid for longer periods of time. We also wanted a fast boat that is a lot of fun to sail and allows us to take part in regattas. The intention for the project was to be as environmentally-friendly as possible, with extensive solar panels, electric propulsion, and the ability to generate electricity from the prop (hydo-regeneration) under sail. While the yacht is classic in design, we wanted a clean, simple, and light interior, highlighting the beauty of the wood and the amazing craftsmanship, and keeping the number of painted panels to a minimum.

Part-way through your Spirit sailing yacht project, you purchased a brokerage Spirit P40 motor yacht – what led to that decision and how did you envisage using the two yachts?

The decision of purchasing the P40, Billie, was far less deliberate than Blue Minx. Yet, when the boat was offered for sale, it seemed that the two boats could make a great pair. Aesthetically, they are clearly from the same stable, and they are complementary in usage. Blue Minx fulfils the main passion – sailing. She is fun as a weekend sailer but also capable of longer passages. After taking delivery of her in the UK, her maiden voyage was to sail down to our home in Italy, a passage of more than 2000nm. Billie is more functional and she can cover longer distances with ease. Due to her relatively lightweight construction and shape of the hull, Billie is reasonably economical in terms of fuel consumption. She was delivered to Cannes and we drove her across to our marina in Italy in just a few hours, it was very easy and an absolute joy.

Your Spirit P40 is now on her third design iteration (from an open to fully enclosed, and now semi-enclosed), did the flexibility in refit capability and customisation options play a role in your decision to purchase her?

Yes it definitely did. Tom (Smith, Lead Designer at Spirit) was great at turning our ideas into a design proposal. We modified both the wheelhouse and interior to make Billie more suitable for the Mediterranean climate, and to match her interior to Blue Minx’s. Billie showcases the same interior styling – very contemporary, complemented by the beautiful, classic exterior. The ability to make these design changes was key to our purchase decision.

Both yachts are now kept on the Italian coast, tell us how they fit with your lifestyle and what benefits having both a sail and a motor yacht bring?

Billie is ideal for a day out on the water here in Italy, or to travel alongside Blue Minx as a (rather large) tender or support boat. Due to Billie’s minimal draft of less than a metre with the engines up, she can anchor far closer to shore than a sailing boat can. For a day out swimming and enjoying the sunshine she is ideal.

For me, being onboard Blue Minx is much more about the process of getting from A to B. In my mind there is no better way of doing this than to sail. Despite the slower speed, it is much more rewarding than going on a motorboat, you are involved in the process of sailing and you rely on the weather. No two days are the same – it’s fabulous.

On occasion, we will take both boats on longer trips. For example, we went back to Cannes and Antibes this year with both boats alongside each other, meeting in the evening on anchor, which was great fun. They seem to attract much more attention (in a good way) than my much larger boat ever did. People just seem to love the classic design and understated elegance.

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Click here to watch a video of Billie and Blue Minx

To make an enquiry, contact the Spirit Yachts team via enquiries@spirityachts.com / +44 1473 214715.