Busy times in the Spirit yard with a power and a sail yacht in build
02.12.16
The team in the Spirit yard is busy with the latest boats in build: the Spirit P70 and a 52’ Spirit Classic sailing yacht.
The brief from the P70 owner was to design an ultra-efficient yet beautiful motor yacht on which he could spend long periods of time. The solution is the Spirit P70: a powerful, yet economical, long distance cruising yacht with the latest electrical and mechanical systems.
Spirit CEO and head designer, Sean McMillan comments, “Efficiencies on every level were a key element of the brief, so we have paid close attention to the layout and outputs of all the systems in order to allow the owner to live onboard for as long as possible.”
Above: Spirit P70 in build.
The largest Spirit motor boat to date, the P70 now has its ringframes in place and the first layer of hull planking will soon be laid down.
Before starting on the build, Spirit used computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to test the hull flow of the P70 design to ensure ultimate efficiency through the water. With the latest MAN i6 800hp twin engines, the P70 has a cruising speed of up to 18knots, and a maximum speed of up to 25knots.
Above: Spirit P70 in build.
Spirit’s clean hull lines and the impressive power to weight ratio offered by wood/epoxy construction, allows the P70 to cruise comfortably for up to 1,000 miles at 18knots. Allowing for the possibility of variable weather when cruising, the design allows for several stabiliser options, including gyroscopic.
The P70 can sleep up to eight guests across three en-suite cabins and a luxurious owner’s cabin aft; a fourth cabin provides accommodation for crew. Guests are well catered for; whether it be from the well-equipped galley (including dumb waiter to the comfortable saloon) or al fresco dining from the BBQ on the fly bridge.
With in-deck dinghy storage and hydraulic lifting boom, a tender is easily launched and recovered for trips ashore.
Above: Spirit P70 in build.
Also in build is a new Spirit Classic 52’, which has been tailored specifically for racing. With a completely stripped out interior, flush decks, and carbon rigging, spars and rudder, the yacht is being built for an experienced and competitive racing sailor. Lithium batteries will power race spec winches and the wooden rimmed wheel will be set with carbon spokes. Bound for the south coast classic regattas next summer, this Spirit 52’ will be complemented by an extensive sail wardrobe for all weather conditions.
Ringframes are currently being built for the Spirit 52’; keep an eye on our Facebook and Twitter pages for photos of the build as it progresses.
To find out more about the new Spirits in build, please contact Nigel Stuart on +44 (0)1473 214715 or email [email protected].