YACHT REPORT
MERAKI
VITTERS DELIVERS A ‘MODERN CLASSIC’ WITH ITS 50M CUTTER RIGGED KETCH, MERAKI
BRINGING HOEK DESIGN AND RHOADES YOUNG DESIGN TOGETHER WITH SAILING LEGEND CHRIS BOUZAID, MERAKI HAS IT ALL. ALL PHOTOS COURTESY OF VITTERS.
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or yacht design to truly succeed, collaboration is key. Dutch shipbuilder Vitters took this philosophy to the next level at the start of 2020 with the launch of its 50m sailing yacht Meraki. Built for owners who are experienced sailors and plan on taking the boat to the farthest regions as well as competitively race, the design team took in sailing professional Chris Bouzaid who advised on an optimised hull shape. Yacht designer Clay Oliver advised on the underwater appendages, while Hoek Design undertook the structural engineering, naval architecture and exterior design. Built by Vitters to Lloyd’s LY3 in high tensile aluminium, the structural drawings were extensive. “The project began with an extensive research project comparing different hull models, beam length ratios, displacement length ratios and keel designs utilising velocity prediction programmes, computational fluid dynamics analysis and tank testing,” the shipyard put out in a press release. The result is a hull that is one of the first of such a large yacht with a slight “tumble home”. The tumble home ensures extra righting moment at the optimum angle of heel and contributes to the overall beauty of the boat. The keel was designed with a large centre board to improve her upwind performance.
Less is more Sleek lines with a reduced freeboard and low deckhouses give the helmsman unrivalled visibility over the deck. Much like the optimised hull and deck design, the interior layout which hails from the drawing boards of Rhoades Young Design was developed with a focus on performance, reliability and comfort. Fully customised to the owner’s preference for “contemporary classic styling”, Meraki has versatility at the core, equally adept at cruising with family and
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Vitters’ 50m cutter rigged ketch, Meraki.
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