super yachts
The underlying idea behind the design of Deshi is to reduce the carbon footprint of building and running a superyacht. This is achieved by refitting an existing hull, and by creating a yacht which predominately travels under sail instead of motoring.
Therefore main objectives in the design of Deshi were:
• Ability to primarily travel under sail
• Use the hull shape and internal structure from an existing superyacht
• Maximise the amount of sunlight entering the accommodation
• Designed to promote guests to spend majority of time on deck
• Helipad which can secure a helicopter whilst sailing
• Mixture of modern and classic styling
• Use of the existing yachts machinery and installed systems (e.g. bilge, fuel, HVAC)
• Use of the existing yachts tanks and machinery spaces
The Royal Huisman classic three masted schooner Athena was chosen as the yacht to refit. Athena was well suited to the aim of mixing modern and traditional styling. It was also selected for its long waterline length which gives a faster hull speed compared to smaller vessels, contributing to the yachts ability to travel the majority of time under sail.
A junk style rig is something that has never been used on a superyacht before. Although the rig is often not as efficient as a modern Bermuda rig, the style of rigging gives other advantages which make the vessel easier to sail. The key features being the ease of handling and the ability to reef quickly depending on dynamic conditions. Junk rigs are usually set on unstayed masts; however it was decided to use standing rigging to reduce structural loads. The specific type of rig used is a Fenix rig which borrows some features from a Bermuda rig, the presence of two jibs is a feature of the Colvin junk rig design.
The total removal of Athena’s superstructure meant reduced space for accommodation and entertainment. In terms of guest accommodation the cabins have slightly less area, however the idea behind the yacht is for guests to spend more time on deck instead of down below. The major advantage of removing Athena’s double deck superstructure is the reduction in VCG, this means that for the same heeling force the resulting heel angle will be lower when sailing Deshi. This is an important factor towards meeting the aim of travelling predominantly under sail as it will mean a more comfortable journey for the guests and crew.
To allow light to enter the main accommodation space a large recess was placed in the main deck. The lower level of the recess is at the same level as the main accommodation, giving the lounge and owners suite unprecedented sunlight compared to a standard yacht cabin. The floor space in the middle of the recess is also an outdoor dining area. The glass between the owner’s suite and the outdoor area has the potential to be tinted depending on the owner’s preference.
The inclusion of a large on-deck swimming pool is designed to encourage the guests to spend time outside. The pool is placed near the LCG to have minimum effect on trim when drained. The aft end of the pool is a curved glass sheet which at night is designed to create a dappled light effect around the recess area and into the lounge/owner’s suite.
The guest accommodation is set out to maximise cabin area for the given space; each guest cabin also has two large port holes to allow light through. Capacity for 12 guests exists via 6 cabins, specifically one owner’s suite, four twin rooms and a double.
To include a helipad on the aft deck meant that provision had to be made for the structural weight increase of the aft superstructure; this weight change is balanced out by shifting the rig forward slightly and by the placement of a tender garage on the foredeck. A side effect of shifting the rig forward was that the bow sprit needed to be removed to prevent the overall Centre of Effort from moving too far forward.
The tender and toy garage is accessed via the forward deck hatches using the lifting crane. This is attached to the fore mast and can be used to lift other toys or heavy objects for stowage if required.
As mentioned before the machinery spaces and tanks remain unchanged from Athena. This includes the wet exhaust system which can be set to vent only on the windward side when heeling.
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