If you follow superyacht sailing and racing, you may recall the fate that befell Kora 5, a Swan 90, during last year’s Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup. A collision at the start line caused a huge hole in her side. A comprehensive refit was commissioned at the Finland-based facilities of Nautor’s Swan, and Kora 5 has recently relaunched as Altair.
Soon after the accident, Kora 5 arrived at Nautor’s Swan. Since the hole also impacted the aft amidships guest stateroom, both in-room furnishings as well as in-structure systems needed replacing. Nautor’s Swan’s craftsmen first removed everything from deck gear to internal wiring to plumbing. They then removed the room’s furniture. A larger portion of the fiberglass hull could then be removed, in preparation for repair. Nautor’s Swan manufactured a new hull section, laminating it in place.
Simultaneously, the in-house Nautor’s Swan joinery department began making new stateroom furnishings. All of it was put aboard Kora 5 after new piping and wiring were installed.
Even though only the hull was impacted, the megayacht gained a new paint job and spiffed-up teak decks. The megayacht’s mast and boom were painted the same white color (vs. her initial navy blue) as the hull, for better overall appearance. The same idea is behind why the teak decks were lightly sanded.
Altair, now also with grey accent lines along her hull, is wasting no time getting back out at races. She’ll be at the Rolex Swan Cup in Sardinia in mid-September, though as part of the non-racing megayachts. Regardless, in a statement released by Nautor’s Swan, the megayacht’s owner, Paolo Scerni, says, “The Nautor’s Swan team have really demonstrated their prowess in the refit field. I was keen for Kora 5 to be taken as quickly as possible back to the Yard in Finland, as I felt this was the ultimate location for the substantial works that needed to be carried out as a time-effective refit project for her to be able to sail at this year’s upcoming Rolex Swan Cup. I am delighted with the craftsmanship from Nautor’s Swan and am now looking forward to establishing a lovely new long lasting relationship with my Swan 90, Altair.”
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