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Rainbow, Newest J-Class Sailing Yacht, Launched at Holland Jachtbouw

February 23, 2012 by

The replica of the famed 1934 America’s Cup winner Rainbow gently touched salt water for the first time last Friday, christened by the owner’s daughter.

Holland Jachtbouw has been building the 131-foot (40-meter) Rainbow for the past two years. It’s quite a difference compared to the 100-day build schedule for the original Rainbow, scrapped in 1940. Why such a variation in construction time? This Rainbow is quite a different competitor. Though she’s engineered and designed to the original William Starling Burgess specifications, Rainbow has a hybrid propulsion system and a superyacht-style interior. The yacht that inspired her was a pure racer, without an interior, an engine room, or the attendant equipment of modern comforts like air conditioning.

Rainbow’s hybrid propulsion and power system marks a first for all the Js on the water (she’s the seventh). Holland Jachtbouw proposed it due to the yacht’s space limitations and collaborated with WhisperPower to develop it. It’s comprised of Hy-Store lithium-ion batteries, one main engine, and a variable-speed electric motor serving as a genset. That genset can be used as an alternate engine when needed. Furthermore, the batteries can power everything aboard Rainbow whether sailing or at the dock, at the request of the owner, Chris Gongriep. Gongriep is an experienced sailing-yacht owner, having the renowned Windrose of Amsterdam, built by Holland Jachtbouw, conceived for and win races. He wanted Rainbow to be whisper-quiet in the overnight hours, so the batteries do the trick. They can then be charged while Rainbow is under sail, with reportedly just a 1.5-knot drop in speed.

Besides the space savings, the hybrid system allows a reported 30-percent reduction in fuel consumption due to air conditioning and other “hotel load” items. And, of course, that means lower maintenance costs and sound reduction.

As for Rainbow’s overall naval architecture and design, Gongriep tapped Dykstra & Partners .Besides having designed Windrose of Amsterdam for him, the firm oversaw the restoration of the Js Endeavour, Shamrock V, and Velsheda, the refit of the J Ranger, and the construction of the replica J Hanuman. Dykstra & Partners also had a hand in developing the J Class Association performance racing rules, to which Rainbow will adhere. A Southern Spars carbon fiber mast, boom, and spinnaker pole, plus North Sails racing sails and Lewmar hydraulic winches are among the gear the design team specified to meet those expectations.

During races, a crew of 25 to 28 people will handle Rainbow, including her huge, 10,226-square-foot (950-square-meter) spinnaker. When she’s entertaining Gongriep and guests, a crew of seven will take care of things. During those times, everyone will be treated to a mahogany-paneled interior with 1930s period flair, including Art Deco touches. The master suite is aft, and the two guest staterooms each have Pullmans.

Look for Rainbow to compete as JH2 in the upcoming J-Class regattas in England this summer. She’ll also make her boat-show debut at September’s Monaco Yacht Show.

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Sunreef Yachts Inks Deal for New Sunreef 80 Model

January 11, 2012 by

Come March 2013, Sunreef Yachts will launch the first of its new Sunreef 80 performance sailing superyacht series.

The Sunreef 80, measuring 78’7” (23.99 meters), bears some similarities to other Sunreef catamarans, in that alfresco dining and sunning will be the focus of the cockpit and flying bridge. The Sunreef 80 also allows owners to customize the interiors. The European owner of the first Sunreef 80 has selected a thoroughly modern interior design, as the rendering here shows. A total of nine in the owner’s party will be accommodated, with all guests’ staterooms below decks. The owner, however, will enjoy a main-deck master suite. It should be plenty comfortable, given the Sunreef 80’s beam of 38 feet (11.6 meters). Four crewmembers are also housed onboard.

The primary difference between the Sunreef 80 and Sunreef Yachts’ other megayacht series is the emphasis on performance. Composite construction, employing PVC foam and carbon fiber, will keep weight down. Sunreef says displacement should be just 60 tons fully loaded. Combined with a shallow draft of 5’9” (1.8 meters) Further saving weight while ensuring strength is the carbon fiber mast and boom.

Speaking of the mast, the Sunreef 80’s will rise 100 feet (30.7 meters) high. As for the sail plan, the main sail will be 1,991 square feet (185 square meters), the gennaker will measure 3,014 square feet (280 square meters), and the solent should come in at 753 square feet (70 square meters). Twin Yanmar diesel inboards will assist in in-harbor maneuvering.

For more details from Sunreef Yachts about the Sunreef 80, fill out our contact form.

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Italian Yacht Berthing and Cruising Tax Causing Concern

January 6, 2012 by

While many megayacht owners worldwide were preparing for their holiday breaks, the Italian government was signing a new yacht tax into law. While the law is intended to help compensate for the country’s economic troubles, many marine-industry organizations fear it will impact megayacht charter and cruising tourism in the region.

The tax, which impacts any yacht cruising in Italian waters, yachts merely stopping in Italy, and ones that berth there, was approved on December 22. It is part of Prime Minister Mario Monti’s austerity budget, nicknamed “Save Italy.” Monti called for, and the Italian parliament approved, a number of cuts and taxes to help shore up the economy. Italy is the eurozone’s third-largest economy, and it has seen a lack of economic growth for nearly 10 years. In addition, its debt-to-gross-domestic-product ratio is so high that the country is at risk of defaulting on loans. “Without this package, we think that Italy would have collapsed, that Italy would go into a situation similar to that of Greece,” Monti told journalists before presenting the austerity package to the Italian parliament.

The yacht-berthing and yacht-cruising tax is set to go into effect on May 1, just as the summer charter and cruising season is beginning. The tax will be levied on a per-day basis based on LOA, starting at about 33 feet (10.01 meters). The larger the yacht, the larger the monetary amount. They’re hefty sums in total when you consider many chartering megayachts and private megayachts spend at least a week at a time in Italian waters. For megayachts, the rates are:

  • 90 Euros (approximately $116) per day for vessels from 78’8” to 111’5” (24.01 to 34 meters)
  • 207 Euros (approximately $268) per day for vessels from 111’6” to 144’3” (34.01 to 44 meters)
  • 372 Euros (approximately $482) per day for vessels from 144’4” to 177 feet (44.01 to 54 meters)
  • 521 Euros (approximately $675) per day for vessels from 177’2” to 209’10” (54.01 to 64 meters)
  • 703 Euros (approximately $910) per day for vessels measuring more than 209’10” (64 meters).

There are some exceptions to these taxes, including an exemption for megayachts undergoing refit on land or in dry dock. Yachts that are five years old or older receive 15-percent and higher discounts. And, all sailing yachts receive a 50-percent discount.

Regardless, a number of marine organizations are lobbying the Italian government in an effort to amend the law. Federagenti, which represents more than 50 megayacht-oriented firms (mostly yacht agents and yacht brokers), is among them. Federagenti supports the Italian government’s desire to secure the economy, but it argues that the tax will have ramifications for marinas, fuel service firms, repair yards and service agents, provisioning companies, and tourism-related businesses. It is therefore joining the Italian marine-industry association UCINA and other industry groups in requesting that the tax be levied on ownership rather than days spent in Italian waters. Federagenti and the other groups are also requesting Italian-flagged yachts solely be subjected to the tax, and all charter yachts be exempt.

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