In April I visited Derecktor Shipyards to see the construction progress on Cakewalk, a 281-footer being built for an American couple – and which will become the largest yacht built in the USA since the 1930s. My photographic skills are pretty good, but they pale in comparison to the work of pro Billy Black, who’s documenting the entire build process, so I decided to wait to post this update until I had some of his images in hand. While Cakewalk is still several months away from delivery (early 2010), Black’s photos give a good glimpse at some of the elements that make her shine.
The image below, for example, is a close-up of a curve along her superstructure. Cakewalk is graced with an abundance of curves, in fact, thanks to the design work of Tim Heywood and Azure Naval Architects. Gavin Higgins, director of project management at Derecktor, says that due to Heywood’s emphasis on details, even with caprails, the yard decided to create mockups first, to ensure every element would turn out properly. From what I saw, the effort has been paying off.
In also speaking briefly with Capt. Bill Zinzer, who has worked with the owners for many years and is on site every day, I learned that the owners chose Derecktor because they wanted an American product, but more so because they liked its history. Derecktor traces its roots back 60 years, is experienced in both metal and fiberglass construction, and has met the needs of demanding private individuals as well as companies – companies in need of fast ferries and rugged tugboats and other workboats. The Bridgeport, Connecticut facility where Cakewalk is under construction was opened in 2000 with the intention of building yachts, but as commercial opportunities emerged, the staff decided to broaden the yard’s scope. Zinzer says the owners were impressed by that, as was he.
Wall panels, furnishings, and the rest of the decor were still coming together during my visit, so I plan a return trip closer to the time of launch. Stay tuned.
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