Soon some owners may be answering the question, “Why did you buy a yacht?” with, “No, I bought a WHY yacht.”
That is, if Wally and the famed fashion house Hermès have anything to say in the matter. The two companies, which signed a join venture to build and market superyachts last summer, have unveiled the first model in the WHY (Wally Hermès Yachts) lineup. The WHY 58×38 is so-named because she measures 58 meters LOA and has a beam of 38 meters (190 feet LOA by 125 feet, approximately).
The hull is an adaptation of a Ramform hull, a design reportedly first used by the Norwegian navy in 1993, characterized by a wedge shape and broad beam. The advantages of a Ramform design are stability and reduced vibration (which in turn means less bothersome sound transfer). Luca Bassani Antivari, the CEO of Wally, wanted large spaces for relaxing and living as well as good performance, so he believed the design was the best choice.
As for those living spaces, the WHY 58×38 will include a swimming pool forward and a beach deck aft. The interior should benefit from an abundance of natural light, thanks to an all-glass house and roof panels that can pivot like Venetian blinds (see below).
But the characteristics that the WHY team is most proud of are the “green” ones. Photovoltaic panels on the glass sides are intended to power most of the megayacht’s hotel load. The hull design also reportedly requires less power at cruising speed in comparison to same-size, traditionally designed yachts. But to further minimize environmental impact, WHY intends to employ diesel-electric propulsion. In addition, WHY is researching ways to reuse the heat given off by the engines as well as to employ wind energy technology. Ultimately, the 58×38 should achieve a 12-knot cruising speed and 14-knot top speed.
“Our aim is to reduce diesel consumption per year and per yacht: 20 to 30 percent for propulsion and 40 to 50 percent for generation,” Bassani Antivari explains. Now, you may be thinking that a power-driven vessel of any kind still contributes pollutants, no matter how eco-minded the intention may be. That’s true. The WHY team recognizes this, but it also recognizes that the overwhelming majority of the yacht market is power-based, vs. sail.
What’s next for WHY? Tank testing at the renowned SSPA facilities in Sweden, followed by the assembly of a full-scale mockup, to ensure the designers’ concepts for the layout match well with the unusual hull shape. The goal is accommodations for 12 guests and 20 crew.
“The WHY 58X38 yacht looks very unfamiliar, but it remains on a human scale,” says Pierre-Alexis Dumas, artistic director of Hermès. “Space is the greatest luxury on the sea, but I believe the new luxury will be the time to enjoy it.”
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