Sailing isn’t just a leisurely activity anymore—increasingly, megayacht owners want performance-oriented sailing yachts. That’s what the owner of Sarissa got in working with Vitters Shipyard and Tripp Design. But the owners also wanted a truly family-oriented yacht, quite another priority. The 138-foot (42.6-meter) Sarissa skillfully fulfills the requirements of being a regatta racer and floating home in one.
“That’s the fun of it: people try to get all aspects, ” says Louis Hamming, managing director for Vitters. To address the performance need, Vitters and Green Marine, which constructed the hull (and is now a subsidiary of Vitters), employed carbon fiber. Sarissa is the largest Dutch-built sloop to be constructed entirely of this strong material. Vitters has used it for previous performance sailing superyachts, as it’s ideal for keeping weight down. Vitters further customized the hydraulic and deck systems, plus a system of back stays and running stays, for faster reaction and to handle Sarissa’s sail loads whether in racing or cruising mode. “We know what it’s like to sail a boat like that…what the forces are, how to take the spinnaker down, what the risks are,” Hamming explains. Vitters and Tripp Design also gave Sarissa a lifting keel, which makes draft 13 feet (4 meters) when it’s up and 20 feet (6.2 meters) when it’s down.
As for her floating home requirements, Sarissa was designed to carry a family with two kids and a nanny, plus two additional guests, on worldwide cruises. Comfort was therefore key, as was a more convivial general arrangement. The owners of Sarissa requested the galley be open to the dining area, forward off the deck saloon. An office that doubles as a spare stateroom is near the dining area, with the owner’s stateroom and other guests aft. This includes the nanny cabin, which shares a head with the kids’ cabin. The nanny’s quarters further feature a pullman, and the owners have direct access to the cockpit via stairs.
Sarissa additional is adorned with abundant black walnut paneling, though cherry and oak are employed as well. The dark tones of the wood could easily have made Sarissa feel cramped. However, Rhoades Young Design, the interior design firm tapped by the owners, placed the rooms diagonally within the confines of the 28-foot (8.6-meter) beam to prevent that. Having double-duty areas like the office and nanny cabin (it could be an extra kids’ cabin if Sarissa charters in the future) also helps. Further aid comes from Tripp Design’s usage of long, vertical ports.
Here’s more of Sarissa.
PHOTOS: Tom Nitsch
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