The W-Class Yacht Company, which embraces the Corinthian traditions of yachting, has commissioned a 123-foot sailing superyacht as part of a handful of new 100-foot-plus models. All will be built in Maine, at Front Street Shipyard and with additional work by other nearby builders and shops.
The W-Class Yacht Company is the brainchild of Donald Tofias, a sailing yacht owner who believed other owners shared his passion for one-design big-boat racing and would want to own a modern-day marvel that embraced the spirit of the early 20th century racers. If you follow sailing yacht regattas involving superyachts, you’ll know two W-Class ladies: Wild Horses and Havana Moon (ex-White Wings), each 76 feet long. Those W.76 designs, as they’re known, were penned by the late Joel White. White reportedly drew inspiration from Nathaniel Herreshoff’s 75-foot NYYC-50 (so-named for being 50 feet at the waterline).
The W.123 uses the W.76 as a starting point. The W.123’s architect is a well-known name himself: Bruce Johnson, the chief designer of Sparkman & Stephens for many years and currently director of business development at Front Street Shipyard, Brooklin Boat Yard, and Rockport Marine. The latter two companies will provide support for Front Street for construction and were the shipyards of record for the two W.76s mentioned above.
As for the W.123’s construction, she’ll be cold-molded. She’ll also have a hydraulically lifting bulb and keel, plus a lightweight carbon fiber rig. Interior outfitting will be kept to a minimum, in keeping with the emphasis on high-performance racing.
The W.123 is being joined by two other new models, a 100 and a 135. They’ll similarly be based on White’s work. Further information and images are not yet available, but we’ll have both once they are.
C Maine
Can’t wait to see what these look like when they are complete.