Having just had her mast stepped, Ribelle is steadily approaching completion in the coming weeks. Vitters Shipyard placed the sailing superyacht aboard a transport ship yesterday, marking a busy month of activity for the project.
Indeed, just three weeks ago, Ribelle peeked out from her shed at Vitters’ headquarters in Zwartsluis, The Netherlands. The builder transferred the 107’1” (32.64-meter) sloop to Zaandam for her mast fitting and other finishing touches.
As has been the case with a number of its contracts, Vitters has kept quiet about Ribelle. However, she does feature carbon fiber construction and naval architecture by Malcolm McKeon Yacht Design. The two companies have collaborated previously, most recently on a similar-size sloop christened Missy.
Details aren’t available on Ribelle’s interior design, though the owners did tap Rémi Tessier. Here, too, there’s familiarity. The owners worked with Tessier on their previous project, the 164-foot (50-meter) Zefira. Zefira saw launch in 2010.
That long span of time between builds isn’t unusual for these owners, who come from Italy. (On a related side note, Ribelle is Italian for rebel.) Among the handful of sailing yachts they’ve enjoyed over the decades, they’ve cruised aboard some for several years, before turning their attention to something new. Destinations include the popular ports of Europe, as well as UK and American waters. The sizes of these yachts have varied, too. Furthermore, they’ve participated in regattas.
Given Ribelle’s lightweight construction, performance cruising seems a logical destiny once delivery takes place. But, the Superyacht Cup race in Palma in June is on the must-do list, too.
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