Should the owner of Canova decide to enter a superyacht regatta, the competition will be in his wake. Thanks to being the first superyacht with a special foil, this Baltic Yachts build could see 25 knots while fully loaded in flat-calm conditions in 25 knots of true wind. Simultaneously, Canova should be a much more comfortable yacht.
On pace for a springtime launch, Canova is a high-performance global cruiser. Naval architecture comes from Farr Yacht Design, well versed in these vessels. The 142-footer (43.3-meter) is also high-tech. Besides using diesel-electric propulsion and offering “silent” mode, she’s the first private vessel to employ the Dynamic Stability System (DSS). Not coincidentally, Farr Yacht Design is quite familiar with DSS.
Briefly, DSS is a retractable foil, deploying to leeward. It creates lift to leeward, and therefore increasing the righting moment. Proven on a number of vessels, including smaller yachts, DSS also positively impacts other aspects of performance. The stronger the wind, the faster the yacht can go, for example, and the more the foil creates lift and stability. Furthermore, this leads to less hydrodynamic drag, plus reduces pitching. If winds are light, the press of a button retracts the foil—which in Canova’s case is 29’6” (9 meters) long.
The video above helps you glean more about DSS and its operations aboard Canova. Another fascinating fact: The foil runs on four sets of bearings custom designed by BAR Technologies. If you’re an America’s Cup fan, you’ll recognize that company name. It supports Sir Ben Ainslie’s team. Yet another fact: An electric Harken captive winch with a 20-ton pull capacity will ensure safety when the foil deploys.
Come launch this spring, Canova should prove Farr Yacht Design’s predictions right on target. “For a conventional boat of these dimensions, we would anticipate heel angles of 20 to 25 degrees,” explains Britton Ward, vice president of the studio. “But in this case, with the foil deployed, we see optimal heel angles in the 7- to 15-degree range.” Plus, as mentioned above, Canova should see boat speeds equivalent to wind speed even in strong wind.
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