At 163 feet (49.7 meters) in length, Meraki will soon take her owners and guests to some of the most remote places on earth. She will additionally pursue line honors at regattas. It’s thanks to one experienced owner who was hands-on in every aspect, Vitters Shipyard, and an all-star design team that includes two world-famous sailors.
Specifically, the two sailors are Chris Bouzaid and Clay Oliver. Bouzaid is in the New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame for his two America’s Cup challenges in the 1970s, among other accomplishments. Oliver, too, has America’s Cup ties, as a naval architect. He further developed a popular Velocity Prediction Program used internationally by fellow naval architects, builders, and more.Bouzaid and Oliver, with Hoek Design, gave Meraki a subtle tumblehome with two purposes. Besides being attractive, it should ensure righting at the optimal heel angle. Meraki additionally has a big centerboard for better upwind performance.
Speaking of performance, the sailing superyacht possesses a strikingly versatile sail plan. It includes a mizzen jib, a mizzen staysail, and a gennaker. In addition, the Yankee staysail, for cruising, can become a blade or genoa with the removable inner forestay. Suffice it to say that Meraki has, according to Vitters, “a vast number of additional staysails, asymmetric spinnakers, and a code zero.”
Carrying nine guests and eight crew, the superyacht naturally provides nice areas for relaxation. For example, the owners’ private cockpit adjoins the aft owners’ deckhouse. Naturally, the cockpit leads directly into their suite. The forward cockpit, meanwhile, with a sprayhood, is for the guests. However, the crew can use it, too, besides the center steering cockpit. Since the forward-most cockpit leads into their cabin areas, it’s quite convenient. The total of three cockpits makes Meraki even more noteworthy.
Though Vitters hasn’t revealed much about the interior, the overall ambience is contemporary classic, from Rhoades Young Design. Beam is 31’5” (9.6 meters). Furthermore, it will especially suit the owners’ family and friends when adventures are on order.
Vitters Shipyard vitters.com
Hoek Design hoekdesign.com
Rhoades Young Design rhoadesyoung.com
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