Baltic 111 Yacht Raven Is One of Builder’s Most Extreme Yachts Yet

If her foils somehow fail to get your attention, the performance details behind the Baltic 111 yacht Raven surely will. “This project undoubtedly represents one of the biggest challenges Baltic Yachts has ever embraced,” says Henry Hawkins, Baltic Yachts’ executive vice president. Part dayboat, part long-range sailing superyacht, she’s further so ultra-lightweight that the shipyard used extreme techniques it previously never did.

Hinted at in 2021 as the Baltic 111 Custom, the project from day one has been a foil-assisted yacht with strict weight control. Baltic Yachts has a long history of lightweight performers, but nothing like this. Garth Brewer of A2B Marine Projects, the owner’s project manager, readily says, “The owner likes the challenge of doing something that hasn’t been done before.” Brewer adds, “He really understands the technical elements.”

the Baltic 111 yacht Raven prepping for launch

Those technical elements include two T-shaped foils on hydraulic side arms. The arms can support some of the superyacht’s displacement, too. Stability and lift while sailing (partly on her leeward chine) will come from the foils. This, in turn, means the 9.3-ton fixed-keel bulb and 16-foot-long (5-meter-long) fin will take care of basic stability. The Baltic 111 yacht Raven further has vertical Interceptor trim tabs fully aft for adjusting fore and aft trim when she’s at speed. Additionally, movable water ballast aft will improve her righting moment under sail.

Underpinning the 55-ton-displacement yacht, carbon composites and exceptional measures trim weight. Firstly, Baltic Yachts used a carbon fiber mold for as fair a hull as possible. Related to this, light coatings essentially do the job of filler, something the shipyard says is incomparable for a superyacht. The yard even weighed the bonding for the sound-deadening material, itself incredibly light. In fact, the bonding choice saved 13 pounds (6 kilograms). Next, Baltic Yachts saved about 353 pounds (160 kilograms) by using a different hosing versus the typical steel hydraulic pipework. The carbon fiber cable trays lost about 3.5 ounces (100 grams) each, too. Finally, still on the structural side, a Baltic employee realized 3D printing the metal clips holding the interior framework would shed weight. Conveniently, the shipyard already uses this printing technique for custom components and eliminating heft. It did so for the retractable propulsion system aboard as well.

artist's rendering of the Baltic 111 yacht Raven

The know-how of the naval architects at Botin Partners and structural engineers at PURE Design greatly assisted the shipyard throughout construction. Each company is well experienced with America’s Cup competitors. Jarkko Jämsén, meanwhile, was responsible for the overall concept and the interior design. The yacht Raven employs rattan for deckheads and bulkheads, for instance, plus hollow carbon fiber piping for furnishings. Perspex, rather than glass, reflects natural light throughout. It even allows seeing some of the mechanical systems. Specifically, panels within a shower reveal some of the hydraulic rams handling the mast’s load, optimizing headsail sheet leads among other things. Overall, exposed carbon fiber throughout the interior lends a contemporary vibe, while reminding everyone of Raven’s ethos.

With three staterooms including the master plus a passage berth/sea cabin, the yacht Raven has striking alfresco areas, too. The cockpit specifically will get double takes because it has a clever clamshell component. The forward portion hinges up and folds aft, much like a clam shape, to partially cover the cockpit seating.

Two sets of sea trials are in the works. Initially, she’ll head off Baltic Yachts’ home of Jakobstad without her foils. Once the foils are in place, though, the second sea trials will occur. Better yet, upon delivery, her owner intends to cruise an undisclosed destination with conditions ideal for pushing all components to their potential. Since she’ll primarily sail with a wind angle well forward of her beam, her mainsail essentially will be permanently sheeted home. Its track is almost the full beam. Trim adjustments will come by moving the mainsheet car on this track.

Garth Brewer sums her up this way. “Raven doesn’t fall easily into a category, but if I had to place her, I’d say she’s the equivalent of a high-end supercar.”

A2B Marine Projects a2b-maritime.eu

Baltic Yachts balticyachts.fi

Botin Partners botinpartners.com