Yacht Linnea Aurora Sets Sail

Following 30 months of welding, engineering, and fitting out, the classically appealing superyacht Linnea Aurora is on her maiden voyage. Having departed SES Yachts’ home of Turkey, she’s in the island nation of Malta, the first of several destinations to come.

Linnea Aurora joins the Truly Classic 128 family of designs from Hoek Design. Specifically, she’s the fifth, complementing Atalante, Vijonara, Grace III, and Halekai. All are sloops and have common naval architecture. Owners, however, have been free to choose a shipyard. Coincidentally, Grace III saw construction at SES Yachts and was at the Monaco Yacht Show in 2021. That’s where the owner of Linnea Aurora first met with Andre Hoek of Hoek Design.

Aiming for racing and family cruising, the European owner liked what the Truly Classic 128 offered. Specifically, the series’ performance prowess held great appeal. Halekai has ventured to New Zealand and Australia, for instance. Similarly, Vijonara has been cruising in the Pacific. Atalante, meanwhile, has an equally adventurous pending itinerary. Yet another plus, the owner chartered Atalante. As a result, he “was also able to develop a precise idea of what he wanted in the new yacht,” Hoek notes.

With family trips being the higher of the two priorities, the owner requested three guest staterooms complement the master suite. Two guest staterooms are forward of the lower saloon, while the remaining one is opposite it. Since the lower saloon is aft, it becomes an extension of sorts of the master suite when no one else is aboard. Regardless, the owner has a private deckhouse-cum-nav-station, too.

Run by a crew of five, Linnea Aurora should do well on the racecourse, too. Ruurt Meulemans, Hoek Design’s managing partner, points to North Sails’ Helix “structured luff” technology making a difference. Specifically, it reduces headstay sag and permits sail-shape adjustments. “The ability to induce camber change depending on wind strength gives a wider range for a given sail,” he explains. Yet another difference maker is the carbon fiber rudder blade. It allows a lighter-weight and dramatically thinner structure than aluminum. In turn, this provides a better sense of feel for the helmsman and makes the sailing superyacht lighter at the wheel.

Of course, like many owners, this client wanted a quick-as-possible build slot. SES Yachts was able to accommodate that, quite literally building upon its experience and Hoek Design’s engineering package. The owner made several trips to the Turkish yard as well to see the progress. Besides, each was a good opportunity to personalize Linnea Aurora even more. Just one example: selecting paintings of Swedish lighthouses for stateroom and en suite bath doors.

During her voyages, the yacht will be able to rely on “silent” time thanks to a lithium battery bank. It eliminates relying on the gensets, plus allows some sailing time without them. When she’s repositioning via her engines, or the engines are assisting the winches during racing, an SCR (selective catalytic reduction) system keeps emissions in line with regulations. Notably, Linnea Aurora is the first Truly Classic 128 to include this exhaust treatment.

Andre Hoek says, “The construction of Linnea Aurora is a perfect example of how extraordinary results can be achieved by combining an enlightened client, a highly competent yard team, and a design team that has a clear understanding of the desired outcome throughout the entire construction process.” SES Yachts’ managing director, Elif Yildirim, feels the same. “The owner visited regularly and was very supportive and understanding, which made for an enjoyable project!” She also says, “Linnea Aurora represents a milestone for us, as she’s the 90th launching since our company was founded 50 years ago. So, a multiple anniversary for SES Yachts, and we could not have celebrated it better.”

Hoek Design hoekdesign.com

SES Yachts sesyachts.com