Some time ago, Focus Yacht Design had an American client interested in a custom 164-footer (50-meter). As sometimes happens, the customer chose not to build, due to changing priorities. Thomas Mühe, Focus Yacht Design’s co-founder and creative director, recently rediscovered the original sketches. Immediately, two thoughts came to mind. Firstly, he was thrilled “at the timelessness of the shape,” he remembers. Secondly, it would be worthwhile to adapt the design for “today’s expectations for efficiency, range, and responsibility.” The result was 171-foot (52-meter) sisterships that each capture the essence of what a lot of owners enjoy, yet in entirely different ways. Whether it’s wind-in-the-hair performance or horizon-chasing voyages, the Unity and Gravity yacht designs fan some passionate flames. “Unity and Gravity are two answers to one question,” Mühe offers. “How much emotion can responsibility handle?”
Although they share an LOA and a volume of 500 gross tons, the Unity and Gravity yacht designs are about as different as even human sisters can be. In fact, Focus Yacht Design calls Unity “the Extrovert.” She’s ready for hosting sociable days and nights on the water and delivering them with a flair for performance. Gravity, meanwhile, is “the Elegant,” the quieter, demurer sibling who moves through year after year with classic style.
Outgoing owners should find a lot to like about Unity (above). Overall, the design is for those who enjoy the speed and spirited handling that comes from semi-planing yachts. Specifically, Focus Yacht Design expects a top speed around 23 knots. Of course, that advantage comes at the expense of a higher fuel burn than a full-displacement design. But, modern hybrid propulsion and alternative fuels could make it a bit more palatable. Importantly, both the United and the Gravity yacht designs are already engineered for options. Finally, additional benefits of the Unity yacht concept include a 29’5” (9-meter) beam and alfresco areas fully revolving around fun. A recessed hot tub flanked by sunpads on the flying bridge and a sports lounge are two good examples. (On a related note, the flying bridge comes courtesy of a split-level wheelhouse and can include a second helm.)
When the journey is more important than how quickly you’ll get there, meanwhile, the Gravity yacht concept (below) is a good fit. “The Elegant” incorporates Van Oossanen’s Fast Displacement Hull Form, for example. This results in better fuel consumption across the speed spectrum and little wake at lower speeds. Top speed should be 16 knots. The range upwards of 3,000 nautical miles at 12 knots is the same as Unity’s, but it comes about 50 percent more efficiently. What’s more, the cruising experience lets everyone aboard appreciate the surroundings rather than disturbing them. Sound attenuation should result in decibel levels lower than 45 in the master suite, similar to a library. Finally, speaking of the master, the main deck—plus the rest of the decks—are all single levels.
Focus Yacht Designs has full general arrangements available for both the Unity and Gravity yacht designs. The design team additionally will be at the Monaco Yacht Show in September to discuss and tailor each further.
Focus Yacht Design focusyachtdesign.de
Van Oossanen Naval Architects oossanen.nl
Leave a Reply