Perini Navi - SY Baracuda Arrived In Genoa

With her high-performance aluminium hull, SY Baracuda is the latest evolution of the successful 50m series and might be considered a summation of all the innovations that Perini Navi has achieved in over 25 years.

Baracuda’s project was conceived by Perini Navi in collaboration with the Naval Architect Ron Holland whose cooperation with Perini Navi has started with the building of the 64m ketch rigged Felicità west.

The aluminium hull together with the tapering and deep semi-compensated rudder, the extended waterline and the lead ballasted swinging keel allow for enhanced sailing performance. The adjustable draught - from 9.79m (keel down) to 4m (keel up) – allows easy access to the majority of the harbours and inlets. Astern, the reversed transom offers an innovative solution for both tender launching and swim access.

The access to the sea is through a swimming platform operated hydraulically that allows it to be submerged 20cm under the sea level. The Owners and their guests can ascend the platform thanks to a very stylish staircase, that can itself be opened for easily launching and recovering one of the two tenders.

The main tender, 21ft long, following the Owner’s wish, is stowed on the deck forward, partially sunken; whereas the original 50m project had included a 18ft tender fully sunken underneath a capacious hatch. In terms of aesthetics and habitability, one of the main innovations are the squared portholes, which offer unique sun lighting to the lower deck.

Baracuda’s ketch rigged masts are also aluminium, respectively 56.7m and 42.9 from the DWL. The masts were designed and produced in house at the Perini Navi Mast Department in Viareggio. Perini Navi also designed, engineered and manufactured the carbon fibre electric in-boom furling system.

The main deck is all at one level (22m from the aft sunken cockpit throughout the inner wheelhouse) and one can enter the main saloon through a sliding door. The extended windows provides great lighting and panoramic view. The lower deck hosts the full beam Owner’s suite with central king-size bed and his and her bathrooms. 8 guests can be accommodated in 4 guest cabins: 2 VIPs cabins with queen size beds and 2 twin cabins with additional pullman berths.

All guests cabins have en-suite bathrooms. The crew area allows for 8 crew in 4 cabins plus an additional captain’s cabin. Interiors are by John Pawson, guru of the modern minimalism. The main deck is conceived as open living space, with no partitions, the aim being to keep a much clearer, unencumbered visual field than is conventionally the case on ships of this type.

The parchment wall covering was chosen not only for the subtle beauty of its colour and texture, but also for the way it serves to dematerialise the central stair volume. An emphasis on spatial fluidity also characterises the connection from the main cabin through to the aft cockpit, with the lines of floor and ceiling timbers continuing unbroken across the threshold.

The furniture is thus a carefully chosen anthology of bespoke pieces mixed with classic designs.

SPECIFICATIONS

Overall length
50,00 m
Max beam
10,52 m
Draught (Keel up/keel down)
4m/9,79 m
Main mast air draught (above DWL)
56,75 m
Mizzen mast air draught (above DWL)
43,00 m
Class and LY2 compliance ABS
Malta Cross A1 Yachting Service+AMS
Displacement
430,00 t
Main mast
56,7 m
Total sail area
1418 m2
Mainsail area
398 m2
Mizzen sail area
208 m2
Genoa area
490 m2
Staysail area
322 m2
Engines
2XCAT 3412Ex710 kW at 2200 rpm
Max speed power
14 knots
Fuel capacity
42000 lt
Water capacity
13280 lt
Designer

PHOTO: G. Sargentini
John Pawson
Naval architecture
Perini Navi, Ron Holland
Builder
Perini Navi Viareggio

Source: Perini Navi