Relaxation and thrills. The latest boat from Yyachts is a 24 metre that offers both
by Niccolò Volpati
In just a few years, Michael Schmidt’s shipyard has produced no fewer than 24 units of the Y7 boat. And it was pretty much a given that among those 24 there would be at least one buyer who would want a bigger boat with a longer hull. They already had an 80 footer, as it was the first to be launched by the German yard, but it was time for something new. And the Y8 has been rebuilt, both above and below the waterline. The hull is new, made entirely of carbon fibre and just one centimetre shorter at 24 metres. The design is also new, as are the deck and the interior.
It is a project developed to the owner’s specifications, but the features that make it stand out would appeal to many: there is plenty of space, especially below deck, and it is easy to handle. The design and the solutions adopted are very original and the result of teamwork. The naval architecture and the deck were designed by Javier Jaudenes of Surge Projects. The interiors were designed by David Thulstrup, and then there is the work of the technical department at the Greifswald shipyard. The work was coordinated by the head of the design team at YYachts, Francesca Modica.
Salone, zona pranzo e cabine: il comfort è massimo, lo stile è minimal. Gli interni sono stati curati da David Thulstrup in collaborazione con il cantiere. La cucina è collocata al confine tra la zona equipaggio di poppa e il salone, lì dove è giusto che si trovi.
How to navigate with Y8
Now that the introductions are over, let’s look at what her work has actually produced. Starting with how well the boat handles when under way. Being easy to handle doesn’t mean it doesn’t perform well under sail, and in fact the Y8 sails just below wind speed. This is thanks to a sail plan that provides plenty of sail without making things too difficult for the skipper and crew. There is no backstay, allowing for a high performance square top mainsail. The jib is self-tacking, but the mast has been moved aft to make room for a good-sized foresail. With the sails hoisted, we sailed close hauled at 35 degrees and maintained over eight knots with 8.7 true wind speed. At 45 degrees we got close to nine knots and I went over that as the wind increased to ten. The boat also performed very well downwind, and I took the readings with just the main sails – so you can imagine what the Y8 could do with a gennaker or spinnaker. The same goes for the engine. There is a 230 hp Nanni in the engine room, which means you can cruise at over ten knots and top out at twelve. If you need to make a long, windless crossing, the Y8 will give you a decent speed and the ability to go a long way.
The sail plan of Y8
As well as the sail plan and the engine, it is the all carbon fibre construction and the limited displacement that the yard has managed to produce that have contributed to this good performance. The engine room is accessed from the dinette by moving the sofas and using the electronically operated hatch in the floor. It is easy to work in and provides comfortable access. The soundproofing is very effective. I noticed that when the hatch was open and the engine was running, the noise level really jumped. But when it was closed, it was no more than 60 decibels, even in the dinette. The lack of noise when underway is a really fundamental part of feeling comfortable. Aft of the engine room is the garage, which accommodates a tender of almost four metres with a special launch and recovery system – something else the designers didn’t overlook.
The design is the sum total of input from a number of different people, both the in-house engineering department and external contractors, but in this case all the cooks have come up with the perfect broth. Indeed, the Y8 sails very well close hauled, reacts quickly when the wind picks up, but is never difficult or heavy to handle. And the areas on board are very well equipped. The tiller is close to the helmsman, but has room to work. All the lines go aft and the four winches are within easy reach. There is plenty of space in the stern for riggers, and for those who just want to sit back and relax, the cockpit is spacious and comfortable. There are two separate areas and the cockpit is always well protected. There are actually three options: a fabric bimini supported by four collapsible carbon-fibre poles; a hybrid solution that is a sort of extension of the sprayhood, again with the carbon-fibre poles; and finally a fixed hardtop. So everyone gets the protection they want.
L’ALBERO PASSANTE È PIUTTOSTO ARRETRATO, IN QUESTO MODO IL FIOCCO AUTOVIRANTE HA UNA SUPERFICIE NON RISICATA. NONOSTANTE LE PERFORMANCE E LE DIMENSIONI, Y8 È MOLTO FACILE DA CONDURRE. MERITO DEL PIANO VELICO, DELL’ATTREZZATURA DI COPERTA E DELLA COSTRUZIONE FULL CARBON.
There are two access points to go below deck: to the aft there is the one to reach the crew area, which is different from the ladder that leads to the saloon. It is a very spacious area with two sofas facing each other, mounted on rails so they can be moved closer together. It has the feel of a large living room in a house. Further forward is the dining area. There are three cabins – two midships for guests, while the master is in the bow. But wherever you are on the yacht, up or down, it always feels very spacious and comfortable. Comfort and performance have been researched, designed and executed down to the last detail.
La costruzione full carbon consente di contenere il peso e avere ottime performance sottovela e a motore.
YYACHTS GMBH
Nordstrasse, Greifswald
Germany
T. +49 (0) 3834 585877-1
www.yyachts.de
PROJECT
Surge-Projects by Javier Jaudenes (naval architecture and superstructure), David Thulstrup and YYachts Design Team (interiors)
HULL
LOA 23.99m • LWL 22.40m • Maximum beam 6.58m • Draft 4.30m as standard • Light mass displacement 38,500 kg • Ballast 12,900 kg • Fuel tank volume 1,.300 l • Water tank volume 1,300 l
MAIN PROPULSION
Nanni T4.230 • Outlet mechanical power 169.1 kW/230 hp • 4 in-line cylinders • Swept volume 2,982 cc • Bore&Stroke 96mm x 103mm • Maximal rotational speed 3600 min • Weight 350 kg
EC CERTIFICATION
CAT A
PRICE
3,970,000 € (November 2024)
(Y8 YYachts – Open space & easy sailing – Barchemagazine.com – Excerpted from Barche, Novembre 2024)
