Type: Bluewater Cruiser/Racer
Shipyard: Baltic Yachts
Delivery: 2011
Hull: Carbon
LOA: 220 ft
Beam: 35 ft
Draft: 31 ft (keel up 11 ft)
Air draft: 205 ft
Displacement: 210 t
The briefing of the HETAIROS owner sounds challenging, and it definitely was.
The largest ketch which can cross the Panama Canal
To perform well in inshore and offshore regattas. Pushing the envelope of yacht design and construction
To provide safe and comfortable cruising, also in light conditions
To have classic appearance above the water line
Light weight interior with foam and honey comb core, classic styled
Revolutionary drive train and power generating
Forefront of innovation, not just another large yacht
Supervised by Cornelsen & Partner this sailing yacht with its very special philosophy came into existence at the Finnish shipyard of Baltic Yachts.
This design combines extreme high-technology materials and building techniques with state of the art pioneering solutions never seen, not even on grand prix sailing yachts before. The design of this PANAMAX ketch, modelled after the 19th-century classic American pilot cutters and America’s Cup contenders, marries a plumb bow, long and elegant bowsprit and traditional shear line with high open bulwarks and a beautifully sculpted stern.
The offices of Dijkstra & Partners (Amsterdam) and Reichel Pugh Yacht Design (San Diego) have teamed up to design a massive ketch rig, who’s mast height has been “panamaxed” to the extreme limits of a 2050.53 metre “air draft” for clearing the Bridge of the Americas on the Panama Canal’s Pacific side, a clearance only guaranteed at low tide.
The interior is closely wrapping around every frame and reinforcement of the carbon structure. The intricate classic styling by Rhoades Young is designed for the aesthetics, not to be easily built in lightweight materials. But thanks to technology and skilful workmanship it is lightweight nonetheless, to a degree that has not been achieved before.
Against this background, the success of the lightweight HETAIROS on her maiden race during the Transatlantic Maxi Yacht Cup & Superyacht Regatta 2011 was no surprise for insiders. After all, the 216.54-ft-ketch is the largest fully-built carbon yacht in the world.
It has been the aim of the owner to be innovative and push the boundaries, and they have been pushed. And the success proved it was right..