Launched in 1997, the Baltic 70 Vittfarne heralded a newtype of performance cruiser that combines traditional styling with hi-tech construction and modern hydrodynamics


both jobs with great success for 40 years. Even now, though officially retired, he still frequently offers a guiding hand in the development of new projects and the current EVP, Henry Hawkins, describes himas ‘an unbelievably useful sounding board and wise head’. Baltic’s in-house designer Tor


Hindersmade hismark by changing the way boats are fitted out down below. His stand-out innovation, which wasmet with hostility when introduced in 1979 on the Baltic 51 but has since been copied by almost every sailing yacht builder in the world, was to put a double-berth cabin under an aft cockpit. Another key factor in Baltic Yachts’


early success was its partnership with the Canadian naval architects C&C Design, whose chief engineer Rob Ball was among the first in the industry to start using computers. From1980 he supplied VPP – polar curves and tables of numbers – for the Baltic 39, 51 and 37, with detailed instructions on how to use them. Despite being generated by 2D computing (as 3D models were not yet available), Johansson says those first VPP numbers were accurate and useful. The yard was quick to develop its


own computing expertise. ‘As soon as programmable calculators and then the Epson HX-20 computer became available we saw their potential and started to use them,’ Johansson says.


SEAHORSE 81


‘There was no software so we did our own coding.’ By the early 1980s they were already using these tools for displacement, flotation and trim calculations, laminate design and rating optimisation. A huge quantity of data has been


compiled since then and the initially simple programs have evolved into a sophisticated suite of software that enables the technical teamtomake extremely detailed weight and load calculations for the hull and rig of any new design, study engine power, prop pitch and range for electric and conventional propulsion systems, and muchmore. The yard has never had any ambition to design its own yachts, but is quite often asked by clients to


The 78ft Super Baltic 5, amajor engineering challenge in 2000. The entire canting keel mechanismwas fitted under the saloon sole


do preliminary studies before a naval architect is appointed. The 1980s were the peak of series


production but Baltic Yachts but they also began pushing the boundaries of performance with custombuilds with more scope for creative technical development. ‘A series production model is always to some degree a compromise,’ Johansson says. ‘On customprojects you can take things much further. For very knowledgeable clients looking for performance we have taken things to the edge.’ The 80ftMidnight Sun was one of


the firstmaxis with full composite construction, launched in 1982. ‘The forward part was a large, empty sail store and we used specially designed


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