Design Insight
Some evolution
Telescopic keel, retractable propulsion, high-pressure hydraulics but just 88-tonne displacement for 112-feet of luxury performance... not only that, but Baltic Yachts’ Liara may well be the quietest running superyacht launched to date
Evolution and not revolution sounds less interesting perhaps than foil- driven hyperdrive super-eco, but when the level of refinement and development into what is a challenging genre of yacht reaches new heights, then it becomes very interesting indeed.
The brief for Baltic Yachts, as always, appears simple but it is the detail and execution that makes Liara a defining yacht. Following in the design footsteps of notable yachts such as Ribelle and Missy, the proven formula of exceptional performance combined with sweeping good looks delivered by the offices of Malcolm McKeon Yacht Design (MMYD) combined to take this genre of mid-sized performance superyachts to another level. Liara started life on the drawing board at 110ft but it soon became
apparent that to include the Baltic Yachts-developed RPS (retractable propulsion system as seen on Baltic 130 My Song) and everything else the client wanted, she would need to be lengthened to 112ft.
The boat needed to be competitive under superyacht rules, but also enable the owner to travel worldwide with all the luxuries of home. The compromise between cruising comfort and weight savings is always a tricky one, but this is a compromise Baltic Yachts are unmatched at delivering, to the extent that it never feels like a compromise at all, rather the melding of two objectives into an impeccable package.
Lighter, stiffer, faster – together. The mantra, indeed credo of Baltic Yachts was the perfect fit for a yacht that was intended to refine a proven and successful formula, yet also to
Top: a deck saloon yacht in cruising mode, Liaraʼs overhanging cabin top is engineered to be easily removable for racing. Hydraulic rams (inset) beneath the foredeck
provide push button control of the three dimensional headsail sheeting bridles and rig deflectors
take it to the next level. With a keen eye towards
performance, Baltic Yachts was the obvious choice for the experienced client to build his vision for his third Liara. After two previous yachts of increasing size, which have cruised the world and taken part in the most prestigious regattas, there was a clear sense of identity within the project team – which was led by John Walker the co-skipper and Sebastian Allebrodt of A2B management – of what the yacht was intending to achieve. Ensuring the yacht was nimble enough to outperform the competition was crucial and John Walker and the team at Baltic developed some innovative systems to keep Liara ahead of the game, specifically the genoa sheeting system which is ‘classic Baltic’. In
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