appendages to reduce wetted surface and drag. Work was also done to streamline the “steps” created by the telescopic keel fin to make the section more hydro- dynamically efficient. Through-hull fittings were reduced to a minimum to further reduce drag and for the same reason it was decided to opt for a single rudder, which also reduced weight.
‘The other great advantage of a telescopic keel is that, unlike a conventional lifting keel, it doesn’t encroach into the accommodation so when we were working with Adam Lay on the interior we had an immediate advantage in the deck saloon,” McKeon says. The solid removeable bimini is a significant feature of Liara. Elegantly sculpted and blending seamlessly with the profile of the yacht, it is easily removeable for racing but when cruising it provides protection from the elements and creates an extended living space for the owner. With her powerful sailplan, the RPS drive which also rotates to act as a stern thruster, telescopic keel, high pressure hydraulics system for faster line speeds and high voltage electrical specification, Liara displays the latest thinking for a multi-role superyacht.
An added benefit of both the hydraulic and electrical systems is that they require considerably smaller diameter pipework and lighter electrical cabling which saves weight and space. The weight saving programme is supported by titanium being used in everything from stanchions and deck fittings to the hydraulic oil reservoir.
Jeremy Elliott who heads up North Design Services reflects: ‘One particularly pleasing result was the development of a headsail sheeting system that enables a full range of jib trims to be achieved around an expansive glazed area with minimal loaded lines above deck.
‘The 3Di A0 reacher, incorporating the HELIX Top Down Luff Cord, takes best advantage of load sharing luff projection together with the cast iron guarantee of Top Down Furling – racing or cruising, day or night.’ As an experienced yachtsman with a keen interest in engineering, the owner used the knowledge gained from his previous yachts to make Liara easy to handle by the core crew so that she could be quickly prepared for sailing. ‘By focusing on systems usability, these and other details make handling Liara’s running rigging and sail inventory much easier and faster so we can be sailing from anchor up in the shortest period of time,’ explains co-skipper Walker.
Above and right: despite her rather impressive performance credentials and a great emphasis on saving weight, Liara is still a
sumptuously comfortable and luxurious cruising yacht with genuine go- anywhere voyaging capability. And what the pictures canʼt show is that despite the profusion of cutting-edge technology onboard, Liara is
virtually silent under way even with all systems running. An enormous amount of effort and innovation has gone into engineering this to be the quietest running
superyacht ever built
Both of Liara’s co-skippers, John Walker and Tom Haycock, who work on a rotational basis, have
considerable experience in the J Class fleet and a lot of detailed deck design and ergonomics from that sphere of yachting has been used to help make Liara as easy as possible to sail. Four hydraulic rams positioned under the foredeck provide touch button control of three-dimensional headsail sheeting bridles and rig deflectors, which enable the shape of the Southern Spars mast to be controlled. A “winch farm” by way of the mast partners, together with mast exit sheaves and rope tail compartments below deck level, can be hidden by sliding hatches once the yacht has been prepared for sea. Further forward, asymmetric spinnakers and code sails each have dedicated bins so that they can be accessed and stowed quickly and easily. Right aft, Liara’s primary winches have been positioned abaft the steering positions enabling easy “cross-winching” – taking the headsail sheet to weather for trimming and other manoeuvres – and keeping the guest area completely free of running rigging. In conclusion, after the thousands of hours of refinement and development Liara has proven herself to be as swift as expected, but
especially impressive is the extraordinary sense of well-being onboard. She is virtually silent, a key mandate of the owner and an area in which Baltic Yachts truly stands alone. Baltic Yachts has, over the past decade, invested heavily in sound insulation aboard composite yachts and is consequentially ahead of the competition in this area. Careful studies have been undertaken on how to optimise the use of the sound deadening material in the correct places. Already in the design phase Baltic ensures that all “noisy” equipment is positioned in the engine room (opposed to having it scattered all around the boat), which already is well insulated. All pieces of equipment (like pumps for example) are carefully selected based on their weight and noise output. It’s the Baltic approach to all projects, a team effort that starts with the engineers and continues through production and every Baltic team member on the shop floor. In another step ahead of the competition Baltic Yachts has also put a great deal of focus on the installation of piping, ensuring that pipework is not connected to the structure and that even the cabins are floating. Baltic Yachts has again proved that a composite yacht can be silent.
www.balticyachts.fi
q SEAHORSE 71
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