‘The GS72 is designed as an all-rounder but special care has gone into the light-to- medium wind range since that is always the most likely range of use in cruising mode,’ Polli says. ‘It has a very small wetted surface for the given displacement and the waterline when upright is very narrow. Transverse sections are well rounded below the waterline to allow symmetric waterlines for a wide range of heel angles. Above a certain heel angle there is a steep increase in waterline beam and therefore stability that confers the power needed to carry the large sailplan.’ The soft chines come into play at 18° of heel, so 18-20° is the angle to aim for when sailing upwind. Hard chines increase drag, he says, and only give a significant boost to dynamic stability when surfing at very high speed, which rarely occurs on a boat with the GS72’s D/L ratio. Twin rudders were discounted for similar reasons. The five-ton maximum payload should be plenty for a round-the-world cruise. ‘The difference in performance between half load and full load will be noticeable only in very light wind,’ Polli says. ‘The hull lines have been designed to work on a range of displacements and thanks to the low and central position of the tanks, longitudinal trim will not be affected in different loading conditions. Moreover, when loading the boat, the stability will increase and offer more power to carry sail in upwind and reaching conditions.’ Polli made his reputation with world
championship-winning handicap racers but the GS72 has not been designed to any rating system. ‘Nevertheless I have been looking at both IRC and ORC to avoid any major rating penalty, but of course without compromising on the main intended use of fast cruising,’ he says.
Keel and rudder The hydro package is the same for both versions but five keel options are offered. ‘A 3.7m fixed keel is standard,’ Corazza says. ‘3.2m and 4.2m are options along with a 2.7m-4.4m telescopic keel and a lifting keel too.’
The single rudder blade has a high aspect ratio and is positioned very far forward in the hull. ‘These characteristics make the steering reliable and efficient at high heel angles,’ Polli says. ‘The blade area is relatively large, preventing dangerous “out of control” situations even when reaching fully powered.'
Sailplan and rig The standard sailplan is 9/10 fractional with a 130sq m self-tacking jib or a 145sq m genoa, a 180sq m pinhead
The Performance version has a dual-purpose deck plan designed by Nauta for a combination of cruising and fully crewed racing
Exterior and interior design
Nauta Design is well known for innovative deck and cockpit plans, which gradually evolve over hundreds of projects. Key refinements on the GS 72 include fully teak-clad cockpit coamings on the LC version, and the Performance version’s aggressively sleek, ultra-low profile coachroof. ‘Both versions feature a big manoeuvring cockpit aft and a large, comfortable central cockpit for guests with two coffee and dining tables that can be used separately, just aft of the coachroof,’ Nauta’s Massimo Gino explains. ‘These two cockpits are connected by a relaxation area, where two magnificent sunpads dominate the scene. The LC version has a sleek, modern coachroof with a full-beam raised saloon beneath (as it’s not bound
by the width of the coachroof), allowing guests a panoramic 270° view on the surrounding seascape.’ The interior design of the GS72 takes
the familiar Grand Soleil style to a new level, with a superyacht standard of fittings throughout. ‘There are several improvements in the finishings and we emphasise the use of white and pale colours,’ Gino says. ‘You can see that in the white lacquered panels on the bulkheads and on the internal hull sides, which create brighter and fresher interiors. The interiors are rich and light; they convey feelings of peace, serenity, physical and mental freedom. The design and the various palettes of the materials make for sober, fresh, elegant, cozy and welcoming style.’
White lacquered panels on the bulkheads and hull sides help to freshen up the interior, combined with pale upholstery and a bleached hardwood sole
SEAHORSE 73
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