Superyacht R77 with an innovative sail plan

June 17, 20183min read

Superyacht R77 with innovative sail — Mathis Ruhl

For any yacht, aimed at swimming in the Atlantic and in the Pacific ocean, the shortest route between the oceans, as it is known is the Panama canal.

Although the Panama canal is a very strange and mysterious place with its own rules, alternative ways to get from the Atlantic to the Pacific ocean is unpredictable Cape horn, or no less dangerous Northwest passage, so it is of utmost importance for commercial shipping and regular cruisers.

This shipping canal connects the Caribbean sea and the Atlantic ocean, the Panama Bay and the Pacific ocean. Its length is 82 kilometers in length and 150 meters, while the width of the lock chambers is 33 meters and the depth reaches 12 meters.

Accordingly, there is a list of restrictions for vessels entering the Panama canal. Channel skips vessels of various types — from small yachts to huge container vessels, and vessel size that can pass through the Panama canal, became the de facto standard in the shipbuilding industry, called Panamax.

There is also a limit to the height of the vessel from the waterline to the top of the mast, which is 62.5 m, so very large sailing yachts face a height restriction of sailing arms.

Superyacht R77 with innovative sail — Mathis Ruhl

A new concept sailing superyacht R77 with an innovative solution for sailing arms, designed by naval architect with Steering Mathis (Mathis Ruhl), was born, so to speak, from the analysis of the specific following requirements:

Sufficient sail area for full control of the boat in medium wind conditions, height of the mast in the range of 62.5 meters
Fully automated and safe maneuvers and the ability to emergency release
Aerodynamic efficiency for all visible corners of the wind
Effective mast configuration and the low freeboard of the ship

Of course, none of the existing solutions for the sailing of the armament, does not meet all these requirements. Hence the need to start from scratch, avoiding all the previous concepts. Fortunately, the result was the breakthrough team of architects, namely the patented configuration of sailing arms.

Superyacht R77 with innovative sail — Mathis Ruhl
Superyacht R77 with innovative sail — Mathis Ruhl

This new concept requires a certain deck plan, therefore, the second objective was to develop a layout and superstructure to match it. Following the principle “form and function”, the architects used the advantage of the innovative installation to create a completely new design of mega-sailboat.

A new concept borrowed technology commonly used on biplanes. This project is a two-mast, mounted on rotating platforms, with twin masts are connected by horizontal beams. The hull shape is designed to provide General performance, together with a wide deck and a vertical surface sides, providing a good performance against the wind, as well as generous space on deck.

Superyacht R77 with innovative sail — Mathis Ruhl

The curved superstructure includes the main salon and master cabin and guest cabins located below deck, near the galley, and aft. On the aft deck is a swimming pool, storage for tenders and toys are hidden under the bow deck.

Mathis steering column, believes that this design will also be interested in commercial shipbuilding, the company that will be able to use wind energy, instead of fuel, in order to save and preserve the environment.