Commissioned by an experienced yachtsman who wanted a high-performance bluewater passagemaker, this 148-foot Wally was developed by Bill Tripp from the lines of a 143-foot Tripp design now being finished by Wally after a two-year build.
The yacht displaces 309,000 pounds, and its lifting keel allows draft to vary from 19 feet, 9 inches to just over 13 feet. The standing rigging will be of PBO fiber; the mainsail will have in-boom furling. Tanks capable of carrying 793 gallons of water ballast on either side of the vessel will further enhance its performance potential.
“Large yachts create serious challenges and tremendous opportunities,” says Tripp. “The technical complexities, living space, equipment, high loads, and reliability must all be resolved perfectly and be in balance. But size also presents a great opportunity, because it gives you a chance to combine superb sailing proportions, great seagoing capabilities, and linear beauty.” Tripp expects the yacht to sail well in light air, and, thanks to a displacement-length ratio of just 71, it should be able to cross an ocean at speed “without digging a hole in it.”
On deck, a low-profile pilothouse complements the yacht’s sheerline. A wide cockpit door provides easy access to the main saloon and enhances the inside-outside living concept that is a Wally trademark.
Guest quarters are aft; the master suite, office, and two double guest cabins are forward of the main saloon. The crew’s cabins are all the way forward. Stairs to access the crew’s quarters and the half-level nav station are at the forward end of the saloon.
The master suite has a large berth to starboard and a lounge area with a desk to port. The owner’s office, with a sofa and another ensuite head can be accessed from the master suite and from the corridor; the office can be converted into an additional guest cabin with two bunks.
There are two tenders on deck—-one forward in a recessed garage on the foredeck, the second inside the transom. The yacht is being built of pre-preg carbon composites at the Wally yard in Fano, Italy, and will be launched at the end of next year.
Wally Yachts, 4 Avenue des Ligures, MC9800 Monaco; tel. 011-377-9310-0090;
www.wally.com
