French designer Philippe Briand has created a sheltered living area that will serve as the cockpit and deck saloon of this 105-foot yacht. The reason? Her owner, an experienced sailor who feels he has a good eye for aesthetic proportions, had this feature aboard a previous yacht and wanted to reproduce it aboard Gliss.
To accommodate this very generous coachroof profile while maintaining good sailing performance, Briand gave the yacht a long waterline, contemporary underwater sections, and moderate displacement; the overall length was determined by the size of the owner’s berth on the Côte d’Azure. Briand has also drawn a large sailplan and given the yacht’s bulb keel, inspired in part by those on America’s Cup Class yachts, a trim tab on its trailing edge.
Gliss is being built in Alustar aluminum by Royal Huisman Shipyard in The Netherlands. The interior design, by Pieter Beeldsnijder, features teak and a palette of vibrant colors. The owner’s cabin and two guest cabins are located in the yacht’s aft end, and a third guest cabin is forward next to the entertainment lounge. Launching is scheduled for June 2006. After completing her builder’s trials, Gliss will sail to the Mediterranean and to Valencia, Spain, where she will be part of the Swiss Alinghi Team support effort as they prepare for their defense of the Cup. Philippe Briand, 26, Rue Saint Sauveur, 1700 La Rochelle, France; tel. 011-335-46-50-57-44, www.philippebriand.com
