dragonfly 80-metre: the first superyacht from wales

The Dragonship 80 is an aluminium 80-metre superyacht concept designed by McPherson Yacht Design for the recently established Welsh company Pi Yachts. With folding hulls, five decks and three masts, the yacht has been specified for performance as well as for on-board comfort. The yacht’s 30-metre beam could be inconvenient in harbour, so the port and starboard hulls have been designed to fold away alongside the main hull when docked, giving the Dragonship access to marinas that would otherwise be off limits.

The rig – similar to the wing masts recently used on the America’s Cup AC72 yachts – is the brainchild of Jack Manners-Spencer, who has been pioneering his Autosail rig since the 1980s. It relies on a powered rotating mast, which supports the aerofoil section sail and rotates the sail surface to achieve the most efficient angle to the wind on any point of sail. Two rig options will be available: Sports and Cruising, depending on the client’s wishes. Propulsion will be all electric using fast-recharge batteries with charging from solar cells integrated into the fabric of the Autosail.

Her layout was designed to be charter-friendly, accommodating 12 guests in six cabins and 17 crew. Aft is an owner’s suite, complete with permanent balcony and private access lobby. The main and upper decks are dedicated to social areas, with expansive views out to sea, as well as a library, spa and gym. Crew cabins and the tenders and toys are also located within the side hulls. The upper deck features a sky lounge and an exterior bar that overlooks a hot-tub and spacious sun-pads. This area can be shielded from the sun by the built-in awning system.

“We looked for a designer with the imagination and creative flair who would produce a design that would easily convert into a realistic vessel. McPherson Yacht Design has done an incredible job. The yacht will be the flagship of our ‘Dragonship’ range of trimarans that we propose building over the coming years. The range will consist of the 80, 50, 35 and our baby Dragon at just 25 metres.” says Captain Mike Smith, director of Pi Yachts.

Posted Wednesday, January 22nd, 2014

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