Baltic Yachts is close to completion of an 80ft full custom project.
The craft, which is the customer’s first build with the boatyard, is due to launch in early summer.
The Baltic 80 Custom has been commissioned as a high-speed offshore cruiser with the performance potential to win Mediterranean regattas.
The hull has been designed by judel/vrolijk with a low freeboard, a chamfered reverse bow and a minimal coach roof styled by Jens Paulus.
The yacht will have a paint job in old rosé, offset by a jet-black rig and details.
The deck plan has a track for a self-tacking cruising headsail and removable transverse tracks further aft for the racing genoa.
A large hatch in the flush foredeck gives access to a sail locker. The pushpit, stanchions and pop-up mooring cleats are all titanium, to reduce weight and maintenance.
The anchoring system has a snug recess in the bowsprit to hold the anchor securely while cruising, ready to deploy.
There is a retractable hydraulic mooring winch on the foredeck for warping operations in harbour.
The open cockpit offers an expanse of open-air living space, while also having a dual-purpose layout for cruising and racing.
It is designed with equal emphasis on easy handling by a crew of two and efficient operation by a full racing crew, including manoeuvres such as peel sets.
Large stowage bins for sheet and halyard tails, set in the aft ends of the coaming with top-hinged hatch lids, provide a solution to avoid lines under foot on the cockpit sole.
There is accommodation for six guests in three cabins with a further cabin for two permanent crew.
“Initially the concept was developed by extensive CFD and rating studies with a strong focus on racing performance,” naval architect Rolf Vrolijk explains. “With the involvement of the actual customer, cruising and living features gained more importance. We decided to keep the wide hull lines generating high stability for both purposes, powerful racing and comfortable cruising. The deck freeboard was pushed as low as possible to just suit the interior demands – sleek look and better vertical centre of gravity.”
The interior styling is a collaboration between designers, Jens Paulus and Axel Vervoordt with most surfaces painted or covered in fabric, with a timber finish only on the cabin doors and sole boards.
The yacht has a carbon/epoxy composite construction with the hull and structural bulkheads Sprint laminates with foam core and prepreg carbon reinforcements.
The deck is prepreg carbon with mostly Nomex core. The entire structure weighs just 6.5 tons.
She has twin rudders and a lifting keel in a solid prepreg carbon trunk which extends up to the deck to give a draught of 5.3m under sail, reducing to 3.5m in harbour.
Her mast, furling boom and rigging are all carbon, with a hydraulic under-deck furler for both racing and cruising headsails. a rotating padeye in the bowsprit for code sails, a manual gennaker furler and a captive reel mainsheet system. Her stern garage will carry a fully inflated 3.9m jet RIB tender.
All systems are controlled by Baltic Yachts’ in-house developed PLC with battery capacity to run the air conditioning for several hours in typical operating conditions.
The propulsion setup is conventional with a 172kW diesel engine. In addition to the main generator, the engine has a second alternator for battery charging.
“Space is a very important consideration on this boat,” says Lars Gripenberg, Baltic Yachts’ project manager for the yacht.
“The sailplan is a full double setup for cruising and racing. The layout is very versatile and will work well when sailing offshore. She will be remarkably fast under sail and will look stunning on the water.”
