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In the early days of megasailers, it was expected that a 100-foot cruising boat would displace 100 tons and a safe bet was to add a ton for every foot of length over that.
by Marilyn Mower
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06/01/2005
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In the early days of megasailers, it was expected that a 100-foot
cruising boat would displace 100 tons and a safe bet was to add a ton for every
foot of length over that. But today’s beamy, luxuriously appointed, heavily
equipped yachts operate on a different theory, more like tripling the tonnage
for every length of waterline over 100 feet. Following that plan, a 142-footer
should be expected to displace 226 tons. Of course, that theory doesn’t include
yachts with flying bridges, MCA certification, twin engines and 4,000-nm range
under power. So, at less than 300 tons maximum displacement, Ohana can
be considered a relatively light boat. "Building Ohana’s
hull of aluminum instead of steel saved about 60 to 70 tons in the overall
weight," says her designer, Ron Holland.
Combining her reduced weight with the fact that she has almost the
same
sail area (1,100 sq. m) as Perini’s 50-meter series delivers the
makings for lively sailing. To balance the power, the new hulls have been
reshaped. At 15- to 20-degrees of heel, Holland’s U-shaped hulls generate more
form stability than Perini’s V-shapes. Since Burrasca,
launched in 2003, the keels also have been redesigned so that the fixed section
of the lifting keel has wings. As speed increases and the wings load up, the
center of pressure moves aft and the helmsman can keep the mizzen up longer. For
Capt. Gianfrancesco Fantechi, this translates into more sailing and less
motoring. "You have the possibility to cruise at hull speed in the light air of
a Mediterranean summer in total comfort and silence."
 Don't Worry, Be Happy
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