Claasen Shipyards in the Netherlands has delivered the 27.50-metre sailing yacht Acadia to her delighted owner.
This Truly Classic 90 from the boards of Hoek Design has been finished to the highest standard, resulting in an elegant and luxurious yacht which is equally at home cruising as she is on her occasional appearances competing in superyacht regattas. Acadia is the 26th yacht designed by Hoek Design to be built at Claasen.
Acadia is the third in a group of ever improving Truly Classic 90s, showcasing how a family yacht can also be ideal for chartering and racing purposes. She also proves that the World Superyacht Award which Claasen Shipyards recently won for the Truly Classic 127 Atalante was no flash in the pan.
“Acadia benefits from a great deal of new technology and some highly refined woodwork and outfitting, including first-rate installation of the systems and highly contemporary PLC designs,” says Peter Wilson of MCM, who served as the owner’s representative on this project. “She is a miniature superyacht of a world-class standard and the owner is tremendously pleased with the level of craftsmanship implemented in Acadia.”
Raising the bar
The yacht’s designer, Andre Hoek, is also impressed with the end result. “Acadia builds on previous successes by the Claasen team. She has raised the bar even higher in terms of quality and looks absolutely splendid. The Truly Classic 90 is probably as large as a yacht can be while retaining the capacity to be sailed with just two permanent crew members and a hands-on owner – and that is certainly the case with Acadia.”
While he enjoys taking the helm of his new yacht, the owner of Acadia has also been involved in all aspects of the design process. His choices have led the way on everything from the engravings on the cap rail to the marbles and stones in the interior (white Calacatta Michelangelo marble and Golden Beach granite).
“The owner is a very detail-oriented person who visited our yard in Holland many times to follow progress on the construction,” explains Wouter van Rijn, project manager at Claasen Shipyards. “It has been inspiring to see him involved with the many small things that, at the end of the day, make a big difference to how a yacht feels and operates. It is also a pleasure to partner with a client who intends to use his boat so extensively, with plans to enjoy Acadia already scheduled well into 2017.”
Timeless pleasures
Acadia offers a perfect blend of classic lines with the very latest technologies. She boasts an eye-catching white hull, with a deep red underwater ship and a vivid red waterline adding to the distinguished and traditional look. The exterior is finished with finely varnished teak details to further enhance a boat that will clearly stand the test of time in every respect. To ensure this is the case in terms of maintenance, bespoke covers have been made to protect the varnish on the wheelhouse and other areas during passage making..
Seen from the shore, Acadia’s giant mast and sails make for a striking sight. Stand on the deck and you will sense how that visual excitement is mirrored by a phenomenal performance once the yacht is underway. The 35.60-metre keel-stepped mast and 11.40-metre boom were made in carbon fibre by Hall Spars in the Netherlands. The carbon fibre sail package supplied by Doyle and includes a mainsail, yankee and staysail, all of which can be operated from the aft cockpit, plus a brilliant red & white top-down furling Asymmetrical A3 and a stunning 580 m² A2.
The rig is lighter than that of the previous two Truly Classic 90s: in combination with a lower cross-sectional area (reducing drag), carbon standing rigging from the Swiss firm CarboLink (making for a stiffer boat with more righting moment) and in-depth calculation work carried out by Hoek Design, this has significantly enhanced Acadia’s sailing capacity.
Stern to sail
The visual impact of the rig is further complemented by having all the anodising on the mast in a silver colour, matching the winches and deck hardware.. Even the furlers have been silver anodised and the carbon furler foils on the headstays painted in metallic silver. The effect of these silver accents against the titanium grey sails is stunning. From stern to sail, the hardware package looks fabulous, generating a slightly modern take on the spirit of tradition look. The teak deck is also superbly laid out above a whole world of technology accessible via Rondal hatches. Add in the Lewmar winches and it is clear that Acadia wants for nothing but the best in the quality department.
In addition to choosing equipment and hardware that scores as highly in performance efficiency as it does in aesthetics, the owner had added distinctive visual touches of his own on deck. These include a charming shell image laser-cut and caulked on the pulpit seat, with two more on the aft fishing seats. There is also a custom stainless steel name plate on the starboard cap rail, the first such on a Claasen boat.
Dual cockpits
The twin cockpit arrangement that is one of the hallmarks of the Hoek Design concept comes into its own on Acadia. The centre cockpit is a fine place for socialising: the option to fully enclose the space with a bimini ensures a nice area to sit when exploring Northern Europe or Scandinavia while the rain is coming down. A lovely folding cockpit table with a built-in refrigerator means that guests can sail with the leaves down and get around the cockpit very comfortably. There are removable fiddles and custom Claasen drink holders to ensure that drinks don’t get spilled. Anchor up for lunch, take the fiddles away, put up the table leaves and you have a superb dining area for eight people.
Because the owner likes to be involved in sailing and helming, the wheel has been placed in the aft cockpit. The stainless steel work on the steering position and monitoring post is exquisite in this cockpit, which contains a smaller version of the folding table and comfortable seating.
There can be few better ways for the owner to start the day than walking through his personal access companionway from the master suite, ascending through the entrance into his private cockpit for breakfast. He might also then invite a friend to join him in catching lunch using the rod holders built into the aft of the boat. This, one might say, is the life.
Below decks
The sense of quality seamlessly continues when you step into Acadia’s interior spaces, where no expense was spared on the mod cons that make for a luxurious stay. For instance, every cabin has its own concealed air conditioning unit – just one of the ways in which the available space has been ingeniously used. The interior ambience is one of timeless elegance thanks to Hoek Design’s template of raised and fielded mahogany panels and white-painted panels above the wainscot level.
“Everything revolves around the lifestyle of the client in a bespoke interior design like this,” says Colleen Waguespack from Colleen Waguespack Interiors, who was responsible for the interior decoration. “Having worked on a number of properties for the owner and his family, our goal with Acadia was to create a design over which they would feel total ownership. Everything was very carefully thought through and the owner was more than happy to make 20 design mock-ups to get every detail right, even down to the level of the stitching on the trays. A range of modern and fresh influences have been combined with the classic and elegant detailing typical of sailing yachts. It’s a nice balance that has been crafted superlatively by Claasen Shipyards.”
Majestic mahogany
One of the key unifying aspects between the deckhouses and the rest of the interior is the use of Swietenia mahogany. The owner went to great pains to find the best possible examples of the species. Twelve cubic metres of wood had to be sourced to provide the seven cubic metres needed of just the right colour and grain, all of which has been used to great effect. “The panelling matches the cabinets and doors superbly,” says Acadia’s captain. “The woodwork and joinery is absolutely outstanding, with the most phenomenal attention to detail and finish.”
A great deal of care has also been invested in the layout by everyone involved in the project. For instance, the way that the desk area and overhead has been treated in the master suite maximises headroom and enhances the light and roomy feel. This cosy suite with its beautiful finishing, smooth, curved surfaces and optimal provision of space again reflects the owner’s influence on the project. It also features a painting by Susan Downing-White, a modern piece specially chosen for the way its maritime theme reflects the art which the owners have at home (the same is true of the artwork by George Dunbar in the lounge).
There are seating areas either side of the large central bed. As is the case in all cabins, electric lifts under the mattress make for easy access to the storage spaces beneath. Other highlights of the master include electrically operated recessed Roman blinds, dimmable LED lights and a hidden television.
Natural light
The owner’s cabin has direct access to the amidships section of the yacht, which is home to the deckhouse dining and navigation area. The connection from the deckhouse introduces a lot of natural sunlight into the lounge three steps below while fully retaining the connection with the outside environment. Further forward is the galley, which includes high-end equipment such as a custom freezer box, a gimbaling induction hob and stove, and lots of built-in cupboards with a multitude of custom fixtures for the cutlery, crockery, chargers and platters.
There are two guest cabins: a VIP on the port side with double bed and a twin-bunk cabin to starboard. The double crew cabin is in the forepeak and there is an additional ‘pocket cabin’ aft, on the starboard side after leaving the owner’s suite. This will be used as an extra stewardess berth when Acadia is being chartered and the day head also contains a shower (and washer dryer) for crew use during these periods.
Smart thinking
Acadia’s engine room has been optimised to make the most logical use of space with all the systems installed in the best possible place for maintenance and access. Areas such as the generators and air conditioning, which rarely need to be accessed, are positioned in the back. As Claasen CEO Joachim Kieft concludes, the engine room is another example of how his yard continuously learns from experience as to what works best.
“We are constantly striving to find the most accessible and efficient solutions, leveraging on practical experience in installation, owner feedback and the way our yachts perform at sea. This leitmotiv has applied to every aspect of this project, which has integrated many of our ongoing improvements. Acadia represents another milestone in Claasen’s evolution of boatbuilding excellence.”
