Following on from the delivery of 30.5m Virgen del Mar VI (formerly Project Nozomi) last year and her enthusiastic potential buyers reception, Alia Yachts in Antalya, Turkey, has started on spec construction of project Nozomi II, a 32.40m sistership.
“I said at the time that there was nothing quite like Virgen del Mar VI on the water,” says CEO of Alia Yachts, Gökhan Çelik. “That’s still true, at least until the launch of Nozomi II, which is very much an evolution of the same concept but with some significant upgrades.”
A standout feature of Virgen del Mar VI was her generous volume (235GT) for a compact superyacht. Nozomi II is nearly 2m longer than her predecessor with a slightly higher gross tonnage (240GT). The extra interior volume this provides is mainly devoted to a larger galley and more wardrobe space in the guest cabins, as well as a dedicated laundry room in the garage.
The exterior styling by Frank Laupman of Omega Architects is virtually identical to that of Virgen del Mar, although the superstructure has been subtly restyled and the new yacht will feature a moderately flared bow.
“Vertical bows look great and provide extra waterline length, but they’re not as efficient at deflecting spray as a flared bow in choppy or rough seas,” explains Çelik. “This is especially relevant on a yacht like this with a seating area on the foredeck, so for the second hull we decided to revert to a positive rake for a drier ride under way.” Van Oossanen Naval Architects have also been engaged to carry out the hull modifications complete with full CFD analysis to achieve optimal performance and comfort of the series. The power package has also been upgraded with twin CAT engines (760hp x 2) replacing the Yanmar diesels (650hp x 2) for a maximum speed of 14 knots and a range at economical speed of nearly 3,000nm. Furthermore, the generator size has been increased and the bridge equipment upgraded to an integrated bridge Simrad Naviop®system.
The basic layout remains unchanged and features a full-beam master stateroom on the main deck with private forward terrace, and four spacious guests cabins (two doubles and two singles) on the lower deck. There is ample open-air space for dining, lounging and sunbathing on the main deck aft and a 50-sqm flydeck behind the raised pilothouse. Redman Whiteley Dixon (RWD) were the interior designers for Virgen del Mar VI, but prospective owners are free to choose their own interior designer.
Project Nozomi II is scheduled for completion in 2021.
