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The 64 metre Felicita West is currently the largest aluminium sailing yacht afloat. She is the first vessel Perini Navi contracted to third party design. And she was the precursor for Perini's production strategy whereby preliminary outfitting takes place in their Yildiz Gemi facility in Istanbul.
Ron Holland Design and Nuvolari Lenard responded to a design brief that reflected the client's requirements for exceptional living spaces and comfort under way. The client's first sailing yacht, the 43 metre Perini ketch Felicita AM provided an eight year testing ground on which to hone his design requirements. This experience was further enhanced by ownership of an interim 50 metre Perini, also called Felicita West.
Although the overall size of the yacht was not a novelty for the Perini engineering design team, the aluminium engineering design task was a challenge to both Ron Holland Design and Perini Navi. The choice of aluminium was made in response to the client's - and Holland's - intention to ensure a higher level of sailing performance than would normally be accepted with a sailing yacht of this size and volume. This decision allowed the lines plan to be designed close to 100 tonnes lighter displacement than if steel had been used. "This weight saving translates directly into a hull form of higher speed potential and also allows for a larger ballast ratio to ensure reduced angles of heel when under sail" says Holland.
To achieve reasonable access to shallow waters, a 40 tonne lift keel is used to reduce the draught to 3.8 metres. Under sail the keel is lowered to 9.1 metres to gain improved hydrodynamic efficiency when sailing to windward. The balanced rudder, supported by a full depth skeg, follows the foil concept so successfully used in earlier Ron Holland designs.
The rig, limited to 200 feet above the water to facilitate bridge clearance through the Panama Canal, is nevertheless proportioned to ensure sailing efficiency under a variety of wind conditions. Again this aspect of the project required a degree of pioneering as the mast and rigging requirements necessitated a custom manufacturing approach.
To allow this giant yacht to be sailed near her optimum in a variety of conditions, sail handling equipment is arranged to allow the crew a high degree of control from several different stations.
The overall concept of Felicita West was to create a hull form that balanced speed and sea kindliness with aesthetic considerations. The bow and stern profiles enhance the classical sheerline in a manner that suggests a close relationship with tradition, but when related to the Nuvolari Lenard superstructure styling the overall concept obviously creates a statement that suggests a truly modern sailing yacht.
Space is not lacking, with ample side decks protected by waist high bulwarks amidships and comfortably broad spaces indoors subtly reinforcing the 'ship like' sensation. The three zone outdoor living area layout provides ample opportunity for the 12 guests to either congregate or seek some peace and solitude. Indoors, the main and forward saloons (where dining and bar areas complement each other) are separated by the half deck wheelhouse amidships, while four spacious guest cabins and a full beam owner's stateroom afford comfortable retreats to privacy and rest.
Felicita West's sailing characteristics to date have proven Holland's performance prediction to be accurate, both in light airs and stronger conditions. This experience helped Holland's understanding of how his 75 metre Mirabella V project would handle and perform.
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