Yachts Under Construction Update
Ron, Leon, Duane and Henk at the Rodeo Ron, Mike Burnham and BN 80 Kestrel under construction		Christopher In early February I joined Henk Wiekens, Joint Managing Director of Pendennis Shipyard and Duane McPhail, the client's Project Manager, at the Rodeo. We were in Texas for a review with our client of the advanced progress of Christopher, our latest 150 ft ketch under construction. With the aluminium structure completed and the interior joinery being fitted, this project is well on its way for January 2011 sailing trials. BN 80 During this month's visit to the RMK shipyard in Turkey, Sales Manager, Mike Burnham and I took time from project meetings to inspect the sophisticated bulb bow of our latest motor yacht under construction. This yacht's steel hull and aluminium superstructure are now ready to accept interior joinery and electrical systems, the next step on the production program aimed at launching early in the new year. Kestrel From Texas to Istanbul, then to Belfast. I joined the board of directors of Kestrel Superyachts for their February board meeting. They were to review construction progress and marketing plans. With the first of the Kestrel yachts well advanced, the Ron Holland and Aganlar Boatyard teams are now focusing on interior detailing for this important new addition to the 30 metre size sailing yacht market.

Boat International World Superyacht Awards Nominations
Riela Baracuda Ethereal		We are delighted to announce that Ron Holland Design has been recognised for three sailing yachts in this year's Boat International Superyacht Awards 2010 Over 45m category. Our joint ventures with Perini Navi, for the 56m Riela and the 50m Baracuda, have been nominated, together with Ethereal, our design collaboration with PB Designs for the much-lauded 58m ketch built by Royal Huisman. The awards for the short-listed yachts will be decided on 25 March during the Judges' Meeting in London. The fifteen judges comprise superyacht owners and two industry professionals. Winners will be finally disclosed at a Gala Evening on Saturday 22 May in London's Guildhall, an inspiring location for an event of this nature. The RHD team are pleased to have three of their designs nominated for this important awards ceremony. This is a fine acknowledgement during our 35 year celebrations.

Discovery 67 and the ARC
Discovery 67 "Tilly Mint" Discovery 55s		Excerpt by courtesy of Discovery Yachts. The first Discovery 67, from UK based Discovery Yachts, has successfully completed the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers (ARC) arriving in St. Lucia after 15 days 18 hours 19 minutes at sea.Taking part in the Invitation Cruising Division, the yacht Tilly Mint recorded 24 hour runs of over 200 miles. The 67 was joined by the Discovery 55 Kalandia sailing in Division 1 Cruising, arriving just a few hours behind and completing the crossing in 16 days 3 hours 39 minutes. Tilly Mint was the first Discovery 67 to be launched. The second yacht was exhibited at the Southampton Boat Show while hull number three will leave the factory in Southampton shortly after the 2010 Southampton Boat Show. Managing Director of Discovery Yachts Ltd., Nigel Stuart, commented, "Tilly Mint is a classic example of the way we approach building our yachts. Our attention to detail means a Discovery yacht is ready for sea as soon as she leaves Marchwood. Tilly Mint was launched in June and immediately took part in the Round the Island Race before setting off to sail down to Lanzarote in the Canaries where she cruised before starting the ARC. It is a credit to our team of craftsmen, designers and engineers who build these yachts that the owner has enjoyed some fantastic blue water passages of over 5,000 miles during the first six months of ownership. Discovery 67 hull number two is set to go even further with a circumnavigation in the Blue Water Rally. She crossed the Atlantic a week ahead of the ARC and managed 11 days of over 200 miles per day." Like her smaller sister, the award-winning Discovery 55, the new 67 comes from the drawing board of the world famous naval architect Ron Holland. Elegant and comfortable, she has been developed for a couple to sail easily and safely either on a world trip or simply wanting to enjoy blue-water vacations at their best.

Christmas in Kinsale
		The 'Evening with Ron Holland' on December 19th was a success. Friends, colleagues, dignitaries and inquisitive Kinsale locals gained a taste of the Superyacht life, joining me and the RHD design team at the White Lady Hotel. For the evening's presentation, in aid of the RNLI, I revisited my arrival in Cork- for the weekend- 35 years ago! Photographs, movies and stories were collated to weave the story of my work in Ireland, giving the audience an insight into our past and present design work. The images covered an incredible range of designs from the 24 ft Quarter Tonner, Eygthene, to our Perini collaborations and to Ethereal, our most recent launch. The evening finished with a session on drums. Earlier on in the day, I joined the Kinsale Lifeboat crew for a photo shoot with UK based photographer Nigel Millard at the new Kinsale Lifeboat Station.

Wooden Ships
		I may be miles from the ocean but I can't resist checking out any 'boats' that are around. During a recent November visit with friends in Whitehorse, a two hour flight north of Vancouver, I was proudly shown the Sternwheeler, S.S.Klondike. Although not in operation due to the shoaling Klondike River waters, this vessel encompasses the history of the region as well as naval architecture reflecting North American and Canadian maritime history. With these shoal draft vessels plying their trade (dancing girls and gambling) on the rivers, the real exploration and commerce was being carried out by the Husky sleds and their Mushers. I tried my hand at this 'voyaging' too.

An Evening with Ron Holland
		Ron Holland Design was established in Currabinny in 1973 and relocated to Kinsale in 1991. Ron, a native new Zealander, came to Ireland, having been invited by Hugh Coveney and John McWilliam, to design the successful one-ton racing yacht, Golden Apple. Thirty five years on, the business continues to thrive, designing yachts of all shapes and dimensions that have set sail in every corner of the globe. RHD has established itself as an internationally recognised hallmark for excellence and the team in Kinsale will leave no stone unturned to ensure that each client's individual needs are met with innovation and creativity. In his interesting and lengthy career, Ron and his dedicated team have designed the world's largest sloop rigged yacht, Mirabella V and more recently, the world's most eco-friendly, energy efficient yacht Ethereal. Such works of immense importance have been conceived and designed locally in Kinsale. Ron was instrumental in starting the Lunch by the Lee series of talks with his assistant Michelle Dunne. The lunch series continues to be enormously successful with the RNLI as its recipient. In celebration of Ron Holland Design studio's 35 years, Ron is saying "thank you" to the local community. RHD would not have achieved such success without the day-to-day support and interaction from the local businesses. On Saturday 19th December 2009, Ron will give a presentation of his work, featuring a history of thirty-five years of yacht designs created in the local studio. The White Lady Hotel in Kinsale has been graciously donated as the venue. Tickets are on sale at The White Lady Hotel and at Ron Holland Design. The cost of the ticket is 15 Euro, which will include a presentation of Ron's work, live music by Fiona Kennedy and her band and free entrance to the nightclub after 11 pm. A raffle will be held with great 'water based ' prizes and more surprises on the night ! The proceeds will be donated to the Kinsale RNLI.

Panthalassa is launched - November 2009
		The latest of the Perini 56m Series, Panthalassa, was officially launched in Viareggio in early November. This is the eighth yacht to be completed from the RHD collaboration with the Perini design team. With an innovative interior design by Foster and Partners, Panthalassa presents another example of the diverse capabilities of the Perini shipyard. Foster and Partners' approach has been to create light, simple, open interior areas, maximising the interior space of this 56m design. Perini Navi Chief Designer, Franco Romani has developed the superstructure lines to create a stylish, aerodynamic, low profile, giving Panthalassa a fresh new look in comparison with the previous yachts in this series.

Royal Vancouver Yacht Club November 25th 2009
		On November 25th at 1800 hrs, I will give a presentation of 35 years in Yacht Design to boating enthusiasts at the Royal Vancouver Yacht Club, Jericho. 'Eygthene to Ethereal', represents the most exciting times of my life designing boats for sailing lovers and latterly motor yacht owners alike. Ron Holland Design has created an amazing portfolio of award-winning designs over a 35 year period. This will be my second visit to the club for their Winter Talks, I have enjoyed the facilities at RVYC having moored there on one of my designs in 2008.

Riela
		When Perini Navi decided to collaborate with Ron Holland Design to create a 56m performance-oriented aluminium ketch, it was impossible to predict that 10 of these yachts would be ordered within a few years. Riela is the latest of the 56m series to be launched. Three more variations on this design are under construction at present. Incorporating the latest Perini engineering refinements and a beautiful Remi Tessier interior, Riela caught the attention of all who were lucky enough to be invited aboard during the Monaco Yacht Show.

Monaco Yacht Show 2009
The Lapis Lounge On Christina O Approaching Christina O Majella Cullagh with Ron The Lapis Lounge On Christina O		Ron Holland Design had a high profile presence at the Monaco Yacht Show this year. Exhibiting two sailing yachts, Ethereal and Riela, was a great way to celebrate our 35th year in the yacht design business. Ethereal, the 58m ketch, our collaboration with PB Design, built at Royal Huisman, was well received by the yachting industry and the general public. Riela, the 56m ketch, our design partnership with Perini, puts the total of this design launched at seven. The RHD team, Rob Doyle, Brendan Mahe and Chiara Tombolini, were proud to have their work on display. Both of these yachts represent the very best of design, workmanship and systems currently available in the sailing superyacht industry. Visitors were treated not only with the experience of seeing yachts of exceptional quality, but also with the unique opportunity of meeting their very 'hands on' owners. Christina O During the recent Monaco Yacht Show we were invited aboard the classic 100m motor yacht Christina O for a spectacular dinner. Anchored off Beaulieu, this important yacht represents a wonderful history of yachting's early years. We were treated to an evening of rehearsals for an upcoming Maria Callas works recital, the highlight of Christina O's charter season for 2010. Majella Cullagh, the highly acclaimed Irish soprano entertained us with her incredible vocal skills. RHD has been commissioned to develop new design work on Christina  for a variety of new developments., including new awnings and a substantial new tender docking station. The owners of Christina O have a commitment to continually developing and upgrading this historic classic charter yacht. Ron Holland Design is honoured to be involved with the program.

Davide Besana - Italian Boat Owner of the Year
		Davide Besana is the Italian "Boat Owner of the Year" in class ORC 4 and 5. The prize has been awarded by the Italian Offshore Class Association (UVAI) to Besana's Midva, an old (1982) Ron Holland Design wooden boat, for its brilliant overall score in the 2009 Italian Season (First place in the Alassio International Week, First place in the Pirelli Races, Second place at the Italian Offshore Championship). Davide Besana was helped out by tactician Mauro Pelaschier, crewmembers Giovanni Querci, Thomas Sanders (UK), Alessandro Pozzi, Edoardo Crispiatico, Lorenzo Papini and his friend Fabrizio Sirena. Francesca Tagliabue, Giornalista Photos courtesy of  Foto Fabio Taccola

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