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Better Place as world's largest sloop in carbon fibre

10 May '12

7 min read

Wally, the leading builder of innovative state-of-the-art sail and power yachts, has successfully launched the stunning Bugatti blue coloured 50-meter sailing yacht Better Place, the world's largest sloop in carbon fiber developed on the lines of Tripp Design with the interiors by Wetzels Brown Partners, and uniquely classified RINA Green Star.

The Wally 50m touched the water after the owner's wife smashed the champagne bottle on the keel bulb during a private ceremony in Ancona, Italy, where the yacht was built at WallyEurope facility using the most advanced carbon fiber construction technology.

“With Better Place, once again Wally opens a new route in yacht design and innovation” enthusiastically says Luca Bassani Antivari, Wally Founder and President and head of the R&D “We succeeded in delivering an environmental friendly and breakthrough Wally 50m with aggressive and sleek lines of a true performance sailing yacht, rather than the motor sailer look typical of this class of yachts.”

“Better Place introduces innovative concepts in the round-the-world mega yacht cruisers“ continues Bassani “such as big volumes associated with ultra light displacement, latest diesel electric propulsion system, staysail simplified system, deckhouse with full height windows, uniquely large open-air living areas, raised bulwark, aft owner's suite with portholes and hatches on four sides and direct access to the Terrace-on-the-sea. “
Better Place is the first sailing yacht ever developed to comply with the environmental requirements of the RINA Green Star Design additional class notation, reserved to the ships which are designed, constructed and operated in such a way as to ensure maximum respect for the environment.

The measured displacement of this mega sailer perfectly matches the theoretical data: only 250 tons, of which 88 of the ballast (fin and bulb keel) and 11.5 of the full rigging (mast, boom, PBO rigging). The Wally 50m resulted also in perfect trim.

“This result reflects WallyEurope's excellent building quality carried out throughout all the construction, using the latest advanced composite technology” confirms Luca Bassani.

“The displacement and sail area ratio” predicts Luca Bassani “would provide for very high performance also in light airs, under 10 knots of wind. And the Wally lifting keel, increasing the draft from 4.6 to 6.5 meters, further improves Better Place's performance, that are associated with the proven Wally easy-sailing system to produce a true Fast and Easy mega yacht. ”

Along with the in-furling boom, self-tacking jib, Magic Trim for the main sheet, captive winch for the jib sheet , and push button controls, the Wally easy-sailing features of the Wally 50m include the new staysail system, specifically developed by the R&D for this mega yacht: the furling staysail with no-torsion luff cable is always ready to be easily and quickly hoisted from its 8.6-m long dedicated locker in the forward deck. The fast and simplified mega yacht uniquely combines performance with all the world cruiser characteristics offering plenty of storage and large living areas exceeding 300 sqm inside and 400 sqm outside.

The unique environmental characteristics of Better Place go even further than those required by the RINA Green Star Classification: she is the first sailing yacht equipped with the latest diesel electric propulsion technology, to increase power efficiency and reduce consumption, noise and vibration, as well as the ordinary maintenance of the propulsion system.

The 705kW power is produced by three generators, offering the opportunity to convert some hydraulic services into electrical ones thanks to the very powerful energy source, such as the inner stay furler, and the sheet tensioning devices.

The overall design, interior and exterior, is astonishing and innovative compared to any other similar yacht.

The exterior and interiors are developed following the Wally concept of inside-outside living areas, whereas the interiors open onto the exteriors and vice versa. Introduced in yacht design by Wally in 1998 with the sailing cruiser Tiketitan, this concept has been constantly developed by the Monegasque brand pioneering also the glass deckhouses and the deck skylights.

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Better Place as world's largest sloop in carbon fibre

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