Brian Benjamin’s new Carbon Ocean 82 maxi sailing yacht Aegir II, is just days away from being launched in Newport, Rhode Island. The Cruiser Racer Aegir II is in the final stages of systems and hardware checks, prior to extensive sea trials before spending the winter months in the Caribbean. The sailing yacht Aegir II will replace Benjamin’s Maxi Dolphin Aegir that this season won its class at the 2010 Giraglia Rolex Cup and took the World Championship for Mini-Maxi cruiser/racers at the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup.
Carbon Ocean 82 maxi sailing yacht Aegir II - Credit Carbon Ocean Yachts
The Carbon 82 sailing yacht Aegir II is a new generation of Cruiser Racer combining comfort, style and high performance – a balance often proving hard to achieve in a yacht of this size. Her elegant lines, Med-style cockpit and contemporary interior makes her the perfect fast cruising yacht and is guaranteed to turn heads wherever she goes.
Sailing yacht Aegir II was beautifully designed and built for comfortable cruising even in light air and competitive racing in all conditions. Friends and family can cruise for a fortnight on S/Y Aegir II yet it can be transformed into a competitive IRC racing boat for upcoming events such as the Caribbean 600, the Heineken Regatta and the Giraglia Race.
The build of the yacht was nearly derailed in the collapse of Goetz Custom Boats. In salvaging the project, Benjamin and key people working on the Aegir II project formed Carbon Ocean Yachts, which came with several contractors’ claims and lawsuits. Fast forward 30,000 man-hours later and Carbon Ocean Yachts is launching Benjamin’s cruiser/racer, Aegir II.
Carbon Ocean 82 maxi sailing yacht Aegir II - Credit Carbon Ocean Yachts
Sailing yacht Aegir II is constructed entirely from pre-preg carbon utilizing the latest aerospace technologies. In race-mode, velocity prediction analysis suggests an upwind speed of 10.5 knots and a capability of 20 knots downwind. Carbon Ocean 82 sailing yacht features elegant lines and her three spreader carbon rig, towering 35 metres above the deck, will be sure to provide some serious horse-power. The masthead asymmetric kite is 650sqm.
The design has been in development for over a year and Rogers Yacht Design have transferred many of the technologies used in their racing yachts to guarantee a light, stiff and robust structure. An extensive tank testing and CFD program has been completed, to optimize the hull form for the IRC rating rule, making her a perfect choice for the new Cruiser Racer class for the Med circuit.
Carbon Ocean 82 maxi sailing yacht Aegir II - Credit Carbon Ocean Yachts
Considerable effort has been spent on ensuring that all the sail handling systems are fit for racing and every maneuver can be achieved with minimum effort, whilst the aesthetics of the design are also respected and comfort maximized for extended cruising.
Sailing yacht Aegir II’s interior is light and contemporary and allows the owner to occupy the whole yacht from the saloon forward and gain a high degree of privacy, whilst also being able to create two separate cabins forward when cruising with guests. The saloon is spacious with an open plan layout, with the galley off to one side that leads to the crew cabin aft, with an additional guest cabin on the opposing side. The flexible interior offers future owners the ability to specify a bespoke arrangement to suit their individual aspirations.
Externally the Carbon 82 has several distinctive features, the most significant being her large lazarette with direct deck access via her cockpit bomb doors (not via the transom). The lazerette can house a 3.25m Williams Jet tender with ample additional space for equipment. The movement of toys is easily achieved with the provision for a removable, electric Atlas Carbon Davit. Her deck layout is clean and simple and at a glance, her racing pedigree is clear; balance this with her spacious and comfortable super-yacht interior and you have the Carbon 82 a true Performance Cruiser Racer.
The design is available for future production in a semi-custom format, allowing clients to optimize the yacht for their specific requirements.
Benjamin explains that he can’t wait to get on the water in his new boat: “A Beauty and a beast. An enormous amount of time and effort has gone into refining Aegir II, to deliver immense power and performance but also a yacht that can be cruised in style. Carbon Ocean Yachts have been meticulous in the build programme.
“Aegir II is state of the art, incorporating the latest in construction techniques from the top of the rig, to the tip of the keel. I like to cruise in style as well as race and probably as much thought has gone into the interior as anywhere else.
“After the sea trials, Aegir II will be in the Caribbean and I am delighted to say that the yacht’s first duty will be as a wedding carriage for my daughter’s honeymoon. The first time Aegir II will be raced will be in February, competing in the RORC Caribbean 600. I can’t wait to put her through her paces, on a race course that will really show her true potential.”
Before Benjamin’s racing team crosses the starting line, luxury yacht Aegir II is transformed to a racer. The bomb doors open and the tender is removed from the garage. The shower stall in the master suite, the coping around the mast base, tables and the prod’s anchor cassette are removed to make the racing gear accessible and drop to racing weight. The replacement of the Park Avenue boom and the cruising sails complete the conversion.
Carbon Ocean Yachts will be announcing new and exciting designs to complement the Carbon 82 in the near future.
