The sailing superyacht Zefira, project or model name x50, has now been launched in June 2010 at New Plymouth, New Zealand, by the sailing yacht builder Fitzroy Yachts. It is understood that yacht Zefira, with her light grey hull, has further fine tuning and finishing to be completed by the award winning shipyard before she will be delivered to her owner.
Sailing Yacht Zefira after her launched by Fitzroy Yachts in New Zealand in June 2010 – Photo by Nigel Price
This first photo of Zefira was taken by the yacht photographer Nigel Price from North Head, Stanley Bay, Basset Lookout, North Shore City (Auckland, New Zealand). The yacht was in Auckland harbour yesterday (15.07.2010) and she can be seen here in the process of dropping the mainsail after a test sail sea trial.
The Fitzroy Yacht’s Zefira was constructed for a key European client yacht owner who approached Fitzroy directly to build this very impressive 50 metre large flybridge sailing yacht. The Dubois designed 49.7m fast cruising sloop is an all aluminum constructed luxury yacht. The sloop is expected to deliver superior sailing performance with her powerful Southern Spars rig and her deep bulb keel.
Rodney Martin, the Fitzroy Yachts managing director has said that “This year there will be only five to 10 sailing super yachts launched in the world and I think this will be the most impressive and we expect it to win a number of awards with it next year”.
Earlier this month the New Zealand company began production on another similar sized superyacht, their first new build contract sinse the financial crisis. Mr Martin said the Zefira super yacht took around 300,000 man hours to construct and finish at a cost of more than $50 million.
S/Y Zefira is a large flybridge sailing yacht and is similar (although more sleek) than another recently launched Dubois designed sailing yacht called Twizzle, which is comparable in many ways. It will be very interesting to see how the two sailing yachts fair in the World Superyacht Awards as one was built in Europe by Royal Huisman, new to Dubois, and the other an experienced Dubois yacht builder based in New Zealand. Both vessels have been designed and built to be exceptionally good sailing performers while also having reasonably sleek and low profiles. Whist Zefira is lower profile without a full flybridge, both sailing yachts offer very large and comfortable interior volume and are thus ideal for long range cruising.
Fitzroy Superyacht Zefira – Photographed in Auckland New Zealand and copyright by Ken Done
Some more about Yacht Zefira:
Fitzroy Yachts originally commissioned Dubois Naval Architects for the yacht design work for their hull number 16 superyacht and work began on the boat back in April 2008. Interestingly, the interior design and styling of yacht Zefira was undertaken by the owner. Fitzroy have worked with the UK firm with Dubois yachts on several newbuild boats, such the international award-nominated 45m Salperton IV. She has a medium sized beam at 9.95 metres.
Sailing yacht Zefira accommodates 8 guests with an owner’s master cabin and a further 3 guest cabins, whilst the crew also have 3 cabins along with a captain’s cabin, providing accommodation for 8 crewmembers also. Her single Caterpillar C32 1400 BHP diesel engine drives the yacht efficiently at her cruise speed of around 12 knots.
Further Specifications of Luxury Yacht Zefira:
Length: 49.69 m
Beam: 9.95 m
Draught: 4.9m
Launch date: June 2010
Displacement: 312 tonnes
Material: Aluminium
Classification: Lloyds
Engine: Caterpillar C32 1400 BHP
Rig: TBC
Accommodation: Owners Cabin,
3 Guest Cabins,
3 Crew Cabins, Captain’s Cabin, Lower Saloon with Studio, Pilot House
Luxury Yacht Zefira has a Lutron Lighting system, Lutron Blinds and Entertainment control for her main Deck & Lower Saloon’s as well as the Owner’s cabin, Aft Deck, Cockpit, Mid Deck, 3 x Guest cabin’s, 3 x Crew Cabin’s, Captain’s cabin, Crew Mess and Galley. This system allows user’s easy access of multiple AV Sources such as Kaleidescape movie/music server, Satellite TV decoder’s, iPod, Auxiliary input, Radio, 5 x CCTV cameras, Navigation.
Sailing yacht Zefira
