Pendennis is thrilled to have three superyachts shortlisted as finalists in the 2012 World Superyacht Awards. The 44m catamaran Hemisphere and the 46m sailing yacht Christopher are nominated in the ‘Sailing Yachts above 40m’ category, and S/Y Akalam is a 32m sloop is a finalist in the ‘Sailing Yachts 30m-40m’ class.

The sailing catamaran Hemisphere (44m) is one of Pendennis Shipyard’s most unique and imposing launches in their 23 year history. As the largest privately owned vessel of her type in the world she turns heads due to her sheer scale, but equally impressive is the level of luxurious detail within her interior spaces and range of onboard facilities. Her appearance at the Monaco Yacht Show in September created a stir, with crowds gathering to get a glimpse of S/Y Hemisphere’s spacious contemporary interiors by Michael Leach Design, built by Metrica and completed with unique finishing techniques by Based Upon.

Catamaran Hemisphere at sea trials - Credit Pendennis

The main social hub of the Hemisphere catamaran is the airy salon with its 360degree views, and the adjoining exterior aft deck which sprawls aft, accommodating the primary dining table, a second bar area, and seating and sunbeds for her guests to unwind in. The technical innovations throughout Hemisphere are impressive.

Watersports facilities on board the Cat Hemisphere are more akin to a private waterfront hotel than to a 44m yacht with a full dive centre (including two large compressors and the capability to offer NITROX fills) and an array of watersports toys located in the transoms.

Naval Architects Van Peteghem Lauriot Prévost (VPLP) integrated many innovative catamaran features, the main feature being the integration of their trademark ‘seagull wing’ developed to disperse the up-draft wave motion in between her hulls providing a gentle motion. This area also houses the large 8.2 metre tender which can be effortlessly lowered via the bomb bay doors keeping her decks sleek and clutter free.

Gavin Bladen Captain/Owners Representative of yacht Hemisphere, explained: “Hemisphere has been a joint venture between the Owner and myself to create the ‘ultimate floating destination’ for her guests to enjoy worldwide cruising through the tropics. In spring 2013 Hemisphere will transit the Panama Canal and head west into the Pacific into her intended playground”

Hemisphere yacht mast stepping - Credit Pendennis

The 46m sailing yacht Christopher was commissioned as a family focused performance sailing cruiser. Built in just 22 months to Ron Holland’s design she was delivered in time to race at the 2011 St Barth’s Bucket Regatta. S/Y Christopher is a fast, beautifully handling yacht and while at first glance she looks traditional, closer inspection highlights many details that are ‘state of the art’ for this new generation of large sailing yachts. A large quantity of teak confirm her classic influences and the stylish ‘beach house’ interiors are embellished with personal features such as a bar designed to reflect the Owner’s favourite bar in Paris.

Pendennis sailing yacht Christopher - Credit Cory Silken

Pendennis sailing yacht Christopher nominated for the World Superyacht Awards - Credit Cory Silken

The Christopher yacht is the first Ron Holland design to use both carbon fibre spars and standing rigging, saving many tonnes of rig weight, for a positive contribution to all round sailing performance. Her twin balanced rudders and an extraordinarily deep retractable centreboard, which increase draught from 12ft 6in to more than 31ft, which dramatically enhance the sailing performance and to allow space for a large Williams Turbojet 505D tender in the lazarette. Her reputation as a racing yacht was sealed as she challenged many of the St Barth’s regulars throughout the week.

Interior of the Pendennis sailing yacht Christopher - Credit Cory Silken

Cabin on the Pendennis sailing yacht Christopher - Credit Cory Silken

Finally, sailing yacht Akalam is a striking 32m sloop built to Barracuda Yacht Design’s dramatic and unique vision. The yacht has a pleasing retro appearance with the varnished wooden base around the deckhouse and aft deck seating area with a traditional bow and raised counter stern; the fixed, aft deck canopy provides undercover space for a portion of the vast deck area suggesting that socialising and entertaining is a priority. However, on closer inspection, the unusual number of windows in the hull has required some very innovative structural design while the yacht’s sailing ability is a product of some impressive performance-design heritage.

Sailing yacht Akalam by Pendennis - Photo Credit Mark Lloyd

During the Akalam yacht build the key technical challenge for the Pendennis team was these full height windows. Inevitably, when a yacht is pounding through steep seas bending and twisting occurs, so one of the first priorities from a design perspective was to determine the amount of reinforcement (material compensation) the hull would require, to bring the integrity back to a point as if the windows were not there in the first place. The second concern was to work out how rig stress and mast compression could be diverted away from the area of the windows. The solution was for the lower shrouds (25mm diam. Nitronic 50) to be brought inboard and continue vertically down and attach to a rigid box section of reinforced aluminium, at a point in the lowest section of the hull. Built to the utmost standard of quality by Pendennis, and finished in distinctive graphite black with a stunning, contemporary interior by Javier Muñoz, S/Y Akalam is a technical tour de force.

Sailing yacht Akalam by Pendennis - Photo Credit Mark Lloyd

Deck of Pendennis Sailing yacht Akalam - Photo Credit Mark Lloyd

Main Salon of Sailing yacht Akalam by Pendennis - Photo Credit Mark Lloyd

Large windows on Sailing yacht Akalam by Pendennis - Photo Credit Mark Lloyd

Pendennis is justifiably proud of their 2011 new build launches and the yachts’ selection as finalists in the 2012 World Superyacht Awards. The completion of these projects, and the recognition they are receiving within the industry serves to reinforce Pendennis’ reputation as high quality, truly custom superyacht builders. The winners for the World Superyacht Awards will be announced at the awards ceremony to be held in Istanbul, Turkey at the luxurious Çırağan Palace Kempinski on 5 May, 2012.

World Superyacht Awards:

Now into its seventh year, the World Superyacht Awards honour the finest new superyacht builds delivered to their owners in the past twelve months. The image of the coveted Neptune trophy has become synonymous with excellence in superyacht build and design. The concept was simple; the god of the sea in Roman mythology should be centre stage in an event that will reflect the beauty and power of the sea. These prestigious awards are now displayed on magnificent vessels all over the globe, a badge of distinction proudly worn by their owners. Fourteen Neptune Awards, each one individually custom made, will be presented in 2012.

Pendennis:

Pendennis has one of the world’s leading custom superyacht build and refit facilities. Building on hundreds of years of local maritime heritage, Pendennis has become one of Cornwall’s most important employers – with 350 highly skilled trades people based at their 6.5 acre prime water front location in Falmouth, UK. Recent infrastructure developments at the yard have seen their outer 75m dry dock completely enclosed and the addition of a 55m (L) x 17m (H) x 16m (W) covered tented space on hard standing in the centre of the yard. Both bring additional flexible undercover space for Pendennis to develop both new build and refit contracts.

The company continues to expand with the launch of Pendennis Palma in July 2011, and a year on from the acquisition of Devonport Yachts we have undertaken a rebranding of this division, which is now known as ‘Pendennis Plus’ in order to further integrate Devonport Yachts into the Pendennis Group of companies. Recent projects at Pendennis have included:

o Recent New Builds – Barracuda 105 Sloop SY Akalam, Ron Holland 150’ SY Christopher

o Recent Completion – 44m catamaran SY Hemisphere

o Current Refits – 42m Feadship, Motor Yacht Heavenly Daze, SY Jasali II, MY Virginian