Dutch shipyard KM Yachtbuilders have officially turned the hull of their second 23.5 metre Pelagic 77 expedition sailing yacht. The event took place on Monday morning (28 November) in Makkum, a small village on the banks of Lake IJssel in the Netherlands.
Construction on the second unit began in March and was commissioned by the same owner as the first hull. Once completed, the vessel will operate in contrast to sistership Vinson of Antarctica having been designed for Arctic cruising and research.
Tony Castro is responsible for the architecture of the sailing yacht, which will be constructed in aluminium with a 6.2 metre beam and two Axxon carbon masts. All sail systems such as winches and jib rollers can be operated manually if the captain so wishes and twin Volvo Penta D4 engines feature environmentally friendly specifications.
“We are extremely pleased that he likes the design so much that he is happy to have a second one to operate in a different part of the world,” said Castro. Salt Technologies were also involved in the structural design.
Accommodation features six double cabins for a total of 12 guests. Polar sailor and commercial director of Pelagic Expeditions, Skip Novak, has said the first model has supported four projects in the company's educational arm across Chile and Spain and they were looking to replicate its success.
The sistership is planned to be employed by scientists/biologists, film and video crews, as well as other ecological purposes.
A number of people involved in the project were in attendance at the hull turning, including Novak, the ship's project manager Jordi Griso and members of the building and engineering team.
Delivery of the second Pelagic 77 is set for 2024.
Read More/KM Yachtbuilders to build second Pelagic 77 sailing yacht