The first order is in for one of Steve Dashew’s FPB 97 ocean cruising yachts, and construction is getting under way at Circa Marine in New Zealand. The yard, which is situated in Whangarei on North Island, is said to be upgrading its facility for this build.
A robustly designed ocean-cruising yacht, the FPB 97 is for intended for independent owners who want the option of self-navigation without crew. Able to withstand even extreme weather conditions with self-righting capability, it has the toughest structure ever offered in a series built yacht and requires minimal maintenance. At 11.7 knots the yacht has a range of 5,000 nautical miles, and a shallow draught means it can navigate tidal rivers.
This first hull is expected to launch in 2014, with sea trials scheduled towards the end of that year.