Humphreys Yacht Design and Arkin Pruva Yachts are collaborating on a J Class-inspired superyacht with the comfort of a modern cruiser.
Commissioned by yard owner Erbil Arkin, the 27.4m Tempus 90 is the first of a series by the British studio to be built at the Turkish yard. The first hull is due for launch in June 2013 and design is ongoing on a Tempus 125 and Tempus 150 in ketch and cutter configurations.
‘It started with Erbil Arkin who wanted to do a J Class and we were both excited about that and we looked back at what had been done in the 30s, and we were very inspired. He didn’t really want to get stuck in the circuit, the draft is massive and the beam is very narrow, so the decision was to try and capture the characteristics and atmosphere, ambience and essence of a J Class and really try and apply it to the more modern requirements of leisure. We have done a lot of work on a 150 footer, but what we have building right now is the Tempus 90,’ founder Rob Humphreys explains.
The low deckhouses of the Tempus 90 echo a traditional J Class, but the freeboard is a little higher and the 5.6m beam relatively wider, allowing larger accommodation and a more practical liveaboard cruising interior.
The boat is cold moulded with epoxy resin and the rig is a contemporary sloop with slab reefing, swept back spreaders, a short top mast, fixed backstay and self-tacking headsail for cruising. ‘It will be relatively easy to sail and will not need a lot of crew,’ says Humphreys.