Superyacht, Boat Review by NAVIS Magazine.
Vitters Shipyard in the Netherlands is one of the finest boat builders in the world. Their slogan is, “It’s kind of fun to do the impossible.” I like that. I like the playfulness of ‘kind of fun’ because turning out some of the most beautifully crafted yachts ever built really must be kind of fun. And stressful. And challenging, but also kind of fun when it’s all said and done. Over the years they have built many award-winning yachts, but I think that one of their best is the 180-foot Adèle. Not only is Adèle a stunningly beautiful yacht, she has also won numerous awards including the World Superyacht Award, the Showboats International Award, and the International Superyacht Society Award. Each award holds their own prestige, and in each case, Adèle was a very deserving winner. Furthermore, the yacht won all three awards in the same year, a feat that rarely happens.
With the spirit of a true performance athlete, Adèle has the classic lines of the early 20th-century J-class yachts, but she also has a secret, two in fact. Above the waterline, she sports the traditional long bow and stern overhangs and low freeboard, all of which lure you into believing that her performance will be no better than a heavy old classic. However, it’s below the waterline that one of her secrets is revealed. The hull is sleek, and modern, and along with the fin keel and rudder was rigorously tank tested with five different keels being examined in order to meet the owner’s performance expectations. The keel that provides a draught of 16-feet (4.8 meters) is there to provide stability for the yachts other secret; a towering main mast and an almost equally towering mizzen mast. This yacht has serious sail power and when combined with Adèle’s relatively narrow beam means that she is a dynamic, easily driven Superyacht capable of outperforming yachts of a similar size. In addition to being a yacht capable of exploring remote corners of the world, she is also an exceptional race boat.
Let’s take a closer look at this stunning beauty by starting with her layout both on deck and below. The owner’s design brief called for there to be two separates areas to the boat; an area aft that would be all to himself, and an area forward for his guests and crew to enjoy. The aft area includes a grand stateroom, an elegant deckhouse and an enclosed cockpit where the owner can relax and enjoy his time on the water in privacy if he so wishes. Forward, a spacious center cockpit and large deckhouse dominate and provide comfort and safety to all who sail aboard. This main cockpit is the focal point for sailing and socializing and can comfortably accommodate forty or so guests. There are four large L-shaped sofas in each corner of the cockpit with twin tables just forward of the helm stations, ideal for coffee or a meal. There is also a central dining table capable of seating ten. Twin helming stations are aft of the center cockpit, ensuring that guests and non-sailors can be included and close to the action. The main cockpit area is covered with a fixed bimini that shades the area from the tropical sun, but cleverly the bimini has windows so that the guests, and more importantly, the helmsman can view the massive mainsail. The bimini also has side windows that can be rolled down in foul weather. The entire area is very adaptable according to how many people are on board, the time of day, the weather and whether Adèle is in racing mode, cruising mode or set up for entertaining.
