boats

boats
The 42.5m Trimaran is being built for a Hong Kong client for long range ocean voyaging
.

“Adastra” is the result of more than 5 years of design and discussion with the owners, to build a yacht
that meets the needs of a very experienced ocean voyaging couple and their family, and to provide
the level of comfort and style that would be expected in a yacht of this class and size. No effort has
been spared in the challenge to produce a beautiful yacht that will have low fuel consumption and yet
provide excellent sea keeping qualities and luxurious accommodation. “Adastra” takes the power
trimaran concept further than has ever been attempted before, previous vessels like “Earthrace” and
“Cable and Wireless” were stripped out record breaking machines. The challenge of turning this
concept into a viable luxury yacht has led us to further research and to develop new thinking on
stability and comfort at sea for this type of craft. Extensive tank testing and radio controlled model
tests in waves have been carried out to analyze stability and performance. Outrigger height has been
optimized for ease of motion at sea, and a new outrigger shape has been developed to increase
stability in waves. We have undertaken a state of the art structural analysis of all the major components
in the yacht in order to achieve the light weight required for very low fuel consumption. All this
has resulted in the exceptional vessel that is nearing completion in China.

Adastra's 16 metre beam creates a spacious saloon area on the main deck which offers superb
views through a panoramic window and accommodates a lounge area, dining table, and navigation
station. A forward facing door through the saloon window gives easy access to a large sunbed on
the foredeck. The aft deck has a sofa and bar area to port and a dining area to starboard, further aft
of this there is space for a 4.9 metre tender and directly below is a garage which can store a 3.1
metre tender. The garage door has been designed to fold out and create a large dive platform. Extra
space has been created below deck by slightly flaring the central hull just above the waterline. This
area has been split into two sections with a full-width master cabin located aft with access from the
deck saloon, and two further guest cabins, accommodation for the crew, and the galley located
forward of the engine compartment. Adastra offers comfortable accommodation for nine guests and
up to six crew members. The main helm station, which has seating for two, is positioned in a raised
pilot house situated between the aft deck and the saloon area and forms part of the cross beam
structure.

A SiMON 2 integrated ships monitoring system monitors fuel, security, pump sensors, electrical,
lights, etc. The vessel has a fully automated fuel management system which includes an Alfa Laval
system for cleaning the fuel.

The anchoring system is unique with 3 anchors all driven by carbon fibre drum winches run by
hydraulics. The primary anchor is a custom 130kg Bruce style anchor that deploys out of the starboard
wing. The bow anchor is 80kg and deploys out of the bow with a carbon fibre arm. The third
anchor is 60kg which deploys o ut o f th e port wing and will be us ed as a stern anchor .

The Superstructure is carbon fibre with Nomex honeycomb core, the hull is Glass/Kevlar foam sandwich
and the interior is light weight oak cabinetry using honeycomb panels . To help reduce weight,
virtually every aspect of the boat is custom built. This includes carbon fibre hatches, portlights,
ladders and even hinges, which are all built specifically for the vessel.
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 Tri just
a Little
Image: © John Shuttleworth Yacht Design Ltd
Bit Harder
A Conversation with
owner Anto Marden
By Tork Buckley

McConaghy Boats Zuhai was the unexpected surprise of my Chinese trip last
year. Following trips from Australia to Zuhai I found a vast Aussie-owned yacht
factory in the region. There amongst foil moths, match racers, carbon parts
and mini maxi Alfa Romeo’s new hull was an unusual 41-metre motor Trimaran
in build. The owner is a very experienced yachtsman and ship operator living
in Hong Kong. Here I chat with him about the project.

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YACHT OWNER ANTO MARDEN

W e discussed the concepts behind this radical yacht and a new maritime role for beanbags. One look
at this trimaran and one might easily assume it is yet another designer concept/fantasy. Not so,
this is a real project and one based in part on a successful world-speed-record breaker.

That’s a very interesting project you I like that; the engine wears out but motoring. And so I thought
have over in China… the boat doesn’t; quite a good sign, that seeing as I’m also getting
AM: Yes, it’s been going for quite a I’d think. old (laughs), I’d better have a
long time actually. 30 years ago when AM: Well, round here your only motorboat.
he was still living at home with his good sail is in the winter from
mother, John Shuttleworth designed Hong Kong to Manila. You do But a very radical looking one.
me a 45-foot sailing trimaran, also get wind in the north of the AM: Right; I’ve been toying with
Mazinga. He charged me £1,000. I had Philippines; the winter monsoon in the idea for quite a long time, with
her built by a couple of hippies in the the north blows like s**t. But that’s John. Then I made some money
south Philippines. They were cruising it. The summer monsoon is wet; because the shipping market went
around, up to no good, swallowed OK, you can get a 10-day fine spell, up and I finally had a few pennies
the anchor and went ashore to build but it’s basically wet; and Indonesia to spend on frivolities.
two boats. One was called Airmail, a is all light variables. You do get I went to Nigel Irens, because
Kelsall catamaran design; the other the odd Sumatra belt through and he’s really the leader in power
was Mazinga. John was working for for 45 minutes you think you’re Trimarans. I was also talking to
Kelsall at the time, then he went out going to die, but then it all stops. John; they’re both very brainy. John
by himself and we built Mazinga. Since So it’s not exactly great sailing, and drew this super shape – actually very
then, she’s been everywhere, all over you do spend an awful lot of time reminiscent of Mazinga, except the
south-east Asia, and I’ve still got her. motoring, at 7 knots in my case. floats are kind of stubby. Finally,
She is built of wood, but the decks But if you’re cruising, and going I decided I’d go with John. But I
are Verticell cardboard honeycomb long distances – Indonesia is also asked Nigel to draw a power
cored. I think there’s wood on top thousands of miles across – it’s monohull for me.
and underneath, and to save weight,
we used Kevlar. There’s S-glass and Aussies are fantastic boatbuilders. They do great
carbon bands, which for her time
(1983) she was very advanced. Yes, the
yacht work. And there’s a reason for that: when they
boys were right up there on the cusp poke their noses out of Sydney heads, it’s rough, really
and she’s done very well. I’m on my
rough; so they have to build good boats.
third engine now.

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(Nigel in fact drew a 40-metre property and through Indonesian I hear Indonesia has beautiful
monohull Hang Tuah for Anto waters. He has previously cruised cruising grounds.
that would also be built in China Indonesia and I wondered how the AM: It’s hugely extensive and really
[and is indeed now finished]. It legendary paperwork difficulties nice. And this is where the Hang
conformed to Nigel’s LDL, or affected his cruising.) Tuah is going to be used to cruise.
Low Displacement to Length ratio She’s going to be Indonesian owned,
concept.) It’s quite difficult cruising, in crewed and flagged.
Indonesia?
How did the concept for Hang Tuah AM: Nah, it’s easy. Well, there’s (Back with the Trimaran it’s clear that
come about? always a tap dance in the third Nigel’s previous designs had a strong
AM: I originally wanted to build world wherever you go, but at least influence on the look and concept.
the tri in steel and aluminium, but you don’t get pirated. It’s just the Anto commented: “But Nigel, of
there were weight considerations officials that can be difficult. In course, has spent his life designing
and John doesn’t know much about the old days I’d sail all around boats that he thinks people should
aluminium construction. Meantime Indonesia; you have to get a have. He’s a really good bloke. I took
Nigel said, “Forget the pontoons, cruising permit, but that’s pretty him to China to see the yard and he
let’s just build a really long, thin easy. You just pay the money; and loved it. He is basically the guy who
narrow monohull with a steel hull in those days it was pretty cheap. has the most experience of power
and aluminium superstructure.” You have to clear in and out, and Trimarans.”
He went ahead and drew it and it deal with customs, immigration and His design, the 1998 record-breaking
looked great. the harbour master, at every port. Ilan Adventurer (for Cable and
I’m in the shipping business and And actually I never paid; we were Wireless), and an earlier 1988 proof
build all my ships in China, so I never asked for money. We were of concept Ilan Voyager, are clear
looked round and found a yard to in the out-ports up in Sulawesi. ancestors to Anto’s Trimaran. Ilan
build it in – in Jintan near Nanjing, They weren’t very quick, but they Adventurer’s record stood from 1998
on the Imperial Canal up the were always really polite and it was until another Trimaran – Craig
Yangtze from Shanghai. really all OK – except for Bali,. So Loomis’ Earthrace – broke it just last
Indonesia’s not that difficult, unless year. Voyager is still in use; Anto believes
(Anto has a hotel property on you want to ply for hire. Actually it’s in the Canary Islands “running
an island in the Indonesian the Philippines is the best place backwards and forwards as a ferry”.)
archipelago near to Singapore for cruising around, regulation AM: So, John designed the tri and
(www.pangkil.com). The monohull wise. Because you just clear in and provided a package to go out to
will be used in and around the hotel that’s it. tender.

Image: © John Shuttleworth Yacht Design Ltd

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YACHT OWNER ANTO MARDEN

It was composite by now? AM: However, McConaghy was so they have to build good boats.
AM: Yes, it nearly went to carbon quite honestly the obvious choice, The guy who looks after our ships
fibre, but we luckily decided against just across the river from my home in Australia – Chris Rabbidge, of
that. It would have been possible, if and market leaders in composite Fenwick Shipping Australia – is a
a bit more expensive, but John had construction; they invented it. sailor; they go out for a Saturday
already designed it in conventional afternoon sail and come back with
composite and didn’t want to redo (Anto explained that McConaghy’s broken ribs!
it. I heard that McConaghy were founder started building Aussie
building America’s Cup boats in 18 skiffs. Skiff racing goes back And the Sydney-Hobart is one of the
Dong Guan and I tracked them down to 1892 and is also a sport on toughest races in the world.
there. I brought a drawing of the which many Aussies like to gamble AM: And remember that’s in mid
boat and that’s when I first met Mark extensively. Skiffs had been built in summer. Eventually it became
Evans. He was in Dong Guan, then in a variety of material from wood to obvious that McConaghy would
a joint venture with a Hong Kong/ today’s radical composites.) build it, and I cut a deal with Mark.
Chinese company that was making Had she been completed in 18
carbon fibre surfer parts. Mark said, AM: Yes, the 18s were really huge months, she would have been
“I’d love to build your Tri but I don’t in his day. Mr McConaghy heard cheap, but seeing that it’s probably
think I could do so here and I don’t that they’d got some “special stuff” going to take 24 she’s going to be
really know how to charge you for it.” in California so he flew there, what you might call over budget. But
Life (and time) went on and Mark brought back a roll of carbon fibre, superyacht wise, it’s inexpensive.
moved the factory to Zuhai and or something like that, and I think
when the time came for us to go he built the first floating object out Where are you going to cruise her?
out to tender, he called me. “Are of composite, for an 18-foot skiff. AM: Around the world; she’ll
you still on for this big trimaran?” I wander the world awaiting my
said: “Funny you should mention it, You rate the Aussies? pleasure (laughs).
because I’ve got a bid package here; AM: Mark is a very ambitious
do you want to quote?” young man; he’s ready to take over Is a deep-ocean yacht able to handle
the world. He is really “can do”. whatever conditions she meets?
(The tender went out to a yard in Aussies are fantastic boatbuilders. AM: Yes, talking about that John
the UK and also in South Africa They do great yacht work. And built a working r/c model, with
[John being originally from South there’s a reason for that: when they adjustable pontoons to determine
Africa].) poke their noses out of Sydney their optimum position and of
heads, it’s rough, really rough; course we did the tank tests.

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I presume it’s very efficient; you’ve

not much wetted surface area?
AM: Yes, it is also a very long
waterline length. We’ve got a
single screw on a single 745 kW Cat
engine.

Do you have a “get-you-home”

system?
AM: The thrusters are supposed to
give you 6 or 7 knots in flat calm, of
course in any sort of sea they won’t.
But I’m quite used to one engine.
Normally if you have two motors
they conk out at the same time, from
either electrical or fuel problems.
No one really has a completely
dedicated separate fuel system for
each engine; so if you’ve got gunge
in the fuel it gets to both. Anyway if
you keep the yacht maintained there
should be no problem.

Tell me about the accommodation;

the yacht is quite small in volume? previously, so it was a perfect fit. And we’re actually at or above that
AM: There are only three cabins. I Personally I think yacht interiors in most areas; also DNV standards
find it’s very difficult to get people have become perverted away from don’t include, for example, fitted
to come on a yacht (laughs). They the nautical look. I’m quite happy furniture, which is in this case part
think it’s a bore. Maybe they’ll with beanbags; which I think are of the structure.
come for two days in the Med off very, very good; in a seaway a
Portofino, but they don’t want beanbag is really fantastic; especially And when do you expect her to be
to come for longer. So, you’re in some crappy old monohull all complete?
carrying around completely useless heeled over. You’re on your ear, AM: Well, I was hoping for spring
accommodation. In fact I wanted to but wedge the bag in a corner but it now looks more like summer
design the tri with just one cabin, and you’re out like a baby. But 2010.
but John said; “Sorry, that’s just too unfortunately that concept wasn’t
sad.” going to fly here (laughs). TYR will, of course, cover this
project on completion in a full
And the interior design? You’re not building to class or code? yacht report. That launch will be
AM: Yes. Superyacht-wise the most AM: No, it’s impracticable to build a significant one for McConaghy
important person is the interior something like this to class. But we and may be only the first of more
designer. They get much more used consultant engineers, Asta, in superyachts to come from this
money.. I contacted a couple of Southampton (coincidentally run experienced racing (but not as yet
mainstream ones, for our interior. by Richard Oliver, McConaghy GMs’ superyacht) builder.
They were charging a fortune. Steve Oliver’s brother). It goes without saying that it’s
of great importance too for the
Plus extras. They did what? designers, as well as – above all –
AM: Yes. Here in Hong Kong we AM: FEA testing, to see what needs its proud owner Anto and his
have a lady called Inge Strompf- to be strengthened and whether it’s family.
Jepsen from Denmark. She is an going to bend, break, or anything
ex-Commodore of the Royal Hong like that. They’ve been actually Images supplied by Anto Marden,
Kong Yacht Club and she’s a sailor pretty continuous on the job. They McConaghy Yachts and John
like most Danes, and she runs a work with DNV a lot. John has Shuttleworth
interior design firm for yachts. I’d his own knowledge of breaking
seen some of her work; she’s here, strengths etc built up over 30 years To comment on this article, email
we know her, we like her, she can do of naval architecture, but we can issue111@synfo.com with subject:
the drawings, and she gets on well also ask Asta does this exceed or Tri Just a Little Bit Harder
with my wife. She also knew Mark is it slightly below DNV standard?

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CONTACT US

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Pingsha Industrial Zone, Jin Wan District
Zhuhai, 519055, China

email: info@mcconaghy-aus.com
Tel: +86 756 772 7088
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