Baltic 111 "Raven": Luxury cruiser launched with foils for the first time
After the foiling superyacht Baltic 111 "Raven" was launched for the first time in July, the next step in this unique project is now underway. The first tests have been successful and the foils have now been fitted. A crew of five, including skipper Damien Durchon, will continue to develop the semi-foiler together with an extended pool of sailors and the technical team on land.
Anyone who has witnessed the rodeo interludes and brutal touchdowns in the Ocean Race or the Vendée Globe should realise how daring it is to sail across the world's oceans on foils on a 34-metre monohull cruiser. Imocas use half-arched foils, whereas "Raven" use T-shaped foils, like the current America's Cup -cars and recently also "Flying Nikka" lowering. The unique monohull spoiler reduces complexity by dispensing with trim tabs on the foils, but does rely on Flight Control, as the complex software for automatically controlling the foils on the AC75 is called. Nevertheless, take-offs are possible and helmets on "FlyingNikka" are standard.
Take off, but no flights of fancy
On "Raven", guests should also be able to take a relaxed seat in the oval centre cockpit during flight operations. To achieve this, only the leeward arm of Baltic's domesticated foiler travels through the water, but Botin Partners want to have designed the wing area and profile in such a way that the Raven does not take off completely and remains in low-level flight. In any case, the water resistance is considerably reduced. The fact that it is not intended to go too high into the air is shown by the fact that it does not have a so-called elevator. This is a T-foil at the end of a single extra-long spade rudder that controls the flight altitude. "Raven" relies on twin rudders and trim tabs in the tail. The success of the "cruiser meets foil machine" project is also supported by the experience that Baltic has already gained with the lift-supporting DSS foil from "Canova" has made.
An innovation compared to the existing concepts are "Raven's" outboard hydraulic cylinders, with which the T-foils move up and down. Water ballast in the stern increases the righting moment. In contrast to the AC75, the basic stability is provided by a 4.80 metre deep fixed keel with a 9.3 tonne bomb. In this respect, "Raven" is more like "FlyingNikka", with which her owner Roberto Lacorte wants to break offshore records.
So why this pioneering work for a cruiser aimed at daysailing and fast long-distance cruising? The answer is provided by project manager Garth Brewer of A2B Marine Projects: "If I had to categorise 'Raven', I would describe her as the equivalent of a high-end supercar. The boat is primarily for pure pleasure, and the owner loves the challenge of doing something that has never been done before." Brewer, who oversaw the pioneering build of Visione at Baltic 21 years ago and still keeps her up to date, emphasises that the client is keen to take a considered approach to the upcoming trials.
The rattan interior of "Raven" is sophisticated
In accordance with the utilisation specification, "Raven" offers two guest cabins and extensive crew accommodation in the forward section. There are also two salons and a fully equipped galley, and yet the displacement is only 55 tonnes. By way of comparison, the Baltic "Zemi", which was launched a few weeks earlier and was almost as long, was suspended from the crane at 95 tonnes. Baltic's yacht builders are experts in rigorous weight reduction and upscale carbon sandwich construction. One detail in "Raven's" shower makes it immediately clear what it is all about: there is a seat for shower baths during rough flying manoeuvres. It looks as if you are perched on bamboo. In reality, carbon fibres imitate the natural shape (with the typical rings), while a remarkably realistic paint finish takes care of the rest.
Inside, Finnish designer Jarkko Jämsén, who developed the "Raven" concept with the owner and the exterior styling with Botin, combined the technical with the cosy. The interior is unusually extensive for a high-performance superyacht of this type, yet in many places it emphasises the bare carbon fabric or uses rattan panels (in carbon frames) as ceiling suspensions. All the basic frames of the furniture are made of hollow CFRP tubes. The front and rear salons are illuminated by the lower "bird's nest" structure of the centre cockpit, a kind of inverted panoramic dome. Its diagonal carbon posts resemble the branches of a nest and were consequently hand-painted in a wood colour by a local craftsman. Weight is saved by the extensive use of foam strips instead of sealant between the individual panes. The glazing is made of Plexiglas, which saves 250 kilograms compared to glass laminate. Plexiglas is also used in numerous cover prisms.
They're crazy, the weight-sensitive Finns
The new shapes were visualised with the help of a mock-up. On a 1:1 scale, they are not uncommon in sailing projects of this size. Usually, however, only the cockpit or superstructure are modelled true to the original. Baltic moulded "Raven" entirely from wood. The master model for the positive moulds of the deck and hull, also made of carbon, was made of the same material. The aim was to avoid heat differences and deformations and to reduce the amount of filler required to an absolute minimum. For the hull, carbon prepregs were placed around a Kevlar honeycomb core and cured under vacuum at 85 degrees Celsius.
The owner gave us a free pass with regard to the noise level below deck by largely dispensing with sound insulation. At least some of the bulkheads (all based on Nomex cores) were fitted with a light acoustic foam material to dampen the noise a little. The adhesives for the bonding were selected in Baltic style and compared in terms of their weight. The result is a saving of six kilograms. In addition, each bracket for carbon pipes was reduced by 100 grams, the carbon cable trays were slimmed down and the steel hydraulic lines were replaced with lighter hoses. This resulted in a saving of 160 kilograms. The lightweight fins reduced the weight of the shower door from 13.5 kg per square metre to just 2.3 kg per square metre. Jarkko Jämsén emphasised how important it was to entrust Baltic Yachts with the construction: "We believe that Baltic has the courage, experience and track record to take on this challenge. The weight calculation and known ability to achieve weight targets were crucial."
For propulsion and power generation, the project team opted for a diesel-electric hybrid system to reduce emissions and distribute the weight efficiently. A solution that Baltic Yachts has already been perfecting for several years. A 130 kW electric drive motor from Swiss company Phi-Power AG is located aft amidships and two weight-optimised 80 kW generators from Yanmar in the stern. The latter feed two battery banks, which supply the main engine, hydraulic pumps and the on-board electrical system. The drive train is completed by a retractable propeller with carbon blades and a titanium hub.
Baltic 111 "Raven": Sailing characteristics of a multihull
The rig and sail plan are quite conventional for a high-performance maxi, with a mast and boom from Southern Spars and North Sails' 3Di laminate with structured luff. The eight metre (!) long bowsprit - or rather the beak frame - is also highly functional and makes no secret of its radical lightweight design. A variety of code and asymmetric sails can be attached to it. The designers at Botin and Baltic paid particular attention to the sheeting of the mainsail, whose foot spans almost half the length of the yacht.
Because "Raven" develops so much apparent wind, the mainsail will be almost constantly close-hauled, as on a multihull, while the traveller is trimmed. Baltic predicts that sailing will generally feel more like being on a multihull due to the beam of more than 7.40 metres and the pronounced uphaul.
Once it has been handed over to the owner, the exceptional boat, which is over 40 metres long with a bowsprit, will be taken to a special location to fully exploit its potential in the right conditions. In ideal conditions, the sporty reference yacht "FlyingNikka" breaks away from the surface of the water in winds of nine knots or more.
Technical data Baltic 111 "Raven"
- Length (without bowsprit): 34,00 m
- Waterline length: 33,10 m
- Width: 7,40 m
- Depth: 4,80 m
- Displacement: 55 t
- Ballast: 9,300 kg
- Concept:Jarkko Jämsén
- Construction: Botin Partners
- Exterior and interior design: Jarkko Jämsén
- Structural calculations: PURE Design and Engineering
- Project manager of the owner: Garth Brewer, A2B Marine Projects
- Manager Raven Sailing Team: Klabbe Nylöf
- Baltic Yachts Project Management: Sam Evans, Mattias Svenlin
