CNB yacht builders in Bordeaux certainly can't complain about a lack of work at the moment. The shipyard has already received firm orders for eight of the new CNB 66, and the capacity limit has probably been reached. And this is even before the ship has been officially unveiled. The yacht builders in France have only recently published the first information on the new build project, after a long period of secrecy.
The new 20-metre ship is strongly based on the concept of its larger sister CNB 76, of which the shipyard has also sold 18 units to date. The success of CNB once again documents the current strong demand for large, luxurious and exclusive ships. Construction number 1 of the new 66-footer from CNB is already underway and is due to enter the water for the first time in summer 2017. The world premiere is then scheduled for the Cannes boat show in September.
The design plans come from the office of Philippe Briand, who has already drawn the Bordeaux 60 (YACHT 2/2009 test) and the large CNB 76 for CNB. The relatively short cabin superstructure, which ends behind the mast, is typical of all the designs. The foredeck, on the other hand, remains completely unobstructed and flat, with many flush hatches. A new feature is the option of an almost 1.50 metre long, permanently attached bowsprit, on which a gennaker or a code zero can be used. The customer can also choose whether to equip the boat with a short overlapping genoa (105 per cent) or a self-tacking jib.
As with its larger sister CNB 76, the cockpit of the new 66 is organised asymmetrically and the companionway is arranged to the side. CNB has deliberately kept the spacious cockpit free of all lines and functions for sailing manoeuvres. All steering and work is done aft. Because the CNB 66 has double rudder blades, a dinghy can also be stored in the spacious stern garage in the direction of travel.
The Frenchman Jean-Marc Piaton is responsible for the interior design. The standard arrangement of the interior on the CNB 66 is very special and unique: the galley is recessed in the aft section on the port side instead of the usual aft cabin. This allows the raised saloon to be positioned quite far aft, under the short cabin superstructure. From the centre of the ship forwards, there are a total of three double cabins, each with its own bathroom and shower option. A fourth double cabin, also with its own bathroom, is again installed in the aft section on the starboard side.
The CNB 66 is built as a GRP sandwich construction with a balsa wood core and a vacuum infusion process throughout. The deck will also be reinforced with carbon fibre layers in areas subject to high loads. An initial price estimate from the shipyard puts the purchase price at around 1.65 million euros, including 19 per cent VAT.
