The name is still largely unknown: Enavigo Yachts builds sailing boats in small series in places where you wouldn't normally look for boat building: In Virovitica in the Croatian hinterland, close to the Hungarian border - far away from the water, anyway. The shipyard mainly builds classic-style wooden boats, cutters and training boats. But not only that: the company has now surprised everyone with the announcement of a radical club and offshore racer under the name Enavigo 38R.
The racer was designed by Andrej Justin (RC 44 and others). The shape of the hull and the profiles of the appendages are the result of extensive tests with CFD (Fluid Dynamics) and VPP (Velocity prediction) applications. The basis is a full-carbon racing machine with a high performance potential. The deep, slim hull appendages and a high carbon fibre rig from Pauger Carbon with an enormous sail area (103 square metres on the wind) ensure powerful turnover. The sail carrying capacity of the 11.60 metre long and only 3.6 tonne racer (50 percent ballast) is calculated at 6.7, which is well above the average for conventional performance boats.
What is particularly interesting about the Enavigo 38R is the construction method for the hull. The hull is initially built using a moulding construction method with light cedar wood over a slipway, like a real wooden boat - only thinner, lighter and more fragile. Then carbon fibre is laid on both sides, the whole thing is glued together as a sandwich with epoxy and cured in a vacuum. This unusual sandwich construction with a solid wood core should be particularly rigid and also more resistant to impacts and shocks. The deck, on the other hand, remains an "ordinary" carbon fibre sandwich construction with a foam core.
However, the Kohlerenner from Enavigo is not only and exclusively designed for ambitious regatta crews, but is also intended to fulfil the requirements of ambitious touring sailors. To this end, the on-board technology and deck layout have been focussed on simple, uncomplicated handling. Even family sailors should be able to cope with this and have a chance of winning the club regatta in their home harbour.
Below deck, the Enavigo 38R has a simple but very functional interior with berths for up to eight crew members. There is also a galley and a separate toilet room. A special feature is the free-standing navigation system in the centre of the boat. Offshore sailors will welcome this.
An initial calculation by the shipyard presents a base price of 232,000 euros (incl. VAT), but without the sails. The prototype of the Enavigo 38R is now under construction and should be ready for testing this summer.
Michael Good
Editor Test & Technology
