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The special boatAmel 64: The ship for all occasions

Fridtjof Gunkel

 · 11.04.2011

The special boat: Amel 64: The ship for all occasionsPhoto: YACHT/ N.Krauss
Deckhouse instead of sprayhood
The new boat from the French shipyard is the largest series ketch in the world. Everything on board is subordinate to safety and comfort
Open deckhouse instead of sprayhood, ketch rig, 30 tonnes of material: Amel's flagshipPhoto: YACHT/N. Krauss Open deckhouse instead of sprayhood, ketch rig, 30 tonnes of material: Amel's flagship More kitchen than pantry: fully equipped with professional appliancesPhoto: Werft More kitchen than pantry: fully equipped with professional appliances

The heavily divided sail area is designed to make handling easier. Not that this is necessary: the winches are oversized and electric. However, the ketch rig has other advantages: the sail plan can be adjusted so that the balance is autopilot-friendly and it enables a mizzen sail. The centre cockpit of the new Amel is deep and is protected by a fixed windscreen with roof. The stern accommodates a large dinghy with outboard motor. Important systems are duplicated. Joystick-controlled bow and stern thrusters are standard. The ship is divided into several watertight sections. YACHT travelled with the construction number and reports in the section "The special boat". Plus: a visit to a shipyard where precision and reliability are the highest virtues.

Now in the new YACHT 9/2011 (first day of sale on 13 April)

Fridtjof Gunkel

Fridtjof Gunkel

Deputy Chief Editor YACHT

Fridtjof Gunkel was born on Helgoland in 1962; he started his sailing career there in the Opti and quickly switched to keelboats. North Sea Week, Cowes Week and Kiel Week were early stops, followed by many years in the Admiral's Cup scene on the cuppers “Container” and “Rubin” World Championships and international regattas in the Starboat, with the mini-maxi “SiSiSi” and various tonner yachts as well as participation in the Whitbread Round the World Race were further formative stations, flanked by extensive cruising trips. Fridtjof Gunkel joined YACHT back in 1985 as part of a traineeship, where he later became Head of the Test & Technology department and then Deputy Editor-in-Chief around 25 years ago. He is also responsible for the regatta and sports section. Fridtjof Gunkel privately sails a performance/cruiser moored on the Baltic coast, his favorite areas are the eastern Swedish archipelago and Brittany.

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