With the launch of the Woy 26, the 20-strong crew around shipyard manager Jan Brügge celebrated the 8 ½ year anniversary of the Königstein shipyard and the opening of the new water location on the site of the Heinrich Eberhardt shipyard in Arnis.
Together with designer Martin Menzner from Berckemeyer Yacht Design Alexander Pfriem from the University for Sustainable Development in Eberswalde, Brügge welcomed representatives from neighbouring shipyards and maritime companies, Arniss neighbours, friends and families.
Modern construction with local timber
"The Woy corresponds to my idea of a modern wooden boat," says Brügge, who has already proven with the construction of the "Elida" that he and his team have familiarised themselves perfectly with this subject. "Wooden boats are simply fun to sail, they have a very special aura, arouse emotions and everyone involved in the construction is completely enthusiastic about the boat," says Brügge.
This includes not least the designer. "My aim is always to draw boats in such a way that you don't get bored when you look at them," Menzner told the christening party, his design hanging in the crane behind him. The collaboration with a shipyard that sets out to build boats in wood and then actually realises this is something very special.
Alexander Pfriehm, who first approached wooden boat construction through the research project launched in 2019, emphasised that the topic had been completely rethought. The result is a high-strength material made from local wood. "I'm sure that if a champagne bottle bangs against it, the hull will easily withstand it!"
Stylish christening, successful launch
However, this then smashed on the keel bomb, 1.90 metres below the waterline, on which the boat, which only displaces 1.12 tonnes, soon floated. After the stylish christening, a crane lifted the Woy 26, resplendent in sunrise orange, into the harbour basin, from where she set sail for her first maiden voyage to great applause and black sails, before the event was duly celebrated.
The drawings of the Woy 26 and a planned 35-foot version, which has been designed as both a racer and cruiser-racer, were on display in the decorated boat hall. However, the shipyard also offers customised "Woys" that can be developed and built according to customer requirements.
Sustainability as a building philosophy
What all Woy's (the name stands for Wooden Yachts) have in common is that they are built sustainably from local timber using modern methods. The underlying BioBased Boats project was honoured with the Schleswig-Holstein Sustainability Award two years ago.
The goal realised in the first Woy 26 was to increase the efficiency of bio-based yacht construction with innovative composite materials and production techniques and thus promote the protection of the environment and resources. The project was realised in collaboration with the University for Sustainable Development in Eberswalde.
Radical design
The radical design is intended to emphasise this claim. The dinghy-like hull does not reveal its construction material from the outside. The view over the deck then reveals an untreated pine stick deck and naturally varnished local woods. Inside, the structure of the hull shell, which is moulded from softwood veneers using the vacuum infusion process, can be seen.
The 26-footer has a flat underwater hull with symmetrical waterlines, which, according to the shipyard, should ensure particularly balanced sailing behaviour. The lifting keel with a variable draught of 0.8 to 2 metres is designed to enable sporty sailing and then also to approach shallow bays. The T-keel offers maximum performance with minimum resistance and therefore optimum sailing characteristics upwind. The twin rudder system is designed to enable full control even when there is a lot of leeway.
Simply sail
The boat is powered by an ultra-modern, lightweight carbon rig. The mast carries filed spreaders and therefore does not require backstays. A self-tacking jib enables uncomplicated cruising. According to the boat's makers, all of this corresponds exactly to the philosophy of the entire boat: simply sailing.
The first test runs on the Schlei at the weekend showed that this works well, with speeds of more than 15 knots being achieved. But Jan Brügge is certain: "There's more to come!"
