Baltic Yachts shipyard update: Grown ex-"Pink Gin VI", watered rosé hull and 121-foot order won

When Baltic Yachts launched "Pink Gin VI" in 2017, she was the world's longest carbon yacht with a length of 53.90 metres. The yacht, formerly managed by Ottobock boss and majority owner of the Finnish shipyard Hans Georg Näder, still holds this title. As "Ravenger", she returned to her building site in Jakobstad, Finland, in autumn 2023 with 25,000 nautical miles in her wake for a nine-month general overhaul - and has become longer, albeit only by 1.50 metres. By replacing the bowsprit, which is no longer classically round, it has grown to 55.40 metres. With its roughened surface and high width, the new trunk resembles a jetty and sets a more modern design course.

Baltic Yachts modernised "Pink Gin VI"

The stay at the shipyard also included a makeover, which Jarkko Jämsén was in charge. The Finn has already worked with Baltic for "Raven" and, together with his team from the Finnish design studio Aivan, focussed in particular on the deckhouse. The illusion of a circumferential band of windows was also achieved by blackening the front deckhouse struts. The flanks of the superstructure were given muscular air outlets and the dodger retrofitted in 2022 was retained. A bimini on filigree carbon fibre rods now stretches over the steering columns. The decorative gill is black and no longer gold, and the lower half of the furling boom has been painted the same grey as the hull, making it look less bulky.

Improved performance over large with six-metre top

Although the Judel/Vrolijk design regularly reached 20 knots and more in cruising mode, the new owner was aiming for higher sailing performance. The crew now uses a squarehead mainsail, probably the largest in the yachting world, on the carbon mast that rises 68 metres above the waterline. The square top profile measures almost six metres(!) from headboard to leech, which required the use of backstays with deflectors. On the foredeck, the cutter jib had to make way, and the front furler now rotates below deck, allowing a longer genoa luff. To cope with the high-performance sail wardrobe, Baltic replaced all deck winches with smaller, faster and lighter drums from Harken.

Colourful hustle and bustle on Baltic's quayside

During the YACHT visit, the Baltics quayside was a colourful place. In addition to "Ravenger", the rose-coloured Baltic 80 Custom "Emma" and with the arctic blue "Ganesha" the third Baltic 68 Café Racer moored. In the neighbouring hall, the hull of the fourth Café Racer came out of the mould. A 65-foot long daysailer with a classic S&S crack above and modern lines below the waterline was about to be undocked.

The order situation at Baltic Yachts is good. The Finns recently signed a contract to build a 37 metre blue water sailboat from the computers of Malcom McKeon. "This design is characterised by full carbon structure, telescopic keel, a fixed bimini and a generous sail plan that ensures excellent all-round sailing performance," says McKeon. "The contemporary exterior design maximises the use of glass in the superstructure and creates a bright and open interior with 360-degree views from the deckhouse." The Baltic 121 Custom is scheduled to sail in autumn 2026.

"This order plays to Baltic Yachts' key strengths," says Baltic's Senior Vice President Henry Hawkins. "We have delivered twelve yachts over 100ft lua in the last ten years, all within the contractual weight specifications, within the original budget and on average within a week of the contractual delivery dates. A track record we are very proud of."