Founded in September 2023, the Turkish shipyard Ares Yachts is now presenting the 62-metre ketch "Simena", which is due to be delivered soon. Named after an ancient city in the province of Antalya that can only be reached by boat, the young shipyard's flagship embodies a symbiosis of traditional boatbuilding and modern technology.
Classic design
The yacht designed by Taka Yacht Design and Design Unlimited with its classic lines is reminiscent of clipper ships and early steamships. "The main inspiration for the exterior design was the old clipper ships - especially the bow with the long bowsprit," explains Osman Tanju Kalaycioglu, Naval Architect and owner of Taka Yacht Design. The hull was welded from steel and the superstructure was made from carbon fibre. The masts are made of aluminium.
Six drive modes for a minimal footprint
"Simena" has a hybrid drive system that enables six different operating modes - from pure sailing mode to combined drive mode. The 220-kilowatt electric motors can - if desired - be supplemented by an 882-kilowatt diesel engine. This enables the yacht to reach a top speed of 15 knots and a range of 4,000 nautical miles at a cruising speed of eleven knots. In pure e-mode, "Simena" can cruise quietly and completely emission-free for a few hours at speeds of up to six knots.
Exclusive interior design
In the interior, the Design Unlimited team has opted for a calming, neutral colour palette with a variety of high-quality materials. The selection ranges from woven metal threads and leather to precious stones and soft fabrics. Features include a Jacuzzi and sunbeds aft of a large, covered cockpit. The flybridge offers shade and a great view, while the 62-metre ketch with a total of 1423 square metres of canvas ploughs through the sea on the wind.
Spacious room layout
"Simena" offers space for up to twelve guests and nine crew members. The owner's suite extends across the full width of the ship and is located at the front of the main deck. It has a spacious bathroom, a dressing room and its own whirlpool. Mark Tucker, creative director and founder of Design Unlimited, emphasises the soft edges of the furniture, the generous handrails in the transition areas and the "clear and relaxed geometry" in both the guest cabins and the bathrooms.
Powerful rig
The rig was designed by Chris Mitchell and comprises a 59.5 metre high main mast and a 48.7 metre high mizzen mast. The mainsail measures 470, the genoa 597 and the staysail 356 square metres. "Simena" will be RINA Class C certified and has been designed to sail worldwide. When it is launched, the steel/carbon ketch will be one of twelve sailing yachts over 60 metres in length with an interior volume of less than 500 gross tonnes.
Outlook for future projects
While "Simena" is due to be delivered this summer, Ares Yachts is already working on other large yacht projects. The 50.6 metre motor yacht "Spitfire" was developed in collaboration with Lateral Naval Architects and Bannenberg & Rowell Design. The 54 metre long "Atlas", designed by Hot Lab and Van Oossanen Naval Architects, is also in the planning phase. The newcomers are also working on the launch of a new superyacht line with lengths of 65, 75 and 85 metres.
Technical specifications "Simena":
- Length: 62 metres
- Hull material: steel
- Structure: Carbon
- Masts: Aluminium
- Drive: Hybrid (electric motors + diesel engine)
- Range: 4,000 nautical miles at 11 knots
- Guests: 12
- Crew: 9
- Main mast height: 59.5 metres
- Height of mizzen mast: 48.7 metres
- Mainsail: 470 square metres
- Genoa: 597 square metres
- staysail: 356 square metres
Martin Hager
Editor in Chief YACHT
Martin Hager is editor-in-chief of the titles YACHT and BOOTE EXCLUSIV and has been working for Delius Klasing Verlag for 20 years. He was born in Heidelberg in 1978 and started sailing at the age of six, in an Opti of course. This was soon followed by 420s, Sprinta Sport and 470s, which he also sailed on the regatta course with his brother. His parents regularly took him on charter trips through the Greek and Balearic Islands. Even at a young age, it was clear to him that he wanted to turn his passion for water sports into a career. After graduating from high school and completing an internship at the Rathje boatbuilding company in Kiel, it was clear that he did not want to become a classic boatbuilder. Instead, he successfully studied shipbuilding and marine engineering in the Schleswig-Holstein state capital and focused on yacht design wherever he could. His diploma thesis dealt with the “Testing of a new speed prediction method for sailing yachts”. In 2004, the superyacht magazine BOOTE EXCLUSIV was looking for an editor with technical and nautical background knowledge, a position that was perfect for Martin Hager. The application was successful and a two-year traineeship was arranged. After twelve years as an editor, the editorial team changed and he took over responsibility for BOOTE EXCLUSIV as editor-in-chief in 2017. After long-time YACHT editor-in-chief Jochen Rieker moved to the role of publisher, Martin Hager also took over the position of editor-in-chief of Europe's largest sailing magazine YACHT, which is celebrating its 120th anniversary this year, at the beginning of 2023. When he's not working on topics for the two water sports titles, Martin Hager likes to go out on the water himself - preferably with kite and wingfoil equipment or on a little after-work trip across the Alster.
