More than almost any other yacht, the Solaris models have dedicated themselves to Mediterranean use. But how can you recognise a so-called "Med format"? Firstly, by the fact that they are usually ruddered upright during light-wind day trips. For the Mediterranean, large sunbathing areas that fit into elegant cracks are obligatory in the length segment from 50 feet upwards. Life on board takes place al fresco. The deck should be as sheer as possible and the freedom on it correspondingly large.
Around the world on 22 metres
On the other hand, there are cruising yachts for blue water sailors, which stubbornly and safely master long passages and focus on practicality and seaworthiness. Both combined in one yacht - impossible? Solaris wants to prove the opposite with the 74RS. Or, to be more precise, the owners of the first two build numbers by sending their 22 metre deckhouse yachts around the world. John McDonell took delivery of the first 74RS shortly before the Solaris Cup in Porto Rotondo. The Brit approached the transatlantic adventure with care: "Luminous III" was the longest of over 90 participants in the ARC Plus 2024. The blue water rally took sailors from Gran Canaria via the Cape Verde Islands to the Caribbean. Divided into two legs, the trip is particularly popular with family crews, but also with all those who want to take a more leisurely approach to their journey.
More about Solaris:
Unusual lines
With the 74-foot model, the shipyard from Italy's north-east occupies a niche size - and is also packaged in a striking design. Javier Soto Acebal, who has been responsible for the minimalist aesthetics of Solaris since 2008, came up with this and the fast construction. The Argentinian established the clean med look like no other. His hulls are quite high and angular, but consistently flat on top. They also stand out due to the absence of the classic, positive deck moulding.
Instead, a sloping line extends from the high front to the recognisably lower rear. Soto Acebal performs an interplay of shapes that becomes a little more extreme with each model revision. The hulls and their windows always grow. The 74RS was given a slightly negative stem and a striking deckhouse that slopes down with the coaming and emphasises the dynamics of the crack. The flat look and the fast blue water concept were inspired by the Solaris 80RS "Alithia" of a German owner, who is sailing around the world again, as he did previously with his 40 metre yacht of the same name.
The widest point is the rear
As always, the outline of the 74RS resembles a delta shape, with the widest point being the stern with the twin rudder system. What is new is that the GRP hull ends in a kind of semi-oval at the front, and is no longer classically pointed. Frers-Eleve Soto Acebal designed the bow to be visibly fuller - a development that was foreshadowed in the 40 and 50. The latest model from Solaris, the 55, even features a scow-like flat bow.
The round front results in more lift, which enables faster planing and provides more dimensional stability. As a continuous chine tapers the waterline, the resistance below the waterline is kept within limits. Another side effect of the projecting foredeck is a higher interior volume for the owner's cabin. Its bathroom is located behind the bulkhead on the starboard side opposite the second guest cabin of "Luminous III". Solaris can install a third cabin as an option. The galley, which is open to the saloon, and four berths for the crew are located aft. The voluminous bow is occupied by a forepeak with sailing load and washing machine. The 150 metre long anchor chain, which is also stored here, eliminates any weight concerns.
GRP instead of carbon fibre
The first Solaris 74RS displaces 40.6 tonnes and is therefore around one tonne lighter than originally calculated. By way of comparison, full carbon constructions of roughly the same length hang from the crane with up to ten tonnes less. The Italians laminate the hull and deck using a vacuum infusion process with vinyl ester resin and carbon reinforcements. Solaris manufactures all models up to and including 80 feet in Aquileia between Venice and Trieste. All yachts over 80 feet, such as the shipyard majority owner's flagship Solaris 111, are built by Performance Boats in Forlì. The shipyard, which is part of the Solaris Group, specialises in lightweight carbon constructions and has produced numerous one-offs for Wally since it was founded in 2008.
Control stations far outside
"Luminous III" differs significantly from many blue water cruisers and also some high-performance competitor models in the stern. Here, the steering positions are clearly located outside the coaming and almost scratch the bulwark. The result is excellent visibility. Owner John McDonell was at the wheel during the tenth Solaris Cup. He could have sat down, as he ordered the bench, which folds up from the inner bulwark and stands on two feet. "Without a seat, you need an autopilot," laughs McDonell, who has a background in the lighting industry. Hence the light bulb graphic on the flying sails and the name that his previous Solaris, a 64RS, already bore on the transom. The 64RS turned out to be a successful model for the shipyard, which was founded 50 years ago and built a total of 25 of them, exclusively as the "Raised Saloon" version. However, the Italians also offer their 74 with an ultra-flat superstructure, the first unit of which is due to be launched this year.
Solaris yachts are fast
The sailing performance is one of the main reasons why the Solaristi remain loyal to their shipyard. "In around 15 or 16 knots of wind, we didn't drop below nine knots of boat speed all afternoon. Really great!" reports John McDonell after the race along the Costa Smeralda. Tacking also needs to be well prepared by the helmsman, as a four-metre-long passage has to be mastered in no time at all - under pressure and with a rapid onset of heeling with climbing as the final act.
Amidships, it passes the mainsheet winch platform; if desired, a capstan winch can also be used here to create a sheer deck. The dimensions of the fore sheet winches have increased, as the ropes have to be laid anti-clockwise due to the deck layout.
100 boats at the shipyard regatta
Two Italian professionals came on board for the anniversary edition of the shipyard regatta, which was attended by around 100 crews. They nicknamed the owner "Upand-down-a-notch-Johnny". One degree up, one degree down, were the tactician's commands to the owner-driver, who doesn't normally sail in regattas.
There are benches in front of the two wheels with a view aft, while a hatch under the wider one on the port side allows the crew to reach their area without any detours. This is similarly flooded with light as the guest areas, as McDonell requested larger hull windows during the design phase. For "Luminous III", his focus was on ease of operation and maintenance. The keel is fixed, is 2.90 metres deep and relies on a fin made of Weldox steel. The backstay runs via hydraulic cylinders that operate in the lazarette next to the tender, which is parked alongside. And the dinghy relies on petrol outboards for easy repair or replacement while sailing around the world.
Operation via hydraulics
The hydraulics are pressurised by two eight-kilowatt electric pumps that generate up to 275 bar. According to Solaris' project engineer Giacomo Canuto, the furling systems that manage 290 square metres of sail (on the wind), the stern flap and the kicker have not yet required more than 40 bar. For the mainsail to furl smoothly, the kicker must be at exactly the right angle, which is then specified by a carbon clip.
Extra requests in the rig were a staysail, which required backstays, and three reefs instead of the two of the 64RS. The sail wardrobe is as powerful as it is durable. The main alone has a surface area of 138 square metres, glued by North Sails as a foil-free membrane sail on a polyester base (3Di Ocean). The Helix Furling gennaker does not require any cables and reduces both the weight and the load on the hull structure, mast and standing rigging.
No frills below deck
Below deck, the client remained true to Lorenzo Argento's design proposal and chose teak veneer for the surfaces and cobalt blue leather for the upholstery. However, the customisation of technical aspects continues. McDonell: "On the 64, the shower emptied at the touch of a button. Now the water is pumped out automatically via sumps, even in the washbasins." The power of the engine, which is located under the raised saloon, is now transmitted to the propeller by a thrust bearing. "We were able to use more elastic mounts because they don't have to transfer the load to the structures. This reduces vibrations and noise," explains Giacomo Canuto.
Before Sardinia, the first 74RS presented itself as a marvellous "Med format". From the end of the year, it was the world cruiser qualities that counted. It all started with the Arc-Plus, which was the first yacht to finish "Luminous III" off Grenada. The first 74RS was well equipped with biminis over the cockpit. After six weeks in the Caribbean, the yacht will be travelling via the Panama Canal to the Galapagos Islands, Marquesas and on to Australia. "A great adventure," enthuses John McDonell and jokes: "We have extra fridges, but hopefully we'll all get fed." The number of co-sailors varies from five to eight; the owner wants to be on board at all times. Not a matter of course for luxury yachts of this size. But it is for blue water yachts.
Technical data Solaris 74RS
- CE design category A
- Shipyard Solaris Yachts
- Total length 22 m
- Waterline length 20,84 m
- Width 6,10 m
- Draught/alternative 2,90/3,50 m
- Theor. torso speed 11 kn
- Weight 40,6 t
- Ballast/proportion 10,5 t/26 %
- Mainsail 138 m2
- Furling genoa 102 m2
- Machine 130 kW/176 hp
