Italia Yachts 9.98, a star is born

We saw it in action in Chiavari at the Marina Yachting Trophy, where it won in the ORC 2 class.We can assure you that the new Low Noise, the Italia Yachts 9.98 that the Chioggia (Venice) shipyard built for owner Giuseppe Giuffré, will be the talk of the town.

SUPERCARENA, HERE IT IS
Trattling an off-the-shelf hull, it was built with Giuffré’s needs in mind, who needed a boat capable of expressing itself to the fullest in fee races (ORC and IRC), without precluding its use for short cruises. The design was entrusted to Matteo Polli (Chief Designer of Italia Yachts), already the creator of the M37 with which Giuffré won the last ORC World Championships: Polli involved Matteo Ledri for the fluid dynamics analysis part and Kristian Macchiut for the interior and exterior design. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) studies carried out on the hull determined a geometry characterized by very thin water lines and taut exits when the boat is upright, so as to maximize performance during load-bearing gaits. But when the boat is heeled, the lines are designed to maintain stability of shape and resistance to heeling. The hull (excluding appendages) is 9.98 meters long and 3.54 meters wide, with a total weight of 4,500 kilograms-a “light but not too light” displacement designed to achieve the best ratio of rating to performance. Hull and deck are made of sandwich with variable-density PVC core and finished in gelcoat. The structural skeleton incorporates the hull bottom reinforcements and some parts of the below-deck furniture, going to create a “spider” that channels loads from the keel, mast and shrouds. The deck lines are marked by the search for the best compromise between aerodynamics and below-deck volumes, without failing to take into account the aesthetic factor: a solution achieved by the chamfered shapes that result in clean air flows around the deckhouse.

SAIL PLAN “ALLROUND”
The sail plan was made in collaboration with North Sails: the 38-square-meter mainsail, which is very alunate, features a modestly sized square-head, while the jib, while presenting a large area (32 sq. m.) remains low overlap. As far as load-bearing gaits are concerned, there is provision for both the rigging of a spinnaker with a spinnaker pole (more suitable for stick racing) and the rigging of an asymmetrical spinnaker on the dolphin rail, which is more suitable for coastal sailing because of its ease of use.

WHAT YOU CAN’T SEE AT SEA
If the hull of the new IY 9.98 is the result of accurate CFD analysis, cross-referenced with each other based on sophisticated speed prediction programs (so-called VPP, short for Velocity Prediction Program), the appendages are no less.

KEEL AND RUDDER
Starting with the keel (fishing 1.90 m), for the modeling of which extensive use was made of hydrodynamic simulations combined with the experience gained by the designers directly on the race courses. The fin is very elongated, the torpedo thin and sharp: the combination of the two elements, made of lead, makes up more than 40 percent of the boat’s displacement. Hydrodynamic efficiency is ensured by a careful study of airfoils, as the parameters to be followed in the design stage were imperative: minimum drag and flow stability. The tiller rudder blade has an extended surface area and significant elongation for the benefit of maneuverability and sensitivity.

CARD TECHNIQUE
Overall length: 10.30 m
Hull length: 9.98 m
Maximum beam: 3.54 m
Draft: 1.90 m
Displacement (ORC): 4,500 kg
Mainsail sail sup.: 38 sq. m.
Jib sail sup.: 32 sqm
Spinnaker sail sup.: 90 sq. m.
Design: Matteo Polli/Italia Yachts
Interior: Kristian Macchiut (KMD)