The new Y9 (27m), or the pursuit of perfection according to YYachts

Premium shipyards in the world of sailboats were born to satisfy the most sophisticated dreams of the most demanding owners. A shipyard that builds custom or semi-custom boats therefore has the task of accommodating the most specific needs of its customers, but also of holding fast to its own philosophy and offering owners its own vision. YYachts‘ Y9 (27.40X6.80 m) was born, the brainchild of the volcanic Michael Scmidt, to meet the request of an owner who was, however, looking for something different, at least initially.

“Actually,” Schmidt reveals, for the Y9. “clients were interested in 100 feet in length. However, from this size up – in my experience – yachts become disproportionately expensive because many components have to be custom built. Therefore, with our experience, we have brought the comfort of a 100-foot yacht to a 90-foot length. With our new Y9 we are entering the super yacht segment.”

Y9 – Aesthetics and Design

The line of the boat, whose design was conceived by American arch star Bill Tripp, is very homogeneous with the other models in YYachts production. The German shipyard does build boats with a custom soul, but it still cares about maintaining a certain similarity between the models it produces so they are identifiable. For this reason, the Y9 also does not break the mold: the deckhouse is low and displays a glass “eye” that contours and enriches it aesthetically. As used in maxi yachts, the deckhouse stops aft of the mast, opening up a large clean flat area toward the bow.

Breaking a bit with the shipyard’s tradition was a specific request from the client, the creation of a rigid, almost total cockpit cover. It is a hard top that leaves the outer square in the shade, leaving only the winch area, moved aft, and the wheelhouse uncovered. A choice strongly desired by the owner to provide maximum comfort to the outdoor dining area, which will remain shaded even in the height of summer.

YYachts founder Michael Schmidt recounted, “At 90 feet in length, the yacht also has a good rating and with its sail plan may be able to win some regattas such as the St Barths Bucket, the Superyacht Cup or the Maxi Rolex Cup” . The owner also wanted to have a yacht that was noise-free at anchor in the roadstead. YYachts then used solar panels on the deckhouse so that there is no need to use the generator at night.”

Philosophy

For the rest, there is the philosophy that the founder of YYachts preaches simplicity: to be truly enjoyable, by an owner with average experience in the world of sailboats, they must be essentially simple. For Schmidt, in fact, before adding a new maneuver or a new item on board, one must think about its usefulness and whether the owner really needs this item. The more things you add on a boat like this the more construction difficulties and potential difficulties for the owner can be. For this reason, the sail plan of the Y9, for example, is designed to be high-performance even without giving up the self-tacking jib .

By developing it vertically, the plane has sufficient power but does not require sails with a very long base, thus easier to maneuver while sailing. There is also ample room for automated maneuvering, which enables the ability to sail without having a large crew: all it takes is the owner and a couple of sailors to have the forces needed to sail this 90-foot maxi.

THE FULL BOAT PRESENTATION IN THE DECEMBER-JANUARY ISSUE OF THE PRINT SAILING JOURNAL