'Antares III' Sloop by Yachting Developments Wins 'Best Sailing Yacht'

Antares III, a 30m (98ft) composite pilothouse sloop, has been judged “Best Sailing Yacht 30-40m” at the 2012 presentation of the World Superyacht Awards.

 

The craft was completed by boatyard Yachting Developments of Auckland, New Zealand, in an unprecedented 400 days. It was described as an “absolutely success story for all concerned” in a statement released by the company.

 

The sloop-styled sailing boat, whose design includes a glass-enclosed pilothouse from which it is controlled by the ship’s pilot, has already completed her maiden voyage in the South Pacific “with her experienced and happy owner onboard,” said Yachting Developments.

 

Antares’ naval architecture and exterior styling is by Dixon Yacht Design, while her interior design is by Rhodes Young. The owner was represented by Patrick Yeoward of yacht builder Royal Huisman, the skipper of Antares and project manager during her construction.

 

The boat’s award-winning design includes that it is incredibly strong and built to comply with strict Germanischer Lloyd and Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) classification requirements, yet 25%-30% lighter than similar vessels built in aluminium.

 

This was achieved with a composite structure of post-cure epoxy Eglass, Carbon and Kevlar along with high-strength foam sandwich technology. Antares III’s hull has a Kevlar outer skin for increased impact resistance.

 

The yacht also has a start-of-the-art carbon fibre mast, a furling carbon boom and carbon fibre standard rigging. These were supplied and manufactured in New Zealand by Southern Spars, with sails by Norths of New Zealand.

 

It has accommodation for four crew members forward of the galley and crew mess. There is also an upper and lower saloon which are open to each other, including two spacious cabins and a full beam aft Owners’ cabin with private deck access.

 

Antares III has a blonde teak interior with a horizontal gain contrasted with wide Walnut planked floors. This was completed in-house by Yachting Developments’ own specialist tradesmen.

 

The “Best Sailing Yacht 30-40m” award win is another great coup for Yachting Developments. The shipyard’s other recent achivements incldue its mammoth 18 month refit of the iconic 130ft (40m) steel J Class vessel Endeavor.

Superyacht News
March 28, 2024
Tried & Tested - Best Yacht Mattresses: Product Review
Tried & Tested - Best Yacht Mattresses: Product Review

In the realm of maritime luxury, the quest to offer yacht charter guests the perfect night's sleep has become an art form, one which luxury bed and linen supplier, CC Design, has fully committed to.

By Ben Cooling
March 15, 2023
Best Yacht Crew Jackets: Product Review
Best Yacht Crew Jackets: Product Review

A jacket completes any crew member's uniform so it's an important garment to get right. In this Tried & Tested, Sea Design pits eight popular jackets against one another to determine which one is best for superyacht crew in 2023.

By Nathan Bees
April 19, 2023
iAQUA Sea Scooters: Product Review
iAQUA Sea Scooters: Product Review

iAQUA creates high-performance, technologically advanced underwater scooters. In this Tried & Tested, a team of experienced testers have rated and reviewed the AquaDart Pro and AquaDart Nano series to reveal the stand-out iAQUA sea scooter.

By Holly Sanderson

Finished reading? Now find your perfect supplier.

Search our industry-leading directory for over 20,000 superyacht suppliers, providers and marinas.

Search now