There are few things a man prizes more than the solace of the sea and a beautiful machine to glide along its waters. These days you can’t get more seductive than Wally’s 43.7 metre WallySail yacht (launched at the end of 2006), with its elegant looks and first-class engineering. If sailing is more than just a sluggish hobby or an affectation for you then there’s a treasure trove of reasons why this yacht is the one you should choose to sail on the seven seas.
One look at WallySail and you’re cruising into a world of excellence. The trademark ‘terrace on the sea’ aft deck is separated from the rest of the expansive deck by five large windows providing ample ambient light to the main salon beneath. The deck itself is amazingly clutter-free since the ropes and winches are hidden away in the full-length bulwarks. And just inside these bulwarks are wraparound laminated, tinted skylights for the cabins below. Also at the centre of the deck, you’ll find a table and sofa area where you can sit comfortably shielded from the sun, thanks to a removable titanium canopy. The bench seat itself is, apparently, the largest ever to be fitted to a sailing boat.
The 57-metre high carbon mast is one of the yacht’s most impressive attributes. She can be easily handled under sail by just one person. You can operate the mainsheet, trim the self-tracking jib, operate the bow thrusters, the double purchase halyards, furling gear, backstay tension and even lift the keel from the twin stations. This yacht can sail with great efficiency, effortlessly maintaining between 12 and 14 knots off the wind in an eight knot breeze. For founder Luca Bassani, this yacht is akin to throwing down the gauntlet to all competitors. “We would like to once again be the fastest boat on the water. Obviously these are big boats, but with unbelievable performance,’ says Bassani.
The interior, accommodating eight guests and six crew members, was designed by Frenchman Odile Decq who created a maritime loft concept with the main salon taking up most of the interior space. The thinking behind this was, perhaps, that most owners do not use their boats to sleep in as much as to play host. In this case, the large salon will be used to the max. On the other hand, a section of this enormous area ingeniously can be converted, via hidden opaque screens, into a third bedroom. The interior spans one floor with the master bedroom accessed along a corridor port side.
The story behind the company is just as fascinating as its many works of art. Bassani was a keen sailor who won many boating championships. In 1989, he decided to build a yacht for his family which would be comfortable and luxurious while possessing the drive and performance of a maxi-yacht racer. He also wanted to keep the number of crew to a bare minimum.
As his ideas began to take shape, Bassani settled on a few key principals such as advanced composite construction, easy handling capabilities and a flush deck. He launched his personal custom-made yacht in 1991, baptising it, Wallygator. The yacht was so enthusiastically received by the general public that Bassani realized he was on to something. Wally (the company) was founded in 1993 and immediately Bassani set about building a second Wallygator which used the same carbon fibre technology while featuring a new Wally anchor system, hydraulic links to trim the sails and an integrated computer able to manage all onboard systems. A sea legend was born.
Originally a builder of sailing yachts, this ambitious firm branched out applying its know-how to produce pure carbon fibre skis in 2000. A year later, Wally built its first motor yacht, the WallyPower 118, which was so revolutionary in its design, that it became the first and only boat to be selected as an exhibit at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.
In a smart business move, Wally went on to buyout its Italian suppliers, renaming the amalgamated entity WallyEurope. Now, it can be a builder of yachts as well as designer and construction manager. Wally was also reorganised into new divisions: WallyPower, WallySail and WallySki. Finally, WallyDesign was created to cater to the design and styling of motor yachts over 40 metres and sailing yachts over 50 metres, which are currently beyond the capabilities of WallyEurope.
Costing roughly 26 million USD, this yacht is a representation of cutting-edge engineering, new age materials and fresh thinking. It symbolises a completely new breed of super-sailing yacht which will leave you and your guest in constant awe.
Contact:
Wally
8 Avenue des Ligures
Monte Carlo, Monaco
Tel +377 93100093
HYPERLINK "http://www.wally.com" www.wally.com
Specs:
LOA 43.7m
Draught 4-6m
Speed (engine) 14 knots
Sail areas 900m2
Range (engine) 3,000 nm
Berths 8 guests, 6 crew
Tender Castoldi 4.8m, 125 hp
