European Launch of Australian Yacht Design

by Graham Radford on 15 May 2008 The first Ocean Sprite GP46 was launched in Italy early this month and was immediately sailed to Split for the Croatian Boat Show.

The 14m aluminium yacht was designed in Australia by Radford Yacht Design and built by Top Vela S.r.l in Italy. The collaboration between Top Vela S.r.l and Radford Yacht Design was established for the design and construction of high quality custom aluminium yachts to meet owners’ requirements.

Top Vela S.r.l is concentrating on building custom aluminium boats with great attention to the quality of interior and hull finishes. The details supplied by Radford Yacht Design were used by Top Vela for the assembly of the hull & deck from an extensive kit of pre-cut aluminium components. The interiors are also assembled from NC cut components to reduce production costs, while still supplying a very high quality product.

The Radford 14m is one of the range of aluminium kit, performance cruising yachts which includes the R14m pilot house (Design # 47), the R16.75m (Design # 58) and the R18.3m (Design # 66).

The R14m is designed for cruising with an easily driven hull of moderate beam and displacement, long waterline and vee shaped sections which ensure very good sailing performance and directional stability. It has a large spade rudder and a 2.1m draft fin keel. The keel is an aluminium fabrication shaped to give a low centre of gravity for the 3,850kg of lead ballast. The low centre of gravity gives high righting moments and an angle of vanishing stability which will exceed the requirements for ISO stability, category A.

The aft cockpit deck layout has a boarding platform with step to the aft deck. There is a watertight bulkhead just forward of the steering wheel so that the aft area is a large lazarette for stowage and access to the steering gear. The life raft can be stowed in a locker under the cockpit sole. The companionway is recessed into the house so that when the hatch is closed it overhangs the opening for extra weather protection. The halyards and control lines lead aft to the cockpit. The house top and sides have a number of hatches and opening ports for light and ventilation. The staysail stay locates at the forward watertight bulkhead with anchor and other stowage forward of this bulkhead. The bow fitting is a robust aluminium fabrication for the forestay and double anchor and mooring rollers.

The masthead rig has double swept back spreaders and can be sailed as either a sloop or a cutter. The cutter rig is very versatile for cruising with the advantage of having the staysail / storm jib on the staysail stay in gale force or storm conditions.

The internal layout shows an aft cabin to port with a quarter berth and stowage lockers to starboard. The galley is to port with a head and navigation area to starboard. The saloon area has a large L-shaped settee to port and a settee, bureau and lockers to starboard. Forward of the saloon is a second head and a forward cabin with a double berth.

The engine is located under the cockpit and can be either sail drive or standard shaft drive. The theoretical hull speed is 8.9 knots with the economical cruising speed under power between 7.3 – 8 knots. A suitable engine size is 50 to 60 HP.

For further information and details, visit www.radford-yacht.com and www.topvela.it