Yacht Review- wooden Dream Symphony to be the largest yacht ever
by Lee Mylchreest on 22 Apr 2012
Dream Symphony - artist’s impression SW
She purports to be the largest sailing boat ever built, yet, in a decision that classicists will love, she will be made of wood. The largest sailing boat in the world, a four-masted schooner, is currently being constructed near Marmaris in Turkey. She is such an amazing craft that she's our yacht of the week and she hasn't even touched the water yet.
The contract was signed last September for the construction of the yacht, which will be 141m loa (463ft). Turkish yacht builders Dream Ship Victory are the builders, and Amsterdam-based Gerry Dykstra's Dykstra & Partners are the designers. Styling is by Ken Freivokh. Gerry Dykstra has a diversity of work, from such yachts as the J-Class to sailing boats sometimes as small as 30ft.
Dream Ship Victory, with the same naval architecture and design team, already have considerable experience in large scale all wood yachts. Three yachts currently being built are Mikhail Vorontsov, at 65 metres, is now being fitted out in Holland, Princess Maria (55 m) and Imagination (42 m).
Not much is publicly known about the construction of the yacht but it is expected to be built with a cold-molded laminated structure which results in a strong monoque structure. Cold molded yachts with may layers of laminated in epoxy are many respects more similar to fiberglass than to planked and caulked traditional wooden hulls. Wood is still a relatively flexible material, roughly 18 times more flexible than steel, so the Dream Symphony will have to be carefully engineered manage the stiffness of the hull.
Land near Marmaris in Turkey has been reclaimed from both sea and mountain, and a massive - and beautifully designed - 200m long construction shed built, flanked by two further sheds, each capable of taking on construction work on yachts up to 80m each. The main shed in its present form can accommodate yachts up to 160m, with an impressive array of overhead cranes, climate control and support facilities, including offices and accommodation facilities all on site.
Following the keel laying ceremony attended by the KFD and Dykstra teams, work is now progressing to schedule on what will undoubtedly be one of the most amazing sailing yacht projects of the decade.
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