Yacht feature- Salona 38 - heading for Australia

by Lee Mylchreest on 7 May 2012

Salona38 excellent for both cruising and racing - just change the sail plan SW

Croatian company Salona has used the latest technology and high tech materials in their newest release, the Salona 38. They've benefited, they say, from the experience gained throughout creation of all their previous models from 34 to 60ft.

But this time it will be the multi-award-winning Salona 37 that they are trying to outdo. The Salona 37 has been Yacht of the Year in both Europe and the USA, so it will be no easy task, but you'll b able to judge for yourself soon, because she's heading for Australia.

Salona 38 in action © SW

Salona Yachts are already famous for their strong and reliable construction. Builder AD boats uses the latest advanced techniques to maximize the sailing performance in a delicate balance between weight and stiffness. Stainless steel frames, vacuum infusion with cutting edge VAP membranes (the process that is used in building the airbus planes), the application of clear gelcoat under the waterline for added strength and water tight bulkheads are some of the many features found on a Salona Yacht.

Salona Yachts are carefully designed for use as family cruisers as well as for serious offshore or international racing, and excel in heavy weather. It is easy to switch from family mode to racing mode and vice versa. Simply change the sail inventory.

Exterior:
The Salona 38, launched just last year, has the largest cockpit in its class, free of obstacles, with an easily convertible open to closed transom and an extensive use of carbon details,(some standard, some optional) mainsheet track recessed under the dcik with a nunique option to easily move the mainsheet onto the coach roof and to enjoy sailing with a big bimini top completely covering the cockpit.

In the cockpit there are two spacious lockers with anadditional dedicated locker for two gas bottles, angles foot chocks for a perfect helming position, flush when not in use, two steering sheels with carbon pedestals (optional), top qality sailing gear to make single handed sailng easier.

Interior:
the S38 has a comfortable interior that can be associated with those in bigger boats. The interior is of teak or mahogany by master craftsman, generous galley size, well appointed and practical cabins with loads of natural light and ventilation. There is a 2 or 3 cabin version with spacious heads and large navigation table, functional galley and folding bunk beds in the saloon.

Spacious and filled with daylight from the through-hull windows, with hatches and numberous smart design details, the saloon is the perfect place to relax and enjoy the comfort of this latest and by no most advanced Salona yacht.

Salona 38 interior © SW

Performance:
The company cooperated with Jason Ker, America's Cup designer, in order to optimize the performance of the new yacht.

Jason designed and optimized the special Salona 38 performance keel with a lower centre of gravity and he significantly improved ballast to weight ratio and hydrodynamics of the keel with the use of the latest computational fluid dynamics program. The keel and sail plan optimization were developed for maximum performance combined with ease of handling.

The company:
Salona’s range of yachts, including the 35, 38, 41, 44 and 60, are made by AD Boats in Split, on Croatia’s Dalmatian Coast. AD Boats is part of the Prevent Group, a German multinational company with over 12,000 employees, with more than 35 production facilities worldwide and a major global supplier to the car industry, in particular Porsche, Audi and Volkswagen.

Coming to Australia:
Now the news is out that leading luxury yacht importer US Yachts has been appointed the Australian dealer for the
performance cruising range of Salona Yachts.

CEO of US Yachts, Atlanta Olympic yachtsman Matt Hayes, spent five days testing the 35, 38, 41 and 44 recently in Split and found that all the models performed way above his expectations.

'They are beautifully balanced yachts with great acceleration, and the cockpits have been very well laid out. Any helmsman and crew would appreciate them.' Mr Hayes said. 'Another benefit for Australian cruiser/racers is that the yachts represent exceptional value for money due to lower production costs than in other European countries,' he concluded.

The new Salona 38 is on her way to Australia with plans to display at the Sydney International Boat Show August 2 to 6. US Yachts also has the new Salona 35 on order due to arrive in October.

For further information contact Matt Hayes at US Yachts 02 92814422 or visit www.salonayachts.com