Please select your home edition
Edition
Palm Beach Motor Yachts

Castagnola Heritage 9.9 weekend cruiser: Timeless design with wooden construction and carbon fibre

by Nauta Design 11 Dec 2020 03:10 PST

A boat that combines the timeless taste of the handcrafted wooden construction with the advantages of a cutting-edge material such as carbon fiberglass.

Conceived as a chase boat for big superyachts or as a weekend cruiser for limited range trips, the Castagnola Heritage 9.9 has a Nauta Design general concept and exterior and interior design.

Francesco Rogantin's Studio Names provided the naval architecture and structural engineering, while construction is by Castagnola Yacht.

The Heritage 9.9 is available in both Open and Hard Top versions. The very first unit presented is the Open version.

The Heritage 9.9 - perfect balance between tradition and innovation

The Heritage 9.9 was born from an original idea by Gabriele Maestri, actual holder of Castagnola Yacht. Castagnola Yacht is based in Lavagna, Italy and was founded in 1974 by Giovanni Castagnola. Over the years, Castagnola has become famous for quality and the beauty of its wooden boats. Gabriele Maestri, Giovanni's grandson, was passed on the secrets of his trade, then took over the Shipyard in the last years and became a master shipwright ("maestro d'ascia").

After careful market analysis, Gabriele saw the need for an entirely new kind of boat, one that would combine tradition and innovation, featuring characteristics which are not there in already existing products.

His vision was for a very exclusive, custom made, wood and carbon fibre construction, designed for discerning clients looking for a unique, timeless beautiful boat that combines aesthetic excellence with top quality construction methods. Castagnola Heritage 9.9 is and easy to use and maintain boat, offering high levels of on board comfort while also respecting the environment.

Hand crafting, high quality, a blend of tradition and innovation and a timeless design: those are the key words behind both the Nauta design and the construction of the new Castagnola Heritage 9.9.

The "Wood in Tech Skin" method

By combining traditional shipbuilding skills with the latest technology, Gabriele Maestri personally developed and patented the construction technique used for the Castagnola Heritage 9.9: Wood in Tech Skin (WTS). WTS bonds wood with carbon fibre or fiberglass (materials with complementary characteristics) to obtain an unparalleled shipbuilding material. While retaining its natural beauty, carbon clad natural wood is environmentally friendly and efficient to use over time. In fact, WTS-built hulls are lightweight, sturdy and seaworthy yet durable and easy to maintain.

Castagnola's strip-built construction method starts from solid mahogany planks that are clad using WTS technology in a thin layer of epoxy infused carbon fibre. The frames are in ash that is epoxy-infused using a Wet Epoxy Saturation Technique (WEST) that waterproofs them. These frames are then reinforced with marine-grade mahogany plywood clamps. Interior structures are left visible and painted with water-based paint.

Since the Heritage 9.9 was designed using 3D software, most parts can be precision cut using CAD technology. This highly precise and efficient process reduces preparation and production time while leaving the appeal of natural wood intact.

The Nauta Design of the Heritage 9.9

As well as the construction process, also the design of the Heritage 9.9 is a harmonious combination of modern and classic, tradition and innovation.

The exterior lines of the hull and the deck are clean and modern with full sections and vertical bow that express speed and strength.

Timeless elegance is in details such as the polished teak siding on the wale, the aft platform, the mast and the side air vents. An harmonious balance between modern geometry and classic materials and details.

The old-fashioned quality of the construction methods really comes through in the interior where structural elements are left visible to show the natural elegance of their materials and create a classic seafaring effect. Volume is used wisely and spaces are distributed to their best advantage.

Excellent performance characteristics

The deep "V" shaped planing hull, designed by Francesco Rogantin's Studio Names, has excellent performance characteristics. The hull shape was CFD tested and thanks to careful monitoring during the construction process the boat weighs less than 6 tons.

With two 320HP Yanmar engines and equipped with pods, the Heritage 9.9 has a cruising speed of 34 knots, top speed of 40 knots and a range of 170 NM at 30 knots. Sea trials confirmed the Heritage 9.9's smooth and stable movement through the water and its excellent maneuverability even at high speeds. The on board experience is stable, quiet and comfortable and the cockpit stays completely dry even in choppy conditions.

The engine room is easily accessible and has been carefully laid out to allow for efficient maintenance (the engines can be hauled out in less than half an hour). Owners can choose from a variety of propulsion systems, ranging from traditional shaft drives to hydrojets.

Thanks to wood's natural sound insulating qualities and to the smooth hull lines, the Heritage 9.9 is extremely quiet even at top speed: a feature which increase the on-board lifestyle quality and comfort, which will be very much appreciated by owners.

We would be very happy if you could take a chance to visit the Castagnola Heritage 9.9. If you are interested in having a visit on board, please contact:

Technical specifications

  • Shipyard: Castagnola Yacht
  • Shipwright: Gabriele Maestri
  • Naval Architecture: Names by Francesco Rogantin
  • Exterior and interior design: Nauta Design
  • L.O.A: 10.91 m
  • LH: 9.99 m
  • Beam: 3.54 m
  • Draft: 0.54 m
  • Displacement: 6.5 ton
  • Construction material: WTS (Wood in Tech Skin)
  • Classification: CE cat B + C
  • Engines: 2 x 320 HP Yanmar
  • Max speed: 40 knots
  • Cruise speed: 34 knots
  • Range at 30 knots: 160 nm

Related Articles

PredictWind launches PredictRain
New app From PredictWind delivers hyper-accurate, short-term rain predictions PredictRain is a groundbreaking standalone app that combines advanced AI modelling with intuitive tools to provide timely and precise rain forecasts for all types of outdoor activities. Posted today at 4:51 am
49er & 49erFX Junior Worlds champions crowned
One final race before the storm kicked in at Øresund The final day of the 2025 Junior World Championship delivered high drama and even higher waves. As wind and rain swept across the Øresund, Race Committees managed to run one final race before safety concerns forced an early end to the competition. Posted today at 4:43 am
Admiral's Cup: Emotional, Rare, Unforgettable
The 2025 Admirals' Cup set the stage for a bold new era in offshore racing Once the pinnacle of international offshore sailing, the return of the Admiral's Cup was a resounding success, setting the stage for a bold new era in offshire racing. Posted on 4 Aug
29er World Championship at Porto Day 2
The breeze never quite showed up but the action didn't stop Day two of the Porto World Championships began with hope—and strategy. With light winds in the forecast, the race committee scheduled an early start in anticipation of a short sea breeze window. Posted on 4 Aug
RS Aero World & Youth Worlds overall
The fine Brittany weather and afternoon sea breezes have provided excellent racing The stage was set for a dramatic final day showdown in Quiberon Bay, France, to decide the titles for the 7th RS Aero Worlds and 4th Youth Worlds. Posted on 4 Aug
RS Feva Worlds at Aix-les-Bains, France Overall
Crowning of our 2025 World Champions As our World Championships drew to a thrilling close on Friday afternoon, the atmosphere was electric with anticipation! Sailors and families were buzzing with excitement as they prepared for their journey home. Posted on 4 Aug
ClubSwan 28 American Series launched
US-based regatta series unites high-performance design with competitive racing. Nautor Swan today announces the launch of the ClubSwan 28 American Series in collaboration with Terry Hutchinson and American Magic, a new high-performance racing circuit designed to ignite competitive sailing in the U.S. Posted on 4 Aug
Just another event?
Is Cowes Week still a pinnacle regatta? We've been blessed with incredible sailing so far this summer in the UK (for once) with great breeze much of the time, and some of the best events in the world gracing our shores. But, like with Storm Floris, there are clouds on the horizon... Posted on 4 Aug
Safe Harbor Race Weekend starts Friday
Exciting racing, unforgettable shoreside festivities on tap Ever growing in popularity and caliber, the three-day Safe Harbor Race Weekend will host an impressive fleet of 73 boats on August 8 when it begins its fifth annual edition in Newport, R.I. Posted on 4 Aug
Tenerife Windsurf Grand Slam Day 3
Pierre Mortefon draws first blood after the wind fills in late After a couple of days of waiting for the wind, Day 3 eventually provided the goods to end the wait for some official competition as the Slalom X got under way during the early evening in 15-18 knots of wind. Posted on 4 Aug
Doyle_SailWorld_728X90px_GP BOTTOMHyde Sails 2024 - One DesignPredictWind - GPS 728x90 BOTTOM