Zulu is ready for Monaco

Zulu is en route to Monaco for the 2006 Monaco International Yacht Show. Picture / Chris Lewis.

In just six years the New Plymouth company Fitzroy Yachts has established its place firmly at the top end of the international superyacht market.

Now gracing the Auckland Viaduct is the latest creation from the southern yard, the 40m Zulu, designed by Ed Dubois. Zulu is the third of his designs to be built by Fitzroy, which is no mean feat for a company that took a huge commercial punt to build the 25m pilothouse cruiser Spirit of Fitzroy launched in 2000.

Their first effort proved her seaworthiness with a maiden voyage to the Monaco Boat Show. Its quality finish and superb workmanship so impressed the ternational boating community that the cruiser was sold almost immediately - Fitzroy was in business. Six of its superyachts are now on the water and another is in build.

Zulu, built for two Auckland owners, is destined to follow a similar path to Spirit of Fitzroy. She will be at the 2006 Monaco International Yacht Show from September 20 to 23. One of the Zulu partners owned the Dubois-designed and Fitzroy-built Helios launched in November 2004. Zulu is longer by 1.42m, has a little more displacement, a taller mast and increased sail area.

The extra length was used to provide more volume in the formal saloon, guest accommodation, pilothouse and lazarette areas, significantly transforming these areas and elevating the VIP guest cabin towards master cabin status.

The pilothouse layout was revised to create an elevated lounge with expansive views to all horizons, and the cockpit was redesigned to provide numerous al fresco options; from intimate dining to grand scale St Tropez banquets, and outdoor movie theatre entertainment.

The owners' brief was to build a yacht without compromise; evidence that this was achieved is provided by their continued endorsement of the design office and yard. One partner is now well into the design phase of a 45m Dubois designed flybridge yacht and Fitzroy Yachts remains his builder of choice.

The brief extended to creating a modern yacht, one notable for its sleek exterior lines and contemporary interior. Zulu's relaxed interior atmosphere is generated in part by a fashionable mix of satin walnut and complemented by cream, teal and charcoal fabrics. The light coloured linen carpet, ample natural light and generous cabin volumes also contribute to Zulu's ambience.

Zulu carries the hotel services, three crew cabins, vessel monitoring and engine room access forward, with substantial owner and guest areas located on three levels aft of the main watertight bulkhead.

The master cabin takes pride of place aft and it is accorded all the amenities befitting a cabin of its stature, including a double vanity en suite, double settee and personal computer area. The VIP guest cabin approaches master cabin proportions and both twin cabins are optimised with Pullman berths.

The galley gleams with an array of stainless steel appliances. A large under-floor freezer provides expedition capacity and the hob/oven is gimbaled.

Zulu was motored from New Plymouth to Auckland four hours after launching; a 40-hour open-ocean voyage that went faultlessly.

Under sail Zulu is optimised for fast cruising and regatta racing. Carbon spars by Southern Spars and carbon spectra sails by North Sails form the foundation of her performance-oriented rig. All hydraulic furling and winch systems are up-rated to enable fast tacks and gybes, and the halyards are hydraulically tensioned to achieve optimum sail shape.

Zulu will sail to the Mediterranean via the Panama Canal. She will arrive in time for Dubois Naval Architects and Fitzroy Yachts to display her at the Monaco show as a prime example of their respective crafts.

Specifications

LOA: 38.9m / 128'
Beam: 8.25m / 27'
Draft: 4.0m / 13'
Displacement: 185 tonnes
Construction: 5083 H116 Aluminium
Fuel: 16,150 litres
Range: 4700nm @ 10 knots
Engine: CAT 3406E 700hpThrusters: Retracting Lewmar 60hp bow and stern
Rig: Southern Spars Carbon
Furling: Southern furling boom, Reckmann
Sails: North NZ Carbon Spectra
Winches: Nilsson / Harken captives, Lewmar deck
Anchoring: Concealed throw-over stainless steel 180kg