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alt="Y focus on carbon: Custom Tripp 90 by YYachts"/>
As Bill Tripp walks the deck of Prevail during its world premiere at this year’s Cannes Yachting Festival, he’s proud but also a little excited. That’s because the American naval architect is looking ahead to a potential trip to the Caribbean, where he has been invited to join the owner for some sailing on the custom-designed Tripp 90, which was showcased in Cannes alongside the Y7, an earlier design by the American that helped YYachts establish its reputation.
Prevail has a carbon hull, superstructure, mast, boom and sails, and a flush deck with sustainable Lignia wood
After Prevail was launched by YYachts from its shipyard outside Greifswald on Germany’s northeast coast, Tripp was among those involved in sea trials in the Baltic Sea, when he says conditions were “a little too calm”.
However, Prevail’s owner, an American with strong ties to Europe, has already spent quite a bit of time on his carbon-fibre performance cruiser in the Mediterranean, with Tripp saying the 90ft sloop has clocked 18 knots and should be able to get up to about 25 when it really gets to stretch its legs.
Bill Tripp designed the Y7, Y9 and Tripp 90
Provisional plans are for Prevail to stay in Mallorca in Spain before heading across the Atlantic to the likes of the Caribbean and New England, where Tripp himself is based in Connecticut.
“The owner has already spent a lot of time on the yacht in the Med and really enjoyed it. We advised that he enjoy the boat for a while, then we’ll spend a little time fine-tuning it for racing,” says Tripp, who says the owner’s 2022 plans include the Caribbean 600 in Antigua in February and potentially the Rolex Middle Sea Race around Sicily in October.
The American-owned yacht will be used on both sides of the Atlantic
“It’s primarily a cruising boat built for bluewater sailing, but will do some racing. The owner may bring the boat back to Europe later next year and he also plans to cruise around the world. We’re just delighted he’s happy with the yacht.”
The owner’s previous boats included a design by Tripp, who has close ties to YYachts, which Michael Schmidt founded in 2015 to build fast luxury sailing yachts made of carbon, which is stiffer and lighter than fibreglass but more expensive.
Michael Schmidt, founder of YYachts
The yard, also known as Michael Schmidt Yachtbau, is focused on streamlined designs, easy sailing and a clean, minimalist deck. Its semi-custom models start from the Y7, a Tripp-designed 70-footer with a Norm Architects interior that has proved its best-selling model, with about a dozen units already sold.
It was followed by the Y8, an 80-footer drawn by Italian Lorenzo Argento with five sales, while next year’s new builds will include the first Y9, a semi-custom model sharing much of the naval architecture and exterior design of the Tripp 90 but with a wide range of interior layouts.
Twin helms control the self-tacking jib and hydraulically operated boom-rolled mainsail
This September, YYachts was proud to show Prevail at Cannes, where it was the second-longest yacht in the Sailing Area in Port Canto. It’s also the latest product of the YC custom division, whose portfolio includes the Explorer 72 Eugen Seibold, designed for scientists to conduct climate and marine research, and fitted with an advanced hybrid diesel-electric drive and large battery bank.
With an overall length of 97ft 8in and a beam of 22ft 4in, Tripp 90 is currently YYachts’ flagship and the best advert so far for the yard’s capabilities. Tripp Design handled the naval architecture, exterior and layouts, while the owner chose UK-based Winch Design for the interior, with Prevail marking the third collaboration between the two design studios.
Three B&G touch screens above the coachroof
Prevail uses carbon for the hull, superstructure, mast, boom and sails, while the rig includes a self-tacking jib and hydraulically operated boom-rolled mainsail. Tripp says the hull shape is optimised to sail at 12 degrees, while the yacht also features a lifting keel, a challenging feature to integrate and disguise in the interior design.
Like all YYachts boats, the Tripp 90 is designed for short-handed sailing, with the 55-tonne yacht able to be handled by the three crew, all sailors. The flush deck features YYachts’ sustainable Lignia wood, which looks great, doesn’t get hot and is an eco-friendly alternative to teak.
The clean aft deck hides a lazarette
The surprises start aft, where a lazarette door hidden in the expansive deck folds up to reveal a huge storage space that can house an inflatable 3.5m RIB, along with a lot else. Just in front is a smaller liferaft locker that can deploy automatically in emergencies.
“I think the hardest part of putting together a project like this is to make the technology invisible,” says Tripp, who worked on his first carbon boat in 1985 and whose carbon designs include a 165-footer.
Bill Tripp with Dirk Zamedack, Managing Partner of YYachts
“Fortunately, the shapes of boats now make them faster and allow us to make the layouts more interesting.”
Situated well forward of the stern, each of the two steering wheels are backed by a full navigation station with controls, displays and throttle, while further in front are a pair of winches with power buttons at foot height. The sailing stations are flanked by thick coamings that also frame the roomy lounging area, comprising large C-shaped sofas and adjustable tables.
Carbonnautica steering wheels
Aft of the coamings, two steps lead to the side decks that run past the distinctive coachroof to a massive flush foredeck, where there’s a wide well for the self-tacking jib just forward of the mast. The area is peppered with skylights for the cabins below, while instead of fitted sunpads, there are flexible sun loungers that can be picked up and put anywhere. The bowsprit houses the anchor.
Both the aft and central cockpit areas can be covered by biminis and lead to the interior, which is quite the show-stopper. Winch Design worked closely with the owner to create a stylish, timeless ambience, with stylistic inspirations from the US east coast and mid-century Scandinavia.
Studded, curved steps down to the distinctive, split-level ‘saloon of two halves’
“One of the most magical moments is when you realise how homely and comfortable Prevail feels as soon as you step inside,” says Joost Roes, Senior Project Manager and Designer at Winch Design.
As you descend the steps, you’re struck by three things. Firstly, the large windows around all four sides of the coachroof, which combine with the large ceiling skylights to provide the interior with plenty of natural light and expansive views.
Winch Design handled the interior, which features a raised dining area to port
Secondly, the materials and detailing, which are above and beyond what you’d typically find on a sailing yacht, even of this size.
A rich yet tasteful combination of finely finished woodwork, beautifully stitched leathers, stainless-steel detailing and recessed lighting ensure your eyes continue to explore, whichever room you’re in. Look out for the use of bare carbon, a nod to the exterior.
Beautiful cabinets aft of the dining area (pictured) and saloon
Among woods, the owner selected a flamed Anigre, which was stained to contrast with the oak floor, while there are accent timbers such as Macassar and walnut, and feature panels in rosewood. The colour combination of these natural timbers and leathers alongside upholstery in whites, greys and blues works well.
Tripp himself is a fan. “When you go down below, you’re immediately hit with the smell of wood and leather. It’s a wonderful environment, a completely different world. You feel like you’re in a luxury hotel, a place you really want to stay in.”
The saloon enjoys natural light through the coachroof, hull windows and skylights
Thirdly, it’s different. Having the engine room underneath the saloon has contributed to a split-level layout – not fore and aft, but port and starboard.
To port, the raised dining area has an extendable table and bench seating, where diners are almost at eye level with the coachroof windows and enjoy a clear view outside through the cockpit.
The yacht features stunning woodwork, leatherwork and detailing
The lounge is down two steps to starboard and features a beautiful leather chair and an L-shaped sofa that can convert into a daybed. The sofa fits snugly under the long hull window, yet its inward view is of the back of the dining-table seating.
However, it’s worth remembering Prevail was not designed for repeat production but solely for its for its owner, a keen musician who wanted a versatile layout for entertaining guests, while also enabling people to retreat from a party, resulting in the creation of separate relaxation areas.
Forward of the saloon is a semi-private office space with chaise longue
For example, ahead of the saloon and down three steps is a semi-private ‘snug’ or office, which has a desk, a daybed, an amplifier and hanging space for the owner’s guitar. To port is the twin en-suite guest cabin, which like all the guest areas, features top-end detailing such as stainless-steel door handles and leather-wrapped cupboard and drawer handles.
The master suite is forward, with the bed to port
The master suite is forward and has a forward-facing double with bedside tables to port. To starboard is a vanity table and a couch – the third sofa along this side of the boat – while the elegantly finished twin-sink bathroom is in the bow.
Looking aft from the bedroom to the other hallway shows the long sight lines the designers sought to incorporate.
The master has a desk and sofa to starboard, and twin-sink bathroom in the bow
Aft of the saloon and down several steps leads starboard to the blue-and-white galley and port to the VIP double. In the stern is the crew quarters, which include a double cabin for the skipper and his wife, a single cabin, crew mess and access to the engine room.
All in all, it’s a remarkable yacht and a refreshingly personal one that succeeded due to impressive teamwork during a testing time for international collaborations.
Aft of the saloon, the galley is off a hallway that can see though through to the master suite forward
“Prevail shows that everything is possible when selecting the right partners,” says Roes of Winch Design. “We’re very proud of what we achieved together with the Tripp and YYachts teams.”
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