baltic yachts history

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Baltic Yachts celebrates 50 years of determination, innovation, and quality

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Baltic Yachts

www.balticyachts.fi

Business sector: Custom-made yachts, service and refits

Turnover 2022: 32 MEUR

Employees: 210

Export: 100%

Major markets: Europe and Northern America

One of the few luxury brands in Finland, Baltic Yachts, celebrates 50 years in business in 2023. The story of this sailing yacht builder began with five young men in Bosund, Ostrobothnia, who were determined to build lighter, stiffer and faster yachts. Early on, the company started tailor-making its boats to the requirements of demanding clients, and today, it is the world leader in custom-made, advanced composite yachts.

“Our boats are fantastic pieces of craftmanship and high technology. With their design, quality and comfort, these lightweight performance yachts are equally at home cruising the oceans as they are on the race course, Head of Marketing Elisabet Holm describes.

Today, Baltic Yachts caters to some of the wealthiest in the world, but the values of the company remain stable:

“Here at Baltic Yachts, an Ostrobothnian company, we are trustworthy, humble and proud of our work. We are innovative and solution-oriented and we work together, everyone is treated as equal.” 

Baltic Yachts walks the talk also in its sustainability work. Together with its conscious customers and personnel, the company is pushing for greener solutions in sailing, such as hydrogeneration, hybrid propulsion, battery technology and sustainable materials. The yacht builder also maintains and repairs its customers’ yachts, extending their lifecycles by decades.

Today, Baltic Yachts builds custom-made luxury yachts of up to 200 feet, but the company’s story began by challenging the prevailing trends in boat building in the 1970’s.

One part of Baltic Yachts 50 th anniversary celebration is, in fact, a refit of the first ever Baltic, a 46-footer from 1973. Queen Anne will be the centrepiece of the company’s anniversary celebrations, which will culminate in a regatta, arranged for boat owners in September 2023 in Porto Rotondo, Sardinia. 

“I feel honoured to be part of the celebrations of this pioneering company and the people who helped build it. In our region, we have a long heritage of boat building, and for centuries, we have sailed the world in search of adventure and new innovations. This entrepreneurial spirit can still be felt here today.”

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Maritime Story of the Baltic Sea

From Vikings to modern trade   

Ancient and current maritime networks, trade routes, ships and cargoes provide us with an insight into the economic history of the Baltic Sea region and almost the entire world connected by the Ocean. The Baltic Sea offered important sailing routes to the Vikings of the Baltic Sea. Over the 13 th and 15 th centuries the German Hanseatic traders took over the trade routes of the ancient Vikings and created an efficient maritime network in the Baltic and North Sea regions. Thereafter, the Dutch became a significant naval power and even considered trade on the Baltic Sea so important they began to call it the mother of all trade. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, the steamships were replaced by cargo ships. Today, almost all goods are transported across the seas aboard cargo ships. Despite its small size, the Baltic Sea is one of the world’s busiest seas.  

Wars and shipwrecks

The Baltic Sea region is a mosaic of many languages and cultures. For centuries, the sea has played a dual role: at times uniting and at other times dividing kingdoms and the people inhabiting its shores. Wars have been waged on the Baltic Sea between the rulers of Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Poland and Russia, as they have fought for dominion over the region. Naval wars have left thousands of vessels lying shipwrecked at the bottom of the Baltic, the oldest dating back to the Hanseatic League and the youngest to the Second World War in the 1940s. 

Maritime Culture

Around the Baltic Sea area there are numerous museums that provide insights into the fascinating maritime history of the Baltic Sea region: charming old ships, mysterious wrecks, the secrets of navigation, the dangers of winter seafaring in the north, pilotage, and the daily grind of seafarers and islanders. In the museums visitors can learn about the ways in which the sea has impacted human interaction and livelihoods over thousands of years, and how the marine environment has shaped people’s lives. Maritime culture reflects human relationship to the sea and of our understanding of it. It means cultural, economic, and political networks as well as fishing, leisure and travel. And like all human culture, our relationship with the sea is both collective and individual, shared, and personal. Marine culture and conservation are intertwined. They stem from strong relationship and willingness to understand the sea.   

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Baltic Yachts | What’s going on in Finland

[dropcap]F[/dropcap]irst presented at the 2017 Düsseldorf Boat Show, Baltic Motor Yachts is a new division of Baltic Yachts, the shipyard situated in Ostrobothnia, Finland, a region steeped in eight centuries of fine ship and yacht building history. Baltic Yachts, renowned for its sailing yachts and exceptional levels of engineering and build technology, with light displacement, quiet running and true seaworthiness at the heart of luxury comfort and ease of operation, is now ready to extend these attributes into the luxury motor yachting sector and for the occasion introduces two new ranges of individually tailored motor yachts: the  Motor Yacht range  with the 27-metre Baltic MY88, 34-metre Baltic MY112 and 41-metre Baltic MY135; and the  Day Boat range  with the 15-metre Baltic MY49 and 17-metre Baltic MY56.

This new range development is driven by requests from current owners  seeking diversity  and requiring the same high-end finish detail and craftsmanship, and is also inspired by Baltic’s recent, restoration of the delightful 25m/82ft motor cruiser Sunny Day for the company’s owner, Professor Hans Georg Näder, a serial Baltic yacht owner himself. This new programme comes also at a time when Baltic Yachts has a full forward order book for sailing yachts, so marks a significant new capital investment and development in the company’s growth.

“We are leaders, not followers,” says  Professor Näder . “The Baltic Yachts name conveys quality, prestige and performance, and Baltic Motor Yachts extends this experience and reputation into a new area of yachting.  The refit of our family motor yacht, Sunny Day, stimulated me also to initiate our own Ligurian styled motor yacht line, using our superb facilities and state of the art technologies for safe reliable motor cruising with superb quality, as we have done for decades in sailing.”

As to the sailing yachts production, orders for three new carbon composite performance sailing yachts measuring between 85ft and 142ft have filled the order book at Baltic Yachts as the company prepares to launch  Pink Gin VI , the biggest carbon composite sloop in the world.

Baltic Yachts CEO  Henry Hawkins  said that in tough market conditions over recent months the company had appealed to a number of clients. “This success is a result of a dedicated Baltic Yachts team effort building on our expertise in the custom sailing yacht arena,” he said. The new projects (Baltic 85 Custom, Baltic 112 Custom, Baltic 142 Custom) , which will start building in 2017, involve world-leading designers and stylists some of whom are new to Baltic Yachts, among them award-winning naval architect Malcolm McKeon and renowned interior specialists Mark Whiteley and Lucio Micheletti. The Baltic Yachts Family very much looks forward to working with this new injection of talent now and in the future.

Yachting Monthly

• Digital edition

Sailing the Baltic Sea: where to go

• Rachael Sprot
• October 13, 2022

Is the Baltic the new Mediterranean? Rachael Sprot takes a closer look at this underrated cruising ground

Knowing how to tie up to a rock is a vital skill when sailing the Baltic Sea. Credit: Martin Leisborn Credit: Martin Leisborn

Sailing the Baltic Sea: where to go & the skills you need

‘Showers are destroyed,’ pronounced a workman, gesturing towards the dilapidated marina building at the Riga Yacht Club. I had no Latvian and he spoke very little English but valiantly explained the futility of my search.

We’d arrived in Riga at 0500. It was the end of April and according to the pilot charts the ice in the Gulf of Riga may have only just receded.

The generator, our main source of hot water, had packed up somewhere off Gdansk. So we were all a little crestfallen at the news. ‘WiFi?’ asked a crew member before hurriedly retracting it with, ‘just joking!’ as I glowered at him.

But I remember it now because it was the low point in an otherwise magical tour of the Baltic that inspired me to return and sail there again and again.

Sailing the Baltic Sea: Culture, history, wilderness

History and geography make the Baltic a rich and rewarding place to sail.

Hanseatic trade routes once crisscrossed the sea and a group of states grew around these maritime connections. As such it is uniquely suited to exploration by water.

Sunset at a bustling eatery on Bohuslän. Credit: Frank Chmura/Alamy Stock Photo

The concentration of beautiful cities, many of them capitals, which you can sail right into is unrivalled.

It also played a pivotal role in some of the defining events of the 21st century: the first battle of the Second World War and the fall of the USSR began on its shores. But there’s wilderness too.

Sail out of Stockholm, Helsinki, Oslo or Gothenburg and you are soon surrounded by nature in tranquil archipelagos.

At its widest point it measures 150 miles across – far more compact the Mediterranean and a summer cruise could be done entirely day-sailing, especially since the days are so long.

At the height of the season there’s a festival atmosphere as everyone heads to the coast, but before July or by late August you’ll have it largely to yourself.

How to get to the Baltic Sea

The main challenge in sailing the Baltic Sea is getting there in the first place.

It’s 350 miles from Dover to Brunsbüttel, the start of the Kiel canal. There’s an Inshore Traffic Zone along the Dutch and German coasts keeping yachts clear of the busy shipping routes, but it’s a busy stretch of water and you’ll need to keep a careful lookout.

Sailing boats on the Kiel Canal, Baltic coast, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. Credit: Alamy Stock Photo

The Friesian islands make for lovely places to stop along the way, Vlieland has a good marina, easy access and picturesque scenery.

The duty-free island of Helgoland in the German Bight is also worth paying a visit if you need to top up on ‘essential’ supplies of the alcoholic kind.

The 53 miles of the Kiel or Nord-Ostsee canal is an event in itself. Sharing the narrow waterway with large ships is intimidating.

Yachts must keep clear by staying well to starboard and following instructions and light signals. Navigable during daylight hours only, the transit can be completed in a long summer day.

Riga, the capital of Latvia. Credit: Alamy Stock Photo

Alternatively spend a night in the marina at Rendsburg or one of several anchorages along the way and take a break from ship dodging.

Exiting the locks at Holtenau, you enter the large waterway of Kieler Förder, with excellent facilities and several good marinas.

From the north it’s just under 440 miles from Hartlepool to Skagen on the tip of Denmark. This route has different challenges.

Dense concentrations of shipping isn’t one of them, but there are wind farms to negotiate and oil rigs breathing fire into the night.

It can feel as though you’re crossing a construction site at times. Most rigs have a 500m exclusion zone and a patrol boat on standby.

Check the North Sea navigation warnings before departure and keep a listening watch on Channel 16.

For those with time, there are two alternatives to the Kiel canal: the Limfjord which cuts through the north of Denmark; and the much smaller Eider canal which runs north of the Kiel canal before joining it towards the end.

Both are lovely diversions if you have time.

Navigating the Baltic Sea

The Baltic Sea’s cruising grounds. Credit: Maxine Heath

The Baltic is a straightforward cruising ground compared with British waters.

There’s no tide as the body of water is too small to generate the oscillations which fringe the major oceans.

Instead, there’s a steady outpouring of water through the Kattegat, powered by the net input of freshwater from rivers.

Streams can reach a couple of knots in pinch points such as the Øresund between Copenhagen and Malmö.

In other areas, there are noticeable wind-driven currents. These are most pronounced after prolonged periods of the strong wind from the same direction, and they have the effect of changing the water levels too.

An open pulpit, and bow ladder, will make Baltic mooring easier, whether in a marina or to a rock. Credit: Martin Leisborn

Consistent NE winds can cause a SW setting current which ‘drains’ the Gulf of Bothnia and Gulf of Finland, reducing depths by more than 1m in extreme scenarios.

Further south a combination of high pressure and wind-driven currents causes fluctuations of 0.1 – 0.3m.

For shallow passages you’ll need to take account of recent weather patterns and ask for local advice before committing.

Weather conditions are generally more benign than on our tempestuous Atlantic shores. In many areas there’s little fetch for a seastate to develop, although when it does it can be short and sharp.

The climate feels more continental than maritime, with colder winters and slightly warmer summers than the UK.

At the height of the season temperatures often reach 30°, and sea temperatures can be 20° in the archipelagos.

You might be pleasantly surprised by the cost of sailing the Baltic Sea. Although alcohol is considerably more expensive in the Nordic countries, you can stock up in Germany and Poland en route.

Berthing fees are generally fairly modest: even in Scandinavia they tend to be cheaper than those charged in the south coast of the UK, so the increased cost of other things tends to even itself out.

Berthing is often paid on an app and reserved in advance, which is a good idea in the height of season (July – mid-August).

It’s rare to see the harbour master doing rounds: they tend to rely on an honesty system. Many of the marinas are on a much smaller scale than the UK.

Facilities are admittedly much simpler but spotlessly clean.

It’s a breath of fresh air compared to more commercialised cruising grounds that are so popular elsewhere.

Continues below…

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Southern Denmark, Copenhagen and SW Sweden

Credit: Maxine Heath

Denmark and southern Sweden are easy to access and make an excellent introduction to Baltic cruising.

Many people pass through quickly on the way to the archipelagos further north, but gentle landscapes and pretty towns reward those hopping along the coast.

Copenhagen is the jewel in the crown of the southern Baltic. Tie up in the bustling old Nyhavn and be part of the action or one of the large marinas further north for a quiet night.

Though Danish, the island of Bornholm actually lies closer to Sweden. It’s known for its picturesque harbours, pristine beaches, round churches and traditional smokehouses.

Colourful Copenhagen as seen from the Nyhavn Canal. Credit: Kim Petersen/Alamy Stock Photo

But it’s the tiny, fortified island of Christiansø, just east of Bornholm, which is a truly special spot.

The harbour feels as though it’s barely changed since the 1600s. The Swedish coast is low-lying here, with long stretches of beach flanked by some of the country’s best farmland.

There are few anchorages until you reach the SE corner, but the gorgeous town of Ystad, with its medieval timber houses, and Karlskrona, the UNESCO listed naval port, more than make up for it.

The ultimate stopping off point when heading to or from the east coast is Utklippen, a tiny fishing station formed by blasting a gap between two rocky islets.

North Denmark, Bohuslän Coast and Southern Norway

The fjords of southern Norway, such as here in Berefjord, are smaller than those further north, but are still dramatic places to explore

Heading north from Copenhagen into the Kattegat, most yachts have their eyes on Sweden’s Bohuslän coast.

The Skärgård, a tapestry of pink granite islands, fringes the mainland coast from Gothenburg up to the Norwegian border creating an inexhaustible cruising ground.

It’s a place where the locals moor alongside the rocks and cook crayfish on the BBQ.

There are lots of natural harbours, many of them former fishing stations, with timber huts painted in distinctive rust-red paint.

Navigation is intricate and challenging, but you’ll be rewarded with exhilarating passages in flat water.

A natural harbour at Bogen Island, Bohuslän, west coast of Sweden. Credit: Alamy Stock Photo

Keep heading north and you’ll cross the border into Norway and eventually arrive in Oslo.

The skärgård continues but there’s added interest as we enter the land of the fjords. Although less dramatic than the deep fjords of the west coast, Oslofjord has lots of good cruising and it’s a great introduction to a country with the most spectacular coastline in Europe .

The topography of the Danish side means that harbours tend to be man-made, with sleepy fishing ports and rural landscapes.

The islands of Anholt and Læsø are both worth a stop for their beautiful beaches and Læsø’s seaweed-roofed huts.

The windswept dunes of Skagen form the northern tip of the country. It has a strong artistic heritage and is a busy holiday destination for the Danes, who often gather on the sandy strip where land turns imperceptibly to sea.

The coastline may not hold the same intrigue as the Swedish and Norwegian side, but you might find the elusive quality of hygge and decide to stay put instead, which would certainly save a few miles on the summer cruise!

Eastern Sweden and Finland

For me, the big decision is whether to aim for the east or west coast of Sweden. Both routes have beautiful archipelagos, lots of interest en route and wonderful cities.

If there were no real-life variables, Stockholm and the coastline south of it would clinch it for me. Stockholm is a waterside city in the truest sense.

The perfectly preserved wreck of the Vasa , a 17th-century warship which sank in the harbour on its maiden voyage, is now a museum on one of the city’s many islands.

The incredible story of how it was painstakingly raised and preserved is as astounding as the ship itself.

The surrounding archipelago is equally gorgeous and unlike the west coast the islands are clad in pine trees whose scent wafts out to sea.

Islands of the Stockholm archipelago in autumn. Credit: Alamy Stock Photo

The large offshore islands of Gotland and Oland are fascinating places to stop en route. Both feature on the UNESCO list, Oland for its ancient agricultural landscape and Gotland for Visby, the hub of the Hanseatic League in medieval times and its 13th-century walled town.

Visby’s ramparts and winding lanes certainly rival Tuscany for atmosphere.

Before arriving in the Stockholm archipelago , the Blå Kusten or Blue Coast could easily distract you from your target.

It’s another long skärgård with wild islands, narrow sounds and total serenity. Often overlooked, it is just as beautiful as the better-known archipelagos.

The autonomous Åland archipelago between Sweden and Finland is a hallowed cruising ground for locals and visitors alike.

Many islands in Finland are privately owned. Seek permission before mooring. Credit: Katy Stickland

However, the fringe of skerries continues right along the coast of Finland to the Russian border, with Helsinki as a useful and attractive stopping point along the way.

Most islands are privately owned, so beware of encroaching on people’s privacy. A respectful crew are normally warmly received and often invited to use the sauna.

After a few days in Finland you realise the Swedish archipelagos were merely a warm-up act.

In some areas the islands are so densely packed that there’s more land than sea. By the end of a two-week cruise you’ll have an advanced diploma in rock-dodging, and much shorter fingernails.

The Gulf of Bothnia is a rather long cul-de-sac for foreign yachts, although the Finns, Swedes and Germans head up there to get away from it all.

It’s 350 miles to the top, which is also the border between Finland and Sweden. Head up there for solitude and wilderness.

Germany & Poland

If the Scandi-chic of the northern Baltic is a bit too much, or the price of beer has begun to wear thin, don’t miss a trip to the southern Baltic.

Many of the former Hanseatic towns along this coast have been painstakingly restored after damage in the Second World War.

Lubeck, Wismar and Stralsund all have UNESCO world heritage status.

With inexpensive marinas close to the centre of town, cobbled streets and town squares, you could easily while away a fortnight on this beautiful coastline.

Inside the beech-forested island of Rügen are the intriguing waterways of the Boddensee.

The Hanseatic town of Stralsund has UNESCO world heritage status. Credit: Iurii Buriak/Alamy Stock Photo

Take a detour through the reeds to Peenemünde, the factory where the V1 and V2 rockets were developed. It’s now a museum with a poignant message about the relationship between science and war.

The Polish coast is challenging, with long sandy stretches and ports which are often inaccessible in onshore winds.

Cruising takes the shape of long passages, followed by a few days in port to explore the surrounding area, rather than the island hopping of the north.

It’s worth taking the time to explore though, whether heading inshore to the extensive national parks, or beachcombing for nuggets of amber which wash up after gales.

Although out on a limb, Gdansk is unmissable.

The chalk cliffs of Jasmund National Park on the island of Rugen make a striking backdrop. Credit: Aleksandr Ugorenkov/Alamy Stock Photo

The approach takes you past the Westerplatte, the peninsula that was attacked by the German warship Schleswig-Holstein on 1 September 1939, initiating the Second World War.

The route continues for a further 4 miles up through the shipyards, some derelict, some in use, which were the birthplace of the Solidarity Movement that was pivotal in the fall of the USSR.

In the heart of the city though, it’s the imposing medieval wooden crane which dominates the harbour.

Once the largest cargo crane in Europe, it was damaged in 1945 when 80 per cent of the city was destroyed in the final throes of the war.

Now restored, it’s a spectacular sight and a reminder that the city’s identity stretches much further than recent history.

Baltic States

A very different kind of adventure can be found on the coasts of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.

Riga and Tallinn are beautiful cities with UNESCO status and good marinas.

Cruising is cheaper here than it is in Scandinavia but English is not as widely spoken.

The lighthouse on the tip of Sorve Cape, Saaremaar, Estonia. Credit: Alamy Stock Photo

Despite this, foreign yachts are given a warm welcome and most people will generously engage in marina charades as you try to act out a washing machine.

The main cruising ground is the Estonian islands at the northern end of the Gulf of Riga. It provides plenty of opportunities for intricate pilotage and there’s often a sauna ashore for weary sailors.

Latvia has several commercial ports which are accessible to yachts, including Ventspils and Liepāja, both of which are about 90nm from Gotland.

Lithuania’s coastline is dominated by the Curonian Spit.

Stretching for over 60nm, the tree-clad sand dunes don’t offer much shelter to sailors but Klaipėda, Lithuania’s main port, is a pleasant town.

The magical approach to St Petersburg is currently a no-go. Credit: Alamy Stock Photo

There are two Russian coasts in the Baltic: the Gulf of Finland from about 27°E, and Kaliningrad between Poland and Lithuania.

Even before this year they had a strong military presence.

In happier times, St Petersburg was the adventurer’s ultimate prize. Each year a few dozen yachts would apply for visas and make the approach via the TSS to this mesmerising city.

For now it is probably best given a wide berth.

Itineraries for sailing the Baltic Sea from Kiel

Germany, Bornhom and southern Sweden

Copenhagen & western Sweden

Circumnavigate Denmark

Denmark & western Sweden, exit via the Limfjord

Germany, Gdansk, Gotland & Sweden’s Blue Coast

Circumnavigate Sweden by cutting through the Göte Kanal

Denmark > Gothenburg > Bohuslän Coast – Oslofjord – Exit via the Skagerrak

Germany > Poland > Tallinn > Helsinki > Åland archipelago > Stockholm archipelago

Charts & Pilot books for sailing the Baltic Sea

The RCCPF Baltic Sea Pilot guide is a good place to start when researching a trip. It gives a good overview of each area and is perfectly adequate if passing through. In the archipelagos though, a local pilot guide is essential.

The Swedish Hamnguiden are superb, with aerial photographs of every harbour and anchorage, showing what kind or berth or mooring is to be found, where to do a rock mooring , and where to drop the hook for a ‘normal’ anchorage.

Electronic chart coverage can be excellent, but it’s hard work passage planning on electronic charts, especially in intricate waters.

Most countries have their own leisure charts in easy-to-use format so that you can flip through as you follow a lead in the skerries.

They often have the recommended routes drawn on, including an indication of the maximum draught and are worth investing in if you’re planning to explore beyond the main ports.

German company NV produces inexpensive coverage of the southern Baltic. Chart packs are accompanied by a pilot book with harbour details.

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PERSEVERANCE

In 2021, Baltic Yachts unveiled this modern classic vessel, earning the prestigious title of Boat International's Sailing Yacht of the Year in 2022! Crafted by the renowned Dykstra Naval Architects, PERSEVERANCE seamlessly blends exceptional sailing prowess with a strong commitment to eco-conscious technology. This includes intelligent cabin systems, an eco-friendly electric propulsion system, and the remarkable capability to generate electricity while on the move.

The interior of PERSEVERANCE, meticulously designed by deVosdeVries, exudes an inviting and contemporary atmosphere. It showcases opulent stained oak, elegant dark maple flooring, and striking 'industrial chic hardware' for a distinctive touch. Accommodating up to 8 guests in supreme comfort, the yacht features 4 lavish ensuite cabins. The expansive master stateroom spans the full beam forward, offering a grand entrance foyer, a king-sized bed, a spacious bathroom with a lavish shower, and an abundance of natural illumination. Midship, you'll discover a luxurious VIP double cabin with a queen-sized bed, a twin cabin, and a cozy bunk bed cabin.

WHAT OUR GUESTS SAY:

Our time on Perseverance was amazing. The yacht sailed smoothly and we loved the eco-friendly touches like the electric system. Inside, it felt cozy with nice wood details. We explored beautiful spots, snorkeled, and enjoyed the many water activities available. The crew was great and made us feel right at home. Captain Pedro was exceptional and so was the rest of the crew actually. The food was delicious and very healthy. It was a fantastic experience and we can't wait to do it again.

Eco Friendly

Great Comfort

Great Design

Great Yacht

TOYS & TENDERS

1x TIWAL 3 SMALL SAILBOAT

1x 2-person Kayak

2x Jobe Yarra 10.6 Inflatable Paddle Board

1x JOBE Vanity Wakeboard 141

1x Jobe Mode Combo waterski 170cm

2x Sublue underwater scooters

2x Mares Dive Gear

1x Dive compressor

2x Tern D16 Eclipse  Bicycle (folding)

1 x Williams  505 Jet Tender

DESTINATION

Summer :

 Balearic Islands

Winter :

 Caribbean

  From 95,000 EUR/Week

SIMILAR CHARTERS

€ 69,000

32.00 M

12 GUEST

€ 119,000

37.70 M

10 GUEST

€ 72,500

24.40 M

8 GUEST

€ 90,000

37.92 M

9 GUEST

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YACHT STORY is written in May 2021 in Antwerp, Belgium, encouraged by the need in the Benelux for a professional Partner for yacht charter services. The increasing demand of travelling and private escapes on a yacht organized from a to z by one contact person was an important stimulation to create this boutique charter company with a personal approach.

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Behind the Scenes of 34m foil-assisted Baltic 111 Raven

When her owner commissioned this Baltic 111 Custom foil-assisted superyacht, weight control was paramount. Baltic Yachts was selected for its forensic approach to lightweight advanced composite construction and unique ability to combine it with an unmatched custom finish. Baltic Yachts has successfully moved the Baltic 111 Raven from her building facility at the company’s waterside premises in Jakobstad, Finland to reveal one of the most extreme yachts it has ever built.

Broadly described as a 111ft foil-assisted, ultra-lightweight superyacht, she will be used primarily for day sailing, but also undertake high-speed, long-distance passages. Not easy to categorise, this extraordinary yacht can be placed firmly in a class of her own.

Baltic Yachts was chosen to meet this challenge because of its unmatched reputation for building advanced composite superyachts to the very highest standards, including its forensic examination of systems and components throughout the build process. Add to that the company’s ability to finish yachts to a level of luxury second to none and the decision to build in Jakobstad was straightforward.

Baltic 111 Raven’s experienced owner’s project manager, Garth Brewer of A2B Marine Projects, said: “ Raven doesn’t fall easily into a category, but if I had to place her, I’d say she’s the equivalent of a high-end Super-car. The boat is primarily for pure enjoyment and the owner likes the challenge of doing something that hasn’t been done before. ”

“ He really understands the technical elements and this will be a development project which will require a measured approach,” added Brewer, who emphasised the need for incremental steps in Raven’s trials, building confidence and understanding over time as the boat reaches her peak performance .

Raven does, however, possess some distinctive features which provide more than a hint of how she might perform. They include two large T-shaped hydrofoils mounted on hydraulically controlled side-arms capable of supporting some of the boat’s displacement.

At her transom, Raven will be equipped with vertical Interceptor trim tabs to adjust fore and aft trim at speed and there is movable water ballast, carried in built-in tanks in the aft quarters to boost the righting moment required while sailing.

Designed to sail partly on her leeward chine, Baltic 111 Raven will derive her stability and lift, while sailing, from her foils, leaving her 9.3-ton fixed keel bulb and precision-engineered 5m long fin to provide basic stability. It’s also the location for a fully submerged intake for cooling water and is designed with a sacrificial zone to absorb impact in the event of a collision.

Ultra-lightweight interior of Baltic 111 Raven

Not only is Raven’s foil-assisted ability likely to deliver a phenomenal sailing performance, she is also the subject of a highly unusual study in ultra-lightweight interior design, combining the yacht’s complex all carbon construction with styling which pays homage to Baltic Yachts’ rigorous program of weight saving. Target displacement is 55 tons – just as a comparison, the recently launched, Baltic 110 Zemi displaces 95 tons.

Jarkko Jämsén, the Finnish concept designer who developed Raven with her owner and is responsible for the yacht’s styling, explained that they were keen to combine the need for weight saving with the opportunity to expose the remarkable carbon structure of the yacht to create a unique interior design aesthetic.

A key part of Baltic’s effort in the Raven project has been directed at weight saving and control. Apart from using the lightest possible carbon/Nomex combinations in the yacht’s main structures, every item, down to the last pipe clip, nut and bolt, has been assessed. The naval architects and structural engineers behind her are Botin Partners and PURE Design respectively, both at the leading edge of America’s Cup design.

“ This project undoubtedly represents one of the biggest challenges Baltic Yachts has ever embraced, ” said Baltic Yachts Executive Vice President, Henry Hawkins. “ But that is what we do – we have a long history of bringing leading edge innovation to the fore. We are surrounded and supported by a dedicated team who are led by Garth Brewer, who oversaw Visione’s construction here at Baltic 21 years ago and still keeps her on the pace. ”

Baltic 111 Raven: Experience to take on the challenge

Jarkko Jämsén emphasised the importance of choosing Baltic Yachts to build Raven. “ The company was selected because we believe it has the courage, experience and track record to take on the challenge. Calculating weight and Baltic’s well-known ability to hit displacement targets were critical. ”

For Sam Evans, project manager, and Mattias Svenlin, project co-ordinator for Raven, the challenge was to construct a superyacht much lighter than anything previously built by Baltic – yachts that were already considered light in the sphere of Superyachting. “ Mattias’ experience, creativity and flexibility, supported by a dedicated production team combined with Sam’s communication skills, have been key factors in the overall success of the build, ” added Garth Brewer.

“ This is another level entirely in terms of weight saving, ” said Mattias. To ensure as fair a hull finish as possible, a carbon mould was preferred to reduce excessive heat differences and thus distortion in the curing process. “ We re-assessed the hull coating schedule to reduce weight using light primers and filler instead of Ultra-Build to reach the acceptable industry standards – in effect coatings do the job of filler,” he said. Using this technique in a superyacht is unprecedented .”

Hull and deck construction use carbon IM fibre pre-preg, employing the highest quality fibres on the market, and a Kevlar honeycomb sandwich throughout.  The owner has accepted that sailing Baltic 111 Raven at speed will be noisy so the elimination of any attempt to sound deaden represents a huge weight saving. “ But we have created an interior finish with special surfaces affecting the acoustics to ‘soften’ the noise a little, ” said Mattias.  He pointed out, however, that all the adhesives suitable for bonding this material to bulkheads were compared for weight, the final choice resulting in a saving of 6kg. In terms of the Raven project that’s a big number.

100 grams off every bracket

Baltic Yachts has revisited all weight saving opportunities shaving 100 grams off every carbon pipe bracket, making carbon cable trays even lighter and switching out steel hydraulic pipework for lighter hosing which has saved 160kg. “ We’ve even reduced the weight of the shower door from 13.5kg per m² to just 2.3kg m², ” said Mattias.

Even as Raven neared completion, the Baltic build team were continuing to identify weight-saving opportunities including replacing the metal clips holding the lightweight carbon tubular accommodation framework in place. “Östen Sundelin, one of the team, reckoned we could 3D print them in a far lighter material so we went ahead and made that saving,” said Mattias. In-house 3D printing is increasingly used at Baltic to fashion custom items to save weight and optimize design, the complex titanium head of the yacht’s retractable propulsion system (RPS) mechanism being a case in point.

Lightweight interior design

Raven’s interior, conceptualized by Jarkko Jämsén, is unusually comprehensive for a high-performance superyacht of this type, but the use of ultra-lightweight rattan deck-heads and bulkhead finishes, exposed carbon and a lack of coatings help keep weight down along with Nomex cores in structural bulkheads. All the frameworks for the furniture, for example, are made from hollow carbon piping, its lightweight combining with a modern take on style guaranteed to turn heads.

The focal point of the accommodation is centered around the glazed sides of the large cockpit, dubbed the ‘bird’s nest’, which forms a type of inverted observation ‘dome’ allowing occupants to view the carbon-dominated accommodation. The glazing is in fact Perspex, which is considerably lighter than toughened glass, representing an overall saving of 250kg. It is reinforced with a criss-cross pattern of carbon mullions which gave it its bird’s nest description. Further weight saving is achieved by minimizing the amount of caulking between each pane and replacing some of it with a foam fillet.

On deck, attention is immediately drawn to the cockpit because, apart from its aforementioned aesthetics, it also converts to a semi-covered, hardtop-protected seating area. The forward section of the cockpit hinges up and aft in ‘clam-shell’ style to affect this unique conversion.

Perspex is also used in numerous deck prisms which still use a centuries-old design to efficiently illuminate the accommodation with natural light, but are vastly lighter by replacing bronze and glass with carbon and Perspex.

Spacious saloons are located fore and aft of the bird’s nest, the forward one laid out with a galley and dining areas and the aft space dedicated to the owner’s sleeping accommodation, with a large double centreline berth folding up against an interior bulkhead when the yacht is in performance mode. There’s also a passage berth or sea cabin to starboard.

It is not often one can describe a head and shower compartment as a work of art, but in the Baltic 111 Raven’s case numerous hydraulic rams mounted inside some of the complex carbon reinforcement, including the A frame taking the load of the deck stepped mast, have been exposed by inserting Perspex inspection covers. So, you can take a shower while watching the upper and lower deflector rams in action or the downhaul ram for the 7m long reaching strut, which is used to optimise headsail sheet leads!

Further weight saving has been achieved by modifying a custom bamboo seat in one of the shower/head compartments with carbon tubing made to look like bamboo, complete with its characteristic rings and a remarkably realistic painted finish.

The aft section of the yacht is largely empty, but forward there’s accommodation for four guests in two cabins and extensive crew accommodation including a captain’s cabin.

For propulsion and generating, the design team settled on a diesel-electric hybrid system for lower emissions and efficient weight distribution. It’s a solution Baltic Yachts has been perfecting for a number of years. A Swiss 130kW Phi-Power AG electric propulsion motor is located just aft of amidships and twin 80kW Yanmar generators, optimized to save weight, are located further aft. These charge two battery banks which power the main propulsion motor, hydraulic pumps and accommodation services. The drive train is completed by a retractable propeller designed with carbon blades and a titanium hub.

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Baltic Yachts

Baltic Yachts has been building high-tech, semi-custom sailing yachts, and custom superyachts since the early 1970s. While working for Finnish shipyard Nautor, five young builders decided to split from the firm and create their own legacy. Baltic Yachts was created to fill the niche of high-quality sailing yachts for racing applications. Baltic Yachts would continue to innovate with lightweight materials such as carbon fiber and new building techniques to reduce weight.

2 years later in 1975, Baltic Yachts would be acquired by Finnish shipbuilder Hollming Ltd., enabling expansion of its marketing efforts.

• Year Established 1973
• Shipyard Location Finnland
• Boat Construction
• Boat Category Luxury Yacht, Superyachts , Megayachts

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BALTIC 175 PINK GIN INNOVATION ON A LARGER SCALE

The spectacular and innovative silver-hulled sloop was launched in july 2017, following a complex build programme of precision engineering and building. Pink Gin is not only the largest carbon fibre sloop in the world, but also displays some of the most innovative features seen in a sailing yacht, including two opening balconies set into the topsides, Baltic Yachts’ revolutionary Force Feedback Steering System and an 18-ton carbon composite hull and deck shell built to the highest degree of accuracy.

This is the second largest yacht Baltic Yachts has built in its history and is a perfect example of the company’s ability to innovate on a large scale using their in depth skills in composite construction.

• topsides openings forming a balcony in the owner's suite and side entry to the main lobby
• force feedback steering system simulating handling characteristics through feather-light steering
• 18-ton carbon composite hull and deck, precision built in three parts
• tall sail plan for excellent performance in moderate and light wind conditions
• three-cockpit deck lay out with chandelier illumination
• accommodation for 10 guests plus owner in ultra-luxurious cabins
• 67.9m sloop rig 16m taller than a J-class rig
• 71-ton lift keel with torpedo bulb

GROUND BREAKING CARBON SUPER SLOOP

Baltic 175 Pink Gin represents what Baltic Yachts stands for in terms of build quality, advanced construction techniques and special features, which have challenged our engineers and designers to make the seemingly impossible possible.

The project brought together the same design team responsible for the Baltic 152 Pink Gin, benefitting from the performance pedigree of naval architects judel/vrolijk & co. and the inventiveness of Design Unlimited for the stunning interior and cockpit ergonomics.

DELIVERY YEAR

MAIN SPECIFICATIONS

• L.O.A. 53.90 m
• L.W.L. 45.27 m
• BEAM 9.55 m
• DRAFT 4.50/5.56/7.00 m
• DISPLACEMENT 250 tons
• BALLAST 79 tons
• NAVAL ARCHITECT judel/vrolijk & co
• INTERIOR DESIGN Design Unlimited

SEE VIDEO OF BOTH INTERIOR AND SAILING HERE

INTERIOR IMAGES

ULTIMATE PICTURE WINDOW - TOPSIDES HULL OPENINGS

Living al fresco is no longer restricted to being on deck. At the touch of a button Baltic 175 Pink Gin’s owner can access the fresh air and sea as a panel in the topsides is hydraulically opened to create the ultimate picture window and a personal bathing platform, literally adding a new dimension to the owner’s suite.

A similar arrangement exists on the port side of the main saloon, providing a stunning entry to the yacht’s large lobby. Each door becomes part of the yacht’s load bearing structure through their locking pins and hinges. Finite element analysis was used to ensure class approved engineering.

THE MAKING OF A SILVER GIANT

What people say about our yachts

Few if any yacht builders in the world can match Baltic Yachts for its ability to construct to the very highest standards in advanced carbon composites, a prerequisite for a high performance sailing yacht in which strict weight control and precision engineering are critical.

Prof. Hans Georg Näder

Pink Gin perfectly demonstrates what Baltic Yachts is capable of in terms of technical excellence, problem solving, finish to the highest standard and producing a yacht which reflects precisely the wishes and dreams of the owner.

Henry Hawkins

WHAT'S INSIDE

FORCE FEEDBACK STEERING SYSTEM

Large yachts need hydraulic power to turn their rudders. A drawback is that the helmsman loses the ‘feel’ in the helm, something that lies at the heart of enjoying the sailing experience. We have found a way to re-create this feel to keep the owner in touch with his yacht. Together with experts from the automotive industry we have designed a steering system that mimics the side forces on the rudder and transfers the ‘feel’ electronically to the yacht’s wheel

MORE VIDEOS

The Baltic 175 Pink Gin, the world’s largest carbon fibre sloop, embarked on an unusual maiden voyage – by road. She was safely transported over a distance of 21km by a specialist low-loader from Baltic Yachts’ inland manufacturing site at Bosund to our waterfront yard in Jakobstad in preparation for final fit out and launching.

Baltic 175 Pink Gin was successfully launched at our waterfront facility in Pietarsaari in May 2017.

LEAVING FINLAND

Baltic 175 Pink Gin started her maiden voyage in July 2017 when she was delivered.

WELCOME HOME

Baltic 175 Pink Gin returned to Finland for some scheduled maintenance in April 2020. Every bit as breathtaking as the day she was launched, the boat arrived looking immaculate after an uneventful transatlantic, having participated in the Superyacht Challenge Antigua in March. The video shows her approach and arrival in Pietarsaari, where we welcomed the crew with a traditional Finnish sauna and refreshments.

MORE ABOUT US

The Unseen Quality

Quality is key in every yacht we build at Baltic Yachts but much of it is unseen. This video captures...

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