Code name: Project SY 07. Behind this acronym lies a 53-metre sloop, commissioned from the Vitters shipyard by an experienced owner and sailing connoisseur. A project born with a clear ambition: to combine memory and speed, tradition and performance. Dykstra Naval Architects, a heavyweight in international yacht design, was called upon to design it. For this superyacht, they looked to the pilot cutters of the early 20th century to capture their essence and translate it into contemporary language. The result? Sleek but never harsh lines, measured proportions, and a generous stern overhang that, under sail, provides a rare balance between strength and lightness.
‘The goal is to create a balanced, efficient and highly responsive yacht,’ explains Mark Leslie-Miller, a partner in the firm. ‘We worked on hydrodynamics and weight control to ensure solid performance in a wide range of winds.’ The hull, inspired by vintage cutters, blends technique and poetry: dynamic when accelerating, composed when sailing at a steady pace. The numbers tell the story. Target displacement of 230 tonnes, 253 GT overall.
Telescopic keel capable of extending the draught from 4.5 to 6.9 metres to combine accessibility and performance. Carbon mast and boom, with a height just below the Panamax limit of 62.5 metres, supporting 1,200 square metres of sail with a square-top mainsail. But more than the data, it is the harmony between them that defines its character. It will be built by Vitters, synonymous with excellence in custom sailing, Dykstra’s natural partner in terms of design culture and engineering precision.
This collaboration promises not only quality construction, but also absolute consistency between vision and realisation. While the exterior tells a story of reinterpreted tradition, the interior writes a new chapter. Vripack received a clear brief: to evoke the spirit of classic yachts from the 1920s and 1930s without falling into nostalgia. ‘Reinterpreting does not mean copying,’ emphasises Marnix J. Hoekstra, co-creative director of the studio. ‘One of the key elements will be the bar in the main saloon, which is set to become an iconic feature.’
The result is a warm and sophisticated environment, made up of bespoke craftsmanship and consistent details, capable of combining memory and contemporaneity with naturalness. The deck layout, panelling and woodwork are reminiscent of the golden age of sailing, but with a contemporary lightness. It is a yacht designed to be shared: a sunset sail with the family, a long ocean voyage, a dinner at anchor after a day of strong winds. On board, eight guests in four cabins will be assisted by a crew of seven. Technical and management supervision will be entrusted to Van Ineveld & Co, ensuring control over specifications, budget and timelines. The keel is scheduled to be laid in January 2027, with delivery in February 2029. Lloyd’s classified and flying the Cayman Islands flag, Project SY 07 will not only be a new yacht on the international scene. It will be a statement of intent: to demonstrate that tradition can evolve without losing its identity, that performance can coexist with elegance, and that sailing, when designed with intelligence and respect for its history, remains the purest and most powerful gesture on the sea.
Matteo Zaccagnino
