It is hard to innovate in a segment in which everything seems to already have been done. The sailing superyacht is one such area. But somehow Solaris has created something very new in the new Solaris 111.
The idea behind this particular craft was to focus entirely on the owner’s needs. The result is a master cabin that extends aft into a private seafront terrace, creating an unusually large space and a completely unprecedented layout. The figures speak for themselves. The new Solaris has double the space of other boats of these dimensions (33.77m in length, 7.9 in the beam) whose master cabins are usually a mere 20 sqm. That means that the one on the Solaris 111 is 40 sqm which, added to aft terrace area and direct access to the cabin through spectacular glass doors, makes it very much a suite. The owner and his partner even have a bathroom each. The master suite departs from layout convention too.
There are wide unobstructed walkways right around the bed. This particular owner needs to be able to work remotely in peace and quiet. So the desk is a work station and the sofa a chaise longue to which he can retire to set his thoughts in order before taking action. But reserving such a large amount of space for the master does not mean that other spaces have had to suffer either above or below deck. The interiors in the Solaris 111 span a massive 167 sqm and meticulous optimisation of the onboard plant – notorious for eating up space – has yielded fine results.
Outside, the main deck is all one level which makes moving around it easier. The flush deck arrangement has created more guest space too with only the harmonious deckhouse breaking the flow. Having this incredible amount of space aboard a 33m boat is due in great part to the talents of Argentinean designer Javier Soto Acebal, a former protégé of archistar German Frers, the pen behind the Swans. Soto Acebal’s magic touch is palpable but the 111 is also an authentic Solaris, which means it is as good to look at as to sail.
“When you see a beautiful boat, you don’t ask yourself when it was built. It’s just beautiful, end of story. That is what we’ve tried to do with this yacht. And without being influenced by trends that might only last a few seasons. Beautiful and with a recognisable soul. A yacht that sparks an emotional reaction”. This was how Lorenzo Mascarucci, product manager at Performance Boats, Solaris Yachts’ superyacht division, summed up the 111 to us.
Solaris is no newcomer to the superyacht world, however. Its composite production facility has produced several 90’ to 110’ craft for Wally Yachts. It knows all about innovative construction too and has produced a yacht built from prepreg carbon using the Sprint process with a 45mm Corecell core and post-cured at 90°C (for better sound insulation). This yielded a 78-tonne displacement with 28 of those accounted for the bulb keel, lifting telescopic keel (6.05m to 3.9m), a 43.6m Southern Spars mast, Magic Trim by Cariboni for the sheets, and deck gear by the likes of Harken and Ubi Maior. Which is about as much as any expert owner could hope to ask for in a superyacht. Sailing performance will be top class too as the Solaris 111 has a lighter displacement than her competitors yet is just as solid, and packs a powerful 645 sqm sail plan. Aesthetically, one of the Solaris 111’s great strengths is its low, sleek deckhouse that lifts its side lines. Mascarucci explained how much work went into creating that subtlety.
“Normally in Raised Saloon boats with the engine room under the saloon, the deckhouse is very obvious and bulky. But we worked very hard with Soto and MYT and feel that we have solved that issue with this new design”. Different materials are used in the various spaces: Canaletto walnut, fabrics, Alcantara. We used design cleverly organised spaces, finishes and wood grains to demonstrate that a sailing superyacht can be just as sophisticated and comfortable as a motor one”.
