Nikata, in the category of modern sailboats
Exterior Styling : Nauta Design
Builder : Baltic Yachts
The judges felt that they were judging apples and oranges in this category. So they decided to judge the modern yachts separately.
For the Nikata, the owner's specifications were to imagine a yacht capable of participating in regattas, but especially of winning them! A way of asking for a yacht used to podiums, a result he was used to with his previous boat.
To achieve this performance on a large boat, the Judel /Vrolijk architects started with what they already knew about fast hulls and refined it through CFD study to meet the owner's demand while keeping an attractive look and cruising comfort for all sea conditions.
In order to offer stiffness to the canvas and to remain in the port realities, Rolf Vrolijk chose a lifting keel with stainless steel fins and a lead bulb. The draft goes from 3.65 meters in the raised position to 5.85 m unfolded. The sail plan developed with the help of VPP studies leads to the installation of a bowsprit and a foresail for racing which adds 73 m2 of sail area and is removed for cruising.
The deck is well laid out for racing with good separation between the helm stations and the jib or gennaker winches. Forward are the rest areas for the guests.
