Twizzie

The sea trial was pubblished on Superyacht 30 – spring 2011

Launched in the course of summer 2010, Twizzle is very much drawn up following the owner’s guidelines and Redman Whitley Dixon’s capable project management team which was responsible for the exterior lines and Dubois Naval Architects oversaw naval architecture.

Twizzle sports an overall length of 57.5 metres, drawn up to the owner’s specifications with: great performance under sail, uncompromising comfort even in long passages, shallow draught, and the mod cons usually found on motor yachts.

As if this were not enough, the list of requests included specific aesthetics such as a low freeboard with extended lines to convey an elegant timeless look about the yacht’s profile for it to remain actual and to last beyond any logical trend.

The end result is proof enough of the exceptional know how put in from Redman Whitley Dixon, Dubois Naval architects, and Todhunter Earle for the interior design work. Both the owner and project design team concurred that Twizzle should be built by the Dutch yard Royal Huisman.

As we have already seen, the owner requested among other a low extended freeboard which was successfully accomplished in spite of a sun deck situated on top of the coach roof. Of course this is no original idea but the striking, innovative solutions found on Twizzle are others that were specially designed for this yacht. One of the easier ones to spot is the stern opening out to double as a beach to which tenders even large ones may tie up to.

The sophisticated mechanics of it were entirely designed and built inside the yard. This complex structure considering the architectural work and the opening and closing of the whole is surely up to its line of duty in accommodating arriving and departing guests as well as the launching and recovery of its tenders from the garage situated in the stern. In fact the stern platform can be lowered below sea level to enhance the tenders’ launching and recovery.

Royal Huisman’s management defined Twizzle as having been a very stimulating project in as much as the owner played a central role in developing the project work, supplying technical aspects and choices, as well as design input.

The owner’s significant experience has surely contributed in no mean way in developing a fly bridge for the first time for a sail yacht. Perhaps it is not just chance that among the sailing yachts making up the owner’s experience there’s also a 47 metre Perini Navi. So as to obtain the required results Dubois in fact reduced the wet area of the yacht below waterline and installed a minimum 3.8 metre draught retracting keel.

Obviously to be in line with these decisions, further solutions had to be explored to obtain a well balanced hull, to this end composite material was used extensively to rig the yacht and to equip it above the waterline.

Such choices paid off inasmuch as “optimising “ the hull translated into a 120 t ballast which ensures stiffness and great stability. As for the rig, it sports a 62 metre main mast which enables the yacht to go through the Panama canal and to hoist 1,780 square metres of canvass. Justin Redman has successfully managed to blend a sun deck into the superstructure without spoiling the requested low profile.

Thanks to ample glazed panelling the interiors are bright and well aired, furthermore the structure hosts a half deck dedicated to the bridge area which has given the interiors additional space for a larger living area inside situated on the intermediate deck between the lower and upper one.

There’s a lounge hosting a U shaped sofa and accesses to the area below with a bathroom and shower cabinet, office with divans and multi- media gear.

The guests’ area is amidships, it is made up of three double cabins plus a fourth with twin beds all of which have their own dedicated bathroom and large ports built into the topsides. The owner’s stateroom is aft of the guests’ area comprising a lounge to relax in an L shaped sofa, a large bathroom with tub and shower and wardrobes.

The whole of the bow section is dedicated to the crew which is adequately comfortable even over extended time. The crew quarters are made up of four double cabins each with dedicated bathroom plus a fifth set separately from the rest of the crew for the captain, plus a canteen, mess and lounge, a large fully equipped galley and finally a laundry area.

The main deck is for the enjoyment of all guests with a saloon amidships benefitting from the beamy superstructure and natural light from the ample glazed panels. This area well lends itself to view films from and enjoy other multi-media equipment.

Towards the stern there’s a day head and lateral passageways leading to the sun deck in addition to a central ally which leads to the main living room area. The dining area is situated externally on this same deck but is covered over by the overhang of the superstructure situated above the sloping sides of which ensure protection from stiffer weather and host divans and access to the deck above.

As far as the décor and interior styling is concerned all is rationally proportioned, modern without frills based on contrasting white with pale and dark wood work which conveys a pleasant bright perception of the space available.

Our tour comes to end at the top, on the fly-bridge where two lounge areas with L shaped divans and coffee tables greet guests, in addition to two further sofas in the bow area set across. As for the tenders there’s room for two large RIBs as well as space for several toys stowed in the stern garage: a windsurf, a kayak, a small sail boat and various other gear for water sports.

This yacht well lends itself to charter parties, with its comfortable accommodation and many accessories dedicated to relaxation and entertainment, and enthusing sailing performance, but also details of importance such as a regal lateral boarding ladder as an alternative to the stern one obtained when opening up the stern transom and much more.

For further information Royal Huisman BV; Flevovweg 1, 8325 PA, Vollenhove, Holland +31 527243131 [email protected] www.royalhuisman.com

by Angelo Colombo, photos by Bugsy Gedlek and Ray Main