Ganesha 46

The sea trial was pubblished in Superyacht 46 – Summer 2015

A meticulous exterior design and harmonious welcoming and pleasing interiors enhance a certain joie de vivre. More than a thousand square metres of canvass make up this sailing yacht’s rig while a responsive rudder makes her easy to steer. This 46 metre came off Ed Dubois’s drawing board in England for Vitters shipyards. This yacht is a prime example of what a modern sailing superyacht has in store for a discerning yachtsman.

The chosen name for this yacht derives from Sanskrit where gana and isha, form Ganesha which is one of the most venerated Indian divinities. Literally “Lord of the ganas” but also “Lord of created categories”. Undoubtedly an appropriate word for this splendid 46 metre built by Vitters Shipyard in Holland. Dubois Naval Architects carried out the project work for the exteriors while the comfortable interior design came from Newcruise. Modern elegant and performing lines are some of the outstanding features this yacht possesses.

Ganesha has recently won the latest Dubois Cup race which takes place on alternate years, thanks also to the organisers Namely: Yacht Club Costa Smeralda from Porto Cervo in Sardinia. “ The wanted goal was to upgrade the concepts governing sailing performance to new levels aimed at yachts of this size, while guaranteeing seaworthiness and absolute reliability while cruising in greatest possible comfort.

This project boasts the highest weight/power ratio than any other sailing yacht we have designed, to ensure maximum stability” to quote from Ed Dubois’s own words and “ thanks to the work carried out with Vitters many of the systems exploited previously on other yachts were upgraded and implemented for this one” Meticulous care went into the design work for the bow to optimize sailing performance in a head sea and as much again went into the development of the hydraulic steering system built on the premises at Vitters which allows you to manoeuvre and steer easily and because the rudder is so appreciably light and quick to respond it almost feels like steering a lifting centre board open sailing boat.

On deck there’s a wonderful carbon Bimini top which in absence of a fly-bridge ensures sporty elegance while delivering plenty of shade over the cockpit area furnished with three large sofas and dining table. This area can also be closed off with glazed panelling at the push of a button.

This option is certainly a versatile one which can be deployed anytime in any climate and circumstance thanks to an efficient air circulation system which can always keep temperatures cool. When sailing the tropics in warmer climes, the coachroof and coaming can open out to form an unexpected open plan lounge with the stern deck. A mock-up was specially built at the yard to fine tune the whole of the exterior layout and every detail therein. Glazed and tinted ports not only light up the interiors with plenty of natural light but convey to the whole area fluid harmonious structural lines.

Chemically tempered panels coated with special resin offer outstanding clear views from within. A clutter free deck meant that some of the deck gear be made to disappear from sight when not in use. Bow hatches host spare sails below in their compartments, the anchor well and so are the davit/ crane stowed out of sight. Astern of the helm controls stations, there’s a large U shaped sofa facing a foldaway terrace which when needed can be covered over by a roll-in/out sun awning with carbon frames which double as stow away spot for tender and RIBs. In fact guests have for their perusal, use of a 6.3 tender powered by a 144 hp engine, two sea-bobs and several other towable and inflatable water toys.

The rig is definitely a powerful racy one in a breeze too. The mast is so immense you’d expect to see it on a longer, larger yacht. It is made with TPT (Thin Ply Technology), it is all of 62 metres long and 69 from the yacht’s waterline delivering a great weight/power ratio.

When Compared to “Ranger” which is the largest, fastest and impressive J class ever built (1937) to win the America Cup with an LOA of 41.20 metres and a waterline under 27, a beam of 6.33 metres and a draught of 4.57 metres which amount to a displacement of 173 tons. It would take 700 square metres of canvass to exploit it to full capacity. “Ganesha” sports a waterline which is slightly more than a metre less than Ranger’s length overall, and carries 59% more canvass while it displaces only 30% more even if its beam is one and half times greater than Ranger’s. These figures are impressive to say the least. Ganesha’s lifting keel means that draught can be reduced from 6.5 metres to no more than 4.5.

As for the interior design, the owners specially requested a real sailing boat capable of great performance when racing without giving anything away in terms of welcoming comfort when cruising with family. This meant that every piece of furniture and accessory had to be measured in terms of weight and impact on performance.

The main living area is bright with natural light thanks to the size and number of window like ports, the dining area comfortably seats eight. A set of steps leads down towards the bow where a Television set is conveniently placed. The lower deck hosts a spacious lounge, a VIP suite and three double cabins all with private bathrooms, some forms of entertainment as well as wi-fi. The owner’s quarters are in the stern and run full beam. The crew area situated in the bow is made up of the captain’s cabin and three cabins with bunk beds.

Katharina Raczek interior designer well interpreted the deity after whom the yacht is named and also represents perfect balance between masculine and feminine energy in other words between strength and sweetness. She’s created bright and modern interiors dotted with continuous reminders of the culture which inspired her. Little statues stand out in the cabins, but above all some of the furniture is faced with patterns recalling elephant skin – animal which normally represents Ganesh.

The same styling is extended to the sofas in the cockpit area thereby enhancing a sense of harmonious continuity between inside and out. The scenes brightly depicted on some of the chosen fabric recall Indian rituals and processions which celebrate the triumph of good over evil.

For further information: Vitters

by Roberto Neglia

The sea trial was pubblished in Superyacht 46 – Summer 2015