NILAYA SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETES HER FIRST TRANSATLANTIC CROSSING

Nilaya sailed to Antigua, late in November after a ten day Atlantic crossing, matching all the owner’s expectations for speed, robustness, reliability, and silence and with the satisfaction of her pro race team head Bouwe Bekking as well as of full-time skipper Romke Loopik.

Nilaya’s racy, low profile, straight bow and wide aft sections echo the look of her owner’s previous yacht while communicating even greater speed and performance

Instantly recognisable for her low, modern lines and artfully concealed deckhouse, Nilaya is a yacht to excite the heart of any true yachting fan. Her proportions are carefully worked, with a modern plumb bow and a straight sheer that slides gently down to her broad, open transom. An exquisite custom carbon sloop rig gives her Panamax air draft and the potential to set an extraordinary press of sail. She is capable of effortless pace under sail, achieving 17 knots on a broad reach in just 18 knots of wind.

She will be the world’s lightest aluminium sailing superyacht by length, rewriting the story ofhigh-performance superyachts.

Nauta has drawn on all its long experience to make Nilaya’s exterior profile as beautiful as it is pragmatic.

The coachroof blends gracefully with the sheerline, while the wide stern flies above the water, showing off the hull’s double chines. Much thought went into optimising proportions to favour a coaming to protect the guest cockpit and a bulwark to protect the aft cockpit, manoeuvring area, and side passageways.

“A wooden plinth between sections in composite and the teak deck makes them visually lighter, and also conceals the string lights that illuminate the deck at night,” says Massimo Gino, co-founder of Nauta. “Teak inserts on the bulwarks, coamings, and coachroof further enrich the deck.”

Exterior social spaces are legion on this yacht, and designed with a telling eye for detail. Take the main guest cockpit under the shade of the carbon hardtop. Sun loungers aft transform into chaise longues, which can be adjusted to match the heel of the yacht. There’s also a full-sized dining table for up to 14 and two further low coffee tables, all protected.

Nilaya is just starting out in her long career as a bluewater cruiser, but it is already clear that she is an exceptional yacht. Her owner pushed for the highest quality throughout the build and he is there in every facet of her design, from the curved Rondal spreaders to the detailing of the interior. Her world-girdling program is still under wraps, but hopes are high for an appearance at the St Barths Bucket in March 2024.