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Elfje – a sailing superyacht of the ages
You would have to travel a long way to see a more magical sight on the high seas than sailing superyacht Elfje .
Given that the name of this 52m ketch, owned by Wendy Schmidt , means fairy in Dutch, this is hardly surprising. Anybody lucky enough to have seen the film of her ghosting over the waves will know there is a touch of the ethereal about her – almost other worldly.
But contained within the magic of Elfje there is a realism of a modern superyacht fit for purpose of the rigours of racing as well as the comfort and enjoyment of those on board.
The vision for Elfje largely belongs to her owner, whose love affair with sailing began after a trip to the Caribbean nearly 10 years ago. As a result of is adventure she and her husband bought a Swan 80 called Selene .
She had caught the sailing bug and when the chance to build a boat to her own specification presented itself she jumped at the chance and Elfje was conceived.
The Dutch connection came by way of an approach to renowned naval architects Hoek Design and boatbuilders Royal Huisman . The collaboration has produced a yacht of beautiful, traditional sailing aesthetics allied with the latest technology and materials.
As the founders of 11th Hour Racing, set up to work with the global sailing community to “advance solutions and practices that protect and restore the health of our oceans” it is no surprise that there is a heavy emphasis on the environmentally sustainable with Elfje . In fact, it would not be exaggerating to say that it is the essence of her.
The Hoek Design team used computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to analyse hull performance with tests being carried out at their facilities near Amsterdam. With performance paramount, trim tabs were added to the keel to help with pointing and accelerating out of tacks. Elfje also has a T-keel that lifts to deck level, reducing draught by over two metres to 4.5m (15ft). She also has a carbon rudder, rig and rigging.
Elfje has been fitted with two efficient variable speed generators and a flywheel generator. The crew have the facility to adjust the power output of the generators on board depending on the load at the time. This, paired with a highly efficient lithium-ion batteries that are able to supply power for longer, has a beneficial effect on the fuel consumption. It also improves Elfje ’s range, which cruising at 10 knots allows her to reach 3,690nm, using her single Scania DI 16 552KW engine.
The interior, styled by Redman Whiteley Dixon , is functional and elegant, unsurprising given that Elfje 's owner spent 16 years as an interior designer.
The outstanding feature is the Plexiglas saloon table that goes through the hull and enables guests to see marine life glide by. This could almost be a metaphor for Elfje , which has taken her place as part of the global aquaculture.
Oh, and as you would expect from ‘Mr and Mrs Google’, the comms past muster, too.
More about this yacht
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DATA & DIMENSIONS
The owner’s aesthetic was always focused on Beauty. Drawing on the timeless appeal and seaworthy lines of a traditional pilot cutter, the owner wanted a yacht on which you could feel close to the water with minimal deck clutter to break up the sightlines or interfere with hands-on sailing. This meant keeping the freeboards and deckhouses as low as possible, which in turn required pushing the boundaries to optimise the available space below deck.
On deck, an expanse of teak decking flows from fore to aft with borderless, flush deck hatches and under-deck hinges to add a final measure of visual simplicity. Further evidence of attentive execution can be seen with the zero maintenance practicality of electro-polished stainless steel hatch gutters and custom designed steering consoles in teak-veneered carbon composite. Parts of the deckhouse trim were left unvarnished to provide an overall feeling of ‘lightness’.
A below waterline anchor system has been custom designed and fitted to neatly disguise the anchors without sacrificing functionality and a carbon hatch on the foredeck can be lowered to conceal the profile of the yacht’s main 5.8m / 19ft Novurania tender with deep V-shaped hull form. When the tender is deployed, the recess creates a generous forward lounge area at anchor or may be closed to provide a completely flush foredeck. There are no fixed biminis to interrupt the feel of classic simplicity which carries forward to the clutter-free foredeck inviting the eye to explore the far horizon.
With energy-friendliness high on the owner’s agenda, the interior design team of Redman Whiteley Dixon and Pod Interior Style were instructed to pay equal attention to sustainability when it came to selecting the materials for the interior design, which had to draw on renewable resources. The choice of materials was further driven by the owner’s desire to totally relax on board in a natural, low-key ambience with a hint of tradition.
Traditional European walnut was used for the wide flooring boards and fiddle rail detailing, along with a modern finish of light oak that was naturally bleached and weathered then finished with citrus wax. These timbers are accentuated with satin finished nickel hardware fixtures and fittings for a warm all encompassing feel.
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WENDY’S HOUSE: ELFJE
THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT: PLAYING OUR PART
ST. BARTHS BUCKET REGATTAS: IN PICTURES
THE PERFECT COMBINATION
VOLLENHOVE: LOCATION, QUALITY, CULTURE.
WINNERS OF THE HONOURS ANNOUNCED
REGATTA SUCCESS
PASSION FOR PERFECTION
ULTIMATE HYBRID UPGRADE BY HUISFIT
WORLD’S FIRST HYBRID SUPERYACHT LAUNCHED (IN 2008)
IMAGES
COMMENTS
Elfje – a sailing superyacht of the ages. You would have to travel a long way to see a more magical sight on the high seas than sailing superyacht Elfje. Given that the name of this 52m ketch, owned by Wendy Schmidt, means fairy in Dutch, this is hardly surprising. Anybody lucky enough to have seen the film of her ghosting over the waves will ...
See Elfje brochure. The owner’s aesthetic was always focused on Beauty. Drawing on the timeless appeal and seaworthy lines of a traditional pilot cutter, the owner wanted a yacht on which you could feel close to the water with minimal deck clutter to break up the sightlines or interfere with hands-on sailing.