Slovenian company Seaway, who represents the well respected Scandinavian brand name Shipman, celebrated the launch of the Shipman 63 sailing yacht in Portoroz on 19th July. The new yacht follows in the footsteps of the prestigious Shipman 50 sailing yacht, voted as the Yacht of the Year 2003 overall. Teams of well-respected experts added further innovation guaranteeing more comfort and even better sailing characteristics, not only inshore but also when crossing oceans. The astonishing point about this almost 20 meters long sailing yacht, besides it’s epoxy-carbon construction, is it’s ability to be safely navigated solo.
The world premier of the Shipman 63, already having been nominated for the European Yacht of the Year 2005, was visited and honored by many important political representatives, ambassadors and businessmen. At the break of the champagne bottle against the hull, runner Merlene Ottey became the boat’s godmother and, together with singer Vlado Kreslin, this prestige boat was christened for it’s future life on the waves.
Frenchman Michel Desjoyeaux, the legendary ocean crossing solo sailor and well respected expert, provided expertise in all issues concerning the Shipman 63 single-handed sailing aspects, from the cockpit to the inside navigation area. Michel Desjoyeaux was given the honor of being the first to take the Shipman 63 out on to Slovenian waters, demonstrating the single handed capability of the yacht.
The unique event of the launch of the Shipman 63 was broadcasted live from Portoroz over the internet on both www.shipman.dk and www.seaway.si.
Following the tremendous success with the Shipman 50 sailing yacht, which was voted European Yacht of the Year 2003 overall, Slovenian company Seaway developed the Shipman 63. The new yacht continues in the tradition of her smaller sister - it is light, strong, easy to handle and extremely fast. The main objective of this innovative Shipman 63 project was to produce a transoceanic sailing yacht whilst retaining the easy handling, minimum crew characteristics of her smaller sister the Shipman 50.
The first Shipman 63 is mainly based on the smaller and extremely successful Shipman 50 as it continues the tradition of a panoramic view from the saloon, is easy to handle with a minimum crew and has excellent sailing capabilities due to its epoxy and carbon hull. The important differences in the Shipman 63 is a lifting keel giving the best of both worlds – superb sailing and safety whilst at sea but when it is time to come into harbour choices are not limited due to depth. Also included on the 63 is a dinghy garage in the rear and a separate cabin, designed for professional crew, in the front.
The development team contained respected experts with different specialties. Michel Desjoyeaux, the world legend in single handed sailing was involved in designing all areas related to the single handed side of the yacht, from the layout of the cockpit to the navigation areas inside. Giorgio Provinciali and Michel Kermarec, old friends from the last America’s Cup, helped to optimize the hydrodynamics (CFD method, mathematical analyses in fluid dynamics) and produce some unique sailing characteristics. Due to the increased length of the yacht a deeper draft was necessary for the yacht to reach it’s full potential. But as the yacht is also designed for cruising it was necessary to build in a lifting keel system, reducing the draft to 1.8m therefore allowing safer navigation in shallow waters. The Shipman 63 continues with three cabins, the same as with the Shipman 50 but for additional comfort gives an optional cabin for a skipper, a wider owner’s cabin and a separate shower cabin in the owner’s bathroom. A change from the Shipman 50 is a larger cockpit allowing twin steering wheels, giving easier movement around them.
Extra confirmation of this innovative Slovenian project is the nomination of the Shipman 63 for the European Yacht of the Year 2005 along with the best of Europe. This award was won 2 years ago by the Shipman 50. More information about the new Shipman 63 can be found on www.shipman.dk.
With its specific sailing and cruising characteristics the new Shipman 63 is suitable to serve the most exacting sailors, those who have spent most of their active life on sailing regattas but in their later years prefer a more comfortable sail. The Shipman 63 has not been made just for coastal sailing and has been specifically set up for crossing oceans.
Published: 2005
Photo: Studio 7, Jurij Korenc
| Technical details | |
| Producer: | SHIPMAN (DK) |
| LOA: | 63'00 ft |
| LOA: | 19,2 m |
| Waterline lenght: | 17,5 m |
| Beam: | 4,95 m |
| Draught: | 1,8/3 m |
| Ballast: | 6500 kg |
| Displacement: | 16500 kg |
| Fuel tank: | 910 l |
| Water tank: | 440 l |
| Septic water tank: | 80 l |
| Berths: | 6+2 |
| Cabins: | 3+1 |
| Mainsail: | 101 m2 |
| Genoa: | 140/180 m2 |
| Jib: | 94 m2 |
| Spinnaker: | 312 m2 |
Related articles
