They say behind the construction of every yacht there is a story and in the building of Meira it is one of great perseverance.
Ocean Independence the brokers now selling this brand new 50m Turkish new build were not even around as a company when I first boarded the hull of what is now a yacht called Meira.
Back in 2003 she was already a great big brut of a thing and at 50 metres, was still considered to be a very large yacht when it came to motor sailers.
Her enormous and somewhat ugly steel counter stern overhung the shed in which she was stored and was already rusting as a result of exposure to the elements.
I can only hope that the yacht has since been fitted with new engines and generators. Back in 2003 the two 1050 HP Mitsubishi marine diesel looked hopelessly small for a yacht of this size and were more suited to power a Japanese fishing boat than a large sailing yacht. The four Iveco generators did not seem to me to have enough muscle to power a yacht of this size even back then. With yachts ever more function-hungry some 15 years later, this is likely to be an even greater problem now if not already attended to.
In 2003 she was known by the name of Great Nautilus, and was due for launch in the middle of 2009. Designed and styled by, Evan K. Marshall the overall concept for a striking schooner was being created by Sultan Marine who at that time owned the build facility in Bodrum.
Now well over a decade later we are advised that Meira will be ready in late Summer 2017.
Neta Marine shipyard in Turkey, a company specialising in the construction of traditional wooden Bodrum gulets, modern steel yacht sand aluminium motor yachts are now listed as the yachts builders.
Started in 1999, the shipyard is built on an area of 3,795 square metres, Three sheds each of 962 square metres provides facilities for the construction of a 60 metre yachts and a further 2,405 square metres of hard standing overs storage ashore for over wintering.
The yacht’s exterior styling blends the grace of a classic sailing yacht with the presence, and authority of a motor yacht. Because of her hull shape, which is loosely based on classic Mediterranean lines and features a massive counter stern, she contains an interior layout comparable to a motor yacht of considerably greater length.
This is where she departs from her better known international motor sailing counterparts, in that she will offer a spacious and indoor/outdoor dining area in the aft section, a main salon and dining room with floor to ceiling windows to give panoramic views of the sea, a full beam upper deck sky lounge and bar for those more intimate private times. The main deck owner’s suite offers over 35 square metres of space and features a separate office, his and hers bathrooms and walk-in wardrobes.
On the lower deck the voluminous hull allows for three king-size VIP and two twin guest cabins, all in all giving her a total guest capacity of twelve. The style of her interior, like her exterior, fuses traditional style with the contemporary, using cherry, poplar burl and onyx with marble mosaics, modern fittings, accessories and home grown Turkish materials.
The hull features port & starboard hydraulic fold down sea platforms and the special keel design and ballasting is designed to provide significantly superior stability both under sail and at anchor, a benefit additionally enhanced by her broad beam.
Her original sail plan, had been created by UK Halsey Sailmakers and provided over 900 square metres of sail area and with minimal heel. Designers hope she will achieve top speeds approaching 15 knots under sail.
Her styling and detailing strikes a balance between new and old, where the emphasis on new accounts for all her systems related to navigation, communication, sail control and deck fittings.
Peter Hurzeler at Ocean Independence has the yacht list for sale at €15,500,000
Specification (issued in 2003)
- Length overall: 49.5m plus 5m bowsprit
- Beam-max: 9.5 m
- Tonnage: 491gt
- Draught: 3.8 m
- Styling Evan K Marshall
- Interior design Aleks Banakis
- Exterior design Kerim Acar
- Naval architecture Tansel Ergun
- Classification: RINA A1/100
- Hull material: Steel ABS GR-A (ERD 3701)
- Engine: 2×1050 HP Mitsubishi marine diesel
- Reduction gear ratio: 4:1
- Speed max: 15 knots
- Speed cruising: 12 knots
- Range at 12 kts: 3,000 miles
- Fuel capacity: 40 tons
- Main generator: 3 x 85 kW Iveco
- Emergency generator 1 x 35 kW Iveco
- Voltage: 24 v and 220 v
- Air conditioning: Coolmar
- Water makers: 2 x SK capacity 250 litres/hour each
- Sewerage: Hamann MARPOL compliant
- Fresh water capacity: 25 tons
- Grey water capacity: 10 tons
- Black water capacity: 8 tons
- Rig: Three-masted schooner
- Main mast height: 45 m
- Sail manufacture: UK Halsey Istanbul
- Total sail area: 900 m² (approx)
- Sail material: Dacron
- Rigging: Electronic furling
- Masts: Aluminium fore, main and mizzen
- Hydraulic power: 1 x 165 HP Fiat Iveco
- Thrusters: Data-Hydro
- Windlass: Data
- Chain size: 24 mm