Perini Navi launches its 41st blue-water sailing yacht: The 45-Metre sloop Helios

Helios, the result of a collaboration between Perini Navi’s naval architects and Ron Holland, is the second steel-hulled 45-Metre yacht to be launched by this Italian shipyard. The third yacht in this class will be delivered to her owners in Spring 2009.
The extra displacement and, hence, increased wetted surface area of the steel hull was ingeniously absorbed into the design to ensure that added drag was kept to an absolute minimum. This was achieved by incorporating fine entry at the bow and a careful balance between generous beam in the aft sections and a long, clean run to the extended counter.
Efficient appendages, including a rudder with a relatively high aspect ratio and a drop keel, and a large sail area provides the best possible sailing performance for this ocean cruising yacht that boasts a particularly large internal volume.
The Perini Navi-built aluminium mast that rises over 50 metres above the waterline carries a sail area of almost 1,200m2 which is handled by seven of Perini Navi’s reel captive winches. Perini Navi electric furlers handle the in-boom furling system that stores the 432m2 main sail within the carbon fibre boom.
Helios has two main differences in comparison with her sister-ship Heritage, the first yacht in the 45-Metre series that was launched in May 2006:

  • The (36m2) fly bridge now offers a comfortable sunbathing area aft and a helm station forward.
  • The opening stern reveals a structural staircase that descends to a 7m2 swimming platform which complements lateral shell door on the yacht’s port side.

The interior of Helios, designed in-house by the Perini Navi Design Department, is a pure classic. Mainly fashioned from mahogany and mahogany briar, the cabinetwork features an octagonal motif, a geometrical figure created specifically for the owners, is repeated on many of the yacht’s fittings, including handles, table bases, lights and decorations.
The owner and guest quarters, are particularly versatile in that each stateroom can be transformed into a variety of configurations.
Helios is the third sailing yacht to be launched by Perini Navi in 2007. Selene, 56-Metre ketch was launched in January, and Tamsen was launched in April.
Within the next 36 months Perini Navi will deliver 10 further blue-water sailing yachts to their owners:

5 x 56-Metre ketches
1 x 56-Metre sloop
1 x 50-Metre ketch
1 x 45-Metre sloop
2 x 38-Metre sloop

S/Y Helios main characteristics:

LOA:                 45.30m
LWL:                 36.99m
Beam:                 9.73m
Draught, keel up:         3.90m
Draught, keel down:         8.75m
Max displacement:         358 tonnes
Engine:             1 x 1.276 CV Caterpillar C32 diesel
Max speed:             13.5 knots
Range:             4.100nm at 10.5 knots
Fuel:                 31.250 litres
Water:                 8.160 litres
Total sail area:         1.173m2
Air draught:             52,41m
Guest:                 12
Crew:                 6
Classifications/Certifications:     ABS: A1 Yachting Service – AMS + MCA

Related Yachts: 
Helios