Review: Trinity's 157' "Janie" Tri-Deck

Trinity Yachts 157' "Janie"​

A Seductive Lady​

by Capt. Chuck Gnaegy

This Classic, American-style Tri-Deck 157’ Yacht, Janie, is the seventh in Trinity’s Victory Lane series, noted for luxuriant elegance and praised for allegiance to a particularly stylish mode. Yet Janie hersself was quick to accept a newly offered path of innovation and new ideas.​

Marked by exemplary design as well as graceful demeanor, the lady Janie has managed a few departures from the norm and even enticed a new owner who could not resist her considerable charms. When first conceived, the yacht was aptly named WHEELS, by owner Rick Hendrick, of Hendricks Motor Sports fame. A world-famous personality in the racing world whose team (think Jeff Gordon) has won seven championships in the past eight years, Rick was eager to “start the engines” on his new choice.

“Then,” according to Billy Smith, Trinity Vice President, a funny thing happened on the way to the finish line. “Two and one-half months before she was ready to launch, a new buyer came along,” Smith says, "and he fell in love with the almost completed yacht". Because the new owner of JANIE had suffered a tragic fire on their previous yacht last spring, he was looking to replace it. Working with their broker, Chris Daves, Felix Sabates approached Rick Hendrick about selling his near finished yacht and starting a new, slightly larger 161' and Rick graciously agreed.

But since yachts seem to develop their own personalities, some sycophants insist it was the yacht herself who coyly made things happen. What did happen was WHEELS became "Janie". The new owner, a huge Tennessee football fan and supporter, wanted the relatively shallow draft of JANIE, as this would permit him to eventually bring her to some Tennessee home games.

Photo Caption: Trinity Yachts has long embraced what has become its standard color -- yacht white; but this lady now flaunts a sensual ultramarine blue chemise to her hull, while maintaining a superstructure still pristine white.

Janie continued her coquettish ways with her new owner. While on the drawing board, she was planned as 155’, but her new owner slightly enhanced that figure by adding two feet to her hull with a sweeping swim platform addition. All these nifty story-book twists and turns occurred just as she changed her allegiance from the first owner, who commissioned her, to vamp the new one, who christened her with the new name. Well, isn’t that just like a…lady? Beyond those slight quirks, Janie now glitters as a classic in her own right.

Photo Caption: The Portugese walkway connects elevated seating forward of the bridge to anchorage equipment in the recessed bow station. Handrails line the sides of the non-skid cabin deck to provide securing points for fenders.

While she displays a medium draft of 7 ft.1 inch, which allows her to artfully cruise the party islands of the Bahamas; she affirms her dignity and stability for transatlantic passages. Oh my, yes, Janie is the versatile princess...

That undoubtedly evolves from her heritage, which dates back through many years of satisfied yacht owners who expect striking interiors with feature-filled volume, and expertise in yacht design. And, add construction to the strictest world standards, plus the attendance of a cadre of dedicated, widely experienced yacht builders.

Trinity’s yachts, from its initial 165’ Custom through the latest series of the 94’ Whalesong, to 115’ Leda, 124’ Victory Lane, 142’ Chevy Toy and Positive Carry, 150’ CakeWalk (former Mia Elise), Lady Linda, Noble House, Noble Spirit, and 177’ Katherine, with many versions of each in between, floating palaces up to 192’ – all reinforce Trinity’s place in yachting’s classic legends.

That story, however, covers only the recent past. Yet it continues a saga born of the most extreme conflagration of all time – World War II...

Photo Caption: On Janie’s soaring flying-bridge deck, beam-wide, a 25’ non-skid solarium offers four padded sun recliners with side tables, as well as settee/couch seating for up to ten. There is a head/shower; accompanied by a fully equipped and refrigerated bar, complete with stools. The aft area is reserved for transportation and water toys, including an 18-ft. motorized RIB standing ready for launching, along with twin PWCs and jet skis. Circular stairs lead down to the pilot house deck.

Comparable to Winston Churchill’s praise of the R.A.F. pilots who defended Britain; WWII gave rise to one of the greatest boat building stories in history. It was the Higgins Landing Craft. Higgins boats – LCIs and LCVPs --delivered thousands of soldiers to the beaches of France and countless Pacific islands. Its fast PT boats roamed the oceans with torpedoes for our enemies. A major force in winning that great conflict and saving the world, Higgins boats were praised by General Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1944: “Higgins is the man who won the war for us.” The Higgins shipyard eventually became Trinity, while it still carries on its legacy of excellence, in the building of luxury motoryachts.

Under the leadership of Felix Sabates, John Dane, and Billy Smith, the three principals who now oversee its progress, Trinity delivers a new aluminum, truly custom motoryacht, every 90 days. Sabates, a Cuban immigrant who worked his way up from a number of menial and manual labor jobs to chairman of this great company, holds to his own lofty goals: “By the end of 2004 we delivered four large yachts just this year,” he says. “Our new 250-foot outfitting bay will allow us to expand capacity to five major builds a year.”

Janie is one example of a beautiful build, but her architectural beauty is more than hull deep. Inside and out, she is dedicated to fine quality and modern, sweeping design. Her three decks are prime examples for the yachting world to follow. Interiors are standard as designed, but evolve to become strictly custom and flexible to suit any level of tastes and finshes its owner may desire. Whether a Trinity-inspired interior or headed by a client’s design team, materials and craftsmanship receive top quality attention from expert craftsmen.

Photo Caption: Janie's big, bold bow is further accentuated by the raised deck above the rub-rail. This blue-hulled beauty was clearly built for blue water conditions.

Overlooking the captain’s chair, done in medium-gloss cherry or teak, the helm cabinetry displays a complete, state-of-the-art panoply. It contains navigation, depth, and ship’s system information, backed by the grand, sloping windscreens. A day-head is also located at the starboard passageway. Passengers are free to walk behind the helm on the teak flooring, to watch close-up, and applaud each move the captain makes.

Captain’s quarters are situated with a private entrance just abaft the helm area in the pilot house. It sports a queen-size berth, private head/shower, couch, settee, and hanging lockers.

Photo Caption: Not your average passenger seats, but a curved bench that permits eye-to-eye conversation among guests, as well as a perepheral view of the bridge and the waters that lay ahead.

This versatility of Janie’s arrangements gives the owners great latitude to entertain guests. Depending upon whether they happen to be in a formal or casual mode, they may be seduced by the voluptuous open arms of the main salon. Alternatively, they are also offered the variety and intimacy of the sky lounge, plus myriad alfresco venues on the aft decks, to which the foyer and passageway enables quick access.

Photo Caption: Hand crafted, exotic adornments are no match for the woodwork and craftsmenship throughout Janie. From floors to cielings, and everything in between, she exudes only the finest materials and laborious finishes.

The rythm of Janie's beauty is set by the keys of a piano fit for Liberace... and Janie is a dame even he would date.

Featuring a combination of indoor and outdoor entertainment areas, Janie’s pilot house deck presents an aft, gargantuan, ten-place dining/gaming table with several weatherproof padded couches and recliners. Just inside the aft glass sliding doors that lead to the upper lounge, is an L-shaped settee with leather or fabric side and cocktail tables dominates one corner. The other holds three comfy arm chairs, all based on a cushioned, almond-hued carpet.

Just forward, a gangway leads to the circular staircase down, or directly to the wide helm station, backed by a capacious, curved couch, big enough for a crowd.

Photo Caption: A 42” plasma TV entertainment center, with deep-cushioned barrel chairs and a round gaming table are flanked by a stocked, refrigerated and completely-equipped bar faceing another large TV.

Down convenient staircases is the main deck, the heart of entertaining for this elegant lady Janie. Her tasteful saloon, with a grand piano in the foyer, is a model of decorum and good taste. With more than 400 sq.ft. of space for parties, conversation, or family gatherings, she exhibits twin couches with matching armchairs, facing each other across large cocktail tables. A 42” plasma TV/DVD/CD/stereo arrangement provides for all. Located next to the salon is a formal dining room, seating ten in aesthetic comfort.

For elegant dining on board, lady Janie invites the restraint of the enclosed classic dining room. For less formal festivities, the air-conditioned aft main deck and air-fresh exterior pilothouse deck are always on call.

Her gracious interior accommodates an owner’s party of 10, in five well appointed staterooms, all with ensuite baths. Whereas the owner’s suite on the main deck offers luxuries which include his/hers facilities and a whirlpool Jacuzzi plus a marble shower; guest staterooms provide conveniences only slightly less posh, three of them sporting king-size berths and a fourth with a Pullman berth.

Photo Caption: The massive full-beam owner’s suite is dominated by a king-size island berth, matching bed-tables, couches, and its own private entertainment center. At the forward bulkhead are seperate his/hers walk-in closets.

A myriad of marble and the finest fixtures, Janie "baths" her owners in palacial comfort and finish. The bath features his & hers sinks, a stand-up glass encased shower, seperate whirlpool and seated vanity area.

Photo Caption: Notice the in-laid gold sequence that outlines the marble flooring, further accentuating the level of extravagant detail that Trinity builds into each of their yachts.

Below, the interior deck is arranged with two VIP suites mirroring each other, beam to beam, with king-size island berths, private heads with twin sinks and tub/showers. Two more guest suites are forward, one furnished with a king-size berth and the other with twin berths.

(Not pictured are the forward crew’s quarters, with double berths, Pullmans, private heads and shower. A well-laid out crew lounge features a TV, settee and table, with storage and kitchenette)

Janie’s fine, walk-around, engine room houses the two powerful CAT 3512B engines, as well as controls for bow-thrusters, twin watermakers, engine monitors, 36-ton air conditioning/marine fresh-air system, plus technical equipment for sanitation and sewage controls.

The two Cat 3512 B marine engines are rated at 2250 hp each. At 1925 rpm, her sleek aluminum hull is capable of a 21.9 knot top speed and an 18.5 knot cruise. With approximately 16,750 gallons of fuel, a leisurely cruise of 12 knots gives her an estimated range of 4,100 nm. JANIE is also equipped with zero speed stabilizers from Quantum, so she gives up no comfort at anchor to her deeper, slower rivals in the charter fleet.

(Not pictured is the engineer’s quarters with full storage and private head, plus clothes lockers and a large, well-equipped laundry room. These quarters and the engine room are accessed via a complete lazarette and workshop)

It appears certain that Trinity Yachts’ new series of motoryachts has positioned the company in a leading roll for the yachting industry to follow into the new millennium. With speed, performance, and remarkable quality in its styling and interior design, this seasoned builder provides, above all, sea-keeping ability.

Janie, one of Trinity’s proudest recent accomplishments, is a superlative motoryacht. Fully endowed with the necessary appointments for extended voyaging in solid comfort, she holds Trinity’s banner higher than ever.

<END>

by Capt. Chuck Gnaegy

SPECIFICATIONS:

LOA: 157’ (47.85m)
LWL: 148.25 (45.18m)
Beam: 28’ (8.5,)
Draft: 7’6” (2.2m)
Displacement: 245.2 long tons
Engines: 2x CAT 3512B -- 2250 hp @ 1925 rpm
Speed: 21.9 knots max
Fuel Capacity: 16,657 gals.
Range at 12 knots: 4,100 nm
Generators: 2x 99 kW Kilopak
Bow Thruster: 150 hp Quantum hydraulic
Watermakers: 2x 250 gpd by Watermakers, Inc.
Entertainment: Criteria, Inc.
Sanitation: Headhunter toilets, bidet & sewage trtmt.
Security Systems: Yachtronics
Specialist furniture: Zepsa
Technical Equip: Engine Monitoring Inc.
Paint/Painters: Atlantic Coast Yacht Painting
Hull Construction: Aluminum hull & superstructure
Air Conditioning: Marine Air w/ fresh air makeup system
Communications: Yachtronics
Classification: Full ABS & MCA
Naval Architecture: Trinity Yachts, LLC
Exterior Styling: Trinity Yachts, Geoff van Aller head designer
Interior Design: Trinity Yachts, and Scott Carpenter
Builder/Year: Trinity Yachts, delivered Nov. 2004

For further information, contact:

Trinity Yachts
4325 France Road
New Orleans, LA 70125
(504) 283-4050
http://www.trinityyachts.com

General accommodations and deck plans...