New Build: Sparkman & Stephens 129' Safira

Picture yourself in an ocean roaming 129 foot expedition yacht. Plenty milage in the tanks, powerful high angle flared bow, spacious interiors and modern classic aesthethics. Sounds appealing? Whether is does or not, this is a description of the Sparkman & Stephens 129 foot expedition yacht, Safira.

This expedition yacht has been on the drawing boards of S&S Design and will now be built. An intended launch and delivery year of 2010 has been negotiated and construction will start this Spring. The Newcastle Shipyards, FL will be tasked with the constuction.

In addition to being just another expedition-styled yacht, the Safira is slated to be a green and environmentally friendly vessel. As S&S puts it, 'Green is relative' but there is a point however, that a yacht must be considered to be green. Many of the machinery and associated systems onboard the Safira will be chosen with their efficiency in mind.

Even the interior will not be spared from the green hands of the those involved in the -to be- build. The interior will be fashioned from recylable materials, natural and organic as well as renewable. Even the wood will be thrown under a stringent environmental eye in the sense that it will be Forest Stewardship Council certified or EcoTimber or relevant equivalents. Finishes, paints and the like will contain little or no VOC's. Carpets and other materials must be from natural resources.

Apart from the environmental wave that will hit this vessel, the owner is planning to utilize her quite regularly and warranted an ice-classed hull. Technical wise, the Safira will employ podded drives while utilizing CAT diesels. Through these Schottel STP 300 drives, a top speed of about 13.5 knots will be attainable. At 11 knots a significant range may be achieved keeping ocean crossings within grasp.

Accommodations on the Lower-Deck are said to be expansive in design with Master, four guest and crew rooms. One deck up on the Main-Deck, will be a Saloon, dining region and aft exterior area. One deck above here will be the Bridge-Deck which will feature, the bridge/pilothouse to the fore and the sky-lounge to the aft. A bar and gym are also in the works on this deck and an abaft of the sky-lounge will be open area for alternative dining.

The last deck is the open-air Sun-Deck. The radar mast and arch sits poisely amidships in the design and stradles two regions on the deck. To the fore, there will be a vast sunning area with pads and the like. Also, a sizable jacuzzi will be positioned there. Under the small hard-top will be a bar and dining. To the aft of the mast, will be an opened area for lounging and relaxing on furniture accessories.

In summation, the Safira will be a formidable vessel when constructed. Robust in design, modernly classic in design and comfortable in design will be part of her characteristics. A Lower-Deck provides accommodation while the Main, social spaces. The Bridge-Deck features the command post of the Bridge as well as a sky-lounge. The Sun-Deck to the top of the Safira will be open air and provide commanding views. With the environment in mind, the owner has commanded S&S to design an environmentally friendly vessel to satisfy their green fingers.

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LOA: 128.11 feet
LWL: 118.00 feet
BOA: 28.00 feet
Draught: 8.30 feet
Propulsion: Schottel STP 300
Engines: CAT diesels
Speed: 13.5 knots (maximum) ; 11 knots (cruise)
Design: Sparkman & Stephens
Hull: Ice-Classed
Builder: Newcastle Shipyards
Year: 2010
Highlights: Environmentally friendly yacht

http://www.sparkmanstephens.com/yachtdesign/poweryachts/ontheboards_design.php

http://www.sparkmanstephens.com

A S&S picture​