Preliminary design of a luxury yacht for racing and charter.

The modern yacht has advanced in construction techniques, using exotic fibres and resins to produce highly competitive boats. This has increased the overall cost of construction and maintenance, due to this increase these yachts can no longer survive as pure race boats, with sponsorship and have to earn money by providing a service, in the expanding market of corporate entertainment and luxury cruising. To do this requires the yacht to operate in a diverse set of conditions, whilst being able to maintain its style and elegance. For the architect this can prove an intriguing challenge to balance the elegance and style required of a luxury yacht and the harsh essentials of a race boat, it has been tackled by only a few and has produced a selection of hybrid yachts. The aims and objectives of this dissertation are to provide a preliminary design for a 24m dual purpose yacht that is stylish and competitive, as this is essential to its commercial viability. It should be able to race under the International Measurement System (IMS) ‘Maxi’ and IR Calculated (IRC) class, the preliminary structural design will need to comply with Lloyds Special Service Craft (SSC) or American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) guide for building and classing Offshore Racing Yachts. To enable the yacht to operate in the charter market it will need to meet the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), code of practice for sailing vessels up to 24 metres load line length.