SAMURAI
Samurai started life as the famous 42m carbon composite offshore racer Mari Cha IV. With a formidable racing heritage, the challenge given to Rhoades Young Design was to create a luxury cruising yacht from this stripped-out no-compromise racer. Working within the constraints of the existing structure and rig loads, a lifting keel was added and a lightweight interior devised to keep weight gains to a minimum.
The new exterior designed by Rhoades Young included a safe guest cockpit area enclosed by long sweeping flanks for extra protection, and an aggressive ‘chiseled’ deckhouse. These elements were designed to bring light into the formerly raw black carbon hull where the main saloon now resides. With a design brief of ‘Samurai Temple meets Portofino Beach House’ the challenge was to thread a luxury interior through the existing minimalist carbon structure, whilst keeping to the ‘ultra-light’ weight allowance.
