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WORTH THE WAITHemisphere is the world’s largest sailing catamaran and the story of her build is long and dramatic. She turns

heads wherever she goes due to her sheer scale, but what is equally impressive is the level of luxurious detail within

her interior spaces and range of onboard facilities. She may be the largest vessel of her type cruising the oceans

today, but no one ever set out with this goal in mind.

By Frances and Michael Howorth

Photography Jeff Brown/Nick Bailey, PendennisHEMISPHERE 44M

Study Study

Given the protracted build processspanning nearly seven years, it is a wonderthat the owner of the world’s largest cruisingcatamaran did not completely give up on his idea of building a superyacht and take up an entirely different pastime. The somewhat torturous process of giving

birth to what is undoubtedly one of the world’s finest cruisingcatamarans began at the Derecktor Shipyards in the USA.Subsequently, a dispute led to work ceasing there and in 2009 theowners sent their partly completed yacht to the Pendennis shipyardin the UK for completion. The yacht was completed in 2011 andmade her world debut at the Monaco Yacht show in September ofthat year to much acclaim.

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The yacht’s owner, an avid diver, had first gone sailing aboard asignificantly smaller catamaran in the British Virgin Islands. It wasin those islands he first chartered a yacht whose master wasCaptain Gavin Bladen and it was during conversations betweendiving excursions that the plan to build the yacht was conceived.Bladen is not only Hemisphere’s current Captain, but acted as theowners representative throughout the protracted build period; “Wewere not trying to make a statement about size. The yachtenvisaged was considerably smaller but as the design processprogressed, things began to change.”The owner gave a brief to designers Van Peteghem Lauriot Prevostin Paris who are renowned for their expertise in drawing multihulls.The firm was asked to design a yacht to cater to large dive parties,one that would enable a family expedition to depart to the dive site

G

HEMISPHERE 44M

> BASIC SPECIFICATIONS

LOA: 145’ (44.2m)

BEAM: 54’ 6” (16.6m)

DRAFT: 10’ 2” (3.1m)

BUILT: 2011

CONSTRUCTION: Aluminum

FINISHED BY: Pendennis Shipyard Ltd, UK

ENGINES: 2 x 490hp Caterpillar

GENERATORS: 3 x caterpillar

FUEL CAPACITY: 8,883 US Gal 33,627 liters

WATER CAPACITY: 2,642 US gal 10,000 liters

SAILS: North Sails

SAIL AREA UPWIND: 1,085sqft 866sqm

SAIL AREA DOWN WIND: 12,087sqft 1123sqm

CARBON MAST AND BOOM: Lorima

WINCHES: Lewmar

HEADSAIL FURLERS: Reckmann

TENDERS: Scorpion, 27’ (8.3m) - Castoldi jet 14’ 8” (4.5m)

CLASSIFICATION: Bureau Veritas

NAVAL ARCHITECTURE: Van Peterghem Lauriot Prévost

EXTERIOR STYLING: Van Peterghem Lauriot Prévost

STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING: BMT Nigel Gee

INTERIOR DESIGN: Michael Leach Design

CHARTER BROKERS: Burgess

CRUISING SPEED: 11-knots

GUESTS: 12 (2 master, 2 double, 1 twin)

CREW: 10

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all together. To achieve this a twelve person tender would benecessary, so the client requested that the yacht be outfitted with a27’ (8.3m) tender. This created the first benchmark for VPLP towork with. The second design criteria that emerged was that theclient wanted clean lines, pure exterior styling and uncluttereddeck space. The challenge now was to assimilate a large dive tenderinto the design while keeping the lines pure, clean and uncluttered.This was no easy feat! As the drawings progressed the design team created models of theyacht and studied the various elements in 3D. As they did so, itemerged that the cross-deck that forms the liaison between the twohulls, would be best formed using elles de mouette or seagullwings, a VPLP trademark. Developed by the designers to solve atechnical and engineering problem, the curved seagull wingformation of the nacelle disperses the up-draft wave motion, whichslams against the cross deck when the catamaran is underway. Asthey drew the lines, it quickly emerged they had the perfectsolution to the question of where to house the large tender.At one stage there was an ‘out of the box’ suggestion of absorbingthe tender into the belly of the boat, because if the gull wings wereextended back towards the stern, the designers could create morespace inside the cross deck so the tender could fit snugly into thegull wing form. Of course, to achieve this the yacht would have tobe more than 100’ (30m). The owner thought this a good idea andso the yacht grew to over 145’ (44m). The frivolous might suggestthe yacht was designed around the tender! Yet the carriage of alarge tender was crucial to achieving the owner’s core desires.

HEMISPHERE 44M

When redesigning the nacelle to disperse up-draft wave motion, the designers found the perfect locationfor Hemisphere's unique tender garage.

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HEMISPHERE 44M

TIME WITH CPT. GAVIN BLADENOWNERS REPRESENTATIVE

How, and at what stage, did you becomeinvolved in the Hemisphere project?During a charter in 2001 I began talking witha guest who wanted to own his own boat. Infact, almost every charter guest I’ve everlooked after dreams of owning their own boat,but only a handful follow through with theirvision. 18-months later however, the sameguest returned and we began talking aboutwhat he had done in the intervening period.He told me he had been busy looking at awide variety of different yachts fromshipyards like Feadship and Perini Navi. Hewas seeking to understand what it was heliked most and just as importantly, what hedidn’t like at all. During our conversations, weestablished that his own yacht was going tobe a sailing catamaran.

Why a custom build though?We did spend quite some time trying to findan existing sailing catamaran, which providedthe space, facilities and amenities he wanted,but nothing came up to scratch. The qualityof finish and detailing was very important tohim, as were the capabilities for the yacht toundertake worldwide cruising. While I wasstill running the charter yacht in theCaribbean, I began a search that graduallychanged from finding an existing yacht tofinding a naval architect team who coulddeliver a yacht that met the expectations anddesires of both the owner’s and myself.

Was ‘the world’s biggest cat’ always a goal?It was extremely fortunate that both theOwner and I, shared a joint vision of whatHemisphere should become, and the directionwe would have to take if we were going to

attain it. But we never set out to build thelargest sailing catamaran in the world; thatjust happened. We wanted a yacht capable ofworldwide tropical cruising, which could offerthe comfort of a powered super yacht, theenjoyment of a sailing yacht with the addedstability and space a catamaran offered.

How did you select who would design Hemisphere?We looked at various architect firms in early2004, and narrowed our list down to fivepotential firms whose past experience meantthey had the potential to design the yacht wecould see in our minds. We set each of themthe task of proposing a custom concept yachtthat they felt met our requirements. Marc VanPetegham and his team at VPLP was selectedto undertake the work and I moved to Paris tofollow, guide, direct, and make sure theowner’s direction was followed.

Was it at that stage that the enormity of the project became real?I’ll admit that in those early days I didn’tappreciate how ground breaking Hemispherewould turn out to be. Surely if you wanted ayacht you turned to an architect to draw onefor you, and a yard to build it for you. Butsince nothing like Hemisphere had been builtbefore, every detail, plan, arrangement,integrated specification, item of outfit wasresearched, reviewed and then integrated, ordeveloped from new if nothing suitable pre-existed. Creating, what to my mind, is theperfect charter yacht has been an amazingopportunity and one where the learning curvefrequently achieved the vertical. As the months went by, it was like building ajigsaw as we brought more companies onlineto assist with making our vision reality. Moreand more pieces started to come together,first the architects, then a marine surveyor, aninterior designer, a structural engineeringcompany, electronic supply companies and ayard to assist with the system layoutsschematics. At the beginning of 2005 we werein a position to go out to tender to variousshipyards. A shipyard in the USA wassubsequently selected.

So you continued through the build as the owner’s project manager?Yes, I relocated from Paris to America inSeptember 2005 where my job was to overseethe build. The next four years became achallenge with the shipyard failing in theirobligations and driving themselves intobankruptcy as they mismanaged variousongoing builds all at the same time. Frombeing a Captain sailing and diving in tropicalwaters, I was now an executive dealing withlawyers, attending meetings, trying to settledisputes, dealing with the shipyardsbankruptcy’s filing while still trying toprogress the dream that both the Owner and Iwere clinging onto. The worst things became,the more determined we were at seeingthings though to fruition.

Moving a part-built project from the USyard to Pendennis in the UK must havebeen something of a challenge!Sure. It eventually became evident thatHemisphere would never be completed by theAmerican shipyard, so the search for a secondyard became my new priority. Pendennis wasselected. So my next new priority involved thelogistical challenges of how you actuallymove a partially built super yacht across theAtlantic. What there was of Hemisphere wassealed up and made so she could float on herown twin hulls. Special cradles wereengineered for lifting and engineering studieswere undertaken to determine how to secureher onto the deck of another ship.Thirteen, 40’ shipping containers whereinventoried, filled and trucked out of state forshipping to the UK. Moving Hemisphereinvolved a tug and barge and a 130-mile trip,then a lift of 30m into the air, before she wasloaded onboard New Orleans a heavy liftvessel operated by Rickmas for her journeyacross the Atlantic.

Your stress levels subsided after you arrived in the UK?The next 22 months of the build process weremuch smoother. The initial hurdle was tobring a new yard up to speed. They had beenhanded a partially built product, with partiallycompleted engineering outfit. We had toorganise and brief new Class and Flag andsurveyors, to say nothing of dealing withthirteen shipping containers crammed full ofthe ‘bits and bobs’ needed to complete theproject. Hemisphere quickly took shape andfinally departed from Falmouth with me backat the helm as Captain: the role I had beendreaming of for so long!

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HEMISPHERE 44M

TIME WITH VAN PETEGHEM AND LAURIOT PRÉVOST (VPLP)NAVAL ARCHITECTURE AND EXTERIOR STYLING

Having designed 240 cruising catamaranssince their first commission in 1984, theappointment of French based duo Marc VanPeteghem and Vincent Lauriot Prevost tocomplete the naval architecture and exteriordesign for Hemisphere makes perfect sense.Experience, gleaned from designing previoussailing cats like the 77’ (23m) Coriolan, 92’(28m) Ciliam and the 138’ (42m) DouceFrance provided them with a data bank thatgave them architectural choices and inspiredinnovative solutions for Hemisphere.Speaking from their offices in Paris theytalked us through their design.

What aspect of Hemisphere’s design stands out for you?The most striking aspect of the exteriorstyling is the manner in which we sculptedsuch a voluminous yacht that still appearssleek, light and elongated. For a yacht of only145’ (44.2m) she has 200 percent more floorspace of a monohull of equivalent length, itwas also important to us that we offered thisvast interior to the client while retaining heraesthetic integrity as an elegant, sailing yacht.

How did you achieve this specifically?Her cambered sheer lines serve to blend andassimilate the full beam coach roof by usingthe play of light on the inclined chamfer.Because of this, the otherwise high freeboardhas the visual appearance of a sleek andwhittled form, while still allowing for avoluminous interior. This styling traitenhances the visual aspect of the yacht’sprofile and is an innovative synthesisbetween interior requirements impacting onprincipals of exterior styling.

Even with a flybridge you still managed to maintain a sleek profile…The brief we received from the owner calledfor a sensational flybridge, which addedheight and mass to the structure. It wasimportant to balance this bulk with elongatedhull lines and so diminish the visual impactof the volume of the superstructure.Regarding the design as an integrated whole,the flybridge and superstructure were alsooffset by the elevation of the spreaderlessmast. Its simplicity enhances the yacht’srefined style while the large mainsail track isintegrated into the aft wing of the flybridge.Like a streamlined spoiler it softens theoverall lines of her form, but also serves manyfunctional purposes. From deep within theyacht, the engine room air vents riseinvisibly, through the flybridge pillars anddisperse through a long horizontal air ventintegrated into the design of this flybridgewing. By applying this solution, we avoidedhaving to deface the smooth hull withconventional air vent grills.

A great deal of consideration appears tohave gone into maximizing the ‘socialaspect’ of the exterior spaces?Interior designers Michael Leach Designs(MLD) were instrumental in subtle aspects inthe exterior styling and the positions of thefixed furniture in the cockpit and on theflybridge. We think all the exterior spaceslend themselves to social yet intimateinteraction. Surrounding the large etchedglass outdoor dining table are neatly stowedBBQ facilities, wet bar and central sun padthat unfolds between the dining area and theJacuzzi. All of this can be enjoyed in open airor under a wide awning suspended from theboom and held taut by demountable carbonstruts.

Was it difficult to balance guest space withthat required to operate Hemisphere?To best navigate a sailing catamaran of thissize we needed two helm stations, each with ahard topped awning that could also be

enclosed for sun and foul weather protection.The height and width of the helm seatingallows for many people to be able to enjoy theexperience of sailing the magnificent vessel.All maneuvers are fed under the deck to thesehelm stations in order to keep the deckuncluttered and there is clear visibility of thesails aloft and of stern and bow when docking.

The crew and guest circulation around the yacht impressed us…A fundamental trait that we are keen toaccentuate in all of our catamaran designs isthe concept of the flush deck. The flush deckhas continuity between the interior saloonand exterior cockpit. It enhances one’sappreciation of space and the teak decking isreminiscent of a large, barefoot beach. Gueststraverse cockpit to saloon through automaticcensored, sliding, glass doors and crew havetwo separate routes to the deck via thecockpit bar, or the private crew staircase downto the starboard crew and galley area. Thesemultiple routes make it easy for crew toperform their duties without congestion. ThusHemisphere successfully integrates theclients’ needs for a five star, on board lifestyle,integrated by an aesthetic unison.

Where is your favorite place to spend time on board?One of the most alluring aspects of the deckfeatures is the private forward terrace, wherethe furnished niches have direct access toeach of the owner / VIP cabins. This layoutleads guests to participate in the unrivalledsensation of walking on water whensuspended above the ocean, on thetrampoline between the bows of the twinhulls. In practical terms, this large emptyspace at the bow of the yacht means thatstructure remains light and buoyant – whichis essential for balance of the catamaranplatform, and also reduces weight allowing foradded performance which was primordial forboth us and the client. Thus an aestheticfeature also has integral impact on theperformance of the whole.

Hemisphere's cockpit is truly extraordinary. Her 54'6" (16.6m) beam is wider than three of theyachts that occupy positions in the world's Top 10 largest; each over three times Hemisphere's length.

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Our fist impression of the interior was a harmonious blend…We have infused the interior with a sense oftogetherness, because that is what the ownerswanted. Using 15 different types of stone, atleast the same number of different leathersincluding crocodile and stingray skin, anddiffusion of different wood finishes, we havecreated an interior with a comfortablesophisticated atmosphere that is ideal foreach of the multiple generations thatcomprise the owners’ family.

Did the owners have much input into the interior design?Much design input came from the husbandand wife couple that commissioned the yacht.The lady knew what she liked and said soinstantly, which was great. Not only that, butshe also wanted everything to be as practicalas possible. She told us ‘I want my family andgrandchildren to enjoy themselves when theyare on board and not worry about carpets orfabrics getting dirty. I want them to be able toput a drink on a surface. I want my guests tofeel comfortable’.

Your personal highlights?The brief called for ‘Polynesian six-starluxury, so we created a theme that featureswalnut decks with bulkhead panels inbrushed oak and wengé. They all have adistinctively different textured feel and wemade sure that while we followed a theme, notwo cabins look the same in either layout orstyling. We used a lot of onyx, which in someplaces we backlit to show the incredibledetail within the stone that otherwise youwould not see. We also commissioned piecesfrom the London based bespoke furnituremakers Based Upon, a company thatspecializes in creating bronze and metalsurfaces for tabletops. The more this surfaceis exposed to the wind sea air and sunshine,the more beautiful it will become.

We also strove to underscore the sense of‘togetherness’ when on board. It was madevery clear to us during our briefings, that theowners, captain, and crew all genuinely enjoyeach other’s company. We always knew thisyacht would be available for charter and assuch, it is our job when designing the interior,to make her as user friendly as possible. Oneach side in the salon, for example, wecreated raised seating areas that are ideal forgames, cards, or when a more peaceful andrestful mode is wanted, for blissful relaxation.Movies and video games are available in theTV lounge down a few steps into the portside hull.”

…and in terms of General Arrangement?We packed the yacht with good-sizeaccommodations, having three sleepingcabins situated in the portside pontoon. Oneof these has been specifically designed forthe owners’ grandchildren and is fitted withtwo fixed and two Pullman berths and,viewing ports at the right height for kids totake in close-ups of marine life near thewater’s surface. The owners prefer to spendtheir time in the large communal areas onboard, rather than in their cabin, so on the

main deck we created two proportionate VIPcabins. These forward facing suites can bejoined into one space by removing a centralshared bulkhead, so creating a 52’-widemaster cabin with his-and-her en suites.

You mention exterior spaces, the importance of these is obviously emphasized…When it came to the styling of the exteriorguest areas, we made the most of thepotential by creating places where you cansit, perch and talk to people. Accessible fromthe main aft deck, the flybridge is a hugehedonist’s paradise, dominated by a spa poolthat is located between the two helm stations. The al fresco dining area is located below onthe main deck and is just one example of howguests end up sitting outside and enjoyingthemselves on deck. There seemed littlepoint in losing masses of interior spacecreating a dining salon inside that is seldomused, so we have made this area a real feature.Two curved sliding doors lead from here intothe salon, which is more than 1,000sqft in sizeand comprised of several distinctly differentareas. The seating area is raised to maximizethe stunning all-round views, it is a designthat we included in our initial proposal, and itis probably this feature that secured us withthe interior deign contract

HEMISPHERE 44M

TIME WITH MICHAEL LEACH AND MARK SMITHINTERIOR DESIGN

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Mark SmithMike Leach

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PRACTICAL BEAUTYThrough his previous charter experiences, the owner was awarethat interiors can get damaged. He recognized that some fabricsare more practical than others, especially when children are onboard and linens have to be suitable for frequent washing,especially on charter. Mick Leach whose firm Michael LeachDesign was responsible for the interior said, “I remember theowners saying ‘We want everyone to enjoy themselves when theyare on board and not worry about delicate surfaces.’ What wedesigned means they can put a drink on any surface and feelcomfortable wherever they are on board. Yet the immensepracticality we have incorporated has not deterred in any way fromthe stunning interior.”Walking through the yacht’s motion activated glass screen doorsinto the interior, the magnificence of the design comes to life.Despite the interior theme of brushed oak and wenge, dark woodfloors offset by a neutral color palette, no two cabins are the samein layout or styling. A total of 18 leathers have been used and 15types of stone. Onyx, which in some places is backlit to highlight

the incredible detail within the stone, has been used to great effect.Every surface is embellished and skillfully crafted. Walking aroundthe vessel you can’t help but reach out to explore the tactilesurfaces. Doors are lined with wrinkled dark leather, waves ofpebbles line the showers, while walnut storage units with adistressed finish provide a smooth contrast to crocodile skin liners.Without doubt the interior is spectacular, starting with theimpressive communal 1,076sqft (100sqm) split level saloon. Thisvast indoor/outdoor living area on the main deck includes a raisedseating area, providing a panoramic vista, plus a separate TVlounge/snug. Accommodation for twelve guests is arranged in five comfortableen-suite cabins. The two VIP cabins amidships are cleverlypositioned to benefit from the space afforded by the 52’ 6” (16m)beam of the catamaran, magnificent views and private accessforward out to the deck with the transparent trampoline and the seaall around. By splitting the hulls into multiple levels, VPLP wereable to provide these two spectacular guest staterooms, while stillpreserving the 360° views from the salon. An added bonus is that

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these two suites can be conjoined, making one vast palatial owner’ssuite that incorporates two separate en-suites, a private salon andbureau. The other guest cabins include a perfect room for children,emphasizing the family style of this yacht, with twin beds and twoPullman berths.

TECH TALKThe technical innovations throughout Hemisphere are notable.Although usually open to the elements, the open plan main diningarea can be enclosed with the installation of an Eissen glass screen,and cooled with air conditioning. The versatility of this area fordining means this rarely-used feature doesn’t waste interior space.“Guests seldom want to eat inside a yacht when she is cruising intemperate climes,” said Captain Bladen. The spacious fly bridgeincludes an additional dinning area aft, around a table with aglorious world map etched into the glass surface.Throughout the yacht the attention to detail is outstanding, lightswitches and sockets have been finished to blend in with their

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HEMISPHERE 44M

The flybridge is a hedonist’s paradise, dominated bya spa pool located between the two helm stations.

Crew are well-provided for with cabins, mess,galley, laundry room and engine rooms accessed

off one central column in the starboard hull.

An atlas etched into the glass table is a great feature on which guests can plan future passages.

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background. The German company Metrica constructed theinterior and made a good impression on the owner. “I’ve got thehighest regard for those guys,” he says. “I’ve never seen anyonework that hard to those kind of tolerances.”The entire starboard hull is given over to the crew of eight to ten,with a lot of emphasis on layout and ergonomics. VPLP wereresponsible for the interior architecture of the yacht and obviouslypaid meticulous attention to guest privacy and functional crewtraffic. The crew quarters are laid out to be practical and alsocomfortable. The designers and Pendennis, the British shipyard thatcompleted the build, have successfully balanced the inclusion of animpressive array of equipment with easy access to the manytechnical areas of the vessel. The crew cabins, crew mess, galley,laundry room and engine rooms are off one central column in thestarboard hull. There’s also access to the deck via a privatecompanionway, as well as via the serving galley and bar. Thestarboard lazarette holds windsurfs, wakeboards, Seabobs, water skis

and the crew tender, but the port pontoon contains a full dive centrewith a range of equipment and both Air and NITROX compressors.Decks and the rig are remarkably uncluttered with visible deckhardware minimized. The 190’ (58m) mast soars free of spreaderswith all cordage running internally. One of VPLP’s mainchalleneges was dealing with the huge loads induced by the rig andvast sail area. While racing performance was not part of the buildcriteria, VPLP gave her the same proportion between fore andmainsail as is found aboard fast racing catamarans. To save weight,mast spreaders were dispensed with, while upper and lowershrouds are built of Kevlar, for the same reason. Clearly it has allpaid off, with the yacht achieving 20+knots while under sail.Upwind the Mainsail and Solent account for 1,085sqft (866sqm),while downwind the Mainsail and Gennaker total 12,087sqft(1,123sqm): the load on the main sheet is 28 tones. For both easeand security, captive winches were installed instead of theconventional winches one might expect on a catamaran.

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HEMISPHERE 44M

The Pendennis Shipyard in the southwestcorner of Great Britain is perhaps Britain’sleading custom super yacht builder. Itsheritage spans 23 years, which has seen itcomplete over 100 major refit projects and30 custom new build yachts. Born out of alocal yacht building company, acquired byPeter de Savary, the company relocated toFalmouth Docks in 1988. Hemisphere is oneof the yard’s most unique and imposinglaunches in its history. The finishing ofHemisphere was a technically challengingbuild in several ways, not only because ofher very wide beam, but also on account ofthe on board broad range of technicalfeatures and facilities.

Hemisphere’s a unique yacht and must have presented a uniquechallenge for the yard?Obviously the most challengingcomplication came about due to the factthat we received a partly built yacht inFalmouth in October 2009. When shearrived, our team conducted a thorough 3-month trade-by-trade review of the existingtechnical systems, the construction qualityand details. We then generated a realistic

completion schedule. We always knew itwas going to be a challenge to get hercompleted in time to showcase her at the2011 Monaco Yacht Show, but we manageda final delivery in July 2011. She certainlymade an impressive sight as she berthed inMonaco, and became one of the most talkedabout vessels in that show.

What were some of the more challengingengineering aspects of the build?The technical innovations throughout theyacht are impressive. Although usuallyopen to the elements, the open plan maindining area can be enclosed and cooledwith air conditioning, for which the airhandlers are located under the flybridgesun pad. Because water sports facilities onboard are more akin to a private waterfronthotel than to a 44m yacht, we had our workcut out getting all to fit in a logical and easyto use way. The starboard lazarette holdsthe usual super yacht ‘toys’: windsurfs,wakeboards, Seabobs, water skis etc and thecrew tender, but the port pontoon containsa dive centre with a full range of equipmentand both Air and NITROX compressors. Ithink we have successfully balanced theinclusion of this impressive array ofequipment with easy access to the manytechnical areas of the vessel.

Did you upgrade any of the technicalaspects of the boat when she arrived?Technical spaces are balanced betweenboth hulls with water makers, hydraulicpumps, port steering system and blackwater tanks in the aft section of the porthull. The hot water system has been muchimproved and we have ensured that hotwater is reliably supplied to the wholeyacht. This was not the case when the yachtfirst arrived. One of the first jobs was to

assess the entire engineering outfit of theyacht. We found during that exercise that inorder to make sure that the guests’ hotwater provision would not be jeopardized,we had to come up with a plan working withthe naval architects to improve thecirculation of water around the wholevessel. This included the addition ofcooling for the cold water main due to thefresh water tanks location above the waterline.

What do you consider to be Hemisphere’s stand out features?Significantly, the crew has been well cateredfor on board. The starboard pontoon housescrew accommodation and boasts a veryspacious captain’s cabin with his ownprivate en-suite. The crew mess, with itstechnology and navigation monitoringsystem, is a great recreational space. Thereis also a spacious laundry, a state of the artgalley and a dedicated crew staircase fordeck access. The impressive crew facilitiesalso extend to the port bow of Hemispherewhere a fully equipped and air-conditionedengineer’s workshop has been furnished byus to allow easy on board maintenance.

TIME WITH TOBY ALLIESPENDENNIS SHIPYARD

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HEMISPHERE 44M

TIME WITH SUMMER OSTERMANCHARTER BROKER, BURGESS

Burgess has been appointed to manageHemisphere’s charter program, she’s a great addition to your portfolio!Her eagerly anticipated entrance onto themarket has certainly been worth the wait.Conceptualized and built for cruising thetropics and with the proposed itinerary thatwe are promoting, she is certain to set a newbenchmark for luxury charters in some ofthe most exotic locations on the planet. Herarrival onto the charter market providesBurgess with the opportunity to offer areally unique yacht, an extraordinarilyspacious platform from which to indulge inthe true essence of what chartering a yachtof this caliber should be about – relaxing inluxurious surroundings with friends andfamily and taking advantage of a vast arrayof water sports toys, truly enjoying life onthe water.

What feedback have you received so far from charter guests?Those clients who have thus far charteredthe yacht have certainly taken fulladvantage of what she has to offer; with hercrew going all out to ensure that the clientshad an unforgettable charter experience.One guest and his family were so enamoredwith the yacht and the crew that theyreturned later the same month to repeat

another week’s charter instead of usingtheir own super yacht!

What are Hemisphere’s USPs for charter clients?As well as the conventional, water skis,tows, paddleboards etc, the fact thatHemisphere is fully equipped for diving is a big draw. Also the fact she offers guests the opportunity to become fullycertified divers whilst on board. She has recently completed her registration as an officially recognized PADI divetraining centre and with two members ofthe Hemisphere crew being qualified diveinstructors, guests will be in safe handswhilst discovering the delights of theunderwater world. Diving is somethingwhich the Owner had at the forefront of hismind when the idea of the yacht wasconceived, and it was always his intentionto take her to some of the world’s mostspectacular diving grounds.

So does diving dictate her cruising program?It’s certainly a consideration. Her nowproposed journey over to the South PacificOcean will fulfill the Owner’s vision of whathe wanted when he set out to build theyacht. It will also provide for the most

wonderful of charter opportunities. Her firststop in this magical part of the world will beTahiti and the stunning islands of FrenchPolynesia and from here, the opportunitiesare endless. Fiji, Tonga, Vanuatu and NewCaledonia are all on the potential horizonand Hemisphere is keen to show her guestsaround these beautiful cruising grounds.With a shallow draft and ease ofmaneuverability, she has the scope to cruisedestinations inaccessible to monohulls ofcomparable size.

What else do guests get… and for how much?Her spacious flybridge with its Jacuzzi, sunpads and shaded dining along with a vastindoor/outdoor living area on the maindeck is a charter guests dream. The relaxed,yet elegant interior is the epitome ofcontemporary chic and the yacht’sexceptional volume offers a high degree ofluxury without a trace of glitz. The darkwood floors, offset by the soothing neutralcolor palette with innumerable customizedtouches, create an “Island living meetsdeluxe Pacific Rim” ambience that is sovery easy to live with. Accommodationfor 12 guests is arranged in five comfortableen-suite cabins and the yacht will operatewith a professional crew of eight. Hercharter rates start at US $245,000 per week.

COMMENTS FROM THE OWNER…

I had a two-year experience (2009-2011) finishing my boat at the PendennisShipyard (PSY). After a very difficult experience over the preceding four years at ashipyard in the United States, I can report unequivocally that not only was myexperience better, but PSY actually made finishing my boat a pleasant event.Although a much longer trip for me visiting the yard, I looked forward to my timein Falmouth with Mike Carr, Toby Allies, et al. While accommodating and warmlywelcoming, most importantly to me, there were no surprises. This was so differentthan my previous experience, where information was withheld until the lastminute. As with any difficult endeavor, problems come up during the constructionand I was pleased that I was apprised of this as it occurred. From my perspective,that is all I can ask. I am also delighted to write about my very positiveexperiences with Michael Leach Design (MLD) and the principals involved: MickLeach and Mark Smith. MLD was contracted between 2005 – 2011, until the boatwas launched in August 2011. Since launch, I have personally been on-boardalmost 100 days and can report that the magazine photos, albeit stunning, do notdo it justice. The layout is truly beautiful, but equally important, it worksbrilliantly for owner and guests. The execution of the interiors, much to the creditof MLD, is nearly perfect. On a personal note, during the difficult times of 2007 –2008, MLD provided me with personal counsel that enabled me to make betterdecisions about the future of Hemisphere. Nothing of this magnitude is easy.Being associated with MLD truly helped my wife and I achieve a long-held dream.

Pyrotechnics at the launch marked an emotionaltime for all those involved in Hemisphere's build.

"HAVING SPENT CONSIDERABLE TIME ONBOARDSINCE HER LAUNCH, I CAN REPORT THAT

MAGAZINE PHOTOGRAPHS, ALBEIT STUNNING, DONOT DO HER JUSTICE..." HEMISPHERE'S OWNER

– 203 –– 202 –

HEMISPHERE 44M

TIME WITH CPT. GAVIN BLADENHEMISPHERE’S MASTER

Having handed back your ProjectManager’s badge and donned yourcaptain’s cap, was all the hard work and heartache worth it?After eight years of discussions, design,trials and tribulations, it’s an amazingexperience to sail from a shipyard incommand of a yacht you’ve helped tocreate. I will never forget that departure. Wehad cast off at 9pm on a beautiful Englishsummers evening sailing past PendennisCastle and along the coast to the localbeach in the last light of the day. All the wayalong the coast the shipyard workers andtheir families, and what seemed to me likethe whole town came out to seeHemisphere. For the first time they couldsee her where she belonged, on the water,cleared from the layers of protection, freefrom a workforce, and the constraints of ashipyard, and enjoying her first cruise.As the evening light failed, we positionedHemisphere just off the beach for a farewellfireworks fiesta. It was not short ofspectacular. At the end of the show, wepirouetted around, blasting the horn forthose gathered ashore. The crowdresponded with a chorus of cheers, a soundthat gave me goose bumps as we dimmedthe lights and headed out into the EnglishChannel. At long last we were on our way tothe Mediterranean. It was an unforgettableexperience and something I will relishforever.

She’s continued to attract a lot of attention ever since!In the year that followed, Hemispherecruised over 18,000 nm crossing theAtlantic twice. She had visited over 26different countries attending both theMonaco Yacht Show and the Antiguacharter yacht show. We were like new kidson the first day of school, we didn’t knowhow the industry would take to the yacht,but we didn’t really care! She waseverything we ever wanted and believed in,but all the same it was so nice to learn thatthose who saw her liked what they saw.Nothing comparable to Hemisphere existsin the industry, and while some people havepreconceived perceptions of what acatamaran is and does, they are not alwayswell-grounded perceptions. But when yousail aboard her any preconceptions of doubtare swept away. There have even been themore bizarre forms of appreciation, such asthe time that our chef was given a round ofapplause while shopping at a supermarketin Corsica. When the other shoppersrealized she was a member of the crew ofthe big cat in the harbor, they gave her arousing cheer!

What has the reaction of charter guests been like?We have catered to a wide variety of guestsduring our first year of charter, some camewith sail charter backgrounds, while others

had previously only sailed in much largermotor yachts. All of them shared the samefeeling at the end of the trip, and one groupof guests were so impressed that theyreturned for another charter 14-days afterthey had left us, leaving their own 33msuper yacht tied to the dock.

Hemisphere’s dive facilities appear to be a primary attraction?She is a logical choice for an active groupand scuba diving is one of our main guestactivities, but it isn’t the only thing on offer,there’s a wide variety of other toys onboard.We have also added a 54’ (16m) sportfishing boat to the program as our shadowboat. She offers guests the opportunity totry game fishing as well as bringingsomething back for the chef to cook up fortheir next meal. She is also our dive boatand becomes an easy way to move guestsaround quickly and comfortably allowing usto arrange airport pickups or shoppingexcursions further afield.

What are your plans for the forthcoming year?With our first year under the belt, we arenow focused on making her second yearcruising bigger and better than her first.Hemisphere is heading west through thePanama Canal and out into the Pacific.Together we will cruise the Coco andGalapagos islands before venturing toTahiti, which will become home for a littlewhile enabling the owner and potentialcharter guests to explore this uniquecruising ground onboard. Then we head offfor Fiji and the surrounding islands and in2015 we will be somewhere over in PapuaNew Guinea and Australia. On boardHemisphere our motto is: “You have to leavethe beaten path every once in a while, for thebigger rewards in life.” Trust me, whereverwe will be, it will be somewhere where youshould be planning your next vacation! I

FORM AND FUNCTIONBecause comfort was a priority aboard Hemisphere, the living areasand accommodation were specified early on in the design process.The synergy between the interior volume requirements of theliving area and the impact on the exterior styling were studied intandem. The engine rooms were placed amidships for better weightdistribution, establishing the centre of gravity that was a pivotalfeature in guiding the design of the hull form. The client alsospecified a maximum draft of 10’ 5” (3.2m), in order to assure entryinto shallow waters and specifically dive sites. A fixed fin keel wasselected in preference to swinging dagger boards, because daggerboards would absorb more interior space, represent a risk in theevent of grounding and demand more complicated engineering.The fin keel has the added benefit of lending itself easily astankage and to dry dock the vessel.On Hemisphere, the accommodation areas extend relatively farforward, which means excessive volume was required in the forwardsections of the hulls. The result is that she has a rather deep keelline forward of the fin, in order to keep a small angle of entry andensure a reasonable level of performance. The high freeboardmaintained elegant proportions for a yacht of this volume and alsohelped offset the height of the forward crossbeam, incorporated forbetter wave clearance while also ensuring seaworthiness. Nigel GeeBMT collaborated closely with VPLP on the structural engineeringfor Hemisphere. As a yacht designed to facilitate dive expeditions,the stability of the catamaran serves as an ideal launch pad for

divers and their equipment. VPLP ensured easy access to thetenders for both passengers and for loading heavy tanks andequipment. The port side garage houses a comprehensive divecentre and water skis in a variety of sizes for adults and children.The lower section of the transom shell accommodates a dive accessdoor; the 18 ft (5.5m) telescopic stern passerelle and the 10’ (3m)retractable swim platform. All the apertures are watertight. Alsoincluded in this space is the port stern thruster and steering gear.

CLEAN SHEETThe challenge in designing Hemisphere was the lack of referenceon this scale, not only for the designers but also for the shipyard,Class Society and subcontractors. Sailing catamarans of this sizeand scale have never been built before, so VPLP were exploringuncharted territory. But with a draught of just over 10’ (3m),Hemisphere has an ease of maneuverability and the scope to cruiseshallow draught destinations inaccessible to mono hulls ofcomparable size. The yacht’s inaugural summer season, after herMonaco Yacht Show debut, was enjoyed by her owners in theMediterranean. Now Burgess has been appointed to manage theyacht’s charter program, which saw her spending winter in theCaribbean with charter rates starting at $245,000 (USD) per week.From there she will transit the Panama Canal heading into the SouthPacific for summer 2013. Conceptualized and built for cruising thetropics, Hemisphere is certain to set a new benchmark for luxurycharters in some of the most exotic locations on the planet.