Author : Barry Thompson
LONG RANGE LUXURY
Black Pearl is the first long range motor yacht for its overseas owners, who previously have done all their cruising in sailing yachts.
Having spent a long time cruising and a lot of that under motor at less than 10 knots, the owners felt that their next vessel should be a motor yacht.
After discussions with their Captain Paul Sewell, the introduction was made to Auckland based Diverse Projects, a design and management company run by the very experienced John Vitali and Lars Bjorklund. Specialising in the construction of new yachts for owners worldwide and with a reputation for high quality and ‘on time’ vessel projects, Diverse Projects was given the task to ‘make the Black Pearl happen’.
The owners had very specific requirements for cruising. Considering that a lot of the dining and living would be upstairs in the flybridge, they still wanted to be as close to the water as practical. This proved quite a challenge for the designers, LOMOcean, to get the profile just right and then to also get all the services in the boat. From every angle the design criteria have been achieved handsomely.
Low Profile
The owner’s brief for the Black Pearl project, delivered to Craig Loomes and Andre Moltschaniwskyj of LOMOcean Design in early 2007, was to create a modern take on the traditional passage-maker, capable of long range trans-ocean cruising at 12-14 knots and having a comfortable, spacious interior.
The boat had to be relatively low profile – not only in terms of physical height above water, but also in appearance and sense of presence. Black Pearl was never intended to be an ostentatious, bling-filled statement of a superyacht, shouting “look at me…!”
In just over a decade, LOMOcean Design has generated a global reputation for innovative, ‘outside the square’ designs such as the 27m sportfish wavepiercer ‘Ultimate Lady’, the radical circumnavigation record holder trimaran ‘Earthrace’ and the no less conservative 31m wavepiercer catamaran ‘Turanor Planet Solar’, currently circling the globe in her quest to be the first vehicle ever to circumnavigate on solar electric power alone.
For Black Pearl, there was to be no wave piercing, no multi-hulls, no carbon fibre and no alternative fuels or power sources. Design challenges however remained and in particular, the need to minimise installed power and fuel burn, whilst maximising volume. For Vitali, the LOMOcean drawn hull form was a departure from the ‘traditional’ hard chined passage makers he had previously built.
Black Pearl’s round bilged form is designed to maximise volume and minimise wetted surface area, with a prismatic co-efficient tailored for the projected cruise speed. The result is remarkably slippery, returning fuel burn figures a substantial 40% less than similar vessels at identical speeds from some notably famous designers and ship yards. Even on expensive motor yachts, fuel costs can be an important factor in times of high oil prices.
At 7.7 knots @ 1009 rpm Black Pearl uses 28 lph/4.06 lpnm, at 9.8 knots @ 1250 rpm, 38 lph/4.94 lpnm and at 11.3 knots @1305 rpm, fuel consumption is 66 lph/6.47lpnm. At a maximum 13.8 knots @ 1820 rpm the rate increases to 178 lph/ 12.99 lpnm for a range over 2000nm.
Black Pearl’s two Caterpillar engines, C18 ACERT rated to 600 hp, will allow her to cruise at 11 to 12 knots. Based on 28000 litres with a 10% reserve, Black Pearl has a range of around 3000NM @ 12.5 knots and even flat out at 13.8 knots will still return 1600NM before the reserve kicks in. Drop the speed to 10.2 knots and Black Pearl has a range of 3895NM and at a very leisurely 7.7 knots you could expect 5100NM.
Black Pearl was built in aluminium to Lloyds LY2/MCA classification by Palmerston North based Profab Central Engineering for Diverse Projects and was completed in Whangarei by Oceania Marine, with interior design by Chris Connell.
Floating Interior
Specialist Marine Interiors (SMI) was responsible for the interior fit-out and the result is flawless. Accuracy is assured by computer numerically controlled (CNC) machines that set up a pattern on which the interior is assembled. All interior structures are developed in 3D and every piece is CNC cut and scribed.
Construction of Black Pearl’s interior was able to progress in parallel with the building of the actual craft. The customised modular construction method and the interlock system employed by SMI means that each component of the interior is cut and fitted separately. The interlock system means the entire interior was assembled, checked, disassembled, packed and shipped to the installation site. It was then reassembled within the hull of Black Pearl exactly as it was on the workshop floor.
The timber veneer on the walls and surfaces throughout Black Pearl is Ecosilk with matching diamond panels on all doors. Most of the interior soles are tongue and groove oak, with teak used on all the deck areas outside.
To minimise noise SMI partnered with Soundguard, a division of Pyrotek. The vessel’s interior is a “floating structure” preventing the transfer of any structure-borne noise to the interior. The sole plating, bulkheads and linings are formed from a thermal-acoustic insulation, which ensures minimal cross-bulkhead sound penetration. Through sealing all panels with non-setting acoustic compounds and rebating sole-plates to form a complete barrier at the join, sound tranfer is minimised.
Clean Lines
The accommodation layout provides private access to owners’, guests’ and crews’ cabins. The full beam owners’ cabin features a walk-in wardrobe, complete with a small office area and a spacious ensuite with outside views and a twin-sized shower. Large picture windows in the topsides flood the owner’s full-beam suite with light and provide a feeling of close proximity to the water.
The two side guest cabins are identical in layout, with individual ensuites and adjustable berths that form either two singles or a double. The forward guest cabin in Black Pearl has four single berths, with a separate toilet and vanity area to port and shower cubicle on the starboard side.
Comfortable crew accommodations are provided for five in twin cabins, each with ensuites and a small single cabin, which in the case of Black Pearl is for the four-year-old son of the Captain and his wife. Black Pearl carries a crew of four.
The galley is centrally located between the pilothouse and the saloon and has three-way access from either the crew stairwell, side deck or main foyer. There is everything you’d need for a serious dining experience from the large built-in fridge/freezer unit, trash compactor, Bosch induction top and Bugatti coffee maker. The U-shaped composite bench top has storage beneath as well as further storage in overhead cupboards and across the hallway is a large pantry.
A dump-waiter allows the crew to get food and drinks upstairs to the fully enclosed flybridge where the twin tables can be converted to one, making it large enough to seat fourteen for dinner. This is the only dedicated dining area aboard Black Pearl. Forward is a secondary helm area with twin Recaro seats. There are minimal controls and electronics on the fascia. Access to the upper deck is through side doors. The rear and some of the side windows slide down to provide natural air ventilation. The sky lounge promises to be a favourite part of the boat for most, with 360-degree views, a barbecue and a bar.
Impressive Electronics
The Captain would normally use the wheelhouse below, which has a seating area and coffee table aft that can also double as a rest area when passagemaking. Black Pearl’s electronics and communications package is impressive.
All marine electronics and audio visual systems were engineered, supplied, fitted and commissioned by Nav Station Limited. As with most passage makers the main control centre is the lower helm station, but Captain Paul Sewell recognised that for docking and very congested areas the flybridge needed to be well equipped. The system allows for all information available at the main helm station to be displayed at the flybridge – affording total control from either station.
Diverse Projects and Paul both wanted minimalistic control centres and with black box technology this can largely be achieved. The marine electronics package consists of predominantly Furuno equipment, including a Furuno 96NM 25kW Arpa radar, NavNet 3D Black Box charting sounder and secondary radar, GP37 GPS satellite compass, weather fax, AIS and Furuno Inmarsat SatC.
Black Pearl is fitted with Hatteland 19” screens, with 15” in the flybridge, a Maretron instrument and full engine monitoring package, plus CCTV in the engine room and aft deck.
The tender has the same NavNet 3D Display via a 10” screen, making the operation of vessel and tender the same.
The audio visual system is as good as it gets and consists of a full “Niles” Multi Zone with LCD screen in all cabins and with access to the I Pod, TV, Music Server & CD. Communication is via “SeaTel” equipment.
Panoramic Views
The more formal entrance to Black Pearl is centrally located on the starboard side and this leads either to the large saloon aft or to the wheelhouse forward. The 8m long saloon is inviting, with low profile seating and cabinetry. The ‘waistline’ of the side windows in the saloon is lower than normal, offering panoramic views of the water whether standing or sitting.
The window specifications for Black Pearl clearly defined that all windows required the best optical, safety, and performance values obtainable, and a product certified by Germanischer Lloyds. The task was given to Auckland based DuraShield Superyacht Glass who had proven performance to Germanischer Lloyds requirements, and again windows were specially tested for the Black Pearl project.
Black Pearls forward facing windows will withstand the pressure of a wave impacting the vessel over 12m high! That equates to windows bearing the weight of over 16 tons. Protection of interior furniture from the sunshine’s harmful UV rays was also of concern to the owner. DuraShield Superyacht Glass offers 99% Ultra Violet cut to protect these interior furnishings, along with offering an outstanding thermal rating equivalent to a double glazed window, although only laminated.
The window specifications for Black Pearl clearly defined that all windows required the best optical, safety, and performance values obtainable, and a product certified by Germanischer Lloyds. The task was given to Auckland based DuraShield Superyacht Glass who had proven performance to Germanischer Lloyds requirements, and again windows were specially tested for the Black Pearl project.
Black Pearls forward facing windows will withstand the pressure of a wave impacting the vessel over 12m high! That equates to windows bearing the weight of over 16 tons. Protection of interior furniture from the sunshine’s harmful UV rays was also of concern to the owner. DuraShield Superyacht Glass offers 99% Ultra Violet cut to protect these interior furnishings, along with offering an outstanding thermal rating equivalent to a double glazed window, although only laminated.
The saloon is divided into a number of distinctive areas, from the dedicated card table aft to the large L-shaped settee forward, with matching coffee tables. There is no dining table as this is provided for in the flybridge. Soft tones are used for all fabrics and wall linings, with the only colour accents from original art works on the walls. Further seating is provided with swivelling tub chairs. Storage lockers surround the perimeter of the saloon, plus there’s a large 3D TV hidden from view when not in use and a full surround sound system. Like the rest of Black Pearl, the saloon has zoned air conditioning.
Automatic double doors open into the upper deck area, where there is a day head and wet bar with fridge to port, with a large storage area opposite. For anyone seated in the aft lounger, the upper deck overhang affords protection from the weather. Luncheon can be served onto the huge Corian table.
The Right Connection
Black Pearl’s owner is a keen diver, surfer and yachtsman, and with the move to a larger motor yacht very much wanted to keep the feeling of connection with the water that he enjoyed in his previous sailboat. This was achieved in a number of ways during the design of Black Pearl. The large stern platform is kept deliberately very close to the waterline for ease of access for swimmers, divers and those accessing the tender, whilst wide, sweeping stairs flow naturally to the large aft deck. A central watertight door in the transom leads through to the lazarette and onto the engine room, although the main engine room entry is via the crew’s quarters. The rear stainless rails are removable for ease of access when the owners and guests are using the jetskis or tender. The twin Yamaha jetskis and Explorer 6000 RIB diesel jet tender are stowed on the upper deck and launched and retrieved by crane.
The finished yacht has exceeded her designers’ expectations, a testament to the commitment and hard work of Diverse Projects and all those who contributed to the build. She is the first vessel in this part of the world to be painted with the new Awlcraft 2000SE, a fast drying, acrylic urethane high gloss topcoat that along with Awlcraft Metallics creates a special effect finish.
Black Pearl is a refined and sophisticated vessel; a smooth, quiet and comfortable motor yacht with a classy yet clean interior décor that sets visitors at ease. It is sure to provide the owners with years of enjoyment and pleasure, voyaging to parts of the world that many other 30m yachts simply aren’t capable of reaching.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
- Boat Design Name: DP-08
- Boat Name: Black Pearl
- Classification: Germanischer Lloyd AG & MCA
- Year Launched: 2011
- Designer: LoMocean
- Interior Designer: Chris Connell
- Builder: Diverse Projects
- LOA: 31.63 m
- LWL: 28.3 m
- Beam: 7.85 m
- Draft: 2.05 m
- Displacement: (heavy) 166 tonnes / (light) 125 tonnes
- Max Speed: 14.0 knots
- Cruise Speed: 12.0 knots
- Construction: Alloy
- Fuel Cap: 28,500 litres
- Water Cap: 6,000 litres
- Engines: 2 x Caterpillar C 18 ACERT 600 hp
