Brooklin Boat Yard has launched its latest custom sloop: the 27.86-metre Sonny III. Built for a repeat customer, Sonny III is a high-performance cruising yacht designed for daysailing and blue-water passages. Construction on Sonny III took 18 months.
As her new owner is a retired senior with limited mobility, he requested a yacht with more accessibility, with Sonny III incorporating unique modifications, including chair lifts at each companionway, a power reclining chair in the master cabin, a side-boarding ladder and a transom-boarding platform.
“We’re proud to provide Sonny’s owner with a yacht that performs to his high expectations and accommodates his unique needs,” said Steve White, president of Brooklin Boat Yard. “He’s been a great collaborator on every boat we’ve built for him. This was a true challenge that required a lot of teamwork — a highly customized, 91-foot yacht built in only a year and a half.”
“I consider Sonny III a great accomplishment,” said designer Bruce Johnson. “I would expect a design process of six months for a yacht of this size and complexity before the yard could even begin to cut wood. Due to the aggressive build schedule we began construction six weeks after we started working with the owner. This project could not have been possible without Brooklin Boat Yard’s in-house designers who were invaluable, producing exceptional construction drawings.”
Sonny III has a double headsail rig operated by hydraulic furlers built by Harken. The non-overlapping headsail configuration with chainplates pushed outboard reduces loads and allows for a smaller mast section, winches and hardware. The carbon mast is from Offshore Spars with 3Di sails by North Sails.
Below deck, the interior layout of Sonny III includes a crew cabin forward with private head and stall shower, two guest staterooms forward of the mast, one with ensuite head and stall shower and the other with a day head, with separate shower. The main salon has an elliptical dining area and a navigation station.
Access to the full beam master stateroom is either through the portside passageway or through the generous galley to starboard. The master stateroom features an ensuite head with stall shower. The interior is finished in Herreshoff style with white and cream paintwork offset by American cherry joinery, leather upholstery and a teak and maple cabin sole.