The latest model that the French shipyard will present (with a virtual tour) at boot Dusseldorf 2024 is called Wauquiez 55. It is the first model of a new range designed to revive interest in a historic brand that aims to renew enthusiasts’ interest. The official physical debut? That will have to wait for the Cannes Yachting Festival 2024 in September.
The break with the past, already apparent in the first images of the Wauquiez 55, is quite evident. To begin with, there is a significant volume of the hull. Marc Lombard designed a particularly wide hull but also chose to widen the coachroof up to the sheer. “We haven’t invented anything,” explains Éric Levet, naval architect and co manager at Marc Lombard Yacht Design, “this feature was already present on the Corsaire.”
The hardtop is also for safety
Like the famous micro-cruiser designed by Herbulot in 1954, there are portholes on this coachroof, and one has to pass over them to reach the bow. Movement is easy thanks to the ability to lean on the hard top that protects the central cockpit. This rigid structure ensures that the crew is particularly protected during navigation. Visibility for the helmsman remains correct, thanks to the glass windshield (equipped with windshield wipers) and the opening panels for ventilation.
The cockpit of the Wauquiez 55 is expanded aft with two sunbathing areas and a large resting or leisure deck. The initial renderings show the presence of balcony seating and the unusual height (75 centimeters) of the steering lines: crew comfort has been taken care of.
Attention to ergonomics is also noticeable below the deck. The impression of space is evident, even though interior designer Stéphane Roséo wanted to leave ample storage space between the salon benches and the sheer. The portholes on the hull offer an extensive view of the sea. Those on the coachroof offer the same view in an upright position, with the addition of a forward view.
The dining area on the left, the armchairs facing it on the right, the guest toilet, and the navigation table are all positioned at the same level. The kitchen is slightly lower. To reach the forward cabin, you need to descend a few steps. It is spacious, the bed is accessible from three sides, and it has a bathroom with a shower well isolated from the toilet. But what stands out is the aft cabin, which perfectly utilizes the boat’s width and stands out for two innovative features: an exceptional aft glass opening and direct access to the deck.
You can also choose the lifting keel and carbon rigging. It should also be mentioned the engine room, accessible from both the cockpit and the interior, the choice of two twin engines to improve maneuverability, the electrical and electronic systems provided by Garmin with the Empirbus system, and the lifting keel. Combined with high-form stability and reasonable displacement, the keel ensures good seaworthiness without hindering easy access to ports (1.60 meters in the raised position). In its performance version, the Wauquiez 55 is also available with carbon rigging and a furling jib.
Wauquiex 55 specs
Hull length: 16.40 m (overall length 17.50 m)
Width: 5.25 m
Draft: 1.60-4.20 m (fixed 2.40 m)
Displacement: 20,000 kg
Ballast: 3,840 kg (lifting keel) or 4,950 kg (fixed keel)
Sail area: 169 m2
Engine: 2 x 50 HP
Architect: Marc Lombard Yacht Design
Design: Stéphane Roséo
Builder: Wauquiez
Price: n/a.