YYachts launched a new Y8, the eighth hull in the Y8 series, which offers a completely different approach to yacht design compared to its predecessors.
Her styling, influenced by a YYachts customer and design icon who had sailed a Y7 for many years, brings a unique interpretation to the coachroof and cockpit. The interior reflects the owner’s preference for spaciousness, boasting a salon larger than what one might find on a 90-footer. This desire for space was also influenced by the furniture industry, with straight walls outside and customizable, comfortable sofas and armchairs.
For the design of the interior of this first new Y8 none other than the renowned architect and designer David Thulstrup was hired. Thulstrup is an award-winning architect and designer whose refined and holistic approach to architecture, interiors and product design combines his Scandinavian heritage with a modern design language. His practice is grounded upon enduring Scandinavian values of honesty and humanism with a particular emphasis on materiality. A central tenet is a concern for how people feel. By taking a holistic approach to each aspect of a project David creates spaces where people are comfortable and embraced by their surroundings. The look of the interior will reflect exactly this philosophy and Thulstrup’s approach.
From a technical point of view the yacht comes without a backstay, a self-tacking jib, a carbon mast, a hydraulic system and electric winches – showing that this Y8 follows YYachts’ Keep it simple- philosophy. Tijl Hetterschijt, Managing Director of YYachts, explains: “There is a quote attributed to several famous thinkers: I’m writing you a long letter because I didn’t have time for a short one. Transferred to yacht building, this means: You have to be able to operate a yacht intuitively and without much effort, so a great many details and processes have to be thought through and simplified in advance. The art is to reduce a yacht to the essentials without compromising on comfort.”
YYachts founder Michael Schmidt adds: “For me, this new Y8 is a very special design. After all, I founded the shipyard with the first Y8. In between, there are quite a few orders. But yachting is always evolving due to modern building materials, different rigs, influencing designers and also the regatta scene. This is what inspires us at YYachts to continually develop new products.“
The new Y8 will make her worldwide debut at the Palma International Boat Show from the 25th to the 28th of April and is available for sea trials after the sho