By moving away from a conventional sailing yacht profile Jon Bannenberg created a saloon running the full width of the hull. Large, watertight windows each side, in inch thick armoured glass allow panoramic views from the interior, and these can be opened to create a veranda-like effect which is uniquely spectacular.

The owner wanted to be able to cruise across the Bahamas banks, which imposed a draft limit of seven feet, a real challenge for a high performance 112 foot sailing yacht. To meet the sailing targets I used a deep high aspect ratio centerboard similar in shape to an aircraft wing. This pivots into a recess between the engines, reducing the draft from 24 to the required seven feet. To get adequate steering within the depth restriction I gave her two rudders side by side. I also designed in a second centreboard under the stern, with an adjustable angle of attack to offload the rudders and maintain a nice balance on the helm regardless of sailplan. We appreciated the success of this solution when it was found that the speed increased by a knot when the aft centreboard, a more efficient foil, was adjusted to allow the rudders to be kept straight.

Geoffrey Simmonds has a successful background in the aircraft component business, where the relationship between quality and cost is vital. He insisted on the same "value engineering” approach on building his yacht. This was a valuable lesson for all of us, and particularly appropriate with an extreme high technology yacht such as Acharné, with many kilometers of wiring and hydraulic piping, where costs can easily get out of hand.

Acharné's successful completion has opened up a new era with comfort and style taken to a level previously unknown in a sailing yacht.