THALASSI

Guillermo Cryns has been a friend and colleague since 1975, when he bought a second-hand One Tonner, Silver Apple. He campaigned her with great success, and came back to me for a Mini-Tonner, a Quarter Tonner and an Admiral's Cupper. Later I accepted an invitation to cruise on his Dione, a 65 foot Laurent Giles designed centreboard ketch, in the Fjordland region of New Zealand. This must be one of the most spectacular and remote cruising areas of the world, accessible only by helicopter or yacht.

I cannot imagine a more inspirational setting for developing the design of Dione's successor than surrounded by the sheer cliffs and dramatic waterfalls of Milford Sound. Guillermo and his crew, Brian and Judy Harrison added their invaluable cruising experience to my own first hand observations of what had proved so successful on Dione. The owner's stateroom was to be under a large flush after deck, where the dinghies were stowed. Special stowages were designed for all personal items of equipment needed on an extensive cruise in remote waters, including camera equipment and scuba diving gear. The engine room was given almost the full width of the hull with its own work bench and spares stowage. The saloon dining area, navigation and communication station were retained as open plan. Every detail of the Dione interior was measured, analysed and developed to be as near as possible perfect for Guillermo Cryn's future voyages to remote areas. New cabin dimensions established the length of the new design at 83 feet; ideal for a permanent crew of three.

The performance of Dione's hull in extreme conditions, especially in the ice, convinced Guillermo Cryns to stay with composite GRP (glass reinforced plastics) as the building material.