Red Dragon is a 52m (171ft) performance cruising sloop designed and built for discerning European owners. The brief required a stylish yacht capable of fast passages and long periods of autonomy with a contemporary, bright interior.
Inside and out, the Red Dragon project redefines the marque. The lines are clean and modern, with a near plumb bow, subtle sheer, low-profile coachroof and an extended aft deck flowing back to an elegant transom that slopes down to just above the waterline. The line of the coachroof extends into a long overhang floating virtually unsupported over the aft cockpit.
The hull is finished in anthracite grey with a snow white superstructure. A vivid red covestripe provides a handsome accent against the dark hull and establishes a theme repeated on the boom.
The dark windows of the coachroof wrap all the way around in an unbroken sweep of curved glass. The large aft cockpit side windows slide up and down at the touch of a button to allow the breeze to waft through, or provide protection from the elements as required.
In keeping with the clean exterior lines, the interior treatment is spare, angular and thoroughly modern. The interior design was undertaken by Wilmotte Associates, who have an existing relationship with the owners through designing contemporary museums and art galleries. Wilmotte Associates came to the project with a fresh perspective, never having styled a yacht interior before.
The ambience they created is quiet and calming and elegant in its simplicity. The colours are muted and, combined with the light pouring in from the large surrounding windows, a tremendous sense of space is achieved. This sense is heightened by the impression that much of the furniture is suspended in space, separated from the floor and walls with light spilling from concealed recesses under and around the cabinets and wardrobes. Shelves, for example, which might ordinarily butt into corners on three sides, or at least two, seem to levitate from single attachments.
The wall paneling, using matt varnished blonde oak with the grain exposed, is laid in large rectangular panels with either vestigal or no architraves to outline doors. On some walls, the only element to distinguish a door is the brushed stainless handle. In contrast, occasional panels feature bold horizontal strips of tabu timber laid in tight relief, adding depth and texture. The flooring is similarly light, with pale charme laid in 110mm wide planks. In the bedrooms, silk carpets are luxurious underfoot.
Specifications
LOA 51.70m (170ft)
LWL 44.80m (147ft)
Beam 10.20m (33.5ft)
Draft 4.90m (16.1ft)
Displacement 354 tonnes
Sails Stratis by Doyle sails
Sail Area 2,500m2 (27,000ft2)
Mast and boom Carbon fibre five spreader mast with furling boom
by Marten Spars
Furlers Reckmann
Winches Captive reel and vertical by Alloy Yachts
Main Engine Caterpillar diesel C32
Gear Box ZF 3310 reduction gearbox with 4.478:1 ratio
Propeller Hundested variable pitch
Range 5,000nm @ 12 knots
Bow / Stern thrusters TRAC II 140hp
Generators 2 x 90kW Northern Lights generators
Fuel 45,900 litres
Water 11,080 litres
BUILDER Alloy Yachts International
DESIGNER Dubois Naval Architects
INTERIOR DESIGN Wilmotte & Associates
OWNER'S REP. Ben Marshall
CLASSIFICATION Lloyds Register of Shipping 100 A1 SSC
Yacht Mono G6 LMC & LY2
