If the urge to leap from a hovering helicopter into a waiting bulletproof Aston Martin DB5 while wearing a tuxedo suddenly proves irresistible, it’s only fitting. Yachts are synonymous with James Bond. More to the point, Spirit Yachts and James Bond share history.
The Spirit Yachts 46 Classic sailing vessel appeared as the famous Secret Service agent’s yacht of choice in the 2021 Ian Fleming inspired film, No Time to Die. The only reason we can think of that Bond didn’t choose the 72 Deckhouse was that the film preceded the launch by about a year.
Nonetheless, even if an assignment investigating Spectre is not on the itinerary, the Spirit Yachts 72 DH Anima II is every bit the capable, luxurious stunner. Whether racing in the Mediterranean, touring the globe, or leisurely docked at home in Malta, Anima II displays the effortlessly distinguished look of a 1930s heirloom yacht, owning a chic profile that reaches out over the water in long, graceful stretches fore and aft.
Anima II is an authentically hand built yacht featuring perfectly laid soft wood decking, a flush deck design, a raised coachroof, impeccably fitted mahogany, and elegant brightwork. And yet, aesthetics are simply the beginning of the story. The 72 DH’s performance is legendary. After all, its recent launch in August of 2022 displayed a perfect pedigree dovetailing old world craftsmanship with top of industry modern technology.
Spirit Yachts
Owning the niche of modern classic yachts, Spirit Yachts meticulously designs and builds out of an impressive facility in the historic seafaring town of Ipswich in the United Kingdom. Every yacht identifies with traditional style, both inside and out, while boasting trendsetting technology that pays particular attention to the design and build profile below the waterline. Spirit Yachts’ success secrets, aside from beautiful aesthetics, embrace light displacement and an impressive power to weight ratio.
Every Spirit Yacht is different, hand crafted with its own customization to bring it perfectly in line with the lifestyle of the owner. It begins with a hand drawn design created through discussions with owners to ensure the yachts know their purpose in order to serve the owners well. The process graduates to digitized images and full-on computer analyses, ending in an exquisitely crafted work of art with capabilities nonpareil.
No Moulds, Just Wood
With the advanced materials many yacht builders are using today, why does Spirit Yachts prefer wood? Oh, so many reasons. It is natural. It is sustainable. It is durable. It is compatible with everything master craftsmen ask of it: bending, shaping, flexing, insulating against temperatures and noise, damping vibration. Wood also offers a great strength to weight ratio equal to that of carbon fiber, with greater tensile strength than any other type of hull material. Lastly, and importantly for Spirit, at the end of their useful lives as yachts, Spirit vessels can be separated from their components, rendering both wood and metal to be reused or recycled.
Hull construction starts with laminating meticulously crafted wooden ring frames. They are then positioned upside down along a “strongback” in anticipation of laminating them to the continuous centerline structure for the full length of the hull. Not a mould in site.
After the beamshelves are fitted, the hull is beveled, faired, and ready for the initial layer of hull planking. The central frame is reinforced fitting an inner carbon frame to bear the load of the mast, chain plates, and keel in the larger models. Double-diagonal veneers are epoxy bonded to the hull for additional reinforcement, then a final sheath of epoxy glass preps the surface for a flawless paint finish and a modern, quick-drying replacement for varnish that delivers that impeccable ultra-glossy finish.
Interiors of Spirit Yachts are extraordinary as well. Exposed wood and planking give the saloons and cabins a beautiful, warm, welcoming feel, providing the perfect backdrop for the unique creations born of artisan joinery, cabinetry, and carpentry. All in gorgeously matched grain wood. One cannot help but marvel at the level of craftsmanship and the beauty of the completed vessel, appreciating the time and expertise required to achieve such a work of art.
Photos: Mike Jones / Waterline Media | Words: K.L. Turner
