The End Of The Journey And Start Of The Voyage

By Alan McIlroy & Richard Baldwin, Photography © Solaris Yachts, solarisyachts.com

The computer screen flashes into life, revealing John McDonnell sitting at his desk in the Owners’ Stateroom of his new Solaris 74 RS, LUMINOUS III, and so we start to chat. A sirocco rages outside and LUMINOUS is waiting for good weather so that John and crew can really put her through her paces for the first time, as well as practise for the Solaris Cup, where they hope to do well with this epic Soto design with carbon spar, North Sails and mean lines. She is the first of the series to splash.

Wind back to the 2000s, and that old chestnut – where would you like to be in 10 years’ time? – and the response from John had been a sketch of a yacht on the ocean with he and his family aboard, off on a world trip. New York to the UK with Clipper in 2012 had him convinced that he wanted to sail far but wanted to do so in his own yacht, and thinking about the sale of the business and exactly what sort of bluewater cruising yacht that would deliver.

A series of McDonnell yachts including a Southerly 47ʼ with lines by Stephen Jones, that was quick and which would carry full sail in 20 knots, persuaded John that for his round the world yacht, going fast was definitely preferable (and a lot more fun) than going slow. The business grew and the journey towards that world cruise got closer. LUMINOUS II was a new Solaris 64ʼ, with Soto contemporary good looks and epic acceleration in light airs. She was great fun in Mediterranean waters and had the speed to overhaul the charter fleets in Croatia, sail right through them, tack and make the 180-degree track. World cruising was getting close…

The Solaris 74 RS was on the drawing board and she offered more space and comfort than the 64ʼ, which was nearly perfect, but which required some tweaks to prepare her for the trip. John took the plunge and the contract for the build of LUMINOUS III was signed.

The next part of the journey involved working with Solaris Sail on exactly the right specification and getting the yacht exactly how John wanted her to be. This is an iterative process; the project team always open to new ideas, thinking about them, going away and coming back with a plan that added to the original request.

For Team Solaris, working with John, and also with Alan McIlroy and Richard Baldwin who drive the Berthon Solaris bus, the 74 RS was also a journey, pushing the boundaries and coming up with a fast, comfortable and durable sailing yacht that would take oceans in her stride.

For Solaris, this was also a journey to a new yacht in their range, which they decided should be a 74 footer that would provide existing Solaris clients with a fast, sleek and comfortable sailing yacht, which could be easily handled and yet have the space for crew and the volume for systems, fluids and storage to allow her to step up into bluewater cruising if required. The 74 RS retains 100% of that magical Solaris DNA which delivers quality build, performance cruising and good looks. Her additional waterline length also provides increased passage speeds – and very attractive to Solaris owners who are used to owning and sailing a fast but smaller Solaris.

The design team at Solaris were able to focus on a dedicated crew cabin off the galley, more refrigeration, and to build in greater endurance for the main systems including a centralised hydraulic system, and lovely central engine room with great access to all the machinery. The 74 RS also has twin interchangeable sea chests for engine and generator and robust systems.

As the reader knows, Solaris’ hunch that Solaris owners would ‘get’ the 74 RS was certainly correct and John has now been joined by a further two existing Solaris owners who have #002 and #003 in build.

Solaris is a family, and owners join the family when the build of their yacht begins. The 74 RS development journey is particularly enjoyable for the design team and project managers on the build, as they are working with existing owners whom they know, and who understand what makes a Solaris tick. Nothing is done to compromise performance, aesthetics or strength.

Building a Solaris is akin to being fitted for a handmade suit or frock. Or maybe being fitted for a Morgan or Noble car. Because each Solaris is built for her first owner, their wishes, and needs to fulfil the cruising programme that they plan is incorporated into the design at the drawing board. Building a yacht for John was a great example of this iterative process.

Interiors are key, and although John’s mind was made up when he saw the exterior renderings, an important part of the development of the 74 RS (and all other Solaris yachts at this stage) is the build of a full scale interior model that designers, craftsmen, technicians and importantly future owners can walk through to experience the spatial look and feel of their new yacht before the build starts. The 74 RS interior had to be assembled in Montfalcone, some miles from the Solaris Shipyard because of its size!

Design meetings are a chance for the yard to discuss and refine ideas. Sometimes this involves extra or further modifications once the owner has given full input. The process is exciting for all and is always interspersed with cups of amazing Italian coffee, as well as extraordinary pastries that arrive wrapped in gossamer thin paper from local bakery ‘Cocambo’.

Because of the pace of innovation at Solaris, the design team is more than large enough to crew a Solaris 74 RS! This is because of the speed with which Solaris has established a performance cruising yacht range that seriously works. Once the concept is set, there is a lot to do with the design of systems and the myriad of details that go with execution and build.

At Solaris everyone is mad about yachts which is why sea trials aboard LUMINOUS III saw the whole team take to the water to experience at first hand their journey’s end with John and the continuation of their progress with the Solaris 74 RS and the other amazing yachts in the Solaris range, as well as those that are yet to come.

LUMINOUS III will be in St Lucia this December 2024 for the start of the World ARC. For John and the team at Solaris this will be the end of their journey, and the start of her voyage.

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