Maxi Dolphin 75, KARMA

Broker’s Comments

KARMA is the first MD 75 designed by Mark Mills and built by the Italian yard Maxi Dolphin for an Italian owner, who enjoys smaller high-performance dinghies and kiteboarding, with the wish that his big new boat could possess some of this excitement and immediacy. Designed to be the highest performance cruiser that remains easy to sail and handle shorthanded, she is a reflection of the dedication of the client and Maxi Dolphin builders to produce a modern sportster with a minimalist character inside and out.

The key points of the project are the weight and sail areas to maximize performance. The hull and appendage design were focused on all-around performance as requested by the client. The boat is entirely constructed with Corecell sandwich and carbon fibre, combining simplicity with lightness. The lifting keel option has been chosen to maximize performance, yet remain useable and with the ability to enter most ports with a draft from 2.80 to 4.80 metres. The sail plan combines the speed and shapes from a race boat with ease of use, starting with the absence of backstays.

The deck plan includes several nice details such as the flush dodger hoop, the underdeck halyard and line runs, and the integrated tail lockers.

Since the primary role is high-speed cruising, KARMA has twin rudders to ensure great handling off-wind, as well as allowing a large dinghy locker for the tender and kiteboards.

The interior, designed by Nauta Design, features furnishings and paneling in lightweight sandwich construction and are made with open-pore oak and light-toned fabrics, embodying a comfortable and ‘warm’ style.

The internal layout features a large master cabin in front with ensuite bathroom with separate shower box, one VIP guest cabin amidship with private head and shower. The main saloon is huge with sofas on both side and a dining table for 10 people. The aft quarters include a guest cabin on stbd side and galley and crew cabin on port side.

Owner’s Comments

After many years of motorboats, the last being the Magnum Marine 44 Banzai, and a lifetime dedicated to sailing, starting with dinghies, then 12 years with the Laser, followed by Hobby cats, windsurfing, Kite, and finally with Foils, it was time to realize the long-held dream of building a sailboat.

I started with the idea of a composite catamaran, but then I thought of a boat that could also be used with the family, dedicated to Mediterranean navigation. So, I began the design process thinking of the Wally 100 and decided to create something similar but 75 feet long. The concept was to make a fast cruiser with simple lines and easy maneuvering, hence the elimination of the backstay for tacks and jibes, manageable even with two people (the carbon mast designed by Chris Mitchell).

For the hull design, I relied on Mark Mills because he was working on the new Wally 100 TANGO, while for the layout and interiors, I turned to Nauta, knowing Mario Pedol and collaborating directly with Massimo Gino for design choices.

Regarding the exterior, I told Mills that I wanted a boat with new lines, extremely wide with a maximum beam of over 6 meters and a very low stern. I chose composite material, but made it sandwich construction to achieve rigidity, lightness, and acoustic comfort, allowing comfortable overnight stays on board with the whole family without too much noise.

I chose Maxi Dolphin shipyard because of their ties to Wally designs and collaboration with Nauta. For the layout, I thought of the Wally 100 but also simplicity in lines, as if it were a large ‘Laser’, with a clean teak deck, retro-style polished steel winches, and a very spacious garage (6 meters x 3.6) to accommodate a good-sized tender and to store windsurfing, kite, and foil equipment.

We decided to make a high-performance keel of 4 meters with a Cariboni lifting keel to approach beaches, thus capable of going closer to the shore in depths of up to 2.80 mt.

The choice for the interior was to be sober and linear with light colours like the exterior, with ample spaces. The master cabin in the bow is comfortable and the bathroom has a double sink and large shower. There’s a guest/children’s room that can transform into three single beds or, by moving a bedside table, into one double bed. Aft, there’s another double bedroom with a separate bathroom, designed for guests during the day. Finally, a bunk bed cabin for the crew with its own bathroom.

In short, KARMA is a fast, fun, and very comfortable vessel with its own elegance that always attracts admiring visitors on the dock!