Baltic Yachts’ latest 33.8-meter masterpiece, Raven, turns heads in the world of superyachts, offering a compelling mix of high-performance engineering and modern luxury.
If you appreciate cutting-edge technology, innovative design, and impeccable style, Raven represents a new era of sailing yachts blending speed, elegance, and comfort seamlessly.
In this article, we explore how Raven breaks the mold, combining the speed of racing yachts with luxurious interiors typical of a high-end superyacht. We dive deep into the engineering marvels making this yacht stand out in an industry already brimming with innovation.
Breaking Boundaries: The Concept Behind Raven
When Raven’s owner envisioned this remarkable yacht, the goal was simple yet ambitious: build a fast, cutting-edge sailing machine without compromising comfort.
The owner, who already boasts a fleet ranging from a 126-meter Lürssen expedition yacht to a ClubSwan 36 racer, wanted something new—a hybrid marrying the two extremes of his existing vessels.
Raven’s design brief was clear: create a superyacht capable of sailing fast with agility of a racing yacht while maintaining a level of interior luxury allowing her to serve as a cruising yacht. This vision led to one of the most innovative designs we’ve seen in the superyacht industry.
Unmatched Performance: How Raven Achieves Speed While Maintaining Stability
One of the most exciting aspects of Raven is her hybrid foil configuration, designed by Botin Partners, a renowned name in naval architecture. Foils revolutionized modern sailing, especially in racing yachts like the AC75s seen in the America’s Cup.
However, Raven doesn’t fully fly like these boats. Instead, her foils reduce drag, lift part of her hull out of the water, and improve both speed and stability.
So, what does this mean for performance? At cruising speed, Raven comfortably sails at 25-27 knots. Unlike fully foiling offshore race boats, which can be notoriously uncomfortable due to rapid accelerations and sharp movements.
Raven is engineered to maintain a more stable, skimming mode. This ensures a smooth ride even at high speeds, perfect for long-distance, high-speed passages.
A Look at the Foil System
Raven’s foils relieve 50% of her displacement, allowing for significant speed improvements without compromising safety. Unlike most fully foiling boats requiring constant adjustments to avoid capsizing, Raven’s system allows for more relaxed, stable sailing.
Her skimming mode ensures her bow lifts above the water while the stern and rudders remain fully immersed, keeping her balanced and agile.
This hybrid design makes her particularly efficient in light winds and choppy seas, where fully foiling boats often struggle. Raven’s leeward foil can be hydraulically adjusted to enhance lift or reduce drag depending on conditions.
This level of fine-tuning gives her an edge in both performance and comfort.
Engineering Marvel: The Importance of Weight Control
In high-performance sailing, every kilogram counts, and nowhere is this more apparent than on Raven. Constructed from carbon fibre-Nomex, the yacht’s hull is incredibly light without sacrificing strength.
Raven’s naval architects and engineers went to great lengths to keep her as light as possible without compromising safety or comfort.
Baltic Yachts enforced a rigorous weight audit during construction, with the goal of keeping total displacement around 50 tonnes. This makes Raven almost half the weight of similar superyachts like the Baltic 110 Zemi and only slightly heavier than racing yachts like the Wallycento.
The Role of Materials
To achieve this weight reduction, materials such as carbon fibre and Nomex were used extensively throughout the yacht’s construction. Raven’s North Sails, for example, are made from North 3Di carbon-fibre, and her rigging uses Harken Air winches for maximum strength and minimum weight.
Even minor details like adhesives were scrutinized to ensure every component contributed to the overall weight-saving goal. The result is a yacht as light as a racing yacht while offering all the amenities of a superyacht.
Luxury Meets Innovation: Raven’s Modern Interior
While Raven’s exterior is designed for speed and performance, her interior is nothing short of luxurious. Finnish designer Jarkko Jämsén, who previously worked on the award-winning 77-meter Feadship Pi, was tasked with designing Raven’s interior. His goal? Create a comfortable, stylish, and functional space while keeping the weight to an absolute minimum.
The interior of Raven is a minimalist, modern marvel. Instead of traditional wood panels and heavy materials, carbon-fibre tube frames covered in rattan were used for walls and ceilings. This innovative choice adds to the yacht’s lightness and gives the interior a sleek, contemporary aesthetic.
The Owner’s Cabin
One of the standout features below deck is the owner’s cabin, located aft. This space is cleverly designed to offer both comfort and functionality.
For example, the double centerline berth folds up against the bulkhead during racing, providing more room when needed. The minimalist design doesn’t sacrifice luxury, with ample natural light flooding in from the glass sides of the cockpit, creating a serene atmosphere.
Advanced Systems: The Diesel-Electric Hybrid Propulsion
Raven is a fast sailing yacht embracing sustainability. Powered by a diesel-electric hybrid propulsion system, Raven is equipped with twin 80kW Yanmar generators outputting 700 volts to drive a 130kW electric motor.
This advanced propulsion system allows Raven to run for extended periods on electric power, reducing her environmental footprint while maintaining top performance.
This system is complemented by a retractable propeller with carbon fibre blades and a titanium hub, designed with weight and efficiency in mind.
Pushing the Boundaries: What Makes Raven Unique
The superyacht industry is known for pushing boundaries, but Raven takes this concept to a new level. Her combination of speed, luxury, and innovation sets her apart from other yachts in her class. Below are some key areas where Raven excels:
1. Foil Technology:
Raven’s foils dramatically improve her performance. The hybrid system allows her to skim across the water at high speeds, reducing drag and increasing efficiency. This feature is a game-changer for cruising yachts traditionally focused more on comfort than speed.
2. Lightweight Construction:
Every aspect of Raven’s design was scrutinized to keep her weight as low as possible. From her carbon-fibre-Nomex hull to her feather-light interior materials, Raven’s weight-saving measures make her one of the lightest and fastest superyachts on the water.
3. Luxury Interior:
Despite her focus on performance, Raven doesn’t compromise on luxury. Her minimalist, modern interior features materials like bamboo and rattan, stylish and lightweight. Raven’s interior is both functional and beautiful, proving luxury and performance can coexist.
4. Hybrid Propulsion System:
In a world where sustainability becomes increasingly important, Raven’s diesel-electric hybrid propulsion system sets her apart. This advanced system allows her to operate on electric power for extended periods, reducing her environmental impact while maintaining performance.
Raven’s Journey Ahead: What’s Next for This Superyacht?
As Raven sails the seas, her owner and crew refine her systems to maximize performance and comfort. With an impressive average speed of 25 to 27 knots and potential to cover over 600 nautical miles per day, Raven is making waves in the superyacht community.
What makes her truly exciting is her potential for the future. Raven’s hybrid systems and foiling technology likely signal the beginning of a new trend in superyacht design—one where speed, innovation, and luxury converge in perfect harmony.
Conclusion: Why Raven is the Future of Sailing Yachts
Baltic Yachts’ Raven is more than a yacht; she’s a statement. A statement luxury, performance, and sustainability coexist in the world of superyachts. With her cutting-edge foil system, lightweight construction, and hybrid propulsion, Raven leads the way for a new generation of sailing yachts.
As yacht owners and designers embrace the innovations seen in Raven, we can expect to see a future where superyachts are fast, luxurious, eco-friendly, and efficient. Raven remains at the forefront, proving the future of sailing yachts is here, faster, sleeker, and more innovative than ever.
