The new order is Wally’s second in 2017 following the sale of a 93-foot racer in January and seems to highlight continuing demand for high-performance super sailing yachts, despite the challenges facing some other sailboat builders. The graceful design with naval architecture by Germàn Frers is in build at a new shipyard set up in Massa Carrara, Italy, in partnership with composite specialists Persico Marine. The launch is slated for May 2019.

“The new Wally 145 is the perfect yacht to enjoy sailing round the world,” says Luca Bassani, Wally founder and chairman, “She epitomises our credo of uncompromised performance combined with timeless appeal and providing the owners with the pleasure of truly sailing in any wind conditions, from the very light to strong airs in complete comfort.”

Unusually, the pre-preg carbon project actually shrank in size during the design phase to enhance speed, agility and a closer connection with the sea. The design team focused on building the lightest boat possible within the brief for racing round the cans, as well as providing the living space and lifestyle features for relaxed family cruising. Conceived for fast, stable performance assisted by a lifting keel with a maximum draft of 7m, Wally claims that her sail area/displacement ratio is higher and her 171-ton displacement is lighter than any other super sailing yacht in her category

A hybrid propulsion package comprises x2 MAN diesels (478 kW @ 2.100 rpm), x2 variable-speed generators, a DC Bus and x2 lithium battery packs of 100kW each. The system always the yacht to run in silent mode for overnight autonomy with the air conditioning and all the auxiliary services running. The electric bow and stern thrusters, together with the electric motors connected to the twin retractable shafts, provide Dynamic Positioning capability for manoeuvring in silent mode. Under power, she is expected to have a swift cruising speed of 15 knots.

Luca Bassani was instrumental in devising the innovative layout, a development of Wally's balcony-on-the-sea concept first introduced in 1998 with Tiketitan. Hence, the open-plan saloon and the two guest cockpits are on the same level with no steps in between. A new feature is a third cockpit reserved for the owner’s private use at lower deck level under the overhanging cockpit above.

The interior layout and design, developed by Wally with Droulers Architects and Studio Mario Sculli, features a large owner’s suite with two queen size beds, two bathrooms, office, and double walk-in wardrobes; accommodation for up to six guests in two cabins with Pullmans; and a main salon amidships with direct access to the two exterior guest cockpits. The service and crew area is forward.

Wally projects currently under construction include a 4th Wallycento (launching in July 2017); a Wally 93  (launching spring 2018); the 5th Wallyace 27; and two Wallypower 52s. Units of the new Wallytender X are also under way.

In the past, Wally has led what could be described as a ‘nomadic’ existence, building as far afield as Green Marine in the UK and Fano in Italy. The Wallycento, for example, is being built in Savona and the Wally 93 and Wallyace 27 in Forli on Italy’s Adriatic coast. The partnership with Persico Marine means the brand can rely on a dedicated facility in Massa Carrara, at least for its composite sailing yachts. The brand has also revealed it is close to concluding an agreement with a yard in Germany to build larger power models in steel (also >500GT), and with a French yard for the composite Wallyace and Wallypower 52.

 “We are very proud of this collaboration that leverages the Wally know-know developed in over 20 years of experience in light weight building technology and system engineering,” says Marcello Persico, CEO of Persico Marine, of the Wally 145. “We are sure that this megayacht will raise the bar of the yachting industry and is the start of a successful story.”

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Frers Naval Architecture & Engineering

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