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Environmental stewardship is one of the driving forces behind the design for Nazari I, the first hull launched by the new boatbuilding company Calixas, which is headquartered in Austin, Texas. Every aspect of this 105-foot trideck motoryacht was carefully considered from the standpoint of its environmental impact-from its hull layup and propulsion, right down to the carpet in its three guest staterooms.
“One of the criteria that Montie laid out from Day One was to build the most socially responsible boat that we could,” said Naval Architect Gregory C. Marshall of his Calixas cofounder Montie Twining.
The first hull to be launched in the company’s C2 series (named for the yacht’s tonnage), Nazari I was constructed at the Premier Shipyard in Taiwan, which also builds the Horizon line of motoryachts. The hull layup utilized SCRIMP technology, a vacuum-infusion process which is known for its low VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) emissions. Marshall gave the yacht an oceangoing, full-displacement hull and a bulbous bow in order to maximize fuel efficiency, and designed it to have a low wake profile so it won’t disrupt passing shorelines.
This highly efficient hull is powered by twin 474-horsepower Caterpillar 3406E diesels, engines so small that Nazari I’s captain, Jeremy Cresswell, joked that another similar-sized yacht might use them as gensets. They give the Calixas an impressively low fuel consumption rate of 40 gallons per hour and a range of about 3,000 miles, while at the same time providing a respectable top speed of just under 14 knots and a comfortable cruise of 12 knots.
Thanks to the compact engines, a long, heavy keel, and tall superstructure, the C2 drives a bit like a sailboat, according to Cresswell (whose last command was a triple-engine Hatteras). The yacht is extremely maneuverable, however, aided by a heavy-duty 75-horsepower, 20-inch thruster and stabilizing system, both by American Bow Thruster.”It handles absolutely beautifully,” Marshall said.
The yacht’s internal systems all meet Twining’s “green” standards in addition to MCA certification requirements. Gray and black water is treated by a commercial-level Headhunter Tidalwave HMX water treatment unit, so it is completely clean when pumped overboard. The engines are configured with underwater exhausts so they won’t emit smoke and fumes at the dock. Sound insulation is optimized throughout the yacht.
When Marshall and teammates Geoff Harrington and Lisa Sinclair put together the design for the interior décor, “We looked at using materials that were as recyclable and renewable as possible,” he said. Headliners are crafted of silk, wallcoverings of grasscloth, and carpets of lambswool-all renewable resources. The result is a soothing, zen-like atmosphere that is enhanced by the almost minimalist furniture and cabinetry. Nazari I’s interior was fabricated in New Zealand and shipped to Taiwan for installation.
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Not only is this yacht “socially responsible,” its layout is inherently social. The large main salon is well laid out for entertaining and incorporates a large bar that is open to the galley. If privacy is desired, the crew can close off the service area with sliding panels. Innovative touch screens by Maple Systems that display the ship’s schematic also let guests signal the crew as to where they shouldn’t intrude. Just tap an area like the owner’s suite on screen, and it will turn red on similar displays throughout the boat.
Nazari I’s L-shaped galley has the only gas range this reporter has seen in a megayacht; the fuel is stored up on the flying bridge per MCA rules. A long corridor fitted with sufficient counter space for meal-prep leads to the formal dining room. “Formal” is bit of a misnomer, however, as this room has a very contemporary ambience, thanks to the round side window that gives guests a great view. The dining area can also be used as a functional conference space, and is fitted with a large screen that drops down to cover the window. The high-end MaxMedia media server lets the crew turn this room into a movie theater as well.
The full-beam owner’s suite on the main deck is an innovative oasis. The stateroom has two of Calixas’ signature round windows to bring in the light. A computer desk allows the owner to work in privacy, tapping into the advanced communications equipment that the tech-savvy Twining specified. Nazari I has satcoms and wireless Internet; there is even an onboard system called Calixas.NET that stores all the ship’s documents, drawings, and manuals.
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The master head, forward, encompasses a tub and walk-in closet. It also has a private exit to the foredeck, which is reserved for the owner’s use. “The idea is to have an ‘inside/outside’ owner’s apartment,” Marshall says. “After a long cruise, sometimes you want to be away from your guests.”
The trideck configuration gives this 105-footer the feel of a much larger yacht, allowing space for a full bridge deck with a remarkably big skylounge. Forward, the wheelhouse has a settee where guests can view the waters ahead, as well as the full suite of hightech Furuno navigation instruments. The security system, an Axis networked video server with seven cameras, also can be displayed on the four large flat screens at the helm.
Stairs lead from the wheelhouse’s two wing decks up to the flying bridge, which is big enough to hold an alfresco dining table and a Jacuzzi. Aft, a 2,500-pound Steelhead davit is poised at the edge of the overhang, ready to pick up the custom 18-foot McMullen & Wing diesel/water jet RIB tender on the boat deck below. Marshall also found room to add a transom “garage” that holds another tender.
Topping the boat is a crow’s nest with a full upper helm station, towering 45 feet above the yacht’s waterline. It is here that you truly get the sense of Nazari I’s impressive size and volume when compared to other yachts with the same LOA. This yacht not only embodies an enlightened, environmentally friendly worldview, it is also designed to give its owner and guests a view from the top of the world.
Calixas Yachts, (512) 299-9986; www.calixas.com
