This new generation YYachts Y8 is the Griefswald yard’s third version of this 80ft size. The original, which helped launch the brand in 2015, was a Lorenzo Argento and David Copperfield design. Surge Projects’ Javier Jaudenes, designer of WinWin and the recent Baltic Café Racer series, then drew the replacement that launched two years ago, which he has now updated again including a new deck, structure and interior.

The deck design and ergonomics had key input from a lead designer at Apple, who is also a Y7 owner. Having a top product designer fine-tune the details was enlightening.

“The thinking is completely different from previous models – a different interpretation of the coachroof and the cockpit created by a design icon leader and a YYachts customer,” founder Michael Schmidt explains.

A wide, flat spacious deck. Photo: Nico Martinez

Minimalism

Schmidt owns this first new YYachts Y8, Calabash, which has a very different interior, deliberately minimalist in the vast saloon to help emphasise the volumes. And in common with his recent new models, it has a Scandinavian architectural feel, this time thanks to renowned Danish designer David Thulstrup.

The significant interior volume, which is 20% greater than its predecessor, helped the design team to offer a large variety of layouts, including owner’s accommodation fore or aft. Jaudenes admits this was a challenge: “to conceive an aesthetically pleasing vessel capable of accommodating four distinct layouts while maintaining essential structural elements.”

He has taken the max beam right aft to the transom, “with flared sides ensuring substantial hull stability and a generous garage space to accommodate a sizeable tender plus ample storage.”

With the bimini fitted over the guest cockpit. Photo: Nico Martinez

Calabash is the first Y-series without a lifting aft deck hatch over the garage (the helms are further aft which prevents this), however the garage can still house a Williams 4.95m jet tender. Also gone are the twin engines in favour of a single block below the saloon – this huge soleboard section is now a showpiece that lifts on rams.

Where the Y7 is designed to be able to sail by an owner-driver (perhaps with a skipper to help occasionally), the YYachts Y8 is managed by two permanent crew, so there is increased separation between them and the owner’s area.

“We need to make our boats acceptable, understandable and appreciable to motorboat owners,” says managing director Tijl Hetterschijt, who was aboard for our sail trial. He likens this mentality to that of electric car owners – “keeping it uncomplicated is key” and says it’s therefore a more similar setup to the YYachts Y7 than the YYachts Y9.

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That said, for the deck layout, YYachts wanted the feel of an 85-footer, which it certainly gives. You can now walk all around the deck and deckhouse, while the use of 30° spreaders negates the need for a backstay, a feat that seems to defy physics. (Calabash has runners for the square-top mainsail but these are not deemed necessary).

Easy speed

For our trials we had an ideal thermal afternoon breeze of 13 to 16 knots in the Bay of Palma, which allowed us to clock double figures. We nudged 10.5 knots at 40-45° to the apparent wind, but that induced a fair amount of heel and load – you get a good sense of this on the wheel through direct steering and there’s plenty of grip from the twin rudders. However, by nosing up to 30-35° we found a more comfortable heel angle with the log still averaging 9-9.5 knots under white sails.

Serious sailpower from Doyle: square-top mainsail combines with gennaker for fast reaching in light airs. Photo: Nico Martinez

As has long been commonplace for Michael Schmidt’s yachts, a self-tacking jib comes as standard to make handling easier. This is a good size as the foretriangle has been increased to offer optimal driving forces, says Jaudenes. Calabash also had extra grunt provided by the square-top main.

This sailpower combines with the powerful, wide hull shape yet comparatively lightweight displacement of her carbon composite build for lively performance.

To put that in perspective, the YYachts Y8 is the same length as the CNB 78 yet is 10 tonnes lighter. It can also be fitted with a shallow draught lifting or telescopic keel.

“The sail plan configuration strikes a balance between delivering substantial driving forces and mitigating heeling moments, delaying reefing until wind speeds of 18 knots,” Jaudenes continues.

Wide lower saloon includes an extendable dining table. Photo: Irina Boersma

YYachts gives different options for the mainsheet: the mainsheet winch plinth we had; a bimini with single-point; a Magic Trim system within the boom; or a fixed bimini roof with the mainsheet track on top.

The huge, wide open aft deck presents quite the dance floor to try and negotiate at heel. I’ve mentioned this with past YYachts designs and it’s something owners and guests will need to be wary of. While the helmsman and trimmers have some bracing points to help negotiate tacks, there are no handholds or bracing for crew/guests… grippy shoes are needed.

The aft guardrail is also very low. And despite an excellent bimini sheltering the guest cockpit, the deck is very flat elsewhere with little comfort. Even the mooring winches are hidden inside aft quarter lockers. Such a form-over-function approach will create mixed reactions.

Open space is emphasised by freestanding chairs and sofa. Photo: Irina Boersma

Plenty will comment on how unsuitable it is for sailing offshore, but they need to remember most owners of this type of craft are daysailing from chic Med marinas and anchorages. It should also be emphasised that these are semi-custom yachts and owners can choose where they want to install crash bars and handrails.
Scandi minimalism
Like many of Schmidt’s boats, there’s a proper wow factor on stepping below decks, thanks to an ultra-clean architectural style.

YYachts describes this first YYachts Y8 interior as “a sophisticated blend of modern and Scandinavian influences”. There is plenty of wood trim and in this case the Danish designer pushed for the uncommon choice of mahogany trim (and soles) which adds some warmth and elegance.

Four layout options, four different timber veneer choices, and a range of predesigned furniture colour choices mean each owner can tailor-make their interior.

Forward of here on Calabash is the owner’s cabin. Photo: Irina Boersma

The style takes influence from the luxury furniture industry – the free-standing furniture is particularly bold in the saloon, and stands out for its minimalism. Aboard Calabash, the semi-raised saloon simply features just these two chairs and a small sofa, deliberately done to emphasise the space (so YYacht’s novel sliding handrail system is needed at heel!). The mast base has pride of place, like a totem pole in the centre of the saloon.

The majority of the saloon sole lifts on rams to reveal the engine and genset, while the entire forward section of the saloon sole will lift like this on the second YYachts Y8 to access the watermaker and batteries.

The four-cabin version has a more traditional saloon with a third guest cabin forward and a versatile office area. There are also two reverse layouts offered, with the owner cabin aft switching with the crew/galley aft.

Forward of Calabash’s saloon, the large table has extensions at each end to make a long dining table, designed so they don’t normally encroach on access to the twin entrances of the forward cabin.

Saloon sole lifts on rams to reveal engine and genset. Photo: Irina Boersma

Another neat touch is the hidden locking system for the large crockery and glass drawers and lockers each side – push a button and these will lock electronically when you go sailing. A similar system is used for the lockers in the master cabin, while large hatches below the berth can butterfly open for stowage.

Such is the headroom height in the identical twin en-suite guest cabins aft, you can’t even reach the headlining or open the hatch in the heads. Moving through the central corridor aft leads through the passageway-style galley and into the crew’s domain, mess and crew cabin with direct access to the aft deck.

All together this is a generous area with good separation from the owner’s living areas. The mess table can be used as a bed but with no navstation, chartwork or navigation will also need to be done here.

Lively performance has helped YYachts’s popularity – particularly for easy Med day sailing. Photo: Nico Martinez

Following the Palma show and our sail trial, Schmidt was gearing his yacht up for its first race at the Superyacht Cup Palma.

“For me, this new YYachts Y8 is a very special design – after all, I founded the shipyard with the first Y8,” he comments.

I sailed that boat (Cool Breeze) with him 10 years ago, so it was interesting to see it in Palma for sale this year, still looking fresh in its peppermint green livery – and to note that the style, down to the leather door latches and sliding handrails, remains contemporary today.

I wondered back then how well these minimalist designs would be received and how big the market would be for these large, semi-custom, fast composite yachts.

But clearly the veteran boatbuilder knows his stuff. YYachts has grown to become one of the most – if not the most –successful yards in this niche sector. It has now sold 10 YYachts Y8s altogether, plus 23 Y7s, two custom yachts and the fourth Y9 is in construction!

YYachts Y8 specifications

LOA: 23.99m / 78ft 9in
LOA (including bowsprit): 25.99m / 85ft 3in
LWL: 22.40m / 73ft 6in
Beam: 6.58m / 21ft 7in
Displacement (light): 38,800kg / 85,538lb
Draught: 4.30m / 14ft 1in (or 2.80-4.30m / 9ft 2in-14ft 1in)
Sail area total upwind: 343.43m2 / 3,696ft2
Sail area total downwind: 724.69m2 / 7,800ft2
Ballast (fixed keel): 13,300kg / 29,321lb
Fuel: 1,300lt / 286gal
Water: 1,300lt / 286gal
Price: €4m or €5m ex VAT fully equipped
Design: Surge-Projects/David Thulstrup
Builder: yyachts.de

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