Baltic 117 Perseverance wins Eco and Best Naval Architecture categories in design awards, as Gerard Dijkstra is recognised for Lifetime Achievement

Earlier in May, Baltic 117 Perseverance won not only her category, but was also judged Sailing Yacht of the Year at the World Superyacht Awards, considered the Oscars of superyachting. Perseverance success continues as she won two major categories at the Boat International Design and Innovation Awards 2022, announced in Milan last week, taking the Eco and Best Naval Architecture Awards.

This outstanding result, announced at a ceremony highlighting exceptional design and innovation in 17 categories of superyachting, is a particularly satisfying achievement for Baltic Yachts whose work in making yachts more power efficient and eco-friendly is a result of a wide-ranging programme of innovation starting in its 100% renewable energy-powered shipyard.

Traditional attributes and modern design
Perseverance was up against a particularly strong field in the Best Naval Architecture Category. Designed by Dykstra Naval Architects, founded by the iconic Gerard Dijkstra, the yacht is a modern interpretation of the pilot cutters of old, which were not only renowned for their speed and ease of handling, but also their good looks, which have stood the test of time. Dykstra are masters of combining these traditional attributes with the advantages of modern materials and design.

The judges deemed the yacht's advanced composite construction and attention to detail in weight saving would result in an excellent sailing performance in all conditions including light weather.

Her rig geometry and sailplan make her an easy yacht to sail and one which can be adapted quickly to suit any conditions, enabling her to sail at optimum performance for long periods. The judges also liked her deep bulwarks and cockpits, which provide excellent safety and protection for her crew and guests and are hallmarks of Dykstra's design philosophy when it comes to pilot cutter-style naval architecture.

Eco Award – 'small things add up to a great deal'
Winning the Eco Award was particularly satisfying for Baltic Yachts whose ground-breaking innovation in less obvious areas of yacht design and construction sometimes goes unnoticed. The judges identified no fewer than six areas in which power saving was a direct result of innovative design, including the yacht's electric propulsion system and use of her free-wheeling propeller while sailing for battery charging. The judging panel were particularly drawn to the reduction in the number of seawater cooling pumps, the use of a shared central pumping unit and a frequency converter to control speed and flow on demand.

Power savings equate to a reduction of more than 70 litres of fuel a day when the yacht is operating in what the judges describe as 'owner mode'.

Baltic Yachts' Executive Vice President, Henry Hawkins, said: "Yachts cannot be 100% environmentally 'green', but in a sailing yacht you can do a lot of small things that can add up to a great deal when it comes to power saving and emissions control – that's what Baltic Yachts has always strived for and it's an ethos that starts at 'home' with our shipyard 100% powered by renewables like wind and hydro-electricity."

"We're really delighted for Perseverance and her owner, whose technical input in this project was particularly important and effective," he added.

Dijkstra's richly deserved award
Baltic Yachts' success at the Boat International Design and Innovation Awards was topped off by Gerard Dijkstra's Lifetime Achievement Award which reflected an unmatched career in sailing yacht design, one of the most recent iterations of which can be seen in Perseverance.

Dijkstra has been instrumental in moving design forward for more than half a century and has drawn on his own, personal sailing experience to evolve wide-ranging ideas, while remaining in touch with important historic design success and aesthetics. From Maltese Falcon, Hetairos and Athena, to a string of J Class yachts including Endeavour, Velsheda and Shamrock – all re-builds – and new designs Hanuman and Rainbow, there can be few naval architect practices with the same remarkable pedigree.

Henry Hawkins, said: "This is a richly deserved award and we are delighted that Perseverance represents part of Gerard Dijkstra's legacy with the team at Dykstra continuing his fine work."