KM Yachtbuilders completes expedition vessel Pelagic 77 ‘Amundsen

KM Yachtbuilders is proud to announce the final delivery and departure of the Pelagic 77 ‘Amundsen’. The first aim of the ‘Amundsen’ is to reach the Falkland Islands before 2025. This yacht is a remarkable addition to the fleet of the shipyard in Makkum. Following the impressive design of its sistership ‘Vinson of Antarctica’, ‘Amundsen’ is the second in this series. The name of the vessel is a tribute to the famous polar explorer Roald Amundsen.

‘Amundsen’ is an evolution of the previous Pelagic concept conceived and designed by Skip Novak and Tony Castro.

Exterior
‘Amundsen’ is built with a strong aluminium hull and superstructure, designed in line with the cutting-edge naval architecture of Tony Castro. The yacht is 6.2 metres wide and has a striking red pilot house. The two carbon masts have been carefully designed to produce an even distribution of sailing surface, and are supplemented with a manual sailing system, including manual winches and jib furlers.

Interior
Inside, ‘Amundsen’ has a dedicated pilot house, a spacious sitting room, and a well-equipped galley. The yacht provides comfortable room for a maximum of eight guests, which makes it ideal for longer sea voyages.

Among other modifications you can find:
● More standing room in the wheelhouse
● The centerboard has been removed from the fixed keel
● The propellers are closer to the rudder blades to increase docking manoeuvrability.
● Larger engine room
● Bow thruster

Besides many other small details, these modifications contribute to the exceptional performance of ‘Amundsen’.

Team effort
This project is the result of the joint effort of a fantastic team, brought together by a passion for adventure and a serious dedication to innovation and sustainability.

Eeuwe Kooi, founder of KM Yachtbuilders: “It was fabulous to work with this team again. The ‘Vinson of Antarctica’ and its sistership ‘Amundsen’ are two polar expedition yachts to be proud of!"

Skip Novak, the renowned ocean sailor and commercial director of Pelagic Expeditions, and owner Nicolás Ibáñez Scott, a Chilean entrepreneur and adventurer, recently attended the launch. Skip Novak explained the idea behind the second Pelagic 77 ‘Amundsen’: "The decision to build a sistership for the ‘Vinson of Antarctica’ was based on the success of this design concept. It produces valuable projects that contribute to education for schools in Chile and Spain. This includes a north-south crossing of the Atlantic Ocean and the southern hemisphere, where the ‘Vinson of Antarctica’ now has South America as its home base."

Nicolás Ibáñez Scott added the vision and values for ‘Vinson of Antarctica’ and ‘Amundsen’: "In an era when much of the world has been charted and explored, the voyages of Amundsen remind us that the true essence of adventure is not only in discovering new places, but also in the courage to dream, to dare, and to embark on journeys that push our boundaries and broaden our horizon."

Peter Wilson of MCM Newport successfully supervised the construction of ‘Vinson of Antarctica’ and ‘Amundsen’. When Wilson discussed the choice of aluminium for the hull and the superstructure, he commented: "Aluminium offers great strength, ease of repair, and better weight performance as compared to steel. With Tony Castro’s design and Skip Novak’s racing background, good sailing performance is fundamental. A well-designed yacht is always more fun to sail."

Pelagic 77 ‘Amundsen’: on its way to the Falkland Islands and RYA Recognized Training Center
‘Amundsen’ will reach the Falkland Islands by the end of 2024. In 2025, Pelagic Adventure Sailing will offer a sort of shore-based, practical courses, and mile building programs on board.

Pelagic 77 ‘Amundsen’ Specifications

Length Overall (LoA): 23.50 m
Waterline Length (LwL): 20.55 m
Beam: 6.20 m
Draught: 2.15 m
Material: Aluminum
Engines: 2x Volvo
Mast: 2x Axxon, carbon
Interior: Bamboo
Capacity: 8 guests and 3 crew