When the new owner purchased the 97-metre Lürssen "Carinthia VII", he had his sights firmly set on charter success - as with his previous yachts. And that includes a chase boat that, unlike a tender, is not stored on board. It pushes ahead, explores, prepares the barbecue on the beach or shuttles guests warm and rocking-free.
The "Carinthia VII" team pushed for delivery, so the Windy SLR60 was delivered from Västervik in Sweden to the Caribbean in January. The 18.15 metre long and only 4.53 metre wide GRP construction was designed by Malcolm McKeon, who is celebrated for his fast and striking sailing yachts. The Brit knows how to design a seaworthy hull that is stable in the water and allows guests to reach the mother ship dry.
"T2" is the first closed variant
"T2" is build number five - the first unit was the result of an owner's individual order - and the first closed variant. As doors with a recessed sliding mechanism seal off the sides, the deck has no thresholds or height differences. A transparent film, which is stretched manually and serves as a protective shield for the air conditioning system, provides protection aft.
Windy SLR60 can be towed by the mother ship
As they operate independently, the pre-delivery formats have their own captains. On "T2", Nicola Junior Belardo is in command of three IPS 650 units, which are powered by a trio of Volvo Penta turbodiesels. It can reach a top speed of 40 knots, but much more important is the operating radius of 800 nautical miles at 25 knots with a full 4250-litre tank. This means that around 155 litres of diesel per hour pass through the pipes. The "Carinthia VII" shadow can also be towed by the mother ship, which then has to run at least ten knots due to the IPS gearboxes. In excursion mode, the aft bulwarks fold down to a length of five metres in less than 15 seconds. If you fancy a diving platform, you can raise the Transformer bathing platform.
Technical data on the chase boat
- Length: 18,15 m
- Width: 4,53 m
- Motor: 3 x 353 kW
- Vmax: 40 kn
