Carbon fibre art from Wally

There are moments in the creation process of a yacht that are exciting for everyone involved. For example, when a hull is lifted out of the mould and the quality of the prepreg laminate is revealed. However, in the case of the Wally 101, the excitement was more likely due to anticipation than apprehension. The experienced owner chose Performance Boats in Forlì as the shipyard. The composite professionals there are well-rehearsed and work with an extremely stable lamination process. Wally founder Luca Bassani, whose brand has been part of the Ferretti Group since 2019, says of the team: "Our laminators have been with us since the very beginning and are among the best in the world. They have developed techniques to get the best out of the high-quality materials that Wally has pioneered."

Before the carbon fibre art was exhibited in Forlì, the Wally 101 spent time in a 440 square metre oven, where the previously cooled epoxy resin of the prepregs reacted and hardened the sandwich laminate. With this method, there is no need to worry about correct impregnation with resin. Nor about the smoothness of the outer skin. This is because the 30.80 metre long hull came from a negative mould. In contrast to the positive mould, it is laminated in the mould instead of on it - which guarantees smooth outer surfaces and minimal filling work, but makes mould construction more demanding.

At 56.4 tonnes, the Wally 101 should hang from the crane and thus weigh around 20 percent less than similar sporty slips of comparable length. The design specifications came from Judel/Vrolijk & Co in Bremerhaven, who orientated themselves on the Wallycento Boxrule. Bassani, who has always been Wally's chief designer, is working with the Milan studio Santa Maria Magnolfi on design issues. After completion next year, maxi regattas and family cruises are on the agenda for the 101.