Novara has a spectacular pedigree. She is an aluminium hulled Bestevaer 60c, designed by the famed Dykstra naval architects and built by the world-leading KM yacht builders in 1997. She’s designed as a high-latitude ice breaker vessel with a unique aero rig constructed by Damon Roberts of Magma.
The Architect NBA Gerard Dijkstra-Amsterdam-Holland, who designed Novara, is the architect who refit/coordinated the rebuild on the J-class boats Endeavor, Adix, Adela and Shamrock, as well as the super-sailing-yacht Maltese Falcon. He also designed the newest Dutch Tallship “Stad Amsterdam,” the Besteavar series 50′ to 110′ and hundreds of one-off conventional sloops, Aero-rig sloops and schooners.
Sails and rigging
Novara is an Aerorig schooner. She has two carbon fibre masts and yards built by Carbospars of South Hampton, England (now Magma Structures who have gone on to build the huge DynaRigs seen on “The Maltese Falcon” and “Black Pearl” the largest free-standing rigs in the world). Sailors have used variations of this balanced aero-rig concept for thousands of years and now with the use of modern high strength, lightweight materials, unstayed rigs are now practical.
The self-rotating aero-rig is easily handled, with the sail plan divided on each mast between mainsail, self-tacking furling blade jibs and storm trysail, all permanently rigged on their own independent tracks for when conditions get lively.
The highly efficient full-batten, heavily-roached mainsails, were designed with the personal assistance of both Robbie Doyle and Gerard Dijkstra. These sails, with their substantial additional area, have dramatically improved the boat’s light air performance and with three reefs in each mainsail there is a great deal of flexibility in matching sail area to current wind and sea conditions.
This is an under-used rig and has much to commend it for short-handed cruising. This is particularly the case in extreme conditions when the sheets can be eased or let go to instantly de-power the boat.
Engine and Mechanical equipment
A go-anywhere adventure vessel needs a powerful mechanical suite and Novara is no exception:
- Perkins Sabre 135 hp diesel engine
- Hurth transmission
- Aquaseal stern gland
- Adjustable pitch hydraulic propeller, from West Mekan
- Hydraulically operated Centerboard
- Vetus Bow thruster
- Kabola diesel-fired heating system with 8 domestic radiators plus hot water system
- Watermaker – SRC 1,800 gph
The hull
Novara has a canoe underbody with central hydraulic aluminum centerboard (with 1 ton lead weight). In addition, she has an aluminum keelson with the prop in an aperture and two “ice deflectors”, full skeg protected rudder. More details:
- All aluminum construction, strongly built: ALMG 1.5-116, 40 mm in bow stem area, 20 mm plating at keel stem base, 10 mm keel sides, 8 mm topsides, 6 mm deck plating. Closely spaced framing for extra strength.
- Double bottom for much of the boat’s length (fuel, water, gray water, and ballast tanks).
- 5 separate watertight compartments (aft storage areas, engine room, main living quarters, tool room, forepeak)
- There are 2 manually operated daggerboards (wood/epoxy coated glass) in the port and starboard aft quarters for additional stability in downwind conditions.
- Internal lead ballast (8.5 tons), with a 31% ratio. This is increased to an overall 39% ballast ratio Including full fuel and water tanks, which are low in the bilge.
Electrical systems
A boat like Novara needs a sophisticated and robust electrical system to power everything from navigation instruments to the autohelm and bow thruster. The boat has a high quality Mastervolt system, set up for 220 volts/ 50 cycles. There is a Mastervolt monitoring, battery condition management and generator management system.
Accommodation and layout
Novara sleeps owners and guests in three sleeping areas consisting of two private cabins, both with large double berths and additional single upper and lower berths in the forward passageway.
There is a large, comfortable raised salon with nav area, a very well-equipped galley and a single head with shower stall amidships. Under her second ownership, Novara’s interior was completely refinished/rebuilt and her galley updated.
Insulation and ventilation
The vessel was custom designed and built for serious blue water cruising. Her insulated hull, thermopane insulated deckhouse windows and diesel-fired central heating with circulating hot water radiators provide comfortable below deck accommodation when the weather is cool.
She provides equally good natural ventilation for below decks comfort in warmer latitudes by way of forward and aft companionways, Goiot deck hatches and dorade vents.
Forepeak
The forepeak is accessed by a large aluminum deck hatch and provides substantial storage for anchor chains, rode, dock lines, fenders, dinghy outboard engine and assorted deck gear in a water tight compartment.
Workshop/scuba room
The workshop/Scuba room just aft of the forepeak, is accessed from the companionway forward of the master stateroom, as well as through a large deck hatch. The area is a full-width workshop and scuba room with abundant storage and counter space. This space also includes a scuba air compressor, tank storage, wet suit and equipment storage and space for a washing machine. This area also functions as a second watertight compartment, with a watertight passageway door as its access.
Saloon
In the raised Saloon there is a large L-shaped settee and table to port of the companionway. Visibility is 360° through large thermopane safety glass port lights on all sides built to withstand heavy, breaking seas. They also have additional acrylic glazing to eliminate condensation.
Cockpit
All the way aft is the cockpit with its sole and seats finished in teak and permanently covered by a sun awning. The wheel faces a binnacle with a GPS/chartplotter/radar, as well as autopilot, sailing instruments, centre board, propeller and bow thruster controls. The cockpit has comfortably high coamings for security at sea.