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Suffolk-based Spirit Yachts set to star in BBC ‘We Are England’

Leading yacht design and build company Spirit Yachts will be the focus of a BBC documentary titled Making Waves: Building Boats airing on BBC One East on Friday 11 th November at 7.30pm.

As part of the wider BBC series ‘We Are England’, the programme tells the story of Ipswich-based Spirit Yachts; from its beginnings in a humble cow shed to the award-winning modern classic yachts being launched by the company today.

The series has a sustainability theme running throughout, highlighting companies lowering the carbon footprint of their products.  Spirit Yachts has won several awards for its environmental innovation and initiatives, which are explored in the documentary.

Spirit Yachts’ founder and CEO Sean McMillan commented, “We are looking forward to watching the programme as a team this evening; this is a proud moment for all of us.  The creation of a Spirit yacht is down to an extremely talented group of individuals working together to design and build a person’s dream.  The documentary will open our doors to the public to share an insight into how we create each one of our custom wooden yachts.”

Karen Underwood, Spirit Yachts’ Managing Director, added, “With COP27 highlighting the need for global climate action, we are proud to be part of a series championing British companies lowering the carbon footprint of their products.”

The documentary will feature another Suffolk-based firm, OneSails GBR (East).  Based on the River Orwell at Levington, OneSails has been Spirit Yachts’ sailmaker partner since Spirit Yachts was founded in 1993.

Owner of the OneSails GBR (East) sail loft John Parker added, “It’s a fantastic opportunity to be included in the documentary alongside a great British brand like Spirit Yachts.  Even if you are not a sailor, the craftsmanship, technology, and expertise that go into making a Spirit yacht and her sails are truly fascinating.”

Making Waves: Building Boats will show on BBC One at 7.30pm on Friday 11 th November.  The programme will be available to watch on BBC iPlayer during and after it is aired.

www.spirityachts.com

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Spirit Yachts stars in TV documentary

British yacht design and build company Spirit Yachts will be the focus of a BBC television documentary titled Making Waves: Building Boats airing on BBC One East tonight (11th November) at 7.30pm (GMT). 

As part of the wider BBC series ‘We Are England’, the programme tells the story of Ipswich-based Spirit Yachts; from its beginnings in a humble cow shed to the award-winning modern classic yachts being launched by the company today.  

The series has a sustainability theme running throughout, highlighting companies lowering the carbon footprint of their products.  Spirit Yachts has won several awards for its environmental innovation and initiatives , which are explored in the documentary. 

“We are looking forward to watching the programme as a team this evening; this is a proud moment for all of us,” says Spirit Yachts ’ founder and CEO Sean McMillan.

“The creation of a Spirit yacht is down to an extremely talented group of individuals working together to design and build a person’s dream. The documentary will open our doors to the public to share an insight into how we create each one of our custom wooden yachts.”

Karen Underwood, Spirit Yachts’ managing director, comments: “With COP27 highlighting the need for global climate action, we are proud to be part of a series championing British companies lowering the carbon footprint of their products.”

The documentary will also feature another Suffolk-based firm, OneSails GBR (East).  Based on the River Orwell at Levington, OneSails has been Spirit Yachts’ sailmaker partner since Spirit Yachts was founded in 1993.

The programme will be available to watch on BBC iPlayer during and after it is aired.

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SPIRIT YACHTS

MODERN CLASSIC YACHT DESIGN & BUILD

Based in Suffolk on the east coast of the UK, Spirit Yachts has a portfolio of custom, wooden sail and power yachts ranging from day sailers to superyachts.

From humble beginnings in the Suffolk countryside, Spirit Yachts now operates from a large waterside facility with a team of highly skilled designers, naval architects, boat builders, cabinet makers, electricians and engineers.

Our portfolio of luxury sailing yachts and elegant power boats win awards, as well as regattas.

TIMELESS ELEGANCE

Spirit Yachts’ contemporary, elegant design style is world-renowned. Subtle variations on 1930s classic yacht design with long overhangs, low profiles and smooth lines, married to contemporary underwater profiles and the latest technology, are synonymous with Spirit’s modern classic cruising, racing , and power yachts .

Spirit yachts are designed to be as beautiful in 100 years as they are today.

“THE SPIRIT TEAM IS WITHOUT DOUBT THE BEST IN THE WORLD WHEN IT COMES TO A UNIQUE BUILD EXPERIENCE AND A TIMELESSLY BEAUTIFUL YACHT.”

WORLD-CLASS WOODWORK

Spirit Yachts comprises a talented team of craftsmen and women who are passionate about and dedicated to the highest standards of boat building.

Using hand-selected timber sustainably sourced from responsibly managed forests, Spirit Yachts incorporate the beauty of wood with the latest modern technology for sailing performance and a luxury guest experience.

SUSTAINABILITY

WOOD IS AT THE HEART OF EVERY SPIRIT YACHT.

Wood is a natural, sustainably-sourced boat building material offering beauty, a favourable strength-to-weight ratio, and durability. Spirit Yachts is committed to the environmental sustainability of its wood and is meticulous in sourcing the highest quality timber from responsibly managed forests and regulated suppliers.

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Yachting Monthly

• Digital edition

ON TEST: Spirit 44e – the sustainable future of sailing?

• Theo Stocker
• November 1, 2020

A wooden boat that blazes a trail for modern technology and sustainability sounds too good to be true. Theo Stocker went to see if the Spirit 44e is as good as promised

Product Overview

Spirit yacht 44cr electric.

• Most sustainable yacht available today
• Sails beautifully
• Stunning looks
• Limited accommodation for length
• Upkeep of wooden boat

Manufacturers:

Price as reviewed:.

Boats have been built out of wood since Noah first put axe to tree, but when it comes to cutting-edge yachts, timber is right back at the top.

Spirit Yachts have been building head-turningly pretty wooden yachts with stiff, lightweight laminated wooden hulls since 1993, including the largest wooden yacht built in the UK since the 1930s in the shape of the Spirit 111 , launched this year.

But away from all the fanfare, the Ipswich-based yard has also just launched Avvento , smaller sister to its 47 and 55 Cruising Range yachts.

Far from being a lesser vessel, however, the Spirit 44 Cruising Range Electric Boat (44e for short) hides advances in sustainable technology under its gleaming topsides that offer a glimpse into the future of boat building.

Unrecyclable fibreglass and sails, toxic antifoul, and fossil-fuel propulsion are replaced by sustainably sourced timber, self-sufficient electric propulsion and zero-carbon emissions.

The proud new owner is Vincent Argiro, a retired technology entrepreneur who lives and sails in British Columbia in Canada.

Explaining his motivation to go for such a radical concept, he said: ‘My first sailboat was also the first of its kind to be built all-electric. I have never owned anything else, nor will I.

‘To me, it is a terrible corruption of the beauty and simplicity of sailing to add internal-combustion propulsion to it.’

She is built, Spirit claims, to last a hundred years and to be largely recyclable when the time does come. In the intervening century, she will burn no hydro-carbons whatsoever with not even a backup generator on board, or, for that matter, any obvious renewable energy sources. I was curious to see how she worked.

THE TEST VERDICT

The Spirit 44e is a fabulously expensive boat given her limited accommodation and shorter than average waterline length, if you are going to judge her by volume.

As managing director Nigel Stuart says: ‘You need to think about her volume relative to her waterline rather than overall length.’ That’s a nice idea, if you have the luxury of not worrying about marina fees.

You can get a lot of boat for this kind of budget, so why would you buy the Spirit 44e? Firstly, she is drop dead gorgeous. From her sleek lines to her dovetail joints, there is no part of the boat that is not a pleasure to look at.

Then, she is utterly engaging to sail. Lightweight, powerful and responsive, helming her will put a smile on your face, while she should cope equally well with the rough stuff. Finally, she is light years ahead of most production yachts in terms of environmental impact.

I would opt for the smaller rig and higher boom, and I’d like narrower cockpit seats. Most owners would opt for a backup diesel generator for peace of mind, though with new battery tech on its way, unlimited range is within reach.

The Spirit 44e goes a very long way to prove that yachts can be built and run in a sustainable way.

Would the Spirit 44e suit you and your crew?

This boat isn’t about mass-market appeal, but who wouldn’t fall in love given half a chance? In reality, for the kind of cruising most sailors really do, weekends and a few weeks here and there, she is luxuriously comfortable for a cruising couple with occasional guests. Liveaboard cruising is more of a stretch, but entirely feasible, while she’ll also do well racing round the cans.

There’s plenty of entertaining space, particularly on deck once you’re in harbour, and if you don’t mind the stares, she turns heads wherever she goes.

Very few boats out there could hold a hydrocarbon-free candle to the Spirit 44e. Even Noah might have been tempted to leave his animals for this boat.

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