baltic yachts my song

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On board My Song: Inside the Baltic 130 Custom superyacht

Robert Melotti
April 29, 2017

The 40m Baltic sailing superyacht My Song is as individual as the piece of music she was named after, writes Rob Melotti

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All photos courtesy of Carlo Borlenghi Credit: photos courtesy of Carlo Borlenghi

The first thing you see on descending into the saloon from the deck of the 40m sloop My Song is a series of eight half models arranged vertically on the aft panel of the keel box. It is a history of the owner’s vessels going back 40 years, starting with an Italian trapeze dinghy at the bottom rising up through the Yngling, Mini Tonner and Mumm 30 and finishing with four luxury cruiser-racers – all named after one of jazz pianist and composer Keith Jarrett’s most famous recordings.

It’s an individual touch, a record of a lifetime in performance sailing, but My Song sitting at the top of the tree also represents progression and evolution in the art and science of designing multi-purpose sailing superyachts.

Every demand for compromise on weight, style or performance was met with a counter-offer to customise – a third way – producing a cruiser-racer on which all assumptions have been challenged, and every avenue explored to satisfaction.

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My Song can be easily reset from all-out racer to relaxing luxury cruiser

Work began in 2014 on the largest sailing yacht to date for Nauta Design and the company’s fourth cooperation with Baltic Yachts. California design firm Reichel/Pugh did the naval architecture and structural engineering.

But what is really interesting on this yacht, according to Luca Pedol of Nauta Design, one of the busiest yacht and powerboat design offices in the world and a long-time collaborator with this owner, is the construction method. My Song ’s hull was built in two halves split down the centreline using a technique more commonly found in the building of racing yacht hulls.

“Basically it allows you to build the hull in the lightest way possible. It gives you easier access and lets you laminate the sides and the bottom of the hull at the same time, which is more accurate and saves time,” Pedol says.

“All of the foredeck and the sidedecks were included in the two longitudinal hull laminates,” adds Sören Jansson, project engineer at Baltic Yachts, who was on board My Song for the yacht’s first and only press event in early May. “Then we put in partial bulkheads, beams and then joined the halves and started installing all the systems. The coachroof and the cockpit was a separate piece to go on top.”

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Think weight

The project mantra was ‘think weight’ and every detail down to the last screw and bolt was examined to save weight while keeping stiffness and resistance in the construction. Naturally, My Song has a variety of weighty cruising features built in, each of which is customised to the hilt.

None more so than the 36-tonne lifting keel, which reduces draught by over 2m from a performance-enhancing 7m to a more versatile 4.8m. Yet the fin, which is made of high-grade Weldox and weighs 7.5 tonnes on its own, is tapered and designed to be as slim as possible. This reduces weight and drag, but presents a further structural engineering challenge to the designers.

Normal lifting keel fins are straight so that if the yacht grounds with the keel in the raised position, the entire keel edge that is in contact with the keel box can absorb the load. With a tapered keel fin, it’s the keel head that has to take all the load, which requires significant extra structural engineering.

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My Song is scheduled to take part in two superyacht regattas this summer before sailing transatlantic

There is also 15m 2 of special toughened glass in the topside portholes and deck hatches, but on the coachroof, the thickness of the expanse of tinted glass is optimised: thicker glass where there is no other structural support; thinner elsewhere. This follows exactly the same process as the lamination of the hull, facilitated by the split mode construction method, which saves hundreds of kilograms throughout.

Hidden engineering

Perhaps the most distinctive design feature from the outside is the 40cm thick bulwark extending the topsides 30cm above deck level. A practical cruising feature, it offers protection for guests and crew while providing a comfortable seat or backrest around the entire deck. Aesthetically, the bulwark also conceals the bulge of the coachroof, creating the impression of a yacht with a completely flush deck.

It also creates usable space, or deck volume, as Luca Pedol explains: “One functional aspect of the bulwark is it can store many line runs and hydraulic rams. This is quite important because on such a low freeboard yacht you have not much interior volume inside to store everything. So they use the deck volume instead.”

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Of course, as with the tapered keel, there is a miracle of engineering hidden in the bulwark – a 4m long opening amidships, known as a freeing port. This opening works as a scupper for draining any water flowing aft down the deck and is also positioned adjacent to the saloon windows, enhancing the natural light down below and improving the view out.

Its location coincides with one of My Song ’s most vital locations for longitudinal stiffness. “The bulwark and particularly the 4m opening amidships is very spectacular in terms of engineering,” adds Sören Jansson. “[We used] slightly more than 200 layers of carbon on top of this opening section, then it tapers out. There are two pillars – both structural. One of them is for a padeye, the other is for symmetry.”

Elsewhere on deck, the owner’s racing crew was given a free hand to make suggestions and alterations during the design process. The mainsheet trimming position was altered for the benefit of the trimmer, who is left-handed. The headsail trimmers demanded transverse jib car controls – pumps for which had to be located in between the keel box and the mast foot.

The enormous headsails – the 1,300m 2 A1 alone weighs over 400kg – are all on furlers, but instead of stowage on deck when not in use, these 50m long tubes of sail are wound around a drum fitted in the cavernous bow locker located forward of the owner’s master suite.

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The master cabin forward of the mast. All interior furniture is carbon composite

For cruising, the bowsprit can be removed and a new configuration at the masthead can be installed to remove the twin running backstays. This is done using a detachable mast crane developed by Southern Spars for Baltic’s 2016 launch, Nikata . The crane can be hoisted to the top of the rig to provide an attachment point for a standing backstay, enabling the square top main and twin backstay rig to be swapped for a pinhead main with single backstay in a matter of hours.

The rain finally cleared in La Spezia as we left the dock and motored out past the Riva yard, catching sight of the Perini Navi yard in the distance on our way out through the breakwater.

In ten knots with cruising main and J3, My Song easily exceeded wind speed at 45° off the breeze. The wheel felt light and responsive and in the shifty conditions I quickly found a groove using a mix of distant headsail telltales (good eyesight needed) and the digital wind angle readout on the mast.

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From astern, the bulwarks are clearly visible, concealing control lines and hydraulics while enhancing aesthetics

Needless to say, with racing sails and 30 crew on the rail, this performance would improve. The optimum heel angle upwind, according to racing crew manager Giorgio Benussi, is 34°; there are ramps built in to the deck beneath the helming positions.

Turning downwind with the A3 unfurled, the breeze dropped but the speed still improved. In seven knots of true wind, My Song hummed along at 12 knots in the flat sea off beautiful Porto Venere.

Benussi and the yacht captain, Paolo Sandrin, who has been with the owner since the 1980s, both wield tablet computers at various points during our brief sail, displaying a matrix of rolling numbers and acronyms in different colours and sizes.

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Luxurious touches on deck include pop-up speakers from the glass panels atop the coachroof and electric seating integrated into the flush decks that is specifically designed to be comfortable and usable at up to 20° of heel.

The anchor is housed in a fully retractable arm, all of which stows neatly below deck in a dedicated bow locker. Once at anchor, an array of deck lounging areas can be configured with biminis and a stern platform opens up the tender garage.

Built to accommodate six crew and eight guests, My Song features two full-width spaces below deck: the main saloon directly abaft the keelbox is located just ahead of the point of maximum beam, while the master suite, forward of the mast is slightly narrower.

Headroom in the saloon is 2m and there are plenty of handholds in the ceiling at an easy height for most. Some of the taller guests on board had to watch their heads. There is no excess headroom built into this yacht. The owner wanted a sleek, low-profile coachroof partially hidden by a raised bulwark. And with a central saloon sited atop the engine room, this is a space you could cross safely while at heel.

Access to the forward cabin is via a wide-open corridor to port of the keel box – “quite a big hole to have in the structure so close to the keel box” according to engineer Sören Jansson. To starboard of the mast foot is an owner’s studio area that can be transformed into a guest double cabin with its own heads.

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Lightweight design and construction continues in the bathrooms – no stone tiles or marble baths!

Peering inside the mast box, the forward end of the keel box features bulges of laminated carbon strips where reinforcement for side loads and grounding loads are built in. The mast foot is built with slotted holes in the heel allowing its position to be altered depending on the wind strength.

However, this is not an ‘on the fly’ setting. It requires a pair of bolts to be loosened and the Cunningham cylinder to be stropped to the mast foot slider.

Interior style

The two main guest cabins are abaft the central hatch – both with en-suite heads. The passageway leads to the galley, which has an eating area built in, then through another door to the navstation, which sits below the aft hatch located between the steering wheels. The three crew cabins with bunk beds and en-suite heads are all accessed from the navstation.

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Linen is used in the production of the floorboards, the ceiling panels and the upholstery. Note also the bulkhead featuring the owner’s half-hull models

“All the interior furniture is carbon composite – just a veneer of carbon on the exterior surfaces so the weight is very much reduced,” says Luca Pedol. Indeed, the locker doors were so light it hardly seemed possible they were built to last.

“Just 105 tonnes for almost 40m LOA with so many functions and comforts on board is a very good result,” he continued. Baltic even went so far as to replace the stainless steel cable trays as specified with carbon ones to save weight.

Fabric – linen in particular – plays a big part in the design and decoration of the interior. The soft furnishing in the saloon is upholstered in treated linen from the specialist yacht interior range at Loro Piana, the exclusive Italian fashion house. But it goes even further aboard My Song .

Taken to extremes

“The owner asked us to panel the interior with many different surfaces, so many of the counter tops in the galley as well as ceilings and floorboards are made of linen coated in resin,” explains Luca Pedol. “The percentage of linen to resin depends on the texture and colour required and as well as the area to be covered.

“The owner worked all his life in fashion and clothing industries so he has a very high sensitivity for materials, textures. We tried dozens of different attempts for laminating the right percentage of linen and resin to obtain what he really wanted. The final result is really good.”

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Sören Jansson was also heavily involved in perfecting this technique over the 22-month build period, describing the resin-linen floorboards as “decorative and durable”.

“The interior design by Nauta was quite a challenge – to get everything to match with their vision,” he continued. “We did quite some work to save weight on this boat.”

Jansson highlighted the tongue-and-groove effects on the wall panels, all of which are made of Nomex foam with painted carbon veneers. “Of course this looks easy and if you do it in plywood you just make a groove, but since this is laminated it takes special tooling to make these grooves. It’s a lot of effort behind every single detail to save weight to the maximum.”

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Baltic Yachts offers owners the chance to visit the yard in Finland and view the interior before work starts by making life-size mock-ups, typically of half, or one aspect of a room. It is a service offered to all custom yacht owners.

“This one was taken to extremes, though,” commented Henry Hawkins, Baltic Yachts CEO. “Normally a mock-up is visited once and the owner likes or doesn’t like… for My Song , the owner was back and forth four times.”

“We set up half the saloon and half the master cabin in one of the workshops in Finland,” explains Nauta’s project manager Martino Majno. “It was a huge effort – we started with a mock-up based on the initial drawings, then there was a chance for the owner to come and change this or that.

“We had different visits to the mock-up – maybe three or four iterations. For instance, the library, the book shelves all the detail, the chamfer, how the shelves are suspended, how high they should be. All the details of this part were changed a couple of times. Baltic Yachts made possible for the owner to see for real with the final surface finishing exactly how it would look.”

“This was also part of the linen technique,” adds Sören Janssen. “We tried a lot of colours, different grain effects, how much would the grain be visible, how smooth… lacquer, matt or high gloss.”

Keeping it quiet

Another interior feature of My Song is the level of soundproofing that is built in (and weighed) at design level. “On this boat it has been a very high priority from the beginning to keep the noise levels down,” explains Sören Janssen. “[There is] slightly more than 5 tonnes of sound insulation built in. That’s why we need to keep everything light so that we can afford to install so much sound insulation.

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“The floorboards in the saloon are lightweight, but also we have used cork material and rubber in the composite to keep the noise from the engine room below at bay. Also in furniture panels between cabins there are special noise-dampening materials for added privacy.”

The battery bank – 100kW of lithium-ion cells – is positioned just forward of the mast box making use of its weight for additional righting moment in the centre of the yacht. There are two Panda generators including a small one for silent for use at night, though the battery bank is sufficient for eight or nine hours of silent running.

Underwater, My Song is fitted with Baltic Yachts’ latest Retractable Propulsion System (RPS), which not only leaves the hull entirely flush when the propeller is retracted, but also acts as a stern thruster as the highly efficient forward-facing, pull propeller unit can be turned through 90°, port or starboard.

“One of the biggest challenges for us was the RPS,” admits Soren Jansson. “When the yacht was delivered we put as many hours on the engine as we could because we knew we would then have time to make adjustments over the winter.”

The bronze propeller is 900mm in diameter producing a top speed of 14 knots. At cruising speed (9.5 knots), My Song ’s range is 2,000 miles. For manoeuvring, the rpm is fixed and the helmsman simply directs the thrust and feathers the prop, controlling the angle of attack of the blades to control power.

My Song made her racing debut at Les Voiles de St Tropez last year, racing against the likes of Rambler 88, Leopard and Spectre and two J Class yachts, Velsheda and Lionheart . Her launch earlier that summer was a family affair in Finland with invited guests including all the staff at Baltic. She then spent the winter in La Spezia being fine-tuned and is now ready to compete in earnest.

Specification

LOA: 39.62m (130ft) LWL: 36.78m (120ft 7in) Beam: 8.52m (27ft 11in) Draft (keel up): 4.80m (15ft 9in) Draft (keel down): 7.00m (22ft 11in) Displacement (lightship): 105 tonnes (231,485lb) Ballast (fin and bulb): 36.25 tonnes (79,917lb) Fuel capacity: 7,000lt (1,850 US gal) Water capacity: 2,400lt (634 US gal) Engine: Caterpillar C8.7 480kW/650hp Sail area (upwind): 910m 2 (9,795ft 2 ) Sail area (asymmetric): 1,300m 2 (13,993ft 2 ) Approx build cost: €22million

On board Baltic 130 My Song

The most impressive sailing yacht of the year.

Baltic 130 My Song is not only the latest high performance, genuine multi-role super sailing yacht to be launched by Baltic Yachts, but she also benefits from a plethora of new ideas. She oozes innovation. To produce this all carbon superyachts, Baltic Yachts has combined with Reichel/Pugh , Nauta Design and MCM project.

My Song’s plumb stem and wide after sections have evolved from grand prix maxi racer shapes to provide a fast, stable, comfortable ride whether racing or cruising. Based on a stiff, lightweight carbon/Corecell composite hull with Nomex cored bulkheads throughout , Baltic 130 My Song was built in a split hull mould enabling more accuracy and a faster build-time.

“ The hull of this latest generation fast cruiser/racer carries her wide beam right aft, with the design optimised using CFD models to obtain the best possible performance, ” said Jim Pugh “ The waterline maximum beam is designed to obtain a reduced wetted surface, but close-hauled the boat takes advantage of the entire waterline length with a reduced total wetted surface. Thanks to the lifting keel the draft varies from just under 4.8m to 7m. ”

My Song is the fourth sailing yacht designed by Nauta for the same owner , continuing a successful partnership which began almost 30 years ago, and the fourth collaboration between Baltic Yachts and Nauta.

“ We are proud to have designed this spectacular yacht, our current flagship, for an owner who is both an experienced yachtsman and a loyal client and friend, ” said Nauta’s Mario Pedol .

The look of Baltic 130 My Song is defined by an aggressive line where the coachroof profile is low and almost hidden by 30cm high gunwales which double as footholds when heeling. When cruising, they provide additional seating with the handrails acting as backrests.

A four-metre long freeing port has been built into the gunwale forward of the coachroof windows admitting more natural light and providing views outboard.

Southern Spars all carbon rig can set a pinhead main for cruising or a squaretop offering more sail area for racing. The latter requires running backstays, but when the conventional sail is set an easy-to-manage single, fixed backstay can be rigged on a removable carbon fibre masthead crane.

Faster and safer deployment of the yacht’s 1300m2 asymmetric sai l is made possible by an under-deck carbon fibre storage drum controlled by crew using a hand held remote. All sails are by North.

RETRACTABLE PROPULSION SYSTEM

Under the water, My Song is fitted with Baltic Yachts’ latest Retractable Propulsion System (RPS) which not only leaves the hull entirely flush when the propeller is withdrawn into the hull, but also acts as a stern thruster as the highly efficient forward-facing, pull propeller unit can be turned through 90 degrees, port or starboard.

THE INTERIORS

On top of a spectacular saloon, flooded with natural light coming from hull and roof ports, the interior includes accommodation for six to nine guests including the owner. The owner’s suite forward of the mast includes a lobby , two en suite bathrooms and a studio which can be converted into another guest cabin when necessary. Two en suite guest cabins are located aft of the saloon.

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Baltic 130 My Song judged best yacht at World Superyacht Awards

15 may 2017.

The Baltic 130 My Song, the latest all carbon multi-role super-sailing yacht from Baltic Yachts, fought off the challenge of five of the world’s finest yachts to win the World Superyacht Award for the best sailing yacht between 30m to 39.9m.

The highly competitive shortlist emphasised the scale of My Song’s achievement, announced at a gala ceremony at the Palazzo Vecchio in Florence, Italy on May 13 th .

This is the fourth consecutive year in which Baltic Yachts have won this prestigious award. This success continues to prove Baltic Yachts’ ability to bring design alive through the most advanced carbon composite building techniques. This exceptional achievement comes hot on the heels of the successful launch of the Baltic 175 Pink Gin VI in Jakobstad, Finland. She is the biggest carbon fibre sloop afloat and will be delivered to her owner this summer.

My Song is not only the latest high performance, genuine multi-role super sailing yacht to be launched by Baltic Yachts, but she also benefits from a plethora of new ideas.

Features include:

All carbon/Corecell/Nomex composite construction
Genuine multi-role design
Stunning custom interior by Nauta Design
State of the art sound deadening
Racing/cruising Southern Spars rig mode options
Retractable Propulsion System (RPS) doubles as stern thruster
Remote control A-sail stowage system
Tapered keel fin for enhanced performance

Competing in top international events

There will be a chance to see her in the following events outside which she will be embarking on an extensive programme of cruising:

Loro Piana Superyacht Regatta, May 30 to June 3, Porto Cervo
Les Voiles de Saint Tropez, September 30 to October 8
Yacht Club Costa Smeralda Atlantic Anniversary Regatta, starting on November 25 from Lanzarote in the Canaries, finishing in Virgin Gorda BVI

Judges sing My Song’s praises

The World Superyacht Awards winners’ statement said: “The judges were unsurprised that this yacht performs so well on the race track, regularly reaching 20-plus knots and boasting a top speed in excess of 30 knots in optimum conditions. But perhaps more surprising to the judges was that she is also a comfortable, feature-filled cruising yacht with excellent facilities for on-deck and below-deck dining and relaxing in addition to three well sized en suite guest cabins, and an admirable crew area for six in the stern.”

We’re constantly updating our website to bring you news of launchings, new commissions and Baltic inspired innovation.

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Baltic 130 'My Song' reached almost 30 knots

Flat, wide and fast - the new baltic 130 christened 'my song' reached a top speed of almost 30 knots..

My Song was designed by experienced speed experts Reichel Pugh from San Diego and Nauta Design from Milano. Thanks to her carbon fiber hull, the yacht is a light displacement luxury sailing yacht and reached almost 30 knots during her sea trials in Finland.

It took 18 months of development and testing with sailmaker North Sails to match perfect hull and sail design. Also, the rig is a carbon construction by Southern Spars . It comes with innovative features:

Baltic Yachts describes:

“Among a number of innovative features, Baltic 130 My Song’s Southern Spars all carbon rig can set a pin head main for cruising or a square-top offering more sail area for racing. The latter requires running backstays, but when the conventional sail is set an easy-to-manage single fixed backstay can be rigged on a removable carbon fiber crane at the masthead. It takes just three hours to effect the change-out.    Faster and safer deployment of the yacht’s large asymmetric sail is made possible by an under-deck carbon fiber storage drum controlled by the crew with a handheld remote. All sails are by North. ”

Retractable Propulsion System

My Song features also Baltic’s new Retractable Propulsion System (RPS) developed with Hundested Propellers. It reduces the drag, promises less noise, fewer vibrations and works also as a stern thruster.

Transport and keel mounting

Main specifications of MY SONG

	39.62 m
	36.78 m
	8.52 m
	4.80 - 7.00 m (Lifting Keel)
	Nauta Design
	Reichel/Pugh Yacht Design
	Nauta Design
	Carbon pre-preg/Corecell sandwich
	105 tons
	36.25
	1 x Caterpillar C8.7 480kW/650hp + Baltic RPS
	Main 530 m², genoa 380 m², asymmetric 1,300 m²

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Reichel Pugh Nauta Baltic 130’ is the largest sailing yacht ever designed by Nauta Design and our fourth co-operation with Baltic Yachts.

The brief was for a very fast racing yacht with the highest degree of comfort on board. The owner, already a Nauta client, wanted a yacht that would have even more space, more comfort and more speed than his previous yacht, to meet a challenging combination of demands: lightweight performance and quiet interiors, well-insulated from sound and vibration.

Water lines, appendages and sail plan were developed by California-based Naval Architects Reichel/Pugh whose co operations with Nauta date back to 1998 and the 84’ My Song.

The Baltic 130’ has a strong and uncompromising carbon pre-preg hull. The base structure is light yet safe and all critical areas have been weight-optimized, strengthened and engineered following an FEA model. The result is a 40m with just 102 tons displacement, a goal reached by using cutting-edge build technology in the hull, deck, bulwarks, rig and interiors.

The hull is a last generation fast sailer with a very rearward and wide max Beam, optimized with nine virtual CFD models to obtain the best possible result. The water line B max is conventional, to obtain a reduced wet surface. But close-hauling, the boat is taking advantage of all the water line length with a reduced total wet surface.

The yacht’s aggressive hull line and extraordinary LOA/Displacement ratio, where 40m LOA are obtained with just 102 tons displacement in dry conditions, is further enhanced with a lifting keel whose draught varies from 14’9” (4.5m) to 23’ (7m). The high aspect ratio of the fin keel substantially improves its lift and will also contribute to the performance of the boat.

The VPP predicts a 16.5 knot speed on displacement and up to 26/28 knots planing. The look of the boat is defined by a very aggressive, sleek outline, where the deckhouse profile is low slung and nearly hidden by the gunwales. The gunwales are one foot (30cm) high and equally wide so that they function both as footholds when heeled and as practical and comfortable seats when at anchor and at sail. The handrail can also function as a backrest. The gunwale profile is cut and lowered for 13’1” (4m) to allow natural light into the coachroof windows, and at the same time performing as large freeing port for safety. The key deck feature is the generous stern, the largest and most comfortable space possible for relaxing and sunbathing. The social centre of the boat is its guest cockpit that can be easily converted for dining, cocktails or sunbathing, an unusual luxury in a 130’ sailing yacht. The interior features an owner’s suite fore layout with both sleeping and office spaces. The owner chose Baltic Yachts to build their latest yacht and Nauta Design’s flagship after careful consideration of several top boatyards where this Finnish boatyard’s solid reputation for technology and build quality was unrivaled as was their unique skill in building ultra-lightweight high performance sailing yachts.

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Naval Architect Reichel Pugh Yacht Design No profile available
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Baltic Yachts Has Delivered MY SONG

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Written by Maria Korotaeva

Launched earlier this year, Baltic 130 MY SONG has now been delivered. The 130-foot sailing yacht has generated a lot of attention in the yachting industry, thanks to her naval architecture and engineering by Reichel/Pugh and amazing interior and exterior design by Nauta Design . Under project management by Nigel Ingram of MCM, MY SONG was launched on time and completed sailing trials successfully in Finland before heading for the Mediterranean.   MY SONG is the latest high-performance yacht that combines a large number of innovative features that bring the cruise/racer yacht to a new level.

New Baltic 130 MY SONG

There are many outstanding features, including but not limited to, lightweight carbon/Corecell composite hull with Nome cored bulkheads throughout, and her plumb stem, which allows faster and more comfortable ride. With almost 30 knots maximum speed, MY SONG is believed to be one of the fastest yachts in her category.

Baltic Yachts’ CEO Henry Hawkins, said: “Our reputation for precision building in lightweight carbon with every component weighed and factored into the design has enabled displacement to be kept to the 105-ton target providing the ideal platform for a high performance cruiser/racer.”

The new Baltic Sailing Yacht MY SONG

Another innovative feature is all-carbon versatile rig that can set a pin head main for cruising or a square-top offering more sail area for racing. Faster and safer deployment of the yacht’s large asymmetric sail is made possible by an under-deck carbon fibre storage drum controlled by crew with a hand held remote.

MY SONG accommodates up to 8 guests over the full beam owner’s suite, two ensuite guest cabins and a studio, which can be converted into another guest cabin. In the deck saloon, filled with natural light, guests can enjoy panoramic views, while and the guest cockpit provides a spacious sunbathing and entertaining area.  

MY SONG: deck saloon

Nigel Ingram of MCM who project managed this highly complex yacht said: “Because of their holistic, in-house approach to design, engineering and construction with teams for all disciplines constantly communicating with each other, Baltic are one of very few yards capable of building such a complex yacht on time and to weight. They are in complete control and successfully managed many changes throughout the build.”

Nauta’s Mario Pedol said: “The team is proud to have designed, engineered and built this spectacular yacht for an owner who is both a very experienced yachtsman and a very loyal client and friend. The team designed and engineered the deck, interior and hull for top performance with no compromise on comfort or aesthetics using lightweight materials and innovative construction methods. All of us are very happy with MY SONG.”

If you would like to find out more about luxury sailing yachts or any other luxury yachts for charter by Baltic Yachts please contact our team at CharterWorld for the best advice and highly professional service.

Please contact CharterWorld - the luxury yacht charter specialist - for more on superyacht news item "Baltic Yachts Has Delivered MY SONG".

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Baltic Yachts

MIDNIGHT SUN OF LONDON

PERSEVERANCE I

A great success of Nauta-designed 84′ sailing yacht MY SONG at Loro Piana Superyacht Regatta 2013

Nauta and Reichel Pugh-designed Baltic 112′ Yacht NILAYA wins Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup 2013 in the SuperMaxi category

Nauta Design / Reichel Pugh yacht NILAYA Overall Winner of Loro Piana Caribbean Superyacht Regatta 2014

Second place overall for Nauta and Reichel Pugh-designed 84’ sailing yacht MY SONG at Les Voiles de St Tropez

Nautor Swan launches flagship 23m motor yacht SOLLE ONE

55m superyacht YN20555 is launched by Heesen Yachts and named superyacht SERENA

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Aegean Yachts unveil 26m explorer yacht HEKATE

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39m sailing yacht LINNEA AURORA launched by SES Yachts

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A first look at 55m superyacht PROJECT AGNETHA from Heesen Yachts

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MY SONG Interior & Exterior Photos

39.62m / 130' | baltic yachts | 2016.

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Specifications


Yard :	Baltic Yachts
Type :	Sailing yacht
Length :	39.62 m / 130′0″
Beam :	8.52 m / 28′0″
Year of build :	2016


Type of engine :	Diesel
Brand :	Caterpillar
Model :	8.7
Maximum speed :	16.5 knots


Hull :	Carbon
Superstructure :	Carbon
Decking :	Teak
Interior designer :	Nauta Design
Exterior designer :	Nauta Design


Water capacity :	2400

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Baltic Yachts My Song

My song’s owner is a regatta sailor who wanted a world-class cruising yacht that he could also race. the exterior by nauta and the naval architecture by reichel/pugh gave the owner exactly what he wanted: a sleek, sexy, single-masted sailing yacht with a vertical bow and an unusually wide stern. baltic yachts, known for building […], michael verdon, michael verdon's most recent stories.

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My Song ’s owner is a regatta sailor who wanted a world-class cruising yacht that he could also race. The exterior by Nauta and the naval architecture by Reichel/Pugh gave the owner exactly what he wanted: a sleek, sexy, single-masted sailing yacht with a vertical bow and an unusually wide stern. Baltic Yachts , known for building lightweight sailing yachts, used carbon-fiber sandwich construction to keep the 130-foot My Song as light as possible. It also measured every single component to save additional weight. In race mode, My Song reaches 30 knots; cruising speeds are closer to 16 knots. In leisure mode, the stern becomes an extended sunbathing platform, while a full-beam master suite, two guest staterooms, and a studio that converts into a fourth stateroom provide gracious living spaces for the owner and 10 guests.

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Baltic 130 Custom Superyacht My Song "Beyond Repair"

The Baltic 130 Custom sailing yacht My Song cannot be saved, according to its owner.

The yacht, which was lost at sea after falling from a cargo ship, was hauled out in Palma earlier this month. Photographs taken by onlookers showed extensive damage to the yacht, with several holes in the hull of the boat.

Now, owner Pier Luigi Loro Piana has confirmed himself that the yacht is beyond repair.

His spokesman told The Times newspaper: "The damage outside and to the interiors of the yacht mean it is not salvable. It may have hit the side of the cargo ship as it fell."

Pier Luigi Loro Piana also spoke out about the incident directly to the Italian newspaper La Repubblica, stating: "For anyone who loves the sea, his boat is like a second home, and it is as if my home has burnt down."

It comes after the 39.6 metre yacht was salvaged from the coast of Menorca by MCS Marine Claim Services Germany. It was then towed into Palma's STP shipyard where it was accessed.

Yacht transport company Peters & May released a statement in response to the incident, in which My Song fell from the 138 metre cargo ship Brattinsborg on Sunday, May 26.

Peters & May chief executive David Holley revealed that the company was informed of the incident at around 4am on May 26th and instructed the captain of Brattinsborg to try and salvage the yacht from the open water.

The cargo ship's crew kept eyes-on contact with My Song until air and sea salvage attempts began. Holley revealed that My Song's cradle had "collapsed", causing the yacht to fall from the cargo ship.

He emphasised that the cradle was "owned and provided by the yacht, warrantied by the yacht for sea transport and assembled by the yacht's crew." This cradling system has now been discharged and is under inspection.

Following the incident, Peters & May instructed Brattinsborg to continue to its original destination of Genoa, where it was due to dock on May 27. It previously departed the island of St John in the Caribbean on May 7.

It is understood the yacht was due to attend the Loro Piana Superyacht Regatta in Porto Cervo. Owned by keen regatta sailor Pier Luigi Loro Piana, My Song won the same regatta last year.

Delivered in 2016, My Song features exterior design by Nauta Design with hull lines by Reichel-Pugh naval architects. The five-cabin interior was also designed by Nauta Design.

The single-masted yacht, which was built from a carbon-fibre sandwich construction, features a plumb bow and wide stern.

Peters & May chief executive David Holley's statement in full:

"We would not normally comment on cargo incidents but given the high-profile nature of this yacht and the media interest we feel that we need to formally give some clarification. There are several individuals passing judgement on what may or may not have happened and we will attempt to offer some clarity, albeit at an early stage of the investigation. Our reputation is second to none and we will not have it tarnished by unqualified individuals passing judgement without facts in hand. I will add that I am disappointed that confidential photographs were leaked to the media.

We were informed of the loss of a yacht from the deck of the MV Brattinsborg at approximately 0400hr LT on 26th May 2019. The yacht is sailing yacht MY SONG. Upon receipt of the news Peters & May instructed the captain of the MV Brattinsborg to attempt salvage whilst 3rd party salvors were appointed.

The vessel maintained visual contact with MY SONG until the air and sea search was initiated. As of 0900hr BST on 28th May 2019 the salvage attempts are still ongoing. To ensure the safety of the remaining yachts, Peters & May have instructed the carrying vessel to continue her planned voyage to Genoa. No other yachts have been affected by this incident.

A full investigation into the cause of the incident has been launched, however the primary assessment is that the yacht’s cradle (owned and provided by the yacht, warrantied by the yacht for sea transport and assembled by the yacht’s crew) collapsed during the voyage from Palma to Genoa and subsequently resulted in the loss of MY SONG overboard. I will add that this is the initial assessment and is subject to confirmation in due course.

As a leading yacht transporter for the past 40 years we take great pride in what we do and go above and beyond all standard operating procedures to ensure safe transit of all yachts carried by us. We have procedures in place to respond to this kind of incident, although we hope that they are never required.

This incident is more than regrettable, however the transport of yachts on cargo vessels continues to be one of the safest and most cost-effective solutions when carried out by a reputable company such as Peters & May.

More information will be made available in due course but in the meantime, I request that everyone respects the sensitivity of this issue to all parties concerned."

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Travel | Travel: Here’s how you can have a ball on a…

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Travel | travel: here’s how you can have a ball on a baltic cruise.

How different is the Baltic compared to other cruise regions? For one thing, its season runs from April to September, not year-round like the Caribbean, Mediterranean and Mexican Riviera. Also, an itinerary set in the Baltic Sea emphasizes city life over wildlife. Nature takes a backseat to culture, history, language and the arts. If you want to see Northern Europe’s flora and fauna, book a voyage to the Norwegian fjords instead. And as for wildlife of a human kind, there’s not much of that, either. It’s a Baltic cruise, not a booze cruise.

But if your idea of wild is docking on a picturesque island to enjoy a day exploring a medieval village graced by the cutest-ever restaurant with a menu that’s only in Swedish — oh, and lovingly nestled between the ruins of two 13th-century churches —then by all means go stone-cold crazy on a Baltic cruise.

A charming Visby restaurant neighbors the ruins of two medieval churches. (Photo by David Dickstein)

Thirty-six ships representing 20 English-speaking cruise lines can take you there over six magical months next year. Not all 2025 itineraries include a stop in Visby, the well-preserved Hanseatic town and UNESCO World Heritage Site referred to above, but this is the Baltic we’re talking about — the place oozes enchantment.

Duration-wise, next year’s offerings range from four six-day sails from Oslo to Stockholm aboard MSC Cruise’s 3,223-passenger Poesia ( msccruises.com ) to an 83-day roundtripper out of New York on Silversea’s 392-capacity Silver Shadow ( silversea.com ), debarking on June 11.

Eleven nights is considered the sweet spot in the Baltic, making the sweetest sail in 2025 a Windstar Cruise ( windstarcruises.com ) for its loaded itinerary. With no sea days and a couple of overnighters between June 29 and July 10, the all-suite, 312-passenger Star Legend will visit at least one port in Sweden, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Germany and Denmark. That’s eight of the nine countries bounding the Baltic. The outlier is Russia, which hasn’t welcomed a major cruise line since the attack on Ukraine in February 2022.

The loss of culture-rich St. Petersburg on Baltic itineraries is an economic gain for Latvia’s Riga, Lithuania’s Klaipeda and other ports that were considered secondary stops before the invasion. Albeit bittersweet, veteran Baltic cruisers may appreciate taking the cobbled roads less traveled.

Exploring world capitals

The Parliament House is an example of Stockholm's striking architecture. (Photo by David Dickstein)

With cruises strictly sailing in the Baltic Sea, Copenhagen and Stockholm are where the majority begin and end. A third world capital, Helsinki, is often nestled on the front or back end of the itinerary, while Estonia’s chief city of Tallinn usually fits somewhere near the halfway point of voyages of nine days or longer.

Worthy of a pre- or post-cruise overnight stay at minimum, Stockholm is the Swedish meatball of tourist meccas. Appetizing and authentic as a destination, hearty in its array of attractions, the city is full of flavor as well with a diverse population of nearly a million people spread across seven distinct districts. A hotel in the Slussenomradet neighborhood is a wise choice for its central location and metro station that serves as a hub of public transport for Stockholm ( visitstockholm.com ).

Slussen is also mere steps from trendy Sodermalm and Gamla Stan (Old Town), home of the must-see Royal Palace and Nobel Prize Museum, where a handwritten manuscript signed by Albert Einstein in 1922 is among the mind-blowing artifacts on display. Stromma runs a fleet of boats and busses that offer hour-long tours with English narration. If you’ve got the time, take the ferry to the island of Djurgarden. A museum dedicated to the most famous pop band ever to come out of Sweden is there — do we really have to say it’s ABBA? — along with the adrenaline-pumping Grona Lund amusement park and the less thrilling Royal National City Park.

Copenhagen ( visitcopenhagen.com ) is just as “wonderful” as the hit song from the 1952 film, “Hans Christian Andersen,” says. Bursting with unique history, architecture, food and scenery, Denmark’s capital deserves much more time than a cruise often provides. And as sure as Thumbelina is tiny, does this town love its native-son author. HCA’s influence is evident throughout the city, from the iconic harborside Little Mermaid statue, a head-scratching must-see if there ever was one, to his classic fairytales depicted on the “The Flying Trunk” ride at Tivoli Gardens ( tivoli.dk ), which, opened in 1843, is the third-oldest operating amusement park in the world. If Tivoli’s 114-year-old rollercoaster is too fast and furious for you, a touristy, but worthwhile boat ride through Nyhavn’s narrow and exciting canals will be more your speed. Central to all this is the stately Phoenix Copenhagen, and being the official hotel in town for several cruise lines, Windstar included, it’s a snap to be dropped off there with your luggage after an enjoyable three-hour post-cruise tour.

Helsinki's wellness culture extends to its cruise port. (Photo by David Dickstein)

The bustling city harbor of Helsinki has impressive architecture, a colorful open-air market, a couple of stunning churches, some world-class museums and history that goes back thousands of years. What it lacks is a bona fide must-see. If only there was a place that’s different and easy to get to. Cue Suomenlinna Island. Built during the Swedish era as a maritime fortress and naval base, this wonderful place appeals to lovers of culture and nature, and gives cruisers a chance to breathe, especially if there hasn’t been a sea day yet. Accessible only by ferry, the island attracts more locals than tourists, which world travelers know is a plus. Quaint museums, a supermarket and a scattering of cafes add to the experience, as does the magnificent views of Helsinki ( visitfinland.com ) at the beginning and end of each 15-minute leg.

Medieval Old Town in Tallinn has a fairytale quality. (Photo by David Dickstein)

Estonia’s capital city of Tallinn ( visittallinn.ee/eng ) has one of the best-preserved medieval town centers in Europe. So vibrant and chockablock with shops, restaurants and historical buildings, it’s not unusual for cruise passengers to spend their entire port time within this UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Discovering charming ports

Old-time hat making is demonstrated at a Turku crafts museum. (Photo by David Dickstein)

Turku is Finland’s No. 1 summer destination, but registers barely a blip as an international cruise port. And foreign passengers are the lesser for it. Finland’s oldest city — its founding dates back to 1229 — is a natural stop between Stockholm and Helsinki, but the former capital city doesn’t get the love it deserves. Windstar, Crystal and Regent Seven Seas have Turku ( en.visitturku.fi ) on the schedule this year and next, but a reason there aren’t more stems from the costly requirement of having pilots assist ships through the world’s largest archipelago. As local leaders work on a solution, this hamlet along the banks of the Aura River is winning visitors over with its medieval castle and cathedral (both still in use), a 157-year-old market hall (canned bear meat, anyone?), the open-air Luostarinmaki Handicrafts Museum (survivor of the Great Fire of 1827), and a foodie scene that just got more exciting with the opening of Eatery Alex 1917, Chef Richy Virahsawmy’s new gem on nearby Ruissalo Island. Michelin, take note.

Jari Heinonen sells specialty meats at his shop in Turku's historic market hall. (Photo by David Dickstein)

When taken to a port city where World War II started and the Solidarity movement was established, setting the stage for the collapse of communism in Eastern Europe, one should expect a strong slate of shore excursions. Gdansk, Poland ( visitgdansk.com ) delivers with a tour of the city with narration focused on Solidarity history, and another to Stutthof, the last Nazi concentration camp liberated by the Allies. On the lighter side, most cruise ships offer courtesy shuttles to and from St. Mary’s Street, the city’s principal pedestrian promenade.

Gdansk's waterfront from a bridge over the Motlawa River. (Photo by David Dickstein)

Wismar is a Hanseatic town rich in Gothic, Baroque and Renaissance architecture, and Warnemunde is a lovely seaside resort town, but these ports in northern Germany are often on a Baltic itinerary to serve as gateways to Berlin ( germany.travel/en ). Germany’s exciting capital is about three hours away by rail or bus, making getting there a long trek for just a few hours of sightseeing. Still, many cruisers happily do this despite an investment of 13 total hours and hundreds of euros. But when a cruise itinerary has the ship parking overnight, spending more on a roundtrip train ticket, hotel and tours is a no-brainer, especially for first-timers.

Berlin takes a week to do right, but 24 hours can be enough time to see most of the biggies: Brandenburg Gate, Checkpoint Charlie, surviving sections of the Berlin Wall, the observation deck of the 1,207-foot-high TV Tower, the Reichstag Building with its glass dome, Museum Island, a boat tour with Stern + Kreis, amazing restaurants and nightlife to match. So wunderbar. So is the Hotel Amano Grand Central that’s not only clean and quiet with rooms going for as low as $80, but it’s directly opposite Berlin’s Central Station. High-fived myself with that find.

A bloodless longsword battle breaks out at Visby's annual Medieval Week. (Photo by David Dickstein)

Which brings us to back to adorable and strollable Visby, a Baltic favorite on the scenic island of Gotland ( visitsweden.com ). Even when the annual medieval festival isn’t going on in August, a warm, village-like atmosphere welcomes cruisers with traditional Swedish hospitality. Walking, biking and motorcoach tours to the countryside may be prebooked through the ship, and a Hop on-Hop Off bus can be picked up dockside. Or simply explore this delightful destination on your own. Just make sure this love-at-first-sight thing doesn’t have you forgetting to make the all-aboard. Parting Visby is such sweet sorrow.

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How did divers manage to blow up the Nord Stream pipeline? We went down to the spot to find out

German network ard chartered yacht and divers to see how sabotage occurred.

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It was an event that rocked Europe and shook world affairs.

Early in the morning on Sept. 26, 2022, a series of powerful undersea explosions damaged pipelines under the Baltic Sea near Denmark that carried Russian natural gas to Germany.

Fingers were immediately pointed at Ukraine, which had been at war with Russia since the latter invaded in February of that year. Ukraine denied involvement, and in the absence of reliable information, conspiracy theories proliferated about who attacked the Nord Stream pipeline.

Did a Russian submarine intentionally destroy it in order to cut off the gas supply to Germany, a country allied with Ukraine? Was it the CIA, as famed U.S. investigative journalist Seymour Hersh wrote?

The German government has been tightlipped about the affair for two years, but this week, German media outlets ARD, Sueddeutsche Zeitung and Die Zeit jointly reported that federal prosecutors obtained an arrest warrant against a Ukrainian man. A Polish government spokesperson confirmed it.

The German reports identified the man as Volodymyr Z., a diving instructor who last resided in Poland. In a brief telephone conversation on Tuesday with reporters from ARD, Sueddeutsche Zeitung and Die Zeit, Volodymyr Z. expressed surprise at the accusations and denied involvement.

A large body of water is shown, with clouds shown above a large surface bubbling.

A report this week by the Wall Street Journal also pointed to Ukraine, suggesting the operation was carried out by Ukrainian soldiers and civilians with diving expertise and under the direction of Ukraine's then-commander-in-chief, Valerii Zaluzhnyi.

Journalists at ARD, Germany's public broadcaster, have been hot on the trail since the shocking explosions took place. I was one of the reporters who was part of the team that spent months piecing together what may have occurred.

To understand what happened to the Nord Stream pipeline that day, ARD chartered the very yacht the perpetrators allegedly used and sent divers into the roiling waters of the Baltic Sea to see how the pipeline might have been attacked.

Group chartered sailing yacht

Several outlets have reported that in early September 2022, a sailing yacht called Andromeda set sail from the port of Hohe Düne in Rostock, Germany. According to the ARD investigation, the commando that was to destroy the pipelines was on board the Andromeda. The group is said to have consisted of six people — five men and one woman. Among them, it is suspected, was Volodymyr Z.

After stops in Rügen, Bornholm and Christiansø in Denmark, Sandhamn in Sweden and Kołobrzeg in Poland, the boat returned to Rostock.

At some point during the trip, investigators believe the crew dove from the yacht down to the seabed and, in the darkness of the Baltic Sea, attached the explosive devices to the pipeline at a depth of around 80 metres.

What happened later is well-known. At 2:03 a.m. local time on Sept. 26, 2022, the first explosion damaged Nord Stream 2. Approximately 16 hours later, three other explosions damaged Nord Stream 1. Investigators later found residue of the explosive HMX, also known as octogen, on board the Andromeda.

Germany issued arrest warrant for Ukrainian diver in Nord Stream pipeline attack
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During our investigation, we wondered just how hard it would have been to carry out such a mission.

The Andromeda is a charter yacht. Anyone can rent it — so we rented it, too, and took three divers with us.

As with many charter yachts, the Andromeda was not in the best condition — our skipper called it "one of the worst boats I've ever sailed with."

He said several electrical components were broken and that the yacht didn't move well in the waves. Then there was the swim platform, which the divers would need to get on and off the boat. If the swell is high, the platform moves up and down, punching into the sea. A diver trying to get back on the boat could be slammed on the head by the platform, causing serious injury. For us, this risk was too high.

So we returned the Andromeda and chartered a professional diving vessel with a crew that usually recovers Second World War explosives from the bed of the Baltic Sea.

We then drove to the exact spot where the first explosion happened — 120 kilometres off the German coast, with the Danish island Bornholm in sight.

Trained divers required

We arrived at 6 a.m. to witness a symbolic moment in the Baltic Sea.

A Russian military ship appeared. Through our radio, we heard, "Russian warship delta echo, U.S. warship Yankee." The U.S. Navy was trying to make contact with the Russian Navy right before our eyes. How could a sabotage operation have gone on undetected in this environment?

The burst pipeline lay almost 80 metres beneath us, a depth not every diver could handle.

You need to be trained as a tech diver. At that depth, you have to breathe a special mixture of oxygen, helium and nitrogen, and that means carrying about 220 pounds of equipment.

It is also pitch black at the bottom of the sea. The multiple scuba tanks gave the divers about 40 minutes to find the pipeline, which means they needed to know precisely where to look. A sonar device was required to locate the pipeline beforehand. The Andromeda did not have this kind of device on board, but our new vessel did.

Our tech divers found the burst pipeline on their second try and filmed it.

The difficult part for the divers was returning to the surface. The pressure is so intense that if the ascent is not done correctly, divers could experience serious symptoms like paralysis or damage to their lungs. Doing proper decompression from such a depth — which requires divers to switch to a different gas mix — takes about two hours.

Conducting a complex mission like that from the Andromeda would have been difficult and dangerous. According to the German investigation, it's plausible Volodymyr Z. was trained for dives like that.

Everyone who has examined the Andromeda agrees it's not the vessel anyone would choose to secure a mission.

As our tech diver Derk Remmers put it: "I would use the Andromeda for a vacation, but not a sabotage mission."

Yet this could be precisely why the saboteurs used it. To stay undetected and unaccountable — which they managed to do until the charges were made public this week.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Lea Struckmeier is an investigative journalist and presenter at ARD, Germany's public broadcaster. She is currently spending her Arthur F. Burns Fellowship with CBC.