blog

Marrying sail and power

Mon, 04 Mar 2013 12:17:12 +0000

The arrival of Yachting World each month is definitely a highlight around the office. When the March issue arrived a few days ago, we were thrilled to read Toby Hodges' write up on Ted's new design, the Surfari 53.

He writes "The appeal of the Surfari is in her mix of performance in sail and power, allowing her to reach remote places comfortably and quickly, and provide owners and their families with a platform for social activities. It places a large emphasis on outdoor living, providing a base for activities such as diving, surfing, paddleboarding... while promising to be as practical as possible."

He further states "The single level format is bound to be a hit, with one level from swim platform through the huge protected cockpit into the deck saloon - something like the Beneteau Sense, albeit on a lighter, faster, more luxurious scale."

With the polars showing that the Surfari 53 is expected to hit over 10 knots reaching in 15 knots of breeze, Hodges agrees with us that this is "... not bad when you can also motor home at nearly twice the speed of other slower cruising boats wen the wind dies."

Read the full article here.

Thank you Toby for such a great review!

California Dreamin'

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 12:17:12 +0000

75-degrees, 10 knots of wind and a glassy Pacific ocean. Sounds like a typical winter daydream in New England, but this was the report from one Friendship 40 owner who was out sailing last weekend with his wife and four kids. Below is an excerpt from his report... which succeeded in making us very jealous.

"EPIC weekend at Moonstone Cove, Catalina! 75 degrees on Jan 19th, sailed over in bathtub quiet waters with 10-12kts of wind and 6+kts of boat speed, played with a pod of dolphins and landed in our private cove to a fired up mesquite grill on shore for shishkabobs... all in the lap of luxury of the prettiest sailing machine ever designed and built! After dinner, all 6 of us watched a family movie in the prettiest unintended movie theater ever designed.

Woke up and hiked 2,500 ft to the top of a mountain above the blue water of Moonstone Cove with 100 mile visibility, then back to the boat for time on the toys (dingy, kayak and a new cool blow up stand up paddle board).

Then time for lunch on board with 'shrimp on the barbie' (and the first time we've ever had a chance to use our extra large Magma...what a barbie...seriously, so convenient and well done)! Now it's dinnertime and we're listening and dancing to great tunes (lots of little booty shaking!) and we're the only boat in the cove getting ready to go to shore for another family dinner.

Now, before we went to shore, you will be most pleased to know that one of my sons commandeered my computer (we have great wireless in the cove) and demanded to see the new Fontaine Surfari and to study "his" ultimate boat (the Friendship 65'....you will be proud to know that he knows all the stats and has memorized the layout!). I agreed with him except for my personal favorite "Whisper." So you will pleased to know

that you are very much on our minds and we wish you success this year with your new design and with anyone

else who has sense enough to enjoy the beauty of the timeless design and performance of a Friendship 'Steinway on the water.'

As my wife said while on the hike today: 'if we had waited even 6 months there would have been too many reasons not to have built our Friendship and we never would have had experienced some of the greatest family memories ever' (including those prompted by Miss Jenni to go to NZ!). So with all this good karma coming from the left coast, we're sending our best and hoping the best for you and your success in 2013."

And the winner is...

Thu, 20 Dec 2012 12:17:12 +0000

At the Cascais Yacht Club in Cascais, Portugal, Friendship 40 DHALAIA (Hull 16) won top honors in the 2012 racing season. Cascais is a superb spot for yacht racing… with consistently strong winds and a large, diverse group of competitive yachts and crews.

There were 55 boats on the register entered in a total of 11 races. Seeing Friendship 40 DHALAIA on top in such a competitive group is really incredible. We send huge congratulations to the owner/captain.

The Friendship 40 is not a race boat, but a comfortable, easy to sail luxury yacht. And yet she is capable of being in the number one slot out of 55 yachts over a season-long regatta. Makes you wonder why you have to choose – comfortable day cruiser or race boat? Have both!

Newport Boat Shows - Friendship 40 Luxury Daysailer

Tue, 21 Aug 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Boat Show Season…Always an exciting Time of the Year!

Boat Show Friendship 40

The Newport Boat shows are two of the most interesting places to spend an early autumn weekend absorbing all things nautical.

Stepping onto the docks you sense more than you see.

Tidy cleated lines, flags snapping in the breeze, shiny stainless chocks—and then the beauty of the Friendship 40 catches your eye and your focus is clear.

Join us September 13-19 for The Newport International Boat Show.

AND

At the same time, at Newport Shipyard visit The Newport Brokerage Boat Show. Both events are within walking distance from each other and each will feature our luxury daysailer, the Friendship 40.

Hull Number 20 will be on display directly in front of the Moorings Restaurant at the main show and Hull Number 1 will be displayed in the Brokerage Show at Newport Shipyard.

Come visit Ted, Jenni and I to discuss your upcoming sailing plans… or just come by and say hello! Courtney

Where in the world are you? Come Sailing this summer.

Wed, 25 Jul 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Where in the world are you? Come sailing this summer!

Dear Friends and Friendship Family,

August is almost upon us, the summer slipping away quicker than we’d all like. Remember how as a kid summer seemed to last a whole year? How I wish that was still the case!

So… before the leaves turn and the season changes, make plans to come sailing. Discover the Friendship experience in person.

Below is a map of locations of Friendship yachts. Find yourself daydreaming of leaving the heat of the paved world, and stepping aboard a yacht where you can sense the cool water underneath you. Imagine leaving the dock, feeling the breeze, and then turning the engine off, leaving only the sounds of the boat gliding through the water. All you have to do is call to make an appointment.

Anyone who has experienced the effortless acceleration, the control of full sail at your fingers (and toes), and the comfort that comes from a Ted Fontaine design knows just how remarkable sailing can be. Of course, Friendship yachts are not just capable of great performance, they are renowned for their impeccable levels of refinement, beauty and grace. Come on board and see for yourself.

America's Cup World Series in Newport

Mon, 25 Jun 2012 08:30:00 +0000

Newport, RI is the home port of the Friendship Yacht Company, and is hosting the America’s Cup World Series June 28 to July 1.

The arrival of the America's Cup World Series Event has once again thrust Newport, RI to the forefront of the world’s yacht racing attention. No matter what your sailing style, be it classic yachting, yacht racing, or simply a cruising sailor, a visit to the yachting capital of America should be on your agenda this week.

Newport, RI is home to the famed New York Yacht Club which held the America's Cup trophy from its origin in 1857 until 1983 when the Cup was won by the Royal Perth Yacht Club, represented by the yacht Australia II. It has been over thirty years since competition for the cup has been sailed in Newport waters and wow, how things have changed!

This past weekend I was fortunate to have had the opportunity to sail onboard the original Friendship 40, Manaaki on the actual America’s Cup race course during the Official ACWS Practice Racing, at times even crossing tacks with several of the AC45’s at full speed.

It is amazing how close one can get to the actual racing catamarans, both on the water or walking through the America’s Cup Village in historic Fort Adams. As a lifelong sailor, yacht designer and boat builder, what has impressed me most about this new racing class is how the "close-to-shore race course" has transformed sailing into an exciting spectator sport.

The technologically advanced AC45 “winged-weapons,” are capable of sailing speeds in excess of 35 kts. They accelerate like a sports car and they are BIG!

It was impressive to see firsthand how fast these new boats are capable of sailing. There were moments when the sophisticated carbon fiber race boats shot past the following spectator fleet, making them appear anchored.

If you have not yet visited Newport, Fort Adams or the America’s Cup Village, I highly recommend taking the time to do so. You can get very close to the actual competitors’ boats and facilities. The AC45 are moored fully rigged just 50 to 100 yards from shore, allowing the spectators a truly unique proximity.

The America’s Cup Village is open daily and racing begins Thursday, June 28^th. See www.americascup.com for further information.

The Friendship 40, Manaaki, http://www.friendshipyachtcompany.com/brokerage/

Manaaki will be in Newport this summer for viewing or charter options.

See you on the water,

Ted

Ted sailing the Friendship 40 on the America's Cup World Series Course in Newport, Rhode Island

How Big Can You Make a Boat Lift?

Thu, 03 May 2012 00:00:00 +0000

HOW BIG CAN YOU MAKE A BOAT LIFT?

In my initial log entry I wrote of the many different travel destinations that my job has required. These trips have taken me as far away as our builder’s yard in Whangarei, New Zealand to the opposite end of the globe in Hindeloopen, Netherlands. Unique places for sure… usually remote, always beautiful.

Perhaps the most interesting location my role as commissioning agent (among other things) for the Friendship Yacht Company has sent me was to Streetman, Texas. I remember saying… “Excuse me, did you say Streetman, Texas?”

Thank you, Google Maps! As I typed in and found the one Streetman on the Texas map, I also noticed that it was 200 miles from the nearest salt water. However, right above Streetman is a large man-made lake called the Richland Chambers Reservoir - the unlikely yet soon to be new home for a beautiful sailing yacht.

Peaceful, quiet and hot is what I found out there on Richland Chambers Reservoir. I also found a very excited owner standing by his newly launched 40. I missed the launch but was surprised to learn there was no boat yard, no travel lift, nothing - just a grassy field, an abandoned off-season campground with a small floating dock and a rigging crew from the Galveston area setting up the rig.

One thing that I learned about Texans: you do not want to be between where they are and where they intend to go. With a steady and quiet confidence, the crew from Galveston launched a relatively large boat where there were no facilities. They rigged and quietly stepped the mast from a grassy field. There was no one in sight but the riggers, the crane operator, the owner and me. It would certainly be an honest statement to say that the crane operator had never seen a mast, never mind lifted a 40’ sailboat before. But there she was, after a half a day of work, floating peacefully in the middle of a reservoir… a shiny Friendship 40 waiting for her proud new owner to take her home.

The next morning the new owner and his wife joined me for the initial voyage. We cast off the lines and, skirting a few dead headed trees, made our way out to open waters. Setting sail in a gentle 10 kt breeze, sliding along at just over 7 knots in perfectly flat water… now I get it! There was nothing but green rolling hills, flat water, a steady, gentle breeze and a few very surprised bass fishermen in their small lake boats to break up the comfortable spell we were under.

As nice as the sailing was that day, I had to ask – how did the owner ever envision a yacht this large on this lake? Well, having searched for the perfect boat for many years, he discovered the Friendship 40 and decided that this was the boat for him. (click here to see currently available brokerage Friendship 40’s) Despite the logistical issues of getting a boat this size into his lake, there was also the somewhat major issue of where to keep it. The lake is large enough to cover its length in about an hour’s time, always in a fresh breeze and flat water. But there are no boat yards, no marinas, no support at all. But recall what I said earlier about a Texan... there are no such things as insurmountable obstacles. The Friendship 40 was the boat he wanted, so if it had to be treated as all the other lake boats, then so be it!

Having seen lifting ramps in Florida and in California and been impressed with the ability to dry sail a boat, I have never seen one as large or as cleverly engineered as what was built for this Friendship 40. This “boat house” is sitting just steps away from the owner’s newly built home… his personal reward for retirement. It is an awesome sight to see someone with a goal go after it and make it happen, no matter how absurd it may seem in the beginning. I have a great respect for this owner and for the people who helped his dreams come true. Happy retirement Steve!

Have you ever seen a yacht in another curious place? Post your comments!

Reaquainted and She Looks so Good-Part Two

Tue, 01 May 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Part Two of "Reacquainted and She Looks so Good" by Ted Fontaine.

Peter Island was a welcome stop, dinner on land and a very quiet night in the marina was just enough civilization for the week, the rest of the trip we vowed would be at anchor or mooring… but first there is that issue of work and the meeting onboard Tenacious…. But oh, where to park?

Turns out it was not that difficult to find a parking space for the meeting…Wednesday mornings on Peter Island are not as busy as I had expected. I dropped anchor, got in the dinghy and made my way over to TENACIOUS.

At 115’, TENACIOUS is not that hard to find, you just look above the tree line for the tallest black mast on the horizon.

TENACIOUS was launched in 1995, and at that time she was the largest composite-built sailing yacht built in the United States. She was a large boat for 115’ featuring four staterooms aft in the owners party and three double cabins for the crew. She was designed for the Bahamas and had less than an 8’ draft. In 1995 she won awards for being the “Most Innovative Design.” Her carbon fiber in mast furling system was originally designed to not heel beyond 18 degrees, a rig that in very light air just did not have the power that her new owner wanted.

The result of the meeting: Fontaine Design Group was commissioned to design a taller, higher aspect rig. The mast is to be replaced with a High Modulus carbon mast built by Southern Spars. The new rig is expected to be 4.5 tons lighter than the original in mast furling system. The new rig will have composite standing rigging which significantly contributes to the overall weight savings. The new mast when stepped will be 18’ taller and carry 30 percent more sail area than the original rig. The net result will be a much more powerful sail plan with longer genoa luff length and more efficient fully battened mainsail. This new plan will definitely get this boat up to speed in the lighter air expected of her summer home in Maine.

After meeting with Captain Duncan Hipkin and Master boat builder Marty Ford to discuss the winch placement, new chain plate configuration and modifications to the existing hard top it was back to the grueling task of direct marketing of the Friendship 40. With scheduled overnight stops at Pusser’s Marina Cay and Jost Van Dyke we began our journey back towards MANAAKI’s home berth at Virgin Gorda Yacht Harbor before heading back home.

It had been a bit more than three years since I had seen MANAAKI, the Friendship 40 that led to so many good times for so many people. I was most impressed at how well MANAAKI has weathered three full season in the Caribbean environment. She looks as good as she did the last time I had sailed on her in 2009. Her varnish had been routinely maintained and she was always stored under a custom built cover when not in use. Her Awl Grip topsides looked fantastic as did her sails and interior joinery. This boat, hull number one of the Friendship 40’s has seen countless miles. Here in New England in her first years she made weekly commutes from Newport to Nantucket and the Vineyard, she has been back and forth from Newport to Annapolis several times and from Annapolis down the coast around the Cape of Florida and up to Marco Island. I have personally experienced countless offshore miles on board. Of course, like all sailing stories over the years, some hours I would prefer to forget. Being 65 miles offshore in 45 to 50 knot winds for some 30 or so hours, hand steering on a cold October night was not what I envisioned when I designed the Friendship. But because of her true offshore capabilities and sea-kindly hull shape, the Friendship 40 has never once caused me any concern as to her strength or her sea worthiness… she is one strong yet comfortable girl and worthy of every compliment she gets from Nantucket Sound to the Bitter End. She is a sight to behold. Ted Fontaine, April 2012

Welcome to the New Site!

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Welcome to our new site!

We are very happy to announce the launch of this new site. Thank you for visiting!

We have a lot of information within these pages, so please take your time, look around and learn all about these gorgeous yachts. View galleries of the most luxurious daysailer ever built, the Friendship 40, along with her big sisters the Friendship 53 and Friendship 75. Along with beautiful photos, each featured yacht includes specifications and an overview of the design requirements.

Ever wanted to know how naval architecture actually works, and why the Friendship yachts can be so comfortable yet so fast? Visit the About Us page, where you can read all about Ted Fontaine's design philosophy and the engineering principles used in developing and building this luxury brand.

The updated New Projects page will keep you coming back to see what's new on the drawing tables. What we love most is turning a client's imagination into reality... check back often to stay in the know and see what's coming out on the water from our award-winning yacht design firm.

Have a great sea story or sailing lesson learned? Want to hear a few? Come back to this section, the Log Book where we share tips, stories, info and experiences. Join the conversation as the Friendship Yacht family shares its knowledge. This forum is open to comments and guest writers, so join the party - we'd love to hear from you.

Please let us know how you feel about the site, and if we’ve missed anything you’d like to see included.

jenni@friendshipyachtcompany.com

Fondly,

The Friendship Yacht Company

Hot Events in Newport, RI Summer of 2012. Sailing is the Star!

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Yachting is just around the corner! And Newport, RI has an amazing schedule of events for 2012.

We are lucky that our first Friendship 40, Hull #01 Manaaki will be in Newport this summer. She is for sale and is available for private charter and sea trials.
inquiries@friendshipyachtcompany.com

May 26 & 27th-Start the season off on Memorial Day Weekend with The Atlantic Cup, brought to you by 11th Hour Racing. The Class 40 race boats will be hosting inshore races with a Race Village located in the Newport Shipyard. www.atlanticcup.org
On June 15th, The start of the biannual Newport to Bermuda Race will be off of the Castle Hill Lighthouse and will have an amazing fleet. www.bermudarace.com
June 8-11th-The 158th New York Yacht Club Race Week will be sailed with IRC, One Design and Classic classes. This event is private, but on the water viewing is an option.
June 23-July 1-The highlight of Newport’s sailing season will be the final races in the America’s Cup World Series. Races will be held in the AC45 Wing-Sailed catamarans with speeds reaching 35 knots! Fort Adams State park will host the Race Village as well as events, food and festivities for the entire family. Special viewing areas will be available though the event site only. www.americascup.com
July 6-9-The Tall Ships Challenge Series visits Newport for the Tall Ships Festival 2012. Witness these massive ships in full glory as the War of 1812 celebrates its 200th birthday this year. www.oceanstatetallships.com
July 27-29-The Melges 32 Nationals will be sailed in Newport. This one design fleet hosts some of the world’s best national and international sailors and their crew. www.melges32.com
August 24-26 Welcome the Grand Dames! The Newport Bucket Regatta hosts some of the largest Super Yachts in the world with a “win the party” attitude at the Newport Shipyard based event. www.bucketregattas.com
September 1-2-Time for the Classic Yacht Regatta. This will feature some of the most beautifully restored and maintained yachts of their era. www.moy.org
September 13-16. What better way to wrap up the perfect season than with the 42nd Annual Newport Boat Show. www.newportboatshow.com

This is an amazing year for sailing. Be a part of your own history while sailing in Newport, RI in 2012

REACQUAINTED AND SHE LOOKS SO GOOD-Part One

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 00:00:00 +0000

BVI February 2012, Virgin Gorda BVI

MANAAKI moored into the wind, Manchioneel Bay,
Cooper Island

This is me on the morning commute down to Peter Island

“Some people have all the luck” is what my daughters always tell me when it comes to traveling for my job. Imagine presiding over a successful yacht design company and a high quality yacht building company… oh the places you have to go.

When I return from a business trip to locations such as the north island of New Zealand or Palma de Majorca, Nantucket, Newport Beach, California or Cartagena Colombia it is always a bittersweet time. While it is always great to be home I am usually leaving behind great memories of sea trialing a new one off design or commissioning and delivering a newly built Friendship to an excited new owner.

This past winter I was requested to join a meeting on the first yacht that I ever designed that was over 100’. I was asked to redesign the rig for a taller, lighter carbon fiber mast and sail plan for the 115’ TENACIOUS (ex TEEL). She was sitting at anchor down in Little Harbor on Peter Island. Just weeks before this, I had received a call from the owner of my first Friendship 40 MANAAKI informing me that he intended to bring MANAAKI back to Rhode Island for the summer of 2012 and list her for sale on the brokerage market.

I sold MANAAKI to her current owner in 2009 and delivered her to the BVI’s via Dockwise then helped commission her and deliver her to the owners island home of Eustatia. So it was business as usual when Ihad to combine a design meeting on board TENACIOUS with a brokerage inspection of the soon to be listed MANAAKI.

MANAAKI’s owner suggested that I should come to the BVI’s to do a pre-listing survey to insure that the boat will be in tip top shape when she hits the market in Newport this summer.

It did not take long before I had a plane ticket and ferry organized to get to the islands, pick up and provision MANAAKI and get down to Peter Island for the design meeting. It is a tough job but someone has to do it.

The first leg of this interesting business trip involved getting aboard MANAAKI, provisioning her for a five day excursion and casting away the lines to set out to find TENACIOUS. Just before heading out I received a call from the captain on TENACIOUS informing me that the meeting was going to be delayed for a couple of days. “Let’s meet on Wednesday morning” was all I needed to hear. So the exciting question… where now? Why not try the Bitter End, after all it was Monday, has anyone heard of the Monday Night Mash Up that takes place down there?

The Bitter End is not only home of theYacht Club but it is also now home to the Caribbean station of the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda. It just so happens that we are fortunate enough to have Friendship 40 hull seven, named Rambaza Mawimbi (surf the waves in Swahili) moored in front of the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda in Puerto Cervo on the island of Sardinia. I have been told by many that the club’s new Caribbean location would be a great back drop for the Friendship 40.

I had to check it out for myself. Sure enough, the new club house and surrounding facility is amazing… the view from the pool alone makes the visit worthwhile.

The club house is carved out of the side of a steep green wall of tropical vegetation, the elevated infinity pool is a sight to behold as is the fantastic new marina which is capable of docking the largest mega yachts. While it was quiet for my visit, the upcoming weeks were going to be in full race mode with the club hosting the Loro Piana Caribbean Superyacht Regatta.

To see what has been built down there go to: www.superyachtregattaandrendezvous.com to view the facilities and the exciting racing that went on just after my visit.

Tuesday morning it is back to work and time to meander down to Peter Island, but not until I spend some time marketing the Friendship 40 to the countless European bare boat charterers at the many beautiful anchorages. Ironically, three days after I returned to my office we had three email inquiries from potential buyers stating that they saw this stunningly beautiful sailboat tacking around in the close anchorages and they wanted to know more about the boat. Exactly the outcome we were hoping for. Here we are drifting through another of those crowded anchorages.

Finally after an afternoon of sailing I decided to pull into Sprat Bay Marina on Peter Island. Peter Island Resort and Spa is a beautifully quiet and relaxing place. The marina manager and nearly everyone that passed by could not have been more pleasant. Could it be they were nice so they could get onboard and inspect what everyone said was the prettiest boat that they had ever had at their dock…?

Another hard mid-winters day behind the desk burning the afternoon oil...

To be continued next week, please check back for Part Two of Ted's Log and Tenacious in the BVI's.