“Vogue”: Power and Refinement
- Architect: Gilles Vaton.
- Construction material: Aluminum.
- Deck: Teak.
- Length overall: 102.50 ft.
- Beam: 24.28 ft.
- Draught: 6.40 ft.
- Low keel: 18.04 ft.
- Displacement at half load: 86.00 tons.
- Lead ballast: 20.00 tons.
- Keel: 7.00 tons.
A Haute Couture Yacht
VOILES NORTH
1 full batten mainsail: 2260.42 ft².
1 110% jib: 2002.09 ft².
1 staysail: 742.71 ft².
MPS spinnaker: 5511.12 ft².
SAILS BY NORTH
Full batten main sail: 2260.42 ft².
Yankee 110%: 2002.09 ft².
Staysail: 742.71 ft². Spinnaker MPS: 5511.12 ft².
Article “Mer & Bateaux” magazine
Excerpts
Vogue, a stunning sailboat! This 31m cutter-rigged yacht is equipped with state-of-the-art technologies. Gilles Vaton aimed to build a high-quality vessel, classic yet equipped with the latest amenities, suitable for private use, easy to operate, and manageable with a reduced crew.
Gilles Vaton proposed a centerboarder with a shallow draft and a high centerboard to enable anchoring in coves. A split headsail controlled by a hydraulic system would allow sailing with just two people in case of emergency or delivery, requiring no more than four individuals even in the toughest conditions.
Vogue’s hull is made of variable-thickness aluminum sheeting: 12 mm at the bottom, 8 mm, 6 mm, and 5 mm on the sides moving upwards. The deck is made of 4 mm sheet aluminum, covered with teak slats glued and screwed with stainless steel onto the aluminum. The framing of the hull is very tight: 60 cm between two frames and stringers every 30 cm, resulting in a rigid boat with minimal deformation.
The two watertight bulkheads are aluminum, while the other bulkheads are made of marine plywood composite and a mass of foam with different densities, calculated based on tests in a specialized workshop to control sound and thermal insulation.
Efficient method that provides the boat with a sense of comfort and tranquility even in rough weather. Most importantly, during engine navigation or when the generators are running, it prevents the propagation of vibrations and noises.
Autonomy for long crossings
The maneuvering cockpit allows for managing all aspects of the boat’s operation while leaving the central cockpit free for passengers or off-duty crew.
Vogue’s width gives this cockpit a large central area, open at the rear, with the transom converting into a bathing platform with a remote-controlled telescopic support for the Boston Whaler stored under the cockpit.
It was Fantasque’s skipper, Jean-Michel Strauseissen, who developed this system with Gilles Vaton.
The central cockpit, sheltered by a bimini top and a canopy fixed to the coachroof, features a large table and side benches equipped with cushions.
Article “Mer & Bateaux” magazine
Excerpts
The sleek line of the deck, with its low deckhouse, is complemented by the extra-flat “crystal” hatches from Goïot. Just like the five fixed hull portholes that discreetly blend into the dark blue color of the hull.
The Owner has equipped the boat with top-quality gear:
- Frederiksen cars, rails, and pulleys, Lewmar winches, Reckman furlers, Navtec hydraulic system, Riggarna rod rigging, with North sails.
Between the two steering wheels is the companionway leading to the crew quarters, flanked by the mainsheet and mainsail sheet winches. Two hydraulic coffee grinders control the genoa sheets.
The staysail sheets, on manual winches, can be led through the coffee grinders in heavy weather, and the battery is supplemented by the backstay winches. The mast, with four sets of running backstays, doesn’t require them in light conditions, but it’s advisable to get into the habit of maneuvering them.
At the base of the mast, there are two hydraulic winches for hoisting, and four manual winches. The full-batten mainsail is equipped with lazy-jacks, and the self-tacking staysail was abandoned as it’s well-known that it rarely tacks by itself!
The Navtec hydraulic system controls three functions in the maneuvering cockpit:
- the two backstay cylinders, the boom vang, and the mainsail outhaul;
- two functions at the base of the mast: the furling cylinder for the jib and the staysail.
The 24 V hydraulic system allows for not using the generator at certain times, such as during nighttime navigation.
It operates on triple power sources:
- The two generators and the batteries, and in case of emergency, it can run on a single generator.
- It powers the autopilot, the two furlers, five winches, the two cylinders for the engine room hatch, and those for launching the Boston Whaler onboard.
The boat has transatlantic motor autonomy, provided that only one of the two Caterpillars is used. The lifting keel trunk is located aft of the mast step. It can be closed, keel up, to avoid any drag due to turbulence. The keel is operated by a motor and secured by a strap. In case of maintenance, a locking system has been installed at the top of the trunk.
The layout of the accommodations, entrusted to Franck Reynaud, is very simple and ensures easy living both underway and at anchor. The crew is accommodated in two double aft cabins and has a private area in the galley, located to starboard, aft of the generous central companionway, which allows plenty of light into the saloon, like the coachroof skylights.
The chart table is on the port aft side of the saloon. It offers a lounge area to port, with a sofa and coffee table, and a dining area to starboard, with chairs equipped with a clever floor attachment allowing them to pivot without being unhooked.
An important detail, as the panels under the tables cover the engine compartments and are raised by hydraulic struts. The monochrome of the teak is broken up by the floors, made of grooved ash slats with teak inserts, which add cheerfulness and brightness to the whole.
For the quality of the finishes, it’s true that Vogue has nothing to envy from Jongert or Perini Yachts in this regard. A central passageway leads forward to the owner’s cabin and the three guest cabins. These cabins have a double berth and a raised berth mounted on a slide. Each cabin has an en-suite bathroom with a separate shower, thermostatic faucets, and sinks set in beautiful marble.
Air circulates well throughout the boat: constant use of the air conditioning, which also serves as heating, won’t be necessary.
Excellent stability on course
Storage is abundant, well arranged, and the drawers, mounted on ball bearings, are obedient and silent. Vogue has a fine, well-balanced hull.
The weights are concentrated in the center of the boat: seven tons of cast iron in the keel and tanks integrated into the hull, which can be placed wherever desired, which is one of the advantages of aluminum.
The boat performs from 10 to 12 knots true wind, with the keel acting as a writable keel, as it has the surface area, with a depth that goes down to 5.40 m. It provides exceptional stiffness to the boat, serving the apparent wind at 30°.
The best speed-heading ratio is achieved by easing a little, at 38 / 40° apparent wind. The hydraulic steering dampens the sensations and makes the boat less lively than with a tiller. However, the presence of a tiller aboard is avoided by the independence of each steering wheel, each coupled to the two rudders.
Downwind, the boat, with its two large aft rudders and a 1.80 m long centerboard, has excellent course stability, even with the keel up.
Vogue handles breeze well: in 35/40 knots true wind, downwind, or in 25 knots apparent wind, the boat reaches speeds between 15 and 17 knots, powerfully stretching its stride. A beautiful long-range cruiser, fast, enjoyable to live and maneuver, and very comfortable for those whose philosophy at sea is one of minimal effort.
Article by Noëlleduck, photos by Gilles-Martin Raget and B.Gedlek, styling by Gilbert Tillaud.
