“Probably the world's finest bluewater cruising yachts”

Ron Holland

Interview with Ron Holland May 2010.

“We wanted it to be an attractive looking boat. It should not be something way out, something really avantgarde. We all agreed it should be a bit classic in its styling yet be fresh with some new details.

The performance has to do with the proportions of the boat. Itʼs to do with the shaping of the boat underwater and the keel shape. The little subtle differences that are not so obvious to the untrained eye. The way you put these combinations together gives this performance without detracting from the comfort and the safety which of course is most important to the people that buy them.

Another important thing with this lifestyle cruising is that you donʼt want the boat to be too deep. The deeper the keels are on boats like this, the faster they go basically, so you have to balance performance against how deep is convenient for cruising in coastal areas. I think that having a bulb keel on the boat like we have, enables a nice compromise and with the 67 we followed the same philosophy as that, so you have a moderately deep keel with high performance capability. Stability is an important part of the comfort side. You want a boat that doesnʼt tip over with every little gust of wind. You want a nice sturdy safe platform to be on. Thatʼs to do with the beam and concentrating the lead keel very low, due to the bulb shape.

Iʼm an experienced sailor at sea and so is John, so the design of the 55 and the 67 is coming from practical experience on both our sides rather than an academic design philosophy. The huge scope of experience John & I both have directly influence this feeling of a boat thatʼs fun to sail, is fast , yet really looks after you when you get caught in bad weather. You feel very safe. I think all the owners that I have talked to have that sense of safety about the boat.”

Bill Dixon

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Ken Freivokh

When first approached by John Charnley during the creative phase of the first Discovery 55, it became apparent that our team’s
contribution had to match practicality with elegance – above all, Discovery was conceived as a fit-for-purpose yacht, and aesthetics – whilst essential – should in no way compromise functionality our operational efficiency.”

Such ethos guided our work on the original 55ft Discovery, the subsequent work on the 50ft catamaran and of course, our current work on the new 57ft Discovery yacht.   With excellent feedback from extensive time at sea on the 55, the new 57 will not only offer an updated look, but extensive improvements to optimise the yacht’s role as a true blue water cruiser.

The merits of a raised saloon configuration are well known, particularly in terms of excellent panoramic views from the saloon seating, and such arrangement has been carried forward and improved through feedback from the original 55 and full size mock-ups of the proposed new interior.    Panelling and joinery treatment relate to our team’s research into optimum veneer flitch size and development of an overall internal grid, set out from key parameters such as desk and worktop heights, window bands, door and cornice heights and a discipline aimed at achieving continuity of line and integration of space.

We are, of course, taking the opportunity of the new model introduction to innovate internally and regarding the external styling, where extensive 3D modelling has helped us to extend the visual continuity of the cabin top to achieve a sleek and consistent look whilst retaining all the blue-water attributes which have been the hallmark of the Discovery brand.