Azzura Yachts launches Classic Cambria II

While her owner actively drove the concept and style of his yacht, the fine craftsmanship of Cambria II comes from a team comprised of Azzura Marine's Iain Murray, who worked on her external design; Thomas Hamel, on creating her interior design; and Azzura Yachts on the construction of the vessel.

The retro style of Cambria II was inspired by the owner's previous landmark rebuild project of the 1928 Fife K-Class yacht, Cambria. Two chunks of the classical sailing yacht's original timber mast are the legs for the table on the aft deck on Cambria II.

The design goal for Cambria II was to adapt a classic style that was comfortable, yet as simple and clean as possible. Her traditional lines on the outside, combined with her period interior styling, have resulted in her affinity with a bygone era. As the owner often stated - let us give the passenger a feeling of a comfortable yacht not a luxury hotel.

The extensive use of rich mahogany, along with elegant antique furnishings and carefully selected fabrics and carpet, add opulence to her otherwise simple detailing. The owners worn leather chairs are scattered around the boat and a favourite couch was built into the study. 'The brief was to make something quite harmonious and subtle as if it has evolved over time, not just moved in yesterday,' Mr Hamel said.

Cambria II was designed to operate adventure cruises in tropical conditions around northern Australia, so emphasis was placed on the engineering and electrics, air-conditioning, ventilation, refrigeration, stabilizers, etc.. The electrical panels and air-conditioning are all hidden behind mahogany panelling.

Accommodation on the main deck consists of an owner's stateroom with a large ensuite, walk in robe and adjoining owner's office and sitting room. On her lower deck are the guests sleeping areas with one queen cabin and two twin bed cabins, each with their own ensuite, as well as crew quarters with berths for four people. The ensuites are a blend of old and new, using corian and marble.

For entertaining, the main deck comprises of the aft cockpit with a dinning area for eight guests and a large saloon and internal dinning room. A stairway links the main deck to the wheelhouse.

The large arch windows of the superstructure provide panoramic views and the three brown leather chairs behind the wheel give this delightful space the feeling of a gentleman's club. The wheel and throttle control are from a wreck in India and have been adapted to suit modern control systems.

Cambria II has a full load displacement of 138,000kg (152.12 US tons), a beam of 6.98m (23ft) and a draft of 1.80m (5ft 9in). She has balsa core topsides and superstructure, her hull is of glass fibre and vinylester resign, while her decks are teak. Her integral tanks are also glass fibre, while her day tank in the engine room is aluminum. The propulsion system for Cambria II comprises twin 1,000hp Caterpillar C18 engines and ZF type 500A gearboxes allowing a maximum speed of 19 knots. She has two rudders fabricated from duplex stainless steel plate, two bronze Teinbridge 957mm five-bladed propellers, Naiad model 16 LHT bow thrusters and Naiad model 353 stabalisers. Cambria II has a fuel capacity of 31,800 litres and water capacity of 4600 litres.

After the Sanctuary Cove Boat Show Cambria II will head to Sydney then to Hamilton Island for Race Week at the end of August. She will spend the summer in Sydney and by the end of summer she is expected to qualify for the MCA international survey for commercial charter boats. Next winter Cambria II will conduct commercial charters in The Kimberleys, and from there she may go to Alaska or the East Coast of America.