World explorer ketch

Fabled US design house Sparkman & Stephens has announced a larger version of the already-impressive 170 foot ketch Nazenin V. The as-yet-un-named 183 foot (56 metre) ketch will feature a retractable centreboard so she can reduce her draft to just 15 feet (4.5 metres) to enable her to enter sheltered harbours and bays and negotiate areas of coral reefs.

The ketch is to be built by RMK Marine in Tuzla, Turkey, one of the largest luxury yacht building enterprises in the world and the builder of the famous Oyster series of large cruising yachts. The yard also built Nazenin V.

The new yacht will have almost identical lines to her smaller sister but will offer her owners increased living and recreational space and far more storage for prolonged voyages in remote locations.

With a sail area of more than 1400 square metres (15,000 square feet) the ketch will be no slouch under sail. Roller booms, furling headsails and powered captive winches will take the grunt out of sail management and allow the yacht to be handled by a small crew. Along with the helm stations on the fly bridge, there will be a helm station in the wheelhouse to allow easy navigation in the heaviest weather.

Accommodation for the owners party is in five staterooms, including a full-width owner's suite in the stern. A gym and a on-deck jacuzzi will keep the pounds off should the life aboard be too lavish.

The large flybridge will feature an alfresco dining area for 12 and a formal dining room will be located on the main deck just forward of the traditional saloon.

Aft of the saloon will be the main entertaining cockpit that will feature a separate wet bar.

Sparkman & Stephens and RMK Marine have given no indication of the price of the yacht but, as 19th century Amercian billionaire and keen yachtsman J.P. Morgan once said: "If you have to ask, you can't afford it".