Canova hits her stride off Sardinia

The foil-assisted Baltic 142 Canova has recently been enjoying virtually fault-free fine-tuning as her owner and crew put the yacht through her paces in an intense sailing programme. According to Baltic Yachts, sustained speeds of at least 20 knots have been reached in the breezy Strait of Bonifacio.

Canova was conceived as an elegant, ultra-comfortable, foil-assisted, bluewater cruising yacht able to operate with a reduced carbon footprint and low local emissions for long periods, remaining independent of specialist shore-side assistance.

In a wide variety of wind conditions, the crew and representatives from North Sails, Baltic Yachts and Canova’s rig builder, Rondal, have been assessing sail plan options and checking rig loadings in conjunction with the use of the yacht’s Dynamic Stability System athwartships sliding foil.

One of the great advantages of her DSS foil, the company says, is that it reduces heel and motion making this yacht arguably the most comfortable cruising yacht of her type in the world.

“The intention has always been to sail normally with one reef in for cruising and, with this reduced main and a self-tacking staysail set, she is very easy indeed to handle,” says Henry Hawkins, Baltic Yachts’ executive vice president.

“With the main de-powered as the reef is put in, there’s always the danger of the boom being a problem with everything bouncing about, but with the foil deployed there’s extra stability and much less motion which is a terrific safety factor in these conditions.”

Canova utilises an electric propulsion system which, aside from being quiet, has the ability to charge the yacht’s large battery bank without having to use a fossil fuel burning engine.

With the end of the summer season in the Mediterranean in sight, Canova’s owner is planning the next stage of a global adventure which will entail either a transatlantic crossing this winter or a passage to the south Atlantic.