blog

Marrying sail and power

Mon, 04 Mar 2013 00:00:00 +0000

The arrival of Yachting World each month is definitely a highlight around the office. When the March issue arrived a few days ago, we were thrilled to read Toby Hodges' write up on Ted's new design, the Surfari 53.

He writes "The appeal of the Surfari is in her mix of performance in sail and power, allowing her to reach remote places comfortably and quickly, and provide owners and their families with a platform for social activities. It places a large emphasis on outdoor living, providing a base for activities such as diving, surfing, paddleboarding... while promising to be as practical as possible."

He further states "The single level format is bound to be a hit, with one level from swim platform through the huge protected cockpit into the deck saloon - something like the Beneteau Sense, albeit on a lighter, faster, more luxurious scale."

With the polars showing that the Surfari 53 is expected to hit over 10 knots reaching in 15 knots of breeze, Hodges agrees with us that this is "... not bad when you can also motor home at nearly twice the speed of other slower cruising boats wen the wind dies."

Read the full article here.

Welcome to the New Site!

Thu, 01 Nov 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Whisper, 116' Pilothouse Sloop

Welcome aboard the redesigned Fontaine Design Group website. Our award-winning yacht design group has an updated website with vivid images and easy to navigate pages. -

In the About Us section, Ted Fontaine discusses naval architecture and how his refinements have created some of the best superyachts on the oceans today. Learn about his shoal draft, wide beam, performance yacht design philosophy that guides the creation of his successful yachts.

Under Our Designs each design has its own page with specifications and pictures that can be enlarged for better viewing. Yacht Designer, yacht builder and client comments are often included in the summaries and offer insight on these world renowned ocean cruisers.

What's new on the drawing board? The New Designs section may show drawings and specifications for the yacht only imagined. Building large custom sailing yachts takes not only amazing yacht designing skills but also a practiced ear. Fontaine takes pride in his ability to work closely with each client to bring their dream yacht to reality.

“Yachts Designed for the Oceans of the World”, has long been our motto - so we created a Log Book where yachting stories and tips could be shared. This forum is open to comments and guest writers and will often feature input from Ted describing his latest project or latest design ideas.

Please let us know what you think of the new site, ask any questions, or share your ideas for the yachts of the future - we welcome your comments.

The Fontaine Design Group

Great Racing and Bright Sunshine at the Newport Bucket Regatta

Sat, 01 Sep 2012 00:00:00 +0000

August 26, 2012

Great Racing and Bright Sunshine at the Newport Bucket Regatta

Ted racing aboard Tenacious (ex. Teel) at the Newport Bucket

Seventeen large custom yachts raced over the weekend with Friday and Saturday night socials at the Newport Shipyard. Saturday evening included a "Yacht Hop" where owners and crew members visited each boat for tours, smiles and hospitality.

Great racing, great weather, shoreside fun and camaraderie are what make Bucket Regattas so special. The 10th edition of the Newport, RI Bucket was no exception. What a treat to be aboard! Courtney

Newport Bucket Regatta 2012

America's Cup World Series in Newport, RI

Mon, 25 Jun 2012 08:30:00 +0000

Newport, RI is the home port of the Friendship Yacht Company, and is hosting the America’s Cup World Series June 28 to July 1.

The arrival of the America's Cup World Series Event has once again thrust Newport, RI to the forefront of the world’s yacht racing attention. No matter what your sailing style, be it classic yachting, yacht racing, or simply a cruising sailor, a visit to the yachting capital of America should be on your agenda this week.

Newport, RI is home to the famed New York Yacht Club which held the America's Cup trophy from its origin in 1857 until 1983 when the Cup was won by the Royal Perth Yacht Club, represented by the yacht Australia II. It has been over thirty years since competition for the cup has been sailed in Newport waters and wow, how things have changed!

This past weekend I was fortunate to have had the opportunity to sail onboard the original Friendship 40, Manaaki on the actual America’s Cup race course during the Official ACWS Practice Racing, at times even crossing tacks with several of the AC45’s at full speed.

It is amazing how close one can get to the actual racing catamarans, both on the water or walking through the America’s Cup Village in historic Fort Adams. As a lifelong sailor, yacht designer and boat builder, what has impressed me most about this new racing class is how the "close-to-shore race course" has transformed sailing into an exciting spectator sport.

The technologically advanced AC45 “winged-weapons,” are capable of sailing speeds in excess of 35 kts. They accelerate like a sports car and they are BIG!

It was impressive to see firsthand how fast these new boats are capable of sailing. There were moments when the sophisticated carbon fiber race boats shot past the following spectator fleet, making them appear anchored.

If you have not yet visited Newport, Fort Adams or the America’s Cup Village, I highly recommend taking the time to do so. You can get very close to the actual competitors’ boats and facilities. The AC45 are moored fully rigged just 50 to 100 yards from shore, allowing the spectators a truly unique proximity.

The America’s Cup Village is open daily and racing begins Thursday, June 28^th. See www.americascup.com for further information.

The Friendship 40, Manaaki, http://www.friendshipyachtcompany.com/brokerage/

See you on the water, Ted

Ted sailing the Friendship 40 on the America's Cup World Series Course in Newport, Rhode Island

Reaquainted and She Looks so Good-Part Two

Tue, 01 May 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Part Two of "Reacquainted and She Looks so Good" by Ted Fontaine.

Peter Island was a welcome stop, dinner on land and a very quiet night in the marina was just enough civilization for the week, the rest of the trip we vowed would be at anchor or mooring… but first there is that issue of work and the meeting onboard Tenacious…. But oh, where to park?

Turns out it was not that difficult to find a parking space for the meeting…Wednesday mornings on Peter Island are not as busy as I had expected. I dropped anchor, got in the dinghy and made my way over to TENACIOUS.

At 115’, TENACIOUS is not that hard to find, you just look above the tree line for the tallest black mast on the horizon.

TENACIOUS was launched in 1995, and at that time she was the largest composite-built sailing yacht built in the United States. She was a large boat for 115’ featuring four staterooms aft in the owners party and three double cabins for the crew. She was designed for the Bahamas and had less than an 8’ draft. In 1995 she won awards for being the “Most Innovative Design.” Her carbon fiber in mast furling system was originally designed to not heel beyond 18 degrees, a rig that in very light air just did not have the power that her new owner wanted.

The result of the meeting: Fontaine Design Group was commissioned to design a taller, higher aspect rig. The mast is to be replaced with a High Modulus carbon mast built by Southern Spars. The new rig is expected to be 4.5 tons lighter than the original in mast furling system. The new rig will have composite standing rigging which significantly contributes to the overall weight savings. The new mast when stepped will be 18’ taller and carry 30 percent more sail area than the original rig. The net result will be a much more powerful sail plan with longer genoa luff length and more efficient fully battened mainsail. This new plan will definitely get this boat up to speed in the lighter air expected of her summer home in Maine.

After meeting with Captain Duncan Hipkin and Master boat builder Marty Ford to discuss the winch placement, new chain plate configuration and modifications to the existing hard top it was back to the grueling task of direct marketing of the Friendship 40. With scheduled overnight stops at Pusser’s Marina Cay and Jost Van Dyke we began our journey back towards MANAAKI’s home berth at Virgin Gorda Yacht Harbor before heading back home.

It had been a bit more than three years since I had seen MANAAKI, the Friendship 40 that led to so many good times for so many people. I was most impressed at how well MANAAKI has weathered three full season in the Caribbean environment. She looks as good as she did the last time I had sailed on her in 2009. Her varnish had been routinely maintained and she was always stored under a custom built cover when not in use. Her Awl Grip topsides looked fantastic as did her sails and interior joinery. This boat, hull number one of the Friendship 40’s has seen countless miles. Here in New England in her first years she made weekly commutes from Newport to Nantucket and the Vineyard, she has been back and forth from Newport to Annapolis several times and from Annapolis down the coast around the Cape of Florida and up to Marco Island. I have personally experienced countless offshore miles on board. Of course, like all sailing stories over the years, some hours I would prefer to forget. Being 65 miles offshore in 45 to 50 knot winds for some 30 or so hours, hand steering on a cold October night was not what I envisioned when I designed the Friendship. But because of her true offshore capabilities and sea-kindly hull shape, the Friendship 40 has never once caused me any concern as to her strength or her sea worthiness… she is one strong yet comfortable girl and worthy of every compliment she gets from Nantucket Sound to the Bitter End. She is a sight to behold. Ted Fontaine, April 2012

REACQUAINTED AND SHE LOOKS SO GOOD-Part One

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 00:00:00 +0000

BVI February 2012, Virgin Gorda BVI

MANAAKI moored into the wind, Manchioneel Bay,
Cooper Island

This is me on the morning commute down to Peter Island

“Some people have all the luck” is what my daughters always tell me when it comes to traveling for my job. Imagine presiding over a successful yacht design company and a high quality yacht building company… oh the places you have to go.

When I return from a business trip to locations such as the north island of New Zealand or Palma de Majorca, Nantucket, Newport Beach, California or Cartagena Colombia it is always a bittersweet time. While it is always great to be home I am usually leaving behind great memories of sea trialing a new one off design or commissioning and delivering a newly built Friendship to an excited new owner.

This past winter I was requested to join a meeting on the first yacht that I ever designed that was over 100’. I was asked to redesign the rig for a taller, lighter carbon fiber mast and sail plan for the 115’ TENACIOUS (ex TEEL). She was sitting at anchor down in Little Harbor on Peter Island. Just weeks before this, I had received a call from the owner of my first Friendship 40 MANAAKI informing me that he intended to bring MANAAKI back to Rhode Island for the summer of 2012 and list her for sale on the brokerage market.

I sold MANAAKI to her current owner in 2009 and delivered her to the BVI’s via Dockwise then helped commission her and deliver her to the owners island home of Eustatia. So it was business as usual when Ihad to combine a design meeting on board TENACIOUS with a brokerage inspection of the soon to be listed MANAAKI.

MANAAKI’s owner suggested that I should come to the BVI’s to do a pre-listing survey to insure that the boat will be in tip top shape when she hits the market in Newport this summer.

It did not take long before I had a plane ticket and ferry organized to get to the islands, pick up and provision MANAAKI and get down to Peter Island for the design meeting. It is a tough job but someone has to do it.

The first leg of this interesting business trip involved getting aboard MANAAKI, provisioning her for a five day excursion and casting away the lines to set out to find TENACIOUS. Just before heading out I received a call from the captain on TENACIOUS informing me that the meeting was going to be delayed for a couple of days. “Let’s meet on Wednesday morning” was all I needed to hear. So the exciting question… where now? Why not try the Bitter End, after all it was Monday, has anyone heard of the Monday Night Mash Up that takes place down there?

The Bitter End is not only home of theYacht Club but it is also now home to the Caribbean station of the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda. It just so happens that we are fortunate enough to have Friendship 40 hull seven, named Rambaza Mawimbi (surf the waves in Swahili) moored in front of the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda in Puerto Cervo on the island of Sardinia. I have been told by many that the club’s new Caribbean location would be a great back drop for the Friendship 40.

I had to check it out for myself. Sure enough, the new club house and surrounding facility is amazing… the view from the pool alone makes the visit worthwhile.

The club house is carved out of the side of a steep green wall of tropical vegetation, the elevated infinity pool is a sight to behold as is the fantastic new marina which is capable of docking the largest mega yachts. While it was quiet for my visit, the upcoming weeks were going to be in full race mode with the club hosting the Loro Piana Caribbean Superyacht Regatta.

To see what has been built down there go to: www.superyachtregattaandrendezvous.com to view the facilities and the exciting racing that went on just after my visit.

Tuesday morning it is back to work and time to meander down to Peter Island, but not until I spend some time marketing the Friendship 40 to the countless European bare boat charterers at the many beautiful anchorages. Ironically, three days after I returned to my office we had three email inquiries from potential buyers stating that they saw this stunningly beautiful sailboat tacking around in the close anchorages and they wanted to know more about the boat. Exactly the outcome we were hoping for. Here we are drifting through another of those crowded anchorages.

Finally after an afternoon of sailing I decided to pull into Sprat Bay Marina on Peter Island. Peter Island Resort and Spa is a beautifully quiet and relaxing place. The marina manager and nearly everyone that passed by could not have been more pleasant. Could it be they were nice so they could get onboard and inspect what everyone said was the prettiest boat that they had ever had at their dock…?

Another hard mid-winters day behind the desk burning the afternoon oil...

To be continued next week, please check back for Part Two of Ted's Log and Tenacious in the BVI's.