Wally 101, a high-performance luxury cruising yacht

Wally 101

The Italian shipyard Wally has just announced the launch of a new sailboat since its acquisition by the Ferretti group in January 2019. This 101-foot (30.7 m) sloop will be the first model born of the marriage of the two major Italian manufacturers. Let's discover together what this elegant sailboat should look like when sailing comfortably on a cruise.

Performance at the rendezvous

The Wally 101 - whose design phase is nearing completion - was designed by the naval architecture firm Judel / Vrolijk. The exterior style was developed in collaboration with Pininfarina. This semi-custom model features Wally's trademark and iconic design.

"The Wally 101 will have high performance: a new generation hull shape, an innovative new keel by Wally and a high-performance sail plan. It will be made of carbon composite." explains the manufacturer. "According to initial estimates, the upwind speed will be 12 knots in 12 knots of wind (with an angle of 75 degrees from one side to the other) and the 20 knots will easily be reached downwind" adds the manufacturer.

While these performances are proven, they are quite exceptional and closer to those of the America's class monohulls.

A lifting keel

The Wally 101 will have a new keel, named Wally Magic Keel and developed by the Italian. This innovation should not encroach on the interior space and allows the draught to be varied by more than two metres, making it easier to access isolated anchorages, for example.

A very spacious semi-custom layout

The Wally 101 offers semi-custom deck and interior fittings. "Spacious and very pleasant to live indoors and outdoors, this 30 m yacht offers living spaces with a surface area of 40 m2" details the site.

For safety during racing, as well as during cruising, Wally has equipped his sailboat with 50 cm high bulwarks.

An elegant silhouette

Elegant and contemporary, the Wally 101 has a slim profile with a very low roof with a funnel-shaped glass insert and teak cladding, which blends perfectly into the front deck.

"True to the spirit of the Wally, the 101 is a sailboat that offers exceptional comfort on the outside, fast speeds while being simple and easy to sail." explains Luca Bassani, founder of Wally.

A huge cockpit

The cockpit will be the main asset of this Wally 101 with a large area. "Between the helm station and the descent, there is 39 m2 of flush deck space. If we include the tanning area at the stern, the total cockpit area is 58.4 m2." describes the site.

Before I add, "By way of comparison, a latest generation 100-foot superyacht offers a surface area of about 14 m2. If you then include the tanning area at the back, the total area is 34.5 m2."

The cockpit can be protected by a bimini and the layout can be personalised with benches, tables and deckchairs. The decockpit layout may change according to the program, especially during regattas.

A flexible layout

The Wally 101 offers a very flexible overall layout. There is a generous main salon and 3 to 5 cabins. Thus, depending on the choice of sleeping areas, we will obtain more or less living areas (up to 3): television room, games room, office, sports room etc...

Spacious crew quarters and tender garage

The crew quarters including 2 double cabins with private bathroom, lounge, laundry room, kitchen and a space dedicated to navigation. The adjoining engine room should be spacious thanks to the elevated living room. Finally, a tender garage located at the rear will accommodate a 4 m long tender.

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