Botin 56, BADPAK

Broker’s Comments

From the drawing board of Botin, the most up-to-date and successful racing yacht designer in recent times, BADPAK was conceived to be a no-compromise winner with capability for all conditions. She was constructed in October 2018 by King Marine’s carbon craftsmen, and project-managed by top industry professionals. A full prepreg carbon construction with a Nomex core gives the yacht ultimate strength and minimal weight.

Ultimately, a comparison with a TP52 will be made, and quite understandably so. Of course, she is the bigger sibling; however, as she is not constrained by a class rule, free thinking in her design, detail, and execution is very evident – resulting in a lower DLR, and proportionally more sail area and righting moment, amongst other benefits.

The rig is a 3-spreader, high-modulus Hall Spars model with EC6 carbon standing rigging, minimising weight aloft and increasing righting moment. The sails are all very fresh, manufactured by North Sails & Doyle Sails in 3Di RAW, currently Marlow rope package; previously Mafioli/Southern Rope. In the power department, there are very few gains left to be made.

On board, the twin-rudder setup gives her incredible straight-line speed and controllability by having rudders that are not only positioned further aft in the yacht, but also orientated more in the vertical plane.

The winch system has recently been converted to all-electric to lighten the yacht and remove complexity from the hydraulic system, resulting in a significant weight reduction. Trimmers are pampered at the primary trimming stations, which are ergonomically designed with Harken Air winches and a bank of buttons to operate the controls quickly and effectively, eliminating the requirement to pump a handle.

The layout is more akin to an F50 than a traditional racing yacht. The hub of the yacht, the pit station, is lowered into a well below the line of the deck, saving windage and helping to lower the VCG. Simple, effective, and powered string drops are the way forward at a tight leeward mark. Similarly, the main trimming station is simple and effective, featuring a single central pod and a range of push-button controls.

The powered runner winches are a godsend for short tacking, and offer secondary advantages as a secondary sheet winch during coastal racing and more complicated foresail setups. The helm position is highly comfortable; the twin wheels with adjustable-height platforms, combined with the twin rudders, make her incredibly controllable and exciting to push hard.

An exquisite detail is the electronic throttles mounted on both sides of the steering pedestals – neat, out of the way, and easily operable. BADPAK has been designed, constructed, prepared, and maintained to the highest possible level, and offers an incredible opportunity for her next owner to continue her winning ways.

Note

Name to be retained by vendor.