KM Yachtbuilders launch the new Pelagic 77 ‘Vinson of Antarctica’

Explorer yachts are a sight to behold. The latest by KM Yachtbuilders is special in every way possible. Under construction at KM Yachtbuilders since early in the summer of 2019, the 23.7-metre superyacht, Pelagic 77 is built for a second-time adventurer of the Arctic and Antarctic region. The superyacht takes her name ‘Vinson of Antarctica’, after the highest mountain on the Antarctic continent. 

Photo Credit: KM Yachtbuilders

The superyacht will soon commence its sea trials from the Makkum shipyard, which will take place on the North Sea and the first trip will be to Norway. After the summer, the crew plans to sail to South America, ending at Puerto Williams in Chile, the southernmost inhabited place in the world. The Vinson of Antarctica is a design by Tony Castro Design and is based on the 22.5-metre Pelagic Australis, which was the result of adventurer Skip Novak’s first 14 years of high latitude sailing.

Photo Credit: KM Yachtbuilders

Founder Peter Wilson of MCM Newport said in a statement: “I was honoured to be asked by the project team to join them in 2018, sharing with them the construction and management expertise acquired through over 90 MCM projects to date. KM Yachtbuilders had already been selected to build the yacht. With their long track record in building go-anywhere yachts, they were a perfect match for this project. So with a team consisting of Novak, Castro and KMY, it wasn’t a hard choice for me to join them. I have absolutely no regrets about this choice. We all look forward to testing ‘Vinson’ in the brutal North Atlantic soon.” 

Photo Credit: KM Yachtbuilders

The Pelagic 77 ‘Vinson of Antarctica’ features two carbon masts so that the sail area is distributed and all sail systems, such as winches and jib rollers, can still be operated by hand. For the rest, the superyacht is powered by twin Yanmar engines at 150 hp, with well-protected propellers, a workshop forward to allow running repairs at sea and a diesel stove in the aft saloon.

Photo Credit: KM Yachtbuilders

The superyacht has a beam of 6.3 metres with a rather minimalist décor mostly out of bamboo furniture. The guests onboard can also relax in the comfortable living area of the large pilothouse or the stern gallery. The Vinson of Antarctica can host 8 guests and a crew of 3. The superyacht has six double cabins and two communal toilets and showers. The vessel will be used for charter trips from Puerto Williams in southern Chile as well as for private purposes.