Finnish yacht builder Baltic Yachts today launched its highly anticipated Baltic 112 sailing yacht Liara when the vessel was lowered into the waters of Jakobstad for the first time. The full-carbon sloop was commissioned by an experienced yachtsman who used to own the 32-metre Southern Ocean Marine sailing yacht Danneskjold (ex Liara).
Designed by Malcolm Mckeon Yacht Design for fast, long-distance cruising, Liara was developed to be just as comfortable on the race course as she will be out at sea. “I think the design of the Baltic 112 is the lightest boat you can have with all the creature comforts I want to take with me to the other side of the world,” her owner explained to SuperYacht Times in a previous interview. The interior on board is the work of Adam Lay Studio and is said to match Liara’s world-cruising capabilities with a homely and functional style inside. 
With the Baltic 112, the shipyard once again implemented its innovative retractable propulsion system; a solution first introduced on My Song in 2016. “We were also very keen to try and create a system where we could cruise silently all through the night - but with air-con on,” continues her owner. The team ended up running a variable-speed generator together with a high-voltage DC battery bank together with a generator connected to the main engine’s back end for a more eco-friendly and quieter cruising experience. 
The rigging and fluid dynamic design of the yacht was a collaboration between Cape Horn and North Sails’ Southern Spars who both worked closely with the yard and project manager Sebastian Allebrodt throughout the project. 
As for the yacht’s cruising itinerary, expect to see Liara at several superyacht regattas over the next few years. “We’re planning on taking her down to New Zealand for the 2020/21 America’s Cup. Having built a boat already in New Zealand, I’ve got a fair bit of experience in the region, so it’s a great opportunity to properly cruise there.”