Brooklin Boat Yard has launched its latest custom sloop: the 27.86-metre Sonny III.
Photo: Billy BlackSonny III is a replacement for the owner's current 70' yacht which was built by the same yard. After 18 months of construction, the custom cold-molded vessel was christened last month and has just completed sea trials.
As her new owner is a retired senior with limited mobility, he requested a yacht with more accessibility, with Sonny III incorporating unique modifications to provide solutions to this, including chair lifts at each companionway, a power reclining chair in the master cabin, a side-boarding ladder and a transom-boarding platform.
Photo: Billy Black"We're proud to provide Sonny's owner with a yacht that performs to his high expectations and accommodates his unique needs," said Steve White, president of Brooklin Boat Yard. "He's been a great collaborator on every boat we've built for him. This was a true challenge that required a lot of teamwork -- a highly customized, 91-foot yacht built in only a year and a half."
With a flush deck and an aggressively raked bow, Sonny III is designed with performance in mind. Two cockpits have been designed into the yacht, one with guests in mind and the other with those in command of the sailing vessel centrefold.
Photo: Billy Black"I consider Sonny III a great accomplishment," said designer Bruce Johnson. "I would expect a design process of six months for a yacht of this size and complexity before the yard could even begin to cut wood. Due to the aggressive build schedule, we began construction six weeks after we started working with the owner. This project could not have been possible without Brooklin Boat Yard's in-house designers who were invaluable, producing exceptional construction drawings."
Photo: Billy BlackOn deck, Sonny III shows off her double headsail rig with hydraulic curlers built by Harken. The non-overlapping headsail configuration with chainplates pushed outboard greatly reduces loads and allows for a smaller mast section, winches and hardware. The mainsail has hydraulic in-boom furling and the carbon mast is from Offshore Spars, with 3Di sails by North Sails.
Below deck, Sonny III has two guest staterooms in addition to the owner's master stateroom. An elliptical dining area adorns the main salon and the interior is finished in Herreshoff style with white and cream paint which contrasts with the American cherry joinery, leather, teak, and maple.
Photo: Billy BlackDue to the tight build schedule for Sonny III, portions of the hull and deck construction were subcontracted to the Maine-based yard, Rockport Marine located in Maine. This is not something out of the ordinary for Brooklin Boat Yard, which used Front Street Shipyard to build the composite deck for Sonny III's predecessor, Sonny II.
"This project wouldn't have been possible without the collaboration and support of many partners," commented White. "We achieved our high standard of craftsmanship within a consolidated timeframe through teamwork and a shared vision."