DONA FRANCISCA Sailing yacht for sale

One of the largest sailing yachts ever built in carbon fibre, DOÑA FRANCISCA is a 52.5m (172ft) hi-tech, full custom schooner with classic exterior lines and modern high-performance hydrodynamics. She was delivered in 2014. Designed by the highly regarded naval architect Javier Soto Acebal.

She is a strongly built and rigged, fast ocean cruiser with remarkably light displacement – about 25 per cent lighter than most comparable yachts – and shallow draught of 3.5m (11.5ft). Conceived for push-button sailing by a crew of five, with hydraulic and electric sail control systems, she has more than 1,100sq m of upwind sailpower and about 1,800sq m downwind.

Her hull is a vacuum-infused carbon composite sandwich construction with a PVC foam core; her decks are 12mm Burma teak and her deck structures are finished in mahogany. She was built to RINA class as a one-off project in a Uruguayan shipyard that produces high-speed commercial vessels by a world class team of grand prix racing yacht builders assembled and led by a former general manager of the renowned King Marine shipyard. She is fitted out and finished to the highest standards with 50-metre carbon masts and furling booms built by King Marine, sails made by Doyle in New Zealand, solid carbon rigging by Carbo-Link, winches and blocks custom made by Harken.

Above the waterline, her exterior lines are inspired by the classic yachts of John Alden, Herreshoff and Olin Stephens but also by 19th century British pilot cutters. The deck plan is notably uncluttered for a classic style yacht. She has a large, low-profile deckhouse, a comfortable passenger cockpit with c-shaped seating, twin tables and high coamings, and a separate helm cockpit with full push-button sail controls. Both cockpits have canvas biminis above, on bright polished brass frames.

The interior, also designed by Soto Acebal, is traditional in style and finished in finely crafted mahogany, but bright, airy and spacious. Forward of the deckhouse, which is her bridge and upper saloon, is a big lower saloon with lounge and dining areas. The four guest cabin layout has a full-beam master suite aft with his-and-hers bathroom and separate office, two large twin-bed cabins forward of the lower saloon and a cabin with bunk beds. The crew’s quarters have separate access via the forecastle.

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Key features

• One of the world's largest carbon fibre constructed sailing yachts
• Remarkably light displacement compared to other yachts of this size
• Full-beam master cabin featuring a his and hers bathroom