baltic yachts careers

Half a century at the cutting edge

Fifty years ago in Finland five young men shared a controversial idea and an ambitious plan. They quit their jobs at Nautor and set out to create a new style of offshore cruiser racer – lighter, stiffer and faster than almost anything else on the market.

‘We just got together one day and the idea came up,’ says Per-Göran “PG” Johansson, one of the five founding fathers of Baltic Yachts back then and still one of its directors today. ‘We were not alone thinking “light is better” but most boatyards and naval architects favoured heavier designs. Some of our competitors published studies for marketing purposes arguing that heavy was better. One of their claims was “heavy does not stop in waves due to the inertia of the mass”. Another was “the client gets more kilos for his money”. We remained convinced and carried on with our lightweight, hi-tech way.’

History soon proved Johansson and his colleagues to be absolutely correct and the company they founded became a world leader in the production of large, high-performance sailing yachts.

Before any of it could happen, first they had to clear a patch of pine forest at Bosund near Jakobstad and build a shed in which to do it.

Still in use as a joinery workshop, that first shed is finally about to be decommissioned along with the whole facility that grew up around it. This year, Baltic Yachts is moving all operations to Jakobstad where a new state-of-the-art building will more than double the size of its existing waterfront location.

There’s a world of difference between the series-produced Baltics of the 1970s and the full-custom superyachts that have become the yard’s primary focus alongside its ongoing small-series, semi-custom production.

However, from the first Baltic 46 Diva (now Queen Anne) all the way to its current projects via some of the most advanced sailing yachts in each of the last three decades, the core DNA is arguably unchanged.

‘Baltic Yachts is still very much true to its original values,’ Johansson says. ‘We started as a series production yard but with more flexibility built in than most competitors, using hi-tech methods to achieve better sailing performance and handling characteristics. With time we moved over more and more to full custom projects, which required changes in our approach.

‘The projects became more individual in concept, in styling and in materials and methods used.

In that process you lose some of the things that originally earned your company its reputation. However, even our cruising projects have been very hi-tech and in that sense they’ve followed our original philosophy, “lighter is faster and better”. Some of the high-performance projects challenged us to take technology much further, increasing our know-how and potential.’

Eagerness to embrace technology prompted the founding of Baltic Yachts in the first place. Johansson was project manager of the Swan 65 when he tried and failed to convince his managers that it could be built lighter, stiffer and better using sandwich construction with unidirectional fibres instead of a single laminate with woven rovings.

The five who left Nautor – boatbuilders Jan-Erik Nyfelt and Nils Luoma, purchasing manager Ingmar Sundelin, designer Tor Hinders and Johansson – became the nucleus of Baltic Yachts.

Baltic Yachts – major milestone boats 1974-2022

1974 Baltic 46 Ahead of its time: tank tests, sandwich construction, unidirectional fibres, balanced spade rudder, epoxy bonded teak deck…

1977 Baltic 39 Most popular model, 74 in six years. From 1980, one of the first yachts to have computer-generated VPP

1979 Baltic 51 Notable for interior design innovations. First double-berth cabin under an aft cockpit, slanted bulkheads for optimal use of space

1982 Baltic 80 Midnight Sun Baltic Yachts’ first maxi racer and one of the first maxis with full glassfibre composite construction.

1985 Baltic 43 Bully The first offshore sailing yacht in the world built entirely with epoxy resin

1996 Baltic 67 Aledoa The first cruising yacht built entirely in pre-preg carbon

1996 Baltic 87 Anny First Baltic with a lifting keel, complex hydraulics and push-button sail controls

1997 Baltic 70 Vittfarne First Baltic yacht to combine classic appearance with hitech construction and modern hydrodynamics

1997 Baltic 70 Loftfari The first yacht with a fully fitted interior built entirely in pre-preg carbon and Nomex honeycomb, all invisible under the teak veneer finish

Baltic 78 Super Baltic 5 Canting keel with its entire mechanism under the cabin sole; 3.5kts faster than the same yacht with a fixed keel

2002 Baltic 147 Visione The first superyacht capable of planing at 30 knots. Packed with unique innovations, ultra-light displacement (105T) and almost literally no expense spared

2003 Baltic 141 Canica A very complex build and fitout with hi-tech materials, construction techniques and systems. The first Baltic ‘super cruiser’

2011 Baltic 197 Hetairos Largest carbon composite sailing yacht in the world at 221ft LOA. Classic look, superb finish. Hi-tech build and hydrodynamics

Baltic 175 Pink Gin The largest full carbon sloop in the world to date. Unique fold-down, through-hull platforms in the saloon and owner’s suite

2019 Baltic 142 Canova First DSS foil on an ocean cruising superyacht. First hybrid drive with full regeneration. Advanced composite engineering. A giant leap into the future

2022 Baltic 68 Pink Gin Verde First Baltic yacht built with 50% flax fibre. Advanced electric/hybrid propulsion, super efficient systems

‘They had a strong belief in themselves, courage to swim upstream and test new ideas,’ Baltic Yachts’ marketing manager Elisabet Holm explains. ‘They all had a passion for boats, a strong driving force to learn new things and research technology, and they were always ready to meet new challenges.’

The original Baltic 46 was far ahead of its time. At a time when nearly all new designs simply relied on the naval architect’s eye, experience and intuition, several different hull models were tank tested across a range of speeds, at various heel and leeway angles before the design of the 46 was finalised and only then was it built. It had a balanced spade rudder and solid rod rigging, which were then used only on hi-tech racing yachts and its teak deck was laid with epoxy resin. But the hull laminate itself was the key innovation.

‘In those days most yards building larger yachts used woven rovings with fibres bent, not straight, hence not structurally optimal and they also resulted in resin concentration,’ Johasson explains.

‘You could see the roving patterns on the surface, due to resin shrinking, so before applying the rovings they used several layers of chopped mat, which has very low structural value, especially on larger yachts, but added a lot of weight.

‘We used a very thin surface cloth and the rest of the laminate was unidirectional fibres, oriented in the direction of the stresses and perfectly straight, hence stronger and stiffer.

‘The fibres we used did not create resin concentration so there was less print-through on the hull surface. Unidirectional does not build up thickness like woven rovings so we used them with a core material in sandwich construction. This achieved much higher panel stiffness than a single laminate and gave us more flexibility for panel sizes.’

End grain balsa was the core for the 46 but Baltic soon switched to foam cores with a variety of densities and strengths. Carbon fibre was used from 1979, initially in rudder posts, beam tops and to reinforce high-stress areas of the hull where extra stiffness was needed. As stabilised foams for high-temperature cures and then Nomex for pre-preg carbon construction became available, Baltic pioneered the use of those materials.

Baltic Yachts’ early achievements belie the fact that it faced strong headwinds right from the start. 1973 was a bad year to launch a new brand of sailing yachts, with the global oil crisis looming.

The yachting industry as a whole was hit hard and by 1977 Baltic had to seek outside investment to stay in business. Ironically that same year saw their first major commercial success, selling 12 Baltic 39s at the Hamburg Boat Show, which was unheard of at the time.

Hollming, a Finnish shipbuilder, acquired Baltic. Two of the founders, Nils Luoma and Ingmar Sundelin, quit but the takeover turned out to be a positive move. Hollming provided stability and investment to help Baltic grow. A huge production hall was built, funds were provided for new model development and marketing.

An unusual aspect of Baltic Yachts that undoubtedly worked in its favour was the dual role of Johansson. It’s rare that the technical guru of a major boatbuilder is also its head of sales and marketing, yet he combined both jobs with great success for 40 years.

Even now, though officially retired, he still frequently offers a guiding hand in the development of new projects and the current EVP, Henry Hawkins, describes him as ‘an unbelievably useful sounding board and wise head’.

Baltic’s in-house designer Tor Hinders made his mark by changing the way boats are fitted out down below. His stand-out innovation, which was met with hostility when introduced in 1979 on the Baltic 51 but has since been copied by almost every sailing yacht builder in the world, was to put a double-berth cabin under an aft cockpit.

Another key factor in Baltic Yachts’ early success was its partnership with the Canadian naval architects C&C Design, whose chief engineer Rob Ball was among the first in the industry to start using computers. From 1980 he supplied VPP – polar curves and tables of numbers – for the Baltic 39, 51 and 37, with detailed instructions on how to use them. Despite being generated by 2D computing (as 3D models were not yet available), Johansson says those first VPP numbers were accurate and useful.

The yard was quick to develop its own computing expertise. ‘As soon as programmable calculators and then the Epson HX-20 computer became available we saw their potential and started to use them,’ Johansson says. ‘There was no software so we did our own coding.’ By the early 1980s they were already using these tools for displacement, flotation and trim calculations, laminate design and rating optimisation.

A huge quantity of data has been compiled since then and the initially simple programs have evolved into a sophisticated suite of software that enables the technical team to make extremely detailed weight and load calculations for the hull and rig of any new design, study engine power, prop pitch and range for electric and conventional propulsion systems, and much more. The yard has never had any ambition to design its own yachts, but is quite often asked by clients to do preliminary studies before a naval architect is appointed.

The 1980s were the peak of series production but Baltic Yachts but they also began pushing the boundaries of performance with custom builds with more scope for creative technical development.

‘A series production model is always to some degree a compromise,’ Johansson says. ‘On custom projects you can take things much further. For very knowledgeable clients looking for performance we have taken things to the edge.’

The 80ft Midnight Sun was one of the first maxis with full composite construction, launched in 1982. ‘The forward part was a large, empty sail store and we used specially designed longitudinal bulkheads and framework in the upper corner between hull and deck to create the required stiffness,’ Johansson recalls.

The Baltic 43 Bully was the first offshore yacht built entirely in epoxy resin, in 1985. In technical terms this was a spin-off from an earlier R&D project, developing ultra-strong vacuum-infused sandwich laminates for a Soviet deep-sea submarine, which ruffled diplomatic feathers when the Americans found out about it. ‘The main unit was solid steel; we built a streamlined cover around the equipment,’ he says. ‘If you send a normal laminate down to 6,000m it will not be the same afterwards. We learned a few things from that project.’

In 1990, Baltic regained its independence. Finland’s industrial sector was in recession and Hollming needed to focus on its core business. ‘They asked us to arrange a management takeover,’ Johansson explains. ‘The yard was an important workplace for the local community and to shut it would have been very destructive. We were 32 employees who got together, took over and continued the business.’

Marketing manager Lisbeth Staffans stepped up to be managing director and led Baltic Yachts for two decades from a challenging start. ‘With a bad order book and uncertain future there were sleepless nights at the beginning of this new era,’ Johansson says. ‘Lisbeth was a very good person for that job. We couldn’t afford to make any mistakes and she made sure we didn’t. But this period is the one I’m most proud of. We did a good job, moved up in the size of our projects and stayed profitable.’

Innovation continued apace with production manager Christer Lill running a remarkably tight operation as the yachts ramped up rapidly in sophistication and size. In 1996 they launched 67ft Aledoa, the world’s first pre-preg carbon cruiser, and 87ft Anny – their first with a lifting keel, twin rudders and complex hydraulics. She had full push-button sail controls and a tender could be driven straight into the automatic opening-andlowering garage in her stern.

The following year, the Baltic 70 Vittfarne heralded a new style of yacht combining classic appearance and fine traditional craftsmanship with hitech construction, light displacement and modern hydrodynamics. ‘Bill Dixon’s team did a fantastic job on the design and our carpenters performed magic in building it,’ Johansson says.

Another Baltic 70, also launched in 1997, took carbon composite sandwich construction to a new level. The fully fitted interior of Loftfari was built almost entirely in pre-preg carbon/ Nomex honeycomb as well as her hull and deck, saving a large amount of additional weight.

It looked traditional, though, with thin veneers and fillets of teak covering all of the composite surfaces. Most Baltic yachts are now fitted out in a similar way.

The 78ft Super Baltic 5, delivered in 2000, was a major feat of engineering with a canting keel whose entire mechanism was installed in the shallow bilge beneath the saloon sole. She was calculated to be at least 3.5kts faster than an identical yacht with a fixed keel.

At the turn of the millennium Loftfari’s owner came back to Baltic with an impossible design brief, ‘or so it seemed at first,’ Johansson says. ‘To build a yacht in excess of 140ft capable of planing at 30 knots or more.’

The project was an immense challenge, not least because their largest build up to then was a 97- footer. Two years of development work followed before the owner gave the green light for the build to proceed. Remarkably the yacht was delivered six months ahead of schedule and exceeded all expectations.

Packed with unique innovations and with almost literally no expense spared, the Baltic 147 Visione was far ahead of her time and despite being 20 years old she is still quite capable of taking line honours in superyacht regattas today.

In build at the same time, the 141ft Canica challenged the yard in different ways. Performance was key but a lot of equipment and systems were also required to ensure a very high level of comfort on board. ‘That was the first yacht we built with a full floating interior,’ Baltic sales director Kenneth Nyfelt, son of founder Jan- Erik, explains.

‘We installed a highly complex Siemens PLC monitoring and control system, and it was the first project where we used noise and vibration consultants.’ With half the displacement of a typical 140ft cruising yacht, the performance targets were achieved and Canica can now be regarded as the first in a gradually evolving style of high-performance Baltic ‘super cruisers’ that continues to this day. A similar and parallel evolution of successful cruiser-racers began with Nilaya in 2010.

A stand-out project delivered in 2011, at 221ft LOA the Baltic 197 Hetairos is largest carbon composite sailing yacht in the world. A true wolf in sheep’s clothing with an incredible sail area : displacement ratio and a regular winner in superyacht regattas, the 60-metre ketch is classic on deck but thoroughly modern below the waterline with a unique lifting rudder as well as a lifting keel.

Around this time, the people who had staged the 1990 management takeover began to retire so new owners were needed. Two local investors bought shares in 2010; three years later an 80 per cent stake in Baltic Yachts was acquired by the German family-owned company Otto Bock – led by Professor Hans Georg Näder, a longstanding client of Baltic Yachts – and its future was secured. Henry Hawkins, a yacht captain with vast practical experience including many thousands of ocean miles as skipper of Näder’s yachts, joined Baltic, taking on a large part of Johansson’s role.

Näder’s own 175ft Pink Gin VI is one of the most notable recent builds and currently the world’s largest carbon composite sloop with a rig 16m taller than a J Class. Her key features include fold-down platforms in her topsides just above the waterline that are large enough to walk through, one amidships in the main saloon and one forward in the owner’s suite.

While relatively easy to build on a large motor yacht, putting large apertures in highly stressed parts of a sailing yacht hull without reducing its stiffness was a major engineering challenge, solved by mechanically locking the platforms firmly in place to become structural parts of the hull.

Another recent showcase of Baltic’s innovation is the 142ft Canova, which made headlines in 2019 as the world’s first superyacht with a DSS foil to reduce pitching and heeling, plus a host of other advanced features such as an immensely strong coachroof with a featherlight look and an electric drive system that provides enough regeneration capability under sail to cross the Atlantic without using any fossil fuel – with both sailing and hotel systems running.

After four years of cruising, a wide range of what used to be bleeding-edge technologies are now proven to work reliably.

To mark Baltic Yachts’ 50th anniversary, the first Baltic 46 Queen Anne returned to the yard last spring for a refit. Two of the men who built her – Johansson and Jan-Erik Nyfelt, whose grandchildren now work at Baltic – were delighted to find her in excellent condition, which a survey duly confirmed.

‘No structural works are needed, the hull appendages are sound, as is the mast,’ Hawkins says. ‘It’s also interesting that the original propulsion setup was still operational and in good order. The enjoyment at our end was the size of everything compared to today, from fibre technology to deck fittings. There are 18 winches on that boat; a modern 100-footer uses just seven or eight!’ She will be relaunched in June after a cosmetic refit, with a new engine.

What direction is Baltic Yachts likely to take in the future? The 68ft cruiser-racer Pink Gin Verde might hold a few clues with its 50 per cent flax fibre hull and micro-turbine hybrid propulsion system, but as Baltic’s CEO Anders Kurtén puts it, ‘That all depends on where our customers want to take us.’

‘We are fortunate and honoured to build some of the most exciting, groundbreaking custom sailing yachts in the world which means the next major milestone will forever be the next launch, summer 2023 being a perfect example,’ he says. ‘My best guess for the future is ever increasing sustainable practices and yachts with diminishing lifecycle emissions, as well as quantum leaps in terms of pure sailing performance.’

Click here for more information on Baltic Yachts

Behind the Scenes of 34m foil-assisted Baltic 111 Raven

When her owner commissioned this Baltic 111 Custom foil-assisted superyacht, weight control was paramount. Baltic Yachts was selected for its forensic approach to lightweight advanced composite construction and unique ability to combine it with an unmatched custom finish. Baltic Yachts has successfully moved the Baltic 111 Raven from her building facility at the company’s waterside premises in Jakobstad, Finland to reveal one of the most extreme yachts it has ever built.

Broadly described as a 111ft foil-assisted, ultra-lightweight superyacht, she will be used primarily for day sailing, but also undertake high-speed, long-distance passages. Not easy to categorise, this extraordinary yacht can be placed firmly in a class of her own.

Baltic Yachts was chosen to meet this challenge because of its unmatched reputation for building advanced composite superyachts to the very highest standards, including its forensic examination of systems and components throughout the build process. Add to that the company’s ability to finish yachts to a level of luxury second to none and the decision to build in Jakobstad was straightforward.

Baltic 111 Raven’s experienced owner’s project manager, Garth Brewer of A2B Marine Projects, said: “ Raven doesn’t fall easily into a category, but if I had to place her, I’d say she’s the equivalent of a high-end Super-car. The boat is primarily for pure enjoyment and the owner likes the challenge of doing something that hasn’t been done before. ”

“ He really understands the technical elements and this will be a development project which will require a measured approach,” added Brewer, who emphasised the need for incremental steps in Raven’s trials, building confidence and understanding over time as the boat reaches her peak performance .

Raven does, however, possess some distinctive features which provide more than a hint of how she might perform. They include two large T-shaped hydrofoils mounted on hydraulically controlled side-arms capable of supporting some of the boat’s displacement.

At her transom, Raven will be equipped with vertical Interceptor trim tabs to adjust fore and aft trim at speed and there is movable water ballast, carried in built-in tanks in the aft quarters to boost the righting moment required while sailing.

Designed to sail partly on her leeward chine, Baltic 111 Raven will derive her stability and lift, while sailing, from her foils, leaving her 9.3-ton fixed keel bulb and precision-engineered 5m long fin to provide basic stability. It’s also the location for a fully submerged intake for cooling water and is designed with a sacrificial zone to absorb impact in the event of a collision.

Ultra-lightweight interior of Baltic 111 Raven

Not only is Raven’s foil-assisted ability likely to deliver a phenomenal sailing performance, she is also the subject of a highly unusual study in ultra-lightweight interior design, combining the yacht’s complex all carbon construction with styling which pays homage to Baltic Yachts’ rigorous program of weight saving. Target displacement is 55 tons – just as a comparison, the recently launched, Baltic 110 Zemi displaces 95 tons.

Jarkko Jämsén, the Finnish concept designer who developed Raven with her owner and is responsible for the yacht’s styling, explained that they were keen to combine the need for weight saving with the opportunity to expose the remarkable carbon structure of the yacht to create a unique interior design aesthetic.

A key part of Baltic’s effort in the Raven project has been directed at weight saving and control. Apart from using the lightest possible carbon/Nomex combinations in the yacht’s main structures, every item, down to the last pipe clip, nut and bolt, has been assessed. The naval architects and structural engineers behind her are Botin Partners and PURE Design respectively, both at the leading edge of America’s Cup design.

“ This project undoubtedly represents one of the biggest challenges Baltic Yachts has ever embraced, ” said Baltic Yachts Executive Vice President, Henry Hawkins. “ But that is what we do – we have a long history of bringing leading edge innovation to the fore. We are surrounded and supported by a dedicated team who are led by Garth Brewer, who oversaw Visione’s construction here at Baltic 21 years ago and still keeps her on the pace. ”

Baltic 111 Raven: Experience to take on the challenge

Jarkko Jämsén emphasised the importance of choosing Baltic Yachts to build Raven. “ The company was selected because we believe it has the courage, experience and track record to take on the challenge. Calculating weight and Baltic’s well-known ability to hit displacement targets were critical. ”

For Sam Evans, project manager, and Mattias Svenlin, project co-ordinator for Raven, the challenge was to construct a superyacht much lighter than anything previously built by Baltic – yachts that were already considered light in the sphere of Superyachting. “ Mattias’ experience, creativity and flexibility, supported by a dedicated production team combined with Sam’s communication skills, have been key factors in the overall success of the build, ” added Garth Brewer.

“ This is another level entirely in terms of weight saving, ” said Mattias. To ensure as fair a hull finish as possible, a carbon mould was preferred to reduce excessive heat differences and thus distortion in the curing process. “ We re-assessed the hull coating schedule to reduce weight using light primers and filler instead of Ultra-Build to reach the acceptable industry standards – in effect coatings do the job of filler,” he said. Using this technique in a superyacht is unprecedented .”

Hull and deck construction use carbon IM fibre pre-preg, employing the highest quality fibres on the market, and a Kevlar honeycomb sandwich throughout.  The owner has accepted that sailing Baltic 111 Raven at speed will be noisy so the elimination of any attempt to sound deaden represents a huge weight saving. “ But we have created an interior finish with special surfaces affecting the acoustics to ‘soften’ the noise a little, ” said Mattias.  He pointed out, however, that all the adhesives suitable for bonding this material to bulkheads were compared for weight, the final choice resulting in a saving of 6kg. In terms of the Raven project that’s a big number.

100 grams off every bracket

Baltic Yachts has revisited all weight saving opportunities shaving 100 grams off every carbon pipe bracket, making carbon cable trays even lighter and switching out steel hydraulic pipework for lighter hosing which has saved 160kg. “ We’ve even reduced the weight of the shower door from 13.5kg per m² to just 2.3kg m², ” said Mattias.

Even as Raven neared completion, the Baltic build team were continuing to identify weight-saving opportunities including replacing the metal clips holding the lightweight carbon tubular accommodation framework in place. “Östen Sundelin, one of the team, reckoned we could 3D print them in a far lighter material so we went ahead and made that saving,” said Mattias. In-house 3D printing is increasingly used at Baltic to fashion custom items to save weight and optimize design, the complex titanium head of the yacht’s retractable propulsion system (RPS) mechanism being a case in point.

Lightweight interior design

Raven’s interior, conceptualized by Jarkko Jämsén, is unusually comprehensive for a high-performance superyacht of this type, but the use of ultra-lightweight rattan deck-heads and bulkhead finishes, exposed carbon and a lack of coatings help keep weight down along with Nomex cores in structural bulkheads. All the frameworks for the furniture, for example, are made from hollow carbon piping, its lightweight combining with a modern take on style guaranteed to turn heads.

The focal point of the accommodation is centered around the glazed sides of the large cockpit, dubbed the ‘bird’s nest’, which forms a type of inverted observation ‘dome’ allowing occupants to view the carbon-dominated accommodation. The glazing is in fact Perspex, which is considerably lighter than toughened glass, representing an overall saving of 250kg. It is reinforced with a criss-cross pattern of carbon mullions which gave it its bird’s nest description. Further weight saving is achieved by minimizing the amount of caulking between each pane and replacing some of it with a foam fillet.

On deck, attention is immediately drawn to the cockpit because, apart from its aforementioned aesthetics, it also converts to a semi-covered, hardtop-protected seating area. The forward section of the cockpit hinges up and aft in ‘clam-shell’ style to affect this unique conversion.

Perspex is also used in numerous deck prisms which still use a centuries-old design to efficiently illuminate the accommodation with natural light, but are vastly lighter by replacing bronze and glass with carbon and Perspex.

Spacious saloons are located fore and aft of the bird’s nest, the forward one laid out with a galley and dining areas and the aft space dedicated to the owner’s sleeping accommodation, with a large double centreline berth folding up against an interior bulkhead when the yacht is in performance mode. There’s also a passage berth or sea cabin to starboard.

It is not often one can describe a head and shower compartment as a work of art, but in the Baltic 111 Raven’s case numerous hydraulic rams mounted inside some of the complex carbon reinforcement, including the A frame taking the load of the deck stepped mast, have been exposed by inserting Perspex inspection covers. So, you can take a shower while watching the upper and lower deflector rams in action or the downhaul ram for the 7m long reaching strut, which is used to optimise headsail sheet leads!

Further weight saving has been achieved by modifying a custom bamboo seat in one of the shower/head compartments with carbon tubing made to look like bamboo, complete with its characteristic rings and a remarkably realistic painted finish.

The aft section of the yacht is largely empty, but forward there’s accommodation for four guests in two cabins and extensive crew accommodation including a captain’s cabin.

For propulsion and generating, the design team settled on a diesel-electric hybrid system for lower emissions and efficient weight distribution. It’s a solution Baltic Yachts has been perfecting for a number of years. A Swiss 130kW Phi-Power AG electric propulsion motor is located just aft of amidships and twin 80kW Yanmar generators, optimized to save weight, are located further aft. These charge two battery banks which power the main propulsion motor, hydraulic pumps and accommodation services. The drive train is completed by a retractable propeller designed with carbon blades and a titanium hub.

Nautor Swan Merges With Sanlorenzo Group

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European Union criticizes Russia for removing Estonian buoys, demand an explanation from Moscow

BRUSSELS (AP) — European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell on Friday called the removal of Estonian buoys by Russian border guards on a river separating the Baltic country from Russia “unacceptable,” and demanded an explanation from Moscow and the immediate return of the orange floats.

Early Thursday, Estonian border guards noticed that their Russian counterparts had removed 25 of the 50 buoys that Estonia had installed on the Narva River to prevent boats from accidentally crossing the border.

Borrell said the incident “is part of a broader pattern of provocative behavior and hybrid actions by Russia.”

Estonia also dubbed it “unacceptable,” but said its response “remains calm and clear-eyed.”

"We treat this as a provocative border incident,” the Foreign Ministry in Tallinn said Thursday.

For decades, Estonia and Russia have installed buoys on the Narva River for the summer, with the towns of Narva on the Estonian side and Ivangorod on the Russian bank, largely in mutual agreement.

Every year, the marking of the shipping routes is rechecked because “the riverbed changes over time,” said Eerik Purgel, the local Estonian Border Guard head. Last year, Russia said it did not agree with the locations of the Estonian buoys.

This year, "we decided to release the floating marks into the water for the summer season according to a 2022 agreement, because they are necessary to avoid navigational errors, so that our fishermen and other hobbyists do not accidentally wander into Russian waters,” he said.

The first 50 buoys were installed on May 13. However, 25 of them were removed by their Russian counterparts early in the morning 10 days later, he added.

The Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday summoned Russia’s deputy head of mission, the Baltic News Service agency said. BNS quoted Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna as saying that they “clearly expressed to the Russian charge d’affaires that such actions are provocative and unacceptable."

Estonia’s Foreign Ministry said the action “fits well within the broader pattern of Russia’s provocative behavior,” and drew parallels to the border mapping incidents in the Baltic Sea earlier this week. According to media reports, Moscow could revise the borders of its territorial waters in the region.

The draft proposal was published on an official Russian government website for draft legislation but disappeared hours after it was posted on Wednesday. It wasn’t immediately clear why.

Russian media said the Defense Ministry in Moscow had suggested updating the coordinates used to measure the strip of territorial waters off its mainland coast and that of its islands in the Baltic Sea. The existing coordinates were approved in 1985, the ministry says, adding that they were “based on small-scale nautical navigation maps” and don’t correspond to the “modern geographical situation.”

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov later said there was “nothing political” in the Defense Ministry’s proposal, and Russian news agencies said Moscow did not intend to revise the border or the width of its territorial waters.

Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in early 2022, Finland and Sweden have joined NATO, meaning that the Baltic Sea — Russia’s maritime point of access to the city of St. Petersburg and its Kaliningrad enclave — is now almost surrounded by members of the military alliance.

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Labor Day weekend begins Saturday, August 31 and runs through to Monday, September 2 — but the savings have already started.

Apple Podcasts launches on the web

Apple podcasts can now be streamed from the web. Apple announced on Monday that it's Apple Podcasts app is now available on all major web browsers (Chrome, Edge, Firefox, and Safari) in over 170 countries. The new dedicated web experience aims to make it easier for anyone with a web browser on any device to access podcasts.

Zoom can now handle one million simultaneous participants

Zoom can now handle one million simultaneous participants. This is after hundreds of thousands of people hopped on webinar calls to support Vice President Kamala Harris.

The best Amazon deals to snag this week before summer ends: Save on Apple, Dyson and more

Snag an iPad for its lowest-ever price and a plush pair of cooling pillows marked down by over 70%, for starters.

Flash flooding leaves at least 2 reportedly dead in Connecticut, stranding drivers and flooding roads across Northeast

The National Weather Service issued a rare flash flood emergency alert early Monday morning, calling it a "particularly dangerous situation."

Recession mentions are near a 3-year low for corporate America

While there have been signs of slowing in US economic growth data, corporate America is talking less about the threat of a looming recession.

How to watch Gamescom Opening Night Live 2024

Gamescom 2024 is almost here. Exhibitors from over 60 countries will descend on Cologne, Germany, for what is now the industry’s biggest gaming event following E3’s demise. You can watch the opening-night showcase right here on Tuesday, August 20.

Democratic National Convention begins, Northeast storms cause serious flooding, Caitlin Clark breaks 26-year-old WNBA record

Get caught up on this morning’s news: The DNC begins, Caitlin Clark’s new WNBA record and more in today’s edition of The Yodel newsletter

Caitlin Clark sets WNBA rookie record, scores 23 in Fever's win over Storm

The Indiana Fever have won two consecutive games coming out of the WNBA's Olympics break, beating the Seattle Storm on Sunday, 92–75.

How VC Pippa Lamb ended up on 'Industry' — one of the hottest shows on TV

Last spring, Sweet Capital Partner Pippa Lamb accidentally auditioned for one of the hottest shows on television. “I formally auditioned for the cameo,” Lamb told TechCrunch, with a laugh. It dives into the conversion of ESG investing, blending the worlds — and drama — of tech, media, government, and finance.

These podiatrist-approved sneakers will put a spring in your step for just $29

Nearly 25,000 fans rave about these comfy, supportive walking shoes — and they're over 50% off.

Tesla is testing whether stockholders have the power to overrule a judge

Tesla’s court fight to restore Elon Musk’s pay poses an undecided question that could remake the rules of corporate law: Can stockholders ever overrule a judge?

Outer Banks home falls into the ocean, highlighting a grim trend. See the photos.

Friday’s collapse marks the seventh home to be swept into the ocean in the last four years.

Q&A: How to retire financially comfortably and regret-free

For her new book "How to Retire: 20 Lessons for a Happy, Successful, and Wealthy Retirement," Christine Benz surveyed personal finance experts on what you need to know to retire successfully.

Vanna White's favorite Laura Geller foundation is down to $22 — that's 40% off

Fans say this No. 1 bestseller is especially great on mature skin: 'I was finally able to cover my blotchy skin.'

UFC 305: Paradoxical champion Dricus du Plessis keeps defying the odds

Whatever we may think of his success or how long it may last, we have to finally admit that du Plessis deserves that title around his waist.

Reds pitcher Hunter Greene goes on injured list with elbow soreness

Cincinnati Reds pitcher Hunter Greene was placed on the 15-day injured list with elbow soreness on Saturday. The seriousness of the injury has yet to be determined.

Patrick Mahomes' latest trick with the Chiefs? A behind-the-back pass to Travis Kelce

Mahomes said head coach Andy Reid had been pushing him to try it during a game.

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Polish Leader Urges Nord Stream Patrons to 'Keep Quiet' as Pipeline Mystery Returns to Spotlight

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk on Saturday reacted to reports that revived questions about who blew up the Nord Stream pipelines in 2022, saying the initiators of the gas pipeline project should “apologize and keep quiet." That comment came after one of his deputies denied a claim that Warsaw was partly responsible for its damage.

The Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday that Ukrainian authorities were responsible for blowing up the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines in September 2022, a dramatic act of sabotage that cut Germany off from a key source of energy and worsened an energy crisis in Europe.

Germany was a partner with Russia in the pipeline project. Poland has long said its own security interests have been harmed by Nord Stream.

“To all the initiators and patrons of Nord Stream 1 and 2. The only thing you should do today about it is apologise and keep quiet,” Tusk wrote on the social media portal X Saturday.

Tusk appeared to be reacting specifically to a claim by a former head of Germany’s foreign intelligence agency, BND, August Hanning, who told the German daily Die Welt that the attack on the Nord Stream gas pipelines must have had Poland’s support. Hanning said Germany should consider seeking compensation from Poland and Ukraine.

Hanning, who retired from his spy chief job, did not provide any evidence in support of his claim. Some observers noted that he served under former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, who went on to work later for Russian state-owned energy companies, including Nord Stream.

Krzysztof Gawkowski, a deputy Polish prime minister and the minister of digital affairs, strongly denied reports that Poland and Ukraine had damaged the Nord Stream gas pipeline in an interview Friday on the Polsat broadcaster.

Gawkowski alleged that the comments of the former member of the German intelligence service were “inspired by Moscow” and were aimed at destabilizing NATO countries.

“I believe that this is the sound of Russian disinformation,” he added.

On Wednesday, Polish prosecutors confirmed that they had received a warrant for a Ukrainian man wanted by Germany as a suspect in the pipeline attack, but that he left the country before he could be arrested.

The Nord Stream project, with its two pipelines created to carry gas from Russia to Europe along the Baltic Sea bed, went ahead despite opposition from Poland, the U.S. and Ukraine.

They allowed Russia to send gas directly to Western Europe, bypassing Poland and Ukraine. With all gas previously going over land, Warsaw and Kyiv feared losing huge sums in transit fees and political leverage that came with controlling the gas transports.

The Wall Street Journal said in its report published Thursday that it spoke to four senior Ukrainian defense and security officials who either participated in or had direct knowledge of the plot. All of them said the pipelines were a legitimate target in Ukraine’s war of defense against Russia. Ukrainian authorities are denying the claims.

Nord Stream 1 was completed and came online in 2011. Nord Stream 2 was not finished until the fall of 2021 but never became operational due to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

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Politics latest: Chris Whitty joins government meeting on mpox - as PM suffers post-election poll slump

Professor Chris Whitty, a key face in the government's response to coronavirus, has joined ministers for a meeting about the UK's preparedness for mpox cases. It comes after the World Health Organization declared a "global health emergency".

Monday 19 August 2024 18:00, UK

• Plan to avoid overcrowding in prisons triggered after riots
• Listen: Can police and courts cope with prison overcrowding?
• Analysis: Time not on government's side as prisons flirt with disaster
• Government holds meeting on preparedness for mpox
• PM suffers polling slump - and most think UK heading wrong way

Our latest explainers

• What is Operation Early Dawn?
• Why it's so quiet in UK politics
• What does 'two-tier policing' mean - and does it exist?
• Robert Jenrick and the Allahu Akbar row

An emergency plan to try to ease prison overcrowding has been started by the government – as courts continue to hear cases involving those accused of rioting earlier in the month. 

Across northern England and parts of the Midlands, those waiting for a court appearance will now be held in police cells until there’s a prison place for them. 

Operation Early Dawn was started on Monday morning. 

On this episode, Niall Paterson assess the potential impact on courts and the police. He speaks to Mark Fairhurst, national chair of the Prison Officers' Association, Philip Jones, custody lead at the National Police Federation, and Sky communities correspondent Becky Johnson . 

Becky also explains the context and longer-term plan for the prison system. 

👉 Listen to the Sky News Daily every at at 5pm - follow here 👈       

The Foreign Office has said it is supporting "a number of British nationals and their families" after a luxury yacht sunk off Sicily.

The British-flagged vessel went under after a tornado, and at least one person has died.

UK tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch is among those missing, while his wife has been rescued.

A Foreign Office spokesperson said as well as providing support, they were also in contact with local authorities.

You can follow live updates in our dedicated blog:

The working day is likely almost over for many of you, so here's a quick rundown on the day's political news for your journey home:

• Sir Keir Starmer has blamed a "terrible inheritance" left by the Tories for the government's decision to activate an emergency prisons plan;
• Operation Early Dawn - that's the name of the contingency measure that will see prisoners held in police cells for longer due to a shortage of jail space;
• It was activated this morning as the justice system continues to move fast to prosecute rioters , with many having been jailed, but the prime minister admitted the "difficult decision" was one he'd have preferred not to make.
• Professor Chris Whitty has joined ministers today for a meeting about the UK's preparedness for mpox ;
• It comes after an outbreak in Africa, which also reached Europe last week, was named a "global health emergency" by the World Health Organization;
• Today's meeting was to "ensure sufficient plans are in place to deal with any potential cases" in Britain.
• In Northern Ireland, Ulster Unionists leader Doug Beattie has stood down over "irreconcilable differences" with party officers;
• It comes less than two months after the party returned its first MP to Westminster for seven years ;
• And in the Tory party leadership contest , deputy chair Matthew Vickers has quit his post in order to back Robert Jenrick for the top job.

That's all from your evening bulletin.

After a morning in Northern Ireland, Sir Keir Starmer has gone to Wales for his first in-person meeting with the new first minister.

Eluned Morgan took up the role earlier this month.

They will discuss the importance of a strong relationship between the Welsh government and the one at Westminster.

The two leaders are in Cardiff this afternoon, and tomorrow will visit a renewable energy site to see how Welsh companies are investing in clean power and helping the transition to net zero.

It also comes after the UK government announced funding for any business impacted by job losses at Port Talbot's Tata Steel, the country's biggest steelworks.

The transport secretary has been left rather embarrassed by the latest strikes threat by Britain's railway unions, says our chief political correspondent Jon Craig .

Last week she proudly announced an end to a pay dispute between the government and the Aslef union, which represents train drivers.

After several years of strikes, Ms Haigh agreed to a "hefty pay rise" of 5% backdated to 2022/23, 4.75% for the following year, and 4.5% for the coming financial year.

 She suggested it had finally brought strikes to an end.

"Embarrassingly for her," says Jon, "almost immediately afterwards we've got Aslef threatening strikes over a separate dispute."

"This is not over pay," Jon notes, but working conditions.

It would see Aslef's members employed by LNER strike every weekend from the end of August to mid-September.

Ms Haigh has "made her frustrations clear", says Jon, calling on union leaders and LNER to "get round the table" before the strikes begin.

LNER has said it's focused on "minimising disruption" during the forthcoming strikes - but there's no sign yet of them being averted.

An emergency plan to avoid overcrowding in jails has been triggered amid the sentencing of hundreds of rioters.

Here's what you need to know.

What is this emergency plan?

Operation Early Dawn is a long-standing idea that means defendants waiting for a court appearance could be held in police cells for longer until prison space is available.

But it could mean court dates are delayed at short notice, with both the prison estate and justice system under pressure.

Courts have been moving quickly to hear sentence those involved in the riots and many have been given jail sentences.

How will it work in practice?

Defendants being held in custody are only summoned before magistrates when extra prison capacity is confirmed.

The process helps to minimise disruption to bail hearings and is seen as a short-term measure to manage capacity pressure in a number of regions.

The operation involves assessments being carried out every morning and throughout the day.

This looks at which defendants can appear in court and the prison locations available should they be remanded in custody.

Will it mean fewer arrests?

Operation Early Dawn will not have any impact on police arresting criminals – and anyone who poses a risk will still not be bailed.

The measure will also not impact ongoing crown court trials, with prisoners appearing at hearings and then returning to jail as normal.

How did we reach this point?

Our political correspondent Mhari Aurora   says when Labour came to power back in July, the prison estate was already "massively overcrowded" and many jails deemed "not fit for purpose".

The state of prisons was one of the main criticisms the PM had for the previous Tory government when he entered office, and today he's said Rishi Sunak left him with a "terrible inheritance".

Mhari notes the courts system was also "massively clogged up".

Add in the influx of rioters being sentenced, and you have a "perfect storm" requiring the activation of Operation Early Dawn.

Our main story today is the government triggering an emergency measure allowing for prisoners to be held in police cells due to high demand for jail places.

Operation Early Dawn has been activated amid a flurry of court cases involving people involved in the recent riots, many of whom have been handed prison sentences.

Speaking in Belfast, which was among the cities and towns impacted by unrest this month, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer admitted it was a decision "nobody wants to take".

He blamed it on the "terrible inheritance on prisons" from Rishi Sunak's Conservative government.

"There was a basic failure, which is a failure to have enough prison places for the number of prisoners that were being sentenced," he said.

"We've had to deal with that with the additional strain of the disorder of recent weeks."

'Speedy justice' helping to deter violence

Sir Keir paid tribute to the speed at which the justice system was dealing with rioters, saying it had helped deter further unrest.

Speaking alongside the PM, the chief constable of Northern Ireland's police service said he hoped the "speedy justice" seen in England could be replicated.

Jon Boutcher said the justice system had moved "much slower" in Northern Ireland and had spoken with Sir Keir about resources.

Having reached two finals in a row, England will be hoping to go one better when the next men's Euros tournament comes round.

That's in 2028, and will be hosted by the UK and Ireland.

But one of the stadiums earmarked for the competition, Belfast's Casement Park, has been beset by issues.

The ground is derelict and funding required to rebuild in time is not currently in place, prompting concerns the city will miss out.

'In due course, we'll be able to say more'

Sir Keir Starmer, who is visiting Belfast today, said there were "obvious issues" with timing and costs but suggested there would be news from the government "in due course".

"We're looking at it," he said.

"The key challenges at the moment are well known, particularly in Northern Ireland, which is the timing in relation to the Euros and the cost.

"They are issues that we're looking at very carefully."

Sir Keir Starmer's commitment to Ukraine "remains absolutely resolute", despite President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's suggestion the UK's leadership when it comes to military support had "slowed down recently".

Mr Zelenskyy's allegation was made as Kyiv's forces continue their incursion into Russian territory, making advances in the Kursk region.

A Number 10 spokeswoman said the prime minister "wants to set out his full admiration for the bravery shown by Ukrainian soldiers".

"But in terms of our support, again, it is unwavering," she said.

"That's why we committed to £3bn a year in support for Ukraine to do that for as long as it (the war) lasts."

She would not be drawn on whether the UK was happy for Ukraine to use Storm Shadow missiles in Kursk, as it has British weapons and tanks.

She would only say: "We are providing military aid to support Ukraine's clear right to self-defence."

Pat McFadden, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, has chaired a ministerial level meeting on the UK's preparedness for mpox.

This is to "ensure sufficient plans are in place to deal with any potential cases", the government said.

He was joined by ministers from the Department of Health and the Foreign Office, as well as chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty.

Last week, mpox was declared a global emergency by the World Health Organization (WHO), with a new strain spreading across Africa.

Watch: What is mpox?

Virus reaches Europe

Officials announced an outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo was now a "public health emergency of international concern".

A case was confirmed in Sweden last week - the first in Europe.

It is the second time in three years the WHO has designated an mpox epidemic as a global emergency.

It comes as the number of cases reported so far this year has already exceeded last year's total, with more than 15,600 cases and 537 deaths according to the WHO.

You can read more on the spread of mpox below:

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INNOVATION PUSHING THE BOUNDARIES

Weight is the enemy of performance, so from the outset we knew lightweight, versatile carbon composites were ideal for yacht building. Advanced composites have become the materials of choice for construction, making our yachts lighter, stiffer and faster. We not only seek performance from our yachts, but also want them to be innovative, making them easier, safer and more exciting to sail.

Our clients are looking for a unique product that demonstrates the sort of innovative thinking that matches their own experience in life and business, pushing the boundaries of design and engineering.

HYDROGENERATION

Using an electric motor for a yacht’s auxiliary propulsion has become popular as the need for more environmentally acceptable power increases. A great advantage of using an electric motor is that it can work as a generator by harnessing energy from the ‘free-wheeling’, controllable pitch propeller when the yacht is sailing. The electric motor becomes a generator, which charges a battery bank and in turn supplies power to the sailing systems and services aboard the yacht.

DYNAMIC STABILITY SYSTEM (DSS)

Foils make sailing faster and more comfortable. We are the first company to install this horizontal, touch-button, sliding foil in a large sailing yacht. When deployed, the carbon composite foil reduces heel and pitching motion and boosts speed significantly. Our engineers and designers worked with external experts to meet the complex engineering challenges. The end result is a user-friendly innovation, which genuinely improves the sailing experience.

FORCE FEEDBACK STEERING SYSTEM

Large yachts need hydraulic power to turn their rudders. A drawback is that the helmsman loses the ‘feel’ in the helm, something that lies at the heart of enjoying the sailing experience. We have found a way to re-create this feel to keep the owner in touch with his yacht. Together with experts from the automotive industry we have designed a steering system that mimics the side forces on the rudder and transfers the ‘feel’ electronically to the yacht’s wheel.

RETRACTABLE PROPULSION SYSTEM (RPS)

Acceleration, speed and manoeuvrability are key for efficient sailing and a competitive edge. Making the underwater surface of the hull as fair as possible by retracting the propeller is one innovative way of achieving this. Working with propeller experts Hundested we’ve fitted a number of Retractable Propulsion Systems. The latest models feature 360° rotation so that the unit doubles as a stern thruster. With the propeller retracted there is much less drag which equates to more efficient sailing, increased speed and greater manoeuvrability on the racecourse.

Hull doors literally add another dimension to life afloat. They can provide an impressive sea level platform leading to a yacht’s lobby or provide the ultimate picture window in the owner’s suite. They make boarding easier, loading stores and equipment faster and more convenient and provide a private sun bathing and swimming platform. They are unusual in sailing yachts because of the complex engineering required to cope with rig loads while sailing. At Baltic Yachts we’ve met these challenges to provide clients with a new and innovative lifestyle feature.

RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT

Innovation lies at the heart of what we do at Baltic. Our clients are always looking for something new, but it must be reliable, it must work and it must be worth the expense. Our research and development department analyses ideas down to the very last detail. Using our own engineering and design programs we present ways of solving the most complex problems in the most effective way. By working with trusted external experts in their fields our R&D offering is a very powerful, versatile tool.

We’re constantly updating our website to bring you news of launchings, new commissions and Baltic inspired innovation.

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About Baltic Yachts

Baltic Yachts is a world leader in the construction of large sailing yachts built in advanced composites. We are proud of our technical excellence while maintaining our culture, which we believe reflects our corporate values. We combine leading design and technology with innovation and traditional craftmanship to give clients the ultimate experience of performance and comfort through their yachts.

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