We’ve known Ed Dubois for a long time, since before he made his name with early mega sailboats like Aquel, launched in New Zealand about the same time we were wrapping up the metal work on Sundeer, circa 1987-88. Most of the mega sailboats since have been rounded off on deck, what we’d call Euro-style, almost mega stinkpot looking, and to our eye, ungainly. But when we came down the Fox Island Thoroughfare and saw this handsome cutter at anchor, we knew someone had finally melded those ugly curves into something cool. And we were most pleased to find it was from Ed Dubois’s office.

There is no way to give you a sense of scale with a few photos, but this is a 44.7 meter (147-foot), very low freeboard yacht. If you Google “Sailing Yacht Lady B” you will be rewarded with various details and videos. For our purposes, we’ll show you a few details that caught our eye.

Starting with this very nice pushpit. Note the clean upper support for the flag pole. Just a small stainless fitting top and bottom with a bit of varnish between. Cool.

 This crew member standing at the helm will give you a sense of scale.

Note the opening in the topsides. We’re betting this is engine room ventilation. Let’s hope this has a really good seal and water trap.

All large yachts are built to class, which always refers to the MCA code, which says “no topside openings”.  But you can apply for exceptions, and the average mega yacht will have lots of those.

Somebody with sea going experience designed this foredeck hatch and pram hood, likely an entrance for crew quarters when the owners are aboard.

How about a combo anchor ball and light structure, removable of course?

And the de rigeur fold away anchor sprit, which we have previously opined about. Yes it is cool, and more practical than an underwater system, but if you were tide-bound with the current pushing you at right angles to a 50 knot breeze, you might wish for something a little more permanent.

Southern Spars, long under the North umbrella, has some interesting details in this rig.

Need to go aloft to watch for coral heads or bergy bits? Step right in, good sir. However, for the latter application we suggest a heater and more enclosure.

Interesting approach to radar support, with satcom dome above. Note the carbon fiber spreader terminations. Few know that the carbon rigging revolution is the brainchild of old friend Rob Sjostedt. Rob built Beowulf VI for us, before he became a highly regarded and self-taught composite engineer. Rob is also an accomplished glider pilot, flying his own design/build-all carbon glider, one of the first of its kind.

The gooseneck, vang, and roller boom details are also interesting.

And how about this for headboard system! Looks just like the one on your 40-footer.

The basic data on Lady B, copied from Vitters (the builder’s) website follows.

GENERAL
Type : Lift keel Sloop
Design & Styling : Dubois Naval Architects Ltd.
Naval Architect : Dubois Naval Architects Ltd.
Interior Design : Rhoades Young Design
Owner’s Representative : MCM Newport, Nigel Ingram
Builder : Vitters Shipyard BV
Year of delivery : 2009
PRINCIPAL DIMENSIONS
Length hull overall : 44.7 m / 147 ft
Length waterline : 40.2 m / 132 ft
Beam (max) : 9.0 m / 30 ft
Draught : 4.1 m (14 ft) keel up / 6.1 m (20 ft) keel down
Ballast : 45 tonnes
Displacement : 240 tonnes
Hull construction : Aluminium
Superstructure : Aluminium
Exterior paint system : Hull, masts and superstructure: Awl-grip
Classification : Lloyds 100 A1, SSC Yacht Mono G6 LMC – UMS
PROPULSION
Main engine : 1 x Caterpillar C18 c-rating
Power : 533kW @ 2100rpm
Gearbox : 1x Mekanord 350 HS / LS
Shaft & propeller : 1 x Korsør controllable pitch, CP-18RS, 1300mm
Steering gear : Edson cable steering
Exhaust systems : Halyard
EQUIPMENT
Bowthruster : Maxpower R600, hydraulic retracting thruster
Sternthruster : Maxpower R450, hydraulic retracting thruster
Windlasses : Maxwell VWC6000
Anchor : 2 x 400 lb, 16mm studlink U2
Sideboarding ladder : Hydromar hydraulic
Crane : Tender lift pole by Southern Spars
DECK EQUIPMENT
Reel winches : Lewmar
Mooring / Utility winches : Harken
Deck hardware : Harken