When the first yacht wins three trophies in its first year that means just one thing: the designer is an exceptional expert. Ed Dubois achieved just that.
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The first time Ed Dubois designed a yacht it won the British Trials for the Three Quarter Ton Cup, the RORC Class IV overall prize and the Solent Points Championship. In its first year. That was 1976 and the boat was Borsalino Trois. It attracted enough attention to launch both a racing career and Dubois Naval Architects, today one of the world's best yacht design houses.
Next design, Police Car led the way to winning the Admiral's Cup for Australia in 1979 and the company went on to design a string of boats which won events throughout the world in the '80's and 90's: The Fastnet Race; Sydney to Hobart; Southern Cross Cup; Sardinia Cup; China Sea Race Series and numerous World Championships.
Commissions for production boats followed racing success and then in 1985 Dubois Naval Architects started to on something completely different. The result was Aquel II, a 37 metre (120 foot) cruising yacht which turned heads wherever she went. This design led to a string of unique vessels which are always very fast.
In cooperation with Vitters, Dubois Naval Architects created one the most beautiful yachts around: 44.7 metres sloop Lady B. She combines exceptionally high performance levels with superlative comfort. Following on from the success of previous fast cruisers, Vitters again installed high quality technical equipment and a wide range of innovations without compromising on premium standards of onboard luxury.
With this design Dubois Naval Architects achieved an excellent blend of naval architecture and ergonomics in order to offer fast speeds, state-of-the-art technology and cutting edge styling. Her slim profile features a single-level superstructure, which keeps weight low and reduces windage.
She is constructed in aluminium and has a high aspect ratio rig with carbon mast and furling boom. Lady B is equipped with PBO standing rigging to enhance performance. Her compact lifting keel system generates a variable draught from a minimum depth of four metres to a maximum depth of six. This gives her excellent speed.
Rhoades Young’s interior design provides for a fresh ambiance with the emphasis on open space. This is most evident in the huge split-level upper and lower salons and dining area, where natural sunlight floods through large windows into the upper salon sides.
Lady B features twin cockpits, allowing direct access to the upper salon through the main cockpit and private access from the aft cockpit to the owner’s area. The full beam owner’s stateroom aft comprises a generous split level cabin with lounging area and a large bathroom.
The adjacent owner’s study can be converted to a third guest cabin thanks to the use of sliding walls. The two guest cabins can be used in twin or double configurations, and the spacious crew quarters are located further forward. ■