Relaxing on a yacht is an expensive pleasure. Everyone dreams of having such an island of salvation on which you can sail away from everyday problems and just relax. But such a hobby, in addition to high material costs and time, still requires considerable skills. Without knowledge of the structure of the yacht you will not sail far. Sailors are quite inventive people. They came up with their own name for each element. Therefore, you must also familiarize yourself with the special terminology. In this article you can find a lot of useful information on the structure of the yacht and other important points.
Characteristics
Swimming facilities should be different from each other. Classes of yachts are determined depending on what characteristics they have. They can differ significantly from each other. The most significant characteristics can be considered:
- Length . The ship's driving performance depends on it. The longer it is, the faster it can move. This is especially true for sports yachts.
- Width . This factor affects speed and stability. The wider the vessel, the calmer it behaves on the water and moves more slowly (due to the large resistance of the water). Wide yachts, as a rule, are made for walking on the sea and ocean, as high waves can occur in such places.
- Upset . Yachts with little sediment maneuver worse. They also have less stability - the ability to withstand the roll and return to their former position.
- Side height . It is important for those swimming facilities that go to sea. The higher the board, the greater the waves it can withstand.
- Displacement . Yachts with a high rate better cope with unpleasant weather conditions, but because of their severity, they are less maneuverable.
- Sailing . Affects movement speed. The higher it is, the more the vessel receives energy from the wind, so it moves faster.
Sail classification
Yachts differ in several ways. The main thing is the presence or absence of a sail. If it is not, then such a yacht moves due to the engine and is called motor. There is something else in between. Such a yacht has a sail, but in which case it can take advantage of the additional engine power.
By appointment
They are divided into racing and cruising. The first type is designed for sports. They must meet certain standards. Their main characteristics are windage and weight. The maximum possible speed depends on this. Such a yacht has nothing superfluous. Therefore, it can hardly be called comfortable. Racing models are needed only to overcome distances at maximum speed.
Cruising yachts is a completely different matter. They are designed for walking with great comfort. They are equipped with everything necessary for a good stay. Cruising yachts can accommodate quite a lot of people. You can live on it for more than one day. Modern ships equipped with a powerful motor can develop good speed. So on such models you can also ride with the breeze.
For long round-the-world trips, racing cruising yachts are best suited. They have a minimum set in order to survive at sea. In addition, they are quite fast. It is on such yachts that the Volvo Ocean Flight is held - the famous round-the-world race.
By seaworthiness
Also classified by where the ship is floating. There are sea and river yachts. They differ from each other in design. Swimming facilities designed for movement at sea should be more resistant to external influences, since there are severe storms. Therefore, their design is usually wider, and the draft is greater than that of freshwater yachts. The latter do not need such good stability.
By case type
Standard models are single hull vessels. But besides them there are also catamarans and trimarans. The latter have their own qualities that help with long voyages.
Yacht design
The main part of each swimming facility is the hull. It is divided into 3 parts:
One of the important parts of the hull is the keel. At its end is always a bulb. This is a special thickening, where the main weight of the keel is. It is needed so that the center of gravity is as low as possible. So the ship becomes more stable. The larger and heavier the keel, the better the yacht copes with external influences. You should never forget about him, because they can run aground.
Also under water, in addition to the keel, there is also a rudder feather. This is an important element of the structure of the yacht, because it is controlled by it. The helm itself is connected with the baller and the head of the steering wheel. Through them, the force is transmitted to the rudder feather, and the yacht turns.
Upper body
The first thing they pay attention to is called the deck of the yacht. This is such a horizontal surface that delimits the upper and inner space. There may be several. Their task is to divide the space inside the yacht. There are several types: residential, battery, cargo deck. Each can be designed for different purposes.
The upper deck should completely cover the entire upper part of the yacht. It serves as a waterproof barrier. It is important for the strength of the ship. On the deck there are a lot of important elements of the yacht. You should also familiarize yourself with them.
At the very beginning is the nose railing. This is one of the elements of the fence present on the yacht. It is a rigid structure made of metal. From him along the entire body are the leer. This is also an element of the fence. But only they are made of an iron cable. During a storm, insurance is usually attached to them. It ends with aft railing.
There are hatches on the deck. They lead inside the yacht. Through them you can get to the lower deck. With strong winds and waves they are battened down, so water cannot get inside.
A large add-in that you can immediately notice is called a deckhouse. There are various devices that make up the ship's navigation and control system. For a good overview there are portholes installed.
The deck is just the top of the ship. And the place where people walk is called the trampling. It is usually made of wood or metal. Often it is covered with a special non-slip coating.
One of the most important places in the upper part of the hull is the cockpit. People get here as soon as they climb the ladder aboard. This is where the passengers and crew are. There is also the helm post with the helm.
Sailing weapons
Thanks to such a device, a yacht can only move on wind power and without the help of a motor. There are a lot of small things and other nuances. The arrangement of the sailing yacht is quite complicated. Therefore, it must be well understood. This system consists of several parts:
Bermuda type is commonly used. This is when two triangular sails are attached in front and behind. They are called staysail and mainsail. The main element of the sailing yacht is the mast. This is a system that together creates a frame and anchorage base for sails. One of the parts of the mast is the mast. Also it includes sheets, paints, boom and more. The top of the mast is called the top. Lower, in turn, a spur. It ends in the keel of the ship and rests on the step.
Rigging is all gear that is attached to a mast. Thanks to them, sail control is carried out. Among them there are elements moving and standing (which are simply fixed).
Motor yachts
This type of swimming equipment does not have sailing equipment. They move due to the energy of the engines. This type of yacht is the most expensive. It is intended for the elite. And it’s not just that. Motor yachts have some of their positive aspects, which make them more attractive.
The first thing I would like to note is speed. Still, the engine's power is much greater than that of the wind. Therefore, such models will be faster. If you need to quickly overcome a long distance on the water or just ride "with the breeze", then motorized vessels will be preferred. Modern yachts can reach speeds of up to 40 nautical miles per hour. Pretty good, considering that it is approximately 70 kilometers per hour.
Motor yachts are rented or bought by VIPs. Therefore, most often they go along with professional personnel who guarantee quality service and safety on the yacht.
Another plus is the comfort that is inherent only to this class. Yachts with engines most often have special stabilizers that prevent the ship from swaying so much. And this means that the pitching will not be so noticeable.
Mega yachts
Man has always strived for more. Yachts are no exception. With their desire, the engineers were able to create mega-yachts. Such vessels are awarded the Neptune Award annually. To get into it, they must be at least 30 meters in length.
The largest yacht bears the proud name Azzam. It has a length of 180 meters. Its cost is 609 million dollars. Despite its enormous size, it can move at speeds up to 30 knots. And this is a lot for such a whopper.
Before they created the Azzam, the Eclipse yacht of the famous entrepreneur Roman Abramovich was the largest yacht in the world. Its size is 162.5 meters. It cost the owner almost 800 million dollars. This is one of the most expensive yachts in the world.
The third place on the list is Dubai. Its length is 160 meters, and the price is 350 million dollars.