LOA: 40.0 m (130.0’)
Beam: 8.4 m (27.5’)
Draft: 5.9 m (19.5’) / 4.1 m (13.5’)
Sail Area: 775 m2 (8,350 f2)
Concept: Andrew Winch / Tripp Design
Interior: Andrew Winch Designs
Builder: Abeking & Rasmussen
Hull: Alustar
Launch: 2001


Alithia is a tour de force for all involved. We were commissioned to create a state-of-the-art modern cruising yacht for a family to cruise to all corners of the world. The design brief called for a safe boat accommodating five children, teachers and a classroom, with sleek beauty and lithe sailing qualities. It was designed to sail to remote areas with three months of full independence. We were challenged by the owner's vision and had to explore new possibilities. We worked as a team with Andrew Winch, Abeking & Rasmussen and the project manager Jens Cornelsen to resolve the apparent contradictions in designing a boat with world-class sailing speed and worldwide reach.

We developed a relatively narrow boat, to achieve the goal of speed combined with good sailing qualities. Studies showed this feature would allow a better riding and faster boat. We maximized the waterline length to give the highest performance hull shape and yield the best load carrying capacity; this also increases the living space. Carrying displacement over a greater waterline changed seeming conflicts into common gains. It allows the boat to remain well balanced when heeled -- enabling the boat to be easily controlled by her cable steering -- and requires less energy to sail past hull speed.

The carbon rig and furling boom combine ease of sailing with performance. The sail plan has a 160' masthead rig with a non-overlapping jib and high roach main sail. The deck plan features a low pilothouse on a flush deck with hidden captive winches, flush hatches, and under-deck sheets.

Tripp Design has been developing large, fast cruising yachts for ocean sailing by gleaning knowledge from our cruising and racing boats around the world. By combining hull shapes, foils, and sail plans developed through computer modeling and observations on the racecourse into a design capable of carrying cruising equipment and accommodations we are able to create a new breed of yachts.
The team on Alithia has endeavored to give the boat a dramatic presence combining svelte lines, a human scale of the living and sailing areas; all with skilled craftsmanship and advanced technology. The owners tell us that she sails 80% of the time, and that steering her is a reason to exalt.

Alithia is home to a family for three years as she globe trots. Alithia traveled 15,000 miles, in her first 8 months, to some of the most interesting and diverse parts of the planet. This experience has joined creation with adventure. In combining the idea of home and motion, to be seen even as she lay at anchor, she speaks her purposefulness. The owner's took the name from the Greeks. Alithia means to stand for truth, and that which will not be forgotten.