Custom RR 55

Shambala II - Performance catamaran for long-distance sailing and single-handed sailing
With Shambala II, a completely new concept for a fast cruising catamaran for small crews has been implemented. Particularly important were good upwind characteristics, autonomy, and easy repairability without having to take the boat out of the water. The design comes from the owner, with CAD construction, strength calculations, and construction supervision carried out by Doug Schickler (www.styacht.com), an experienced designer in the offshore sector. The catamaran was built at Serenity Shipyard in Thailand.

Shambala II has proven itself on long distances under demanding conditions. Since 2018, the route has taken us from Thailand through Indonesia and South Africa to the Caribbean. Since then, we have been traveling there during the winter months. In the summer months, the ship is safely docked in Aruba – one of the best hurricane shelters in the region.

Particularly challenging are the passages to the north and east, often over several days against wind and current. Thanks to the good upwind characteristics, we sail these distances consistently without motor support. Shambala II shows its strengths here as a seaworthy and high-performance cruising catamaran.

Equipment and concept
Hull made of fiberglass sandwich with main bulkheads and salon roof made of carbon sandwich
Carbon mast
Front cockpit with 4 electric winches for operating all lines with direct access to the foredeck, the sails, and the mast – protected in all weather conditions
Hydraulically adjustable centerboard (like a rudder) for good upwind characteristics. (automatically adjusts backwards in case of collision)
Interior engine and technical rooms that are easily accessible for repairability under all sea conditions. Central engines with shaft system.
Aft-mounted, foldable rudder blades operable from the cockpit – ideal for grounding or when fishing lines are in the rudder. Rudder blades are replaceable - even while underway.
Spacious bright salon with panoramic views, clear sightlines over the ship and ahead
Aft cockpit with unobstructed view through the salon ahead and all around.
Solar roof with 3.8 kW walkable panels – energy autonomy without a generator. Originally, the catamaran was equipped with Solbian solar panels as seen in the photo from the mast. After just 5 years, they were defective, and the decision was made to replace them with modified glass modules. In the photos, six solar panels are already installed, while four are still waiting for installation.
Large workshop and storage space, including for a laser dinghy, diving compressor, and spare parts. In case of emergency, the workshop can be separated by a watertight bulkhead.
Self-tacking jib with jib boom - optimally adjustable on all courses, significantly more efficient than conventional foresails.
Main boom and jib boom with boom lowering device and double-sided sheet guidance directly to the boom end – the booms can be locked in any position. In a jibe, only the sail swings around, the boom remains fixed – no risk for rig or crew.
Comfortable, electrically operated dinghy lift – in 20 seconds, the dinghy can be launched or brought on board, even fully loaded with diving equipment or large purchases.
Pantry / kitchen spacious like at home. The kitchen is functionally designed and fully equipped for long-distance voyages with a dishwasher, refrigerator, freezer, gas stove, gas oven, microwave with convection oven, huge 190 l cooler, and 15 drawers for optimal storage options
Equipment

Registration - Germany

Year of construction - September 2018

Length - 16.75 m

Width - 8.46 m

Draft - 1.35 m, minimum with raised rudders 0.95 m, maximum with centerboard 2.85 m

Total height - 24.25 m

Mast height - 20.85 m

Displacement - 13 tons empty 15 tons ready for travel around the world

Fuel capacity - 270 l + 250 l

Water capacity - 890 l -- 600 l + 250 l + 40 l drinking water, 50 l hot water boiler motor/electric

Wastewater tank STB 320 l BB 600 l

Hull material - fiberglass - bulkheads, beam, and salon roof made of carbon fiber

Antifouling - Coppercoat

Safety:

10 bilge pumps automatically with bilge alarm. Port - watertight separated fore and aft peaks. Starboard watertight separated aft peak, the workshop at the front can be separated by an insertable bulkhead. The stairways to both hulls can be watertight closed with insertable bulkheads.

Engines - 2 x Lombardini LDW 1404 M 27 KW with TMC 60 gearbox shaft system and Flexofold 2-blade folding propeller 17 x 13 engine hours port approx. 380 starboard approx. 200. Speed with one engine 7.9 knots, with both engines 9.5 knots. Generator - 4 KW alternator on the port engine switchable, in case solar is not sufficient.

Centerboard - centerboard, like a rudder hydraulically adjustable on both sides up to 10°

Steering - hydraulic with cable pull. Rudder can be folded up, steerable in the raised position.

Further in additional equipment