Rule Breaker
WALLY WHY200
At the dock, the Wally WHY200 looks like a middle-aged version of the typically tight and angular Wallys. Yes, it has the same arrowhead shape, but as a long-time fan of the brand, I prepare for disappointment. But the moment I see the 25ft-wide stern and huge cockpit, I understand: this is a waterborne SUV, where the ride and experience are the priorities.
Supersizing interior volume is a current trend among yacht builders, especially those trying to stay below the 78ft hull load-line length. (In Europe, boats over that figure are designated as ships and must adhere to different regulations.) The WHY200 hull is just under the class divide, even though its superstructure is closer to 89ft. But its biggest differentiator is volume. Even the name is a reference to volume – 200 gross tons or 2,150 sq ft – rather than length. The exterior adds another 1,550 sq ft. Essentially, it’s a 150ft superyacht in a much smaller hull.
Features like the full-beam main suite in the bow, a central glassenclosed staircase that serves as structural support and architectural detail and the gourmet kitchen (which includes induction hobs, oven, sinks, counters and a wine refrigerator) are among the notable breakthroughs. The interior by Wally founder Luca Bassani and A Vallicelli & C Yacht Design is simple and elegant instead of showy, dressed with teak floors with black inlays (matching the outer decks) as well as teak walls with ovangkol accents. The forward main suite shows some welcome rule-breaking – 270 degrees of windows give panoramic sea views, including through the bow – as does the main deck cockpit’s unusually large protected area. It all adds up to a fresh experience of what a yacht can be.
Bassani, along with Laurent Giles Naval Architects, designed the highriding hull for a notably dry ride. At a windy event in Monaco, the WHY200 was the only boat that left Port Hercules for open water, where seas were running four to six feet. “We wanted it to run smoothly in most conditions,” says Bassani. “This hull rises only two degrees as it accelerates, with minimal pitching in big seas.”
Four Volvo Penta D13-IPS drives, rated 900hp each, deliver a top speed of 21 knots, while the upgraded 1,000hp IPS quads bump that up to 23 knots. The IPS configuration allows for more spacious crew quarters, while providing a choice of three or four staterooms on the lower deck. All in all, my favourite debut at Monaco.