New imagery of the 62-metre sailing yacht Simena under sail provides the clearest view yet of Ares Yachts’ first large sailing superyacht and the balance between her traditional ketch profile and modern engineering.
New imagery of the 62-metre sailing yacht Simena operating under sail has provided the clearest view yet of a project conceived to combine the appearance of a traditional gentleman’s yacht with the engineering, comfort and operating flexibility expected of a modern sailing superyacht. Built by Ares Yachts in Antalya, the yacht is the shipyard’s first sailing project of this scale and represents a significant step beyond the fast patrol craft and commercial vessels for which the Turkish builder has long been known.
Seen away from the quay, Simena’s design becomes easier to understand. Her clipper bow, long sheerline, bowsprit and twin-masted ketch rig were always intended to be judged as part of a complete sailing composition rather than as individual styling references. Under sail, the relationship between the hull, rig, deckhouse and sail plan is more apparent, and the yacht appears lighter and more balanced than static photographs alone suggest.
The exterior design and naval architecture were developed by Taka Yacht Design, while the interior was created by Design Unlimited. The yacht combines a steel hull with a composite superstructure and hybrid propulsion, bringing together a traditional profile and a technical platform designed for long-distance cruising. At 62 metres, she is also understood to be the largest sailing yacht designed and built in Türkiye.
The defining character of Simena comes from her ketch rig and the deliberate restraint of her exterior design. Taka Yacht Design avoided creating a literal reproduction of a historic sailing yacht, instead using traditional proportions and recognisable sailing forms as the basis for a contemporary vessel. The clipper bow, bowsprit and modest overhangs establish the classic influence, while the long hull, low superstructure and large areas of glazing belong to a far more modern approach to yacht design.
The mainmast rises to approximately 59 metres above the waterline, with the mizzen reaching around 48 metres. Together they give the yacht considerable vertical presence, but the height of the rig is balanced by the horizontal length of the hull and the low profile of the deckhouse. The latest images show how the sail plan brings these proportions together, preventing the yacht’s substantial accommodation and technical volume from dominating her appearance.
Her principal sails provide more than 1,600 square metres of working area. The wardrobe includes a mainsail of approximately 470 square metres, a 249-square-metre mizzen, a 596-square-metre genoa and a staysail of around 356 square metres. Dividing the sail area between two masts gives the crew greater flexibility in different wind strengths and sea conditions, while reducing the size and handling loads of each individual sail compared with a similarly sized single-masted yacht.
The handling systems have been designed to preserve the yacht’s traditional appearance without requiring equally traditional levels of manual labour. Seven captive winches are concealed below deck, while custom Antal equipment assists with raising, reefing and furling. This allows a large sail plan to be managed efficiently without filling the decks with visible machinery or compromising guest areas.
During sea trials, Ares reported that Simena reached approximately 16 knots under sail in around 20 knots of wind. That figure is notable because the yacht is not a lightweight racing design. She carries the accommodation, stores, systems and structural weight required of a 62-metre cruising yacht intended for extended passages and commercial charter operation.
Although the latest imagery naturally draws attention to the rig, one of the most important aspects of Simena lies below deck. The yacht is equipped with a hybrid propulsion system combining three 86kW Caterpillar generators, an 882hp MAN diesel engine and a 220kW electric motor. The arrangement provides several operating modes, allowing the yacht to manoeuvre quietly, make efficient passages and generate electrical power while sailing.
In electric mode, the yacht can reportedly manoeuvre at approximately 7.5 to 8 knots. Ares has stated that the system can provide a range of more than 6,000 nautical miles at around 7 knots, while conventional diesel propulsion allows higher speeds when required. The yacht can also use the movement of water across the propeller to generate electricity while sailing, with hydrogeneration becoming effective once sufficient boat speed has been reached.
This capability is particularly relevant on a yacht of Simena’s size. Even when the main engine is not being used for propulsion, the hotel load remains substantial. Air conditioning, refrigeration, lighting, navigation equipment, pumps and guest services all require continuous electrical power. Hydrogeneration allows some of that demand to be supported by the yacht’s movement under sail, reducing the need to run generators continuously when conditions permit.
The use of a steel hull and composite superstructure also reflects the specific demands of a large sailing yacht. Steel provides strength and durability for long-range cruising, while the lighter composite structure above deck helps reduce weight high in the vessel. This is important because excessive top weight can affect stability, sailing performance and the loads imposed on the rig.
The engineering challenge extends well beyond propulsion. Mast compression, chainplate loads, standing rigging, sail forces, deck reinforcement and hull stiffness must all be considered as part of one structural system. On a motor yacht, the superstructure and propulsion package can be developed with greater independence. On a sailing yacht, the rig influences almost every major engineering decision.
The yacht’s exterior may draw on classic sailing design, but the onboard experience is intended to meet current superyacht expectations. Simena accommodates up to 12 guests and has crew provision for nine, with the interior arranged around an owner’s suite, four main guest cabins and an additional flexible cabin.
Design Unlimited used dark oak, pale upholstery, brass detailing and bespoke furniture to create a warm, restrained interior. Turkish stone and locally sourced materials connect the accommodation to the yacht’s place of construction, while the overall treatment avoids becoming an overly literal interpretation of a historic vessel. The result is intended to feel established and comfortable rather than theatrical or nostalgic.
The exterior spaces include a substantial aft cockpit for dining and relaxation, a Jacuzzi, a fold-down boarding platform and a side balcony of approximately six square metres. A recessed flybridge has also been integrated into the low superstructure, adding an elevated guest area without introducing a visually dominant upper deck.
These features demonstrate the difficulty of designing a large sailing yacht for modern use. Owners expect generous exterior spaces, water access, privacy, technical storage and the amenities normally associated with motor yachts. Each addition, however, affects weight, wind resistance, stability and deck organisation. The success of the design depends on incorporating those facilities without losing the clarity and balance of the sailing profile.
The new photographs suggest that Simena has managed that balance convincingly. Her superstructure remains visually subordinate to the rig, while the hull retains a long and relatively uncluttered appearance. The guest spaces are present, but they do not overwhelm the yacht’s identity as a sailing vessel.
For Ares Yachts, Simena is more than a single custom delivery. She represents the yard’s entry into large sailing superyachts and provides a demonstration of its ability to manage the structural, mechanical and outfitting complexity of a yacht in this category.
The project was developed as a personal initiative of Ares chairman Kerim Kalafatoğlu and required the shipyard to bring together capabilities developed through commercial and patrol craft with the standards expected in the custom-yacht market. Building a large ketch involves a different set of demands from producing a high-speed motor vessel, particularly in the integration of the rig, hull, hybrid machinery and luxury accommodation.
The yacht has already undergone sea trials off Antalya and has appeared publicly at major yacht events, but the images of her sailing provide a more meaningful measure of the project. A sailing yacht cannot be judged fully while secured alongside a quay. Its proportions, balance and purpose only become complete once the sails are set and the hull begins to work through the water.
For Taka Yacht Design, the images show that the traditional references are supported by a functional and carefully proportioned sail plan. For Design Unlimited, they provide context for an interior created within a hull that must remain capable of genuine offshore sailing. For Ares, they offer evidence that the yard’s first large sailing project has progressed from an ambitious design brief into an operating bluewater yacht.
Simena was conceived to combine the atmosphere of a classic ketch with the systems and comfort of a contemporary superyacht. Seen under sail for the first time, that combination is no longer theoretical. The yacht’s defining elements are now visible working together as intended.