Not Just a Pretty Thing
Behind its beautiful façade, the E6 is intended to be the fastest, lightest and stiffest 47 ft fitted production performance cruisers on the market with a fully fitted interior. A significant contributor to this is the famed naval architecture of Humphreys Yacht Design as they developed a brand new hull to fit the needs of the E6. Different hull form candidates have gone through extensive CFD (computational fluid dynamics) modelling and analysis to gauge which would perform the best for the E6 needs. Results were assessed and compared through the VPP (velocity prediction programs) to fine-tune the hull. Elan’s E-Line yachts are renowned for their excellent performance in a fresh breeze, especially downwind, but the results of this new-generation hull is also expected to be quick in light airs, due to its notably high sail area to displacement ratio. At the same time, the hulls versatility covers a range of displacements to also cater to people requiring greater load carrying capabilities.
Exterior
While the yacht has been designed to be easily sailed by an experienced couple, the E6 is meant to be sailed with a good crew. Three pairs of Harken winches, ideally positioned for precision trimming and fast unobstructed movements, are the result of 1:1 scale model in-house testing with a former Olympic sailing team. For more cruising minded sailors, optional storage boxes with a grill, sink and a refrigerator are available, as well as two sizes of bathing platforms.
Technology with Gurit
Elan was one of the first shipyards to introduce vacuum assisted infusion lamination technology to the word of sailing yachts and had continuously led the charge in this area. However, for this project, Elan’s internal composite specialists challenged their know-how and pushed it to the next level by cooperating with composite industry-leaders, Gurit. Their structural engineering expertise gave the Elan team confidence to push the laminate plan further. The E6 utilizes 3D VAIL process (an advanced version of vacuum infusion lamination), enabling significant weight gains on the composite parts and considerable improvements of the hull’s mechanical properties.
Interior
Designed for the perfect blend of aesthetics and functionality by Pininfarina, the enticing and practical interior invites perfect living at sea. The creative form is brought alive by the natural oak veneered interior and enriched with solid wood finish. Elan also provides an option of performance okoume furniture that keeps the weight down, while not hindering the boat’s luxurious look and feel. The E6 also comes with a fully equipped galley with a front-opening fridge and optional microwave or coffee machine that will provide the comfort of home.
