We’ve encountered many outrageous yacht concepts over the years, most of them destined for the ignominy of desktop wallpaper. This one is different; it’s actually being built. Meet the 42,5 m trimaran Adastra, a futuristic superyacht that could spell the future for efficient long-range cruising. The strikingly beautiful vessel, reminiscent of the biodiesel-powered Earthrace (featured on our cover in June 2007), is currently under construction in China for Hong Kong clients Anto and Elaine Marden.

The superstructure is made from carbon fibre with a Nomex honeycomb core and the hull is a glass/Kevlar foam sandwich. To reduce weight, virtually every aspect of the boat is custombuilt, including the carbon fibre hatches, port lights, ladders and even hinges. The luxurious interior features lightweight oak cabinetry with honeycomb panels. John Shuttleworth Yacht Designs and Applied Structural Analysis were responsible for the structural design. As they tell it: “Adastra is the result of more than five years of design and discussion with the owners, a yacht that meets the needs of a very experienced ocean voyaging couple and their family, and which provides the level of comfort and style that would be expected in a yacht of this class and size.”