| From Boating New Zealand September 2025
The YYachts’ Y6 is a new carbon-built ‘Pocket Superyacht’ designed for owner-operated sailing with ease and comfort, debuting in 2026. It emphasises simple sail handling, a clean deck design, and customisable interiors to suit personal tastes, catering especially to owners seeking control and privacy. The Y6 is built for straightforward handling by solo owners or couples, featuring all halyards and sheets routed to the helms and a self-tacking jib for minimal trimming, ensuring relaxed and manageable cruising. Below deck, the yacht offers a social saloon with lounge and U-galley, an owner’s suite with ensuite forward, and two twin guest cabins aft, with four curated interior themes developed by YYachts’ design team to personalise the yacht from the start. Many Australasian owners choose European handover with launch and rigging managed in Germany, supported by YYachts’ Mediterranean office, facilitating easy commissioning and seasonal cruising abroad before relocating the yacht home. - Advertisement, article continues below -
 For Australian and New Zealand enquiries – including interior theme selection, layout guidance, and European delivery planning – please contact Carbon Yachts. |
A new kind of superyacht
In a sailing world often obsessed with length and crewed complexity, the YYachts Y6 makes a bold statement: size matters less than control. Penned by renowned naval architect Bill Tripp, the Y6 stretches to nearly 20 metres yet is designed for owner operation—whether that means solo passages or cruising as a couple.
The philosophy is simple: deliver the comfort and presence of a superyacht without the cost, hassle, and formality of a permanent crew. Carbon construction keeps the boat light and responsive, with all sail handling led aft to the helms. A self-tacking jib reduces trimming, while an integrated bow thruster and efficient engine take the stress out of marina manoeuvres.
As Peter Hrones, co-founder of Carbon Yachts, puts it: “Owners—especially those moving across from premium power—want control, privacy and time efficiency. The Y6’s design is deliberate, geared entirely toward what’s required and wanted: a sail plan manageable by a couple and a calm, considered interior you’ll actually live in.”
Deck and performance
The deck layout mirrors the Y6’s ethos of simplicity. Flush hatches, a clean foredeck, and integrated systems keep lines tidy and movement easy. A standout feature is the drop-down transom, which transforms into a sea-level terrace—ideal for swimming, tender boarding, or simply relaxing at anchor.
Built in carbon epoxy, the hull and rig balance light displacement with durability. The result is a yacht that sails comfortably even in lighter winds, while offering a ballast ratio that ensures stable handling in tougher conditions. Synthetic teak is used on deck for lower weight and reduced maintenance, underscoring the eco-conscious approach.
Life below deck
Inside, the Y6 offers four distinct design identities—Baltic, Milano, Sugi Ban, and Glacier—crafted in collaboration with Danish architect David Thulstrup and YYachts’ Francesca Modica. Each theme delivers a unique atmosphere, from the rich earth tones of Milano to the charred-wood contrasts of Sugi Ban.
Layouts are just as flexible. Owners can select between three or four cabins, with options to replace a lounge with an office or add a crew cabin forward. The forward owner’s suite typically features a free-standing bed and ensuite, while two twin guest cabins aft each come with their own bathrooms.
As Mary Bickley of Carbon Yachts explains: “Clients in our region want a yacht that’s genuinely owner-operated and genuinely their own. The Y6 answers that brief—carbon-built for a light, responsive feel, and curated through a studio process that turns four clear concepts into a finish that reflects the owner’s taste.”
A European beginning
Many Australasian owners are expected to commission their Y6s in Europe. YYachts handles launch, rigging, and export paperwork in Germany, with Palma de Mallorca serving as a base for design support and after-sales while cruising the Med. Owners can enjoy a season abroad before relocating the boat to Australia or New Zealand, either under sail or shipped home.
This flexibility—cruise Europe, then bring the boat south—adds to the yacht’s appeal in this region, where long-haul delivery voyages are often seen as part of the ownership experience.
More than just another yacht
At its core, the Y6 reflects a trend across sailing: a move away from size for its own sake, toward yachts that balance scale with manageability. It answers a market where many owners are former motor yacht clients, seeking privacy, freedom, and efficiency without sacrificing luxury.
The Y6 may be called a “pocket superyacht,” but there’s nothing small about its ambition. It aims to deliver the essence of superyacht living—light, space, and style—in a package that owners can sail themselves.
Learn more
Carbon Yachts
www.carbonyachts.com.au
Pittwater, Sydney, Gold Coast, Perth, Melbourne, Auckland
