Pendennis refits sailing superyacht Adix as part of busy winter schedule

UK superyacht builder Pendennis is several months into a substantial refit of the 65m sailing superyacht Adix.

It is the fourth time the magnificent 65m schooner has visited the yard, based at the mouth of Falmouth harbour in Cornwall, since she was built in steel by Astilleros de Mallorca in 1984 to an Arthur Holgate design. After being hauled out at the beginning of August she is now undergoing a comprehensive eight-month refit in the second of Pendennis’ two new 90m construction halls.

Adix is undergoing engineering works, which include installing new generators and a main engine, as well as a redesign of the yacht’s deck house, which will be moved further forward and combined with a seating area to provide better interaction with the owner’s accommodation. The three-masted, 370 tonne schooner, originally called Jessica and for a time renamed as XXXX by then-owner Alan Bond to promote his beer brand, is still one of the largest sailing yachts built since the 1930s. Adix has competed twice in the Pendennis Cup, a regatta for classic yachts organised by the yard off Falmouth.

The Adix refit is one of several high-profile projects at Pendennis this winter. The Pendennis dry dock will be occupied by 75.2m motor yacht Northern Star, which will be based in the outer dock. Built in 2009, Northern Star is the largest motor yacht yet to undergo a refit at Pendennis. She will be joined by a 56m motor yacht positioned in the inner dock.

The modern J-Class yacht Lionheart also arrived at Pendennis earlier this month for five-yearly survey programme, following which she will be competing in the J-Class Regatta taking place from 23-27 June 2015 in Falmouth. This will be the second J-Class Regatta to take place in Falmouth Bay in the past three years.

All the refits are due to be finished next spring, in time for the completion of Phase 2 of Pendennis' non-tidal wet basin to handle post-refit commissioning. It is the latest stage in Pendennis’ ongoing expansion, which over the past few years has seen the creation of the Pendennis Palma refit facility and of Pendennis Plus (following the acquisition of Devonport Yachts in 2011) to offer expertise in the 60m+ arena. The Cornish operation celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2013 with the expansion of its yacht support service to the Pacific.

Other projects currently ongoing at the Falmouth site include the new build of a 31.3m Dubois sloop and the restoration of classic MY Malahne, previously owned by Hollywood producer Sam Spiegel.