THE REFIT AND EXTENSION
Completed in 2012, HELIOS 3 was purchased by her current owner in 2015. She was immediately sent back to Delta for an extension and refit.
To maximize the interior volume originally the main and bridge decks had been brought all the way aft, so the exterior decks were relatively cramped. In addition, they had been enclosed with tinted windows which cut the guests off from
the water. Extending the hull and the bridge deck was a no-brainer idea and had the added benefit of streamlining HELIOS 3’s profile and adding extra technical areas.
Delta was the obvious choice. No other shipyard in the world could be trusted to do such an extensive job in GRP, and certainly not in keeping with the quality to which Delta always builds.
Arianna, 50m/164', Original profile
HELIOS 3, 58.8m/177', Redesigned profile
HELIOS 3 would keep her Delta pedigree and, since the yard knew the yacht, the works would be completed sooner. The maximum allowable extension before changing the running gear
is 10% of the waterline length so HELIOS 3’s hull was lengthened by approximately 13 feet (4m) and her bridge deck was lengthened by approximately 8 feet (2.5m).
Arianna, original profile
HELIOS 3
Aft deck concept
The grey tinted windows enveloping the aft deck have been replaced with sliding glass panels while the port and starboard fashion plates have been moved forward. A dining table seating up to 16 guests has been added.
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The process took 18 months and HELIOS 3 emerged from the shipyard in January 2017 with a sleek new profile and paintwork in medium grey with a vivid red bootstrap and a Matterhorn White superstructure.
Every inch from her bilge to her mast had been renewed, replaced rebuilt or refit. The garage now incorporates a beach club with a large swim platform.
The engineers cabin with en-suite bathroom was added on the portside and a wet locker starboard.
The extension itself cost well in excess of $12 million and the total refit cost was in excess of $17 million. At today’s prices, to replicate her extension and refit we expect the extension might cost well in excess of $20 million and the total refit cost to be well over $25 million.
Concept and text
Penny Hammond-Smith
Graphic Design
Matthieu Vuillaume
Photography
BlueIprod