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BriZo 

Was sold early in 2019 and is now on a new adventure
If you are interested in one of these superb ocean going yachts - 

Design + Commissioning Overview

Length - 17m (55' 9") Beam - 4.8m (15' 8")Draft - 2.23m (7' 3")

 

Designer - Ron Holland

 

Builder - Discovery Yachts Ltd (UK)

 

Cruise speed - 9/10 knots (200nm/24 hours)

 

Displacement - 22,800 kgs/33 tons (US)

 

Engine - Yanmar 160hp

 

Generator - Onan 7 Kva

 

Water maker - SeaFresh 102 litres per hour (26 US Gal)

 

Fuel capacity - 3 tanks 1,344 Litres (352 US Gal)

 

Water capacity - 2 tanks 1008 Litres (266 US Gal)

BriZo Specification - the basics

BriZo is a Ron Holland Designed 55ft Discovery Yacht built in their Marchwood factory, Southampton, England. Outside and in, she was heavily tailored to our specification during the 11month build process during 2010 and launched early 2011.

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The Discovery 55 design remit and what sets it apart:

A summary could be -  'Built for safety, equipped for luxury and defined by quality'. The Ron Holland design provides exhilarating and effortless passage making. The high ballast ratio and 22+ tons meant for me after a circumnavigation of 42,000nm sea sickness was a thing of the past as soon as I stepped aboard. In short the Discovery 55 is purposely built for world cruising in comfort and so that proved to be.

 

She is designed to be handled by just two people and it is this ease of handling that proved exactly the case for Pat and I, inexperienced as we were at ocean sailing at the offset.


A significant factor in her choice for us was the panoramic views due to Ron's raised cabin saloon, a hallmark of his designs. In bad weather the yacht can be controlled from a forward facing comfortable inside navigation position. The raised cabin means only three wide easy steps from cockpit to saloon floor. I don't think Pat and I realised the significance of this until we had offshore experience and had visited many other yachts with their 'death drop steps' that lets face it, you traverse many many times a day in all conditions!

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We could list the many other reasons we took to the design, no running back stays, minimum deck clutter, central cockpit, electric winches, semi balanced protected rudder, ease of maneuverability in marinas (even for me), massive fridge and freezers, 3 fuel tanks and 2 water tanks etc. etc.

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For Pat and I though we wanted to enjoy the 11 month build period and Discovery allow significant customisation of the yacht. Regular meetings throughout the build process and a significant list of options allowed us to take an already high specification to the next level again. Everything from flush hatches to ground tackle was upgraded outside and inside bespoke door veneers to corian bathroom floors, sinks and blinds further modernised the superb Ken Freivokh designed interior. Significant practical upgrades which are difficult to retro-fit were MCA compliance (for charter opportunities), SSB and Fleet broadband.

 

A list of major Features and Customisation follows:  a detailed specification can be downloaded.

Discoveries 55 Mk II 'demo' video (not BriZo) -
BriZo has features from Mk I and Mk II design

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About Ron Holland:

Originally from New Zealand, this legendary yacht designer came to prominence in the 1970s with his successful racing designs, and is now best known for his superyachts such as Ethereal and Mirabella V. Pat and I have been fortunate to meet Ron as he has frequently attended and spoken at the Discovery Yacht owners dinners. He seems particularly proud of the Discovery 55 and the way it performs 'as designed' for the many owners that circumnavigate the world.

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About John Charnley Discovery Yachts: Founder & Managing Director A former British Airways pilot, John started Sunsail - now one of the world's biggest and most successful yacht charter companies. As a veteran of the single-handed transatlantic and other long distance races, John's sailing experiences have taught him the importance of overall design combined with essential attention to detail.  John led the strategic development of the business from 1998 into 2017.

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https://www.discoveryyachts.com/

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The following summary list confirms the options chosen or customisation from the Discovery 55 Brochure:

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  • Layout - Standard with the beautiful Ken Freivokh designed interior with curved interior saloon seating 6-8 and 'passage safe' access forward. Double forward and Master cabins and twin bunk pullman cabin excellent for storage, crew or children.  Fwd and Aft heads and showers - all electric.

  • Sailplan - Plan A with twin headsails (Solent Jib), perfect versatility for world cruising routes.
    Genoa Kemp Dacron (2014)
    Solent Jib (original), Hood Vektron™ Sailcloth upgrade
    In mast vertical batten furling Main (original) , Hood Vektron™ Sailcloth - upgrade.

  • External finishes -
    Deep Blue hull - upgrade in gelcoat with two white gelcoat lower boot lines
    Black window mullion surround in gelcoat - very popular upgrade
    Mast, Boom, kicker (vang), Pole - white powder coat - upgrade
    Spray hoods and all bags, covers and UV strips in Acrylic Beige

  • Internal finishes -
    Light Oak, Quarter sawn interior carpentry finishes
    100mm Teak x 6mm Holly floor in lieu of carpets throughout - upgrade
    Clip out beige carpets in all bedrooms - upgrade
    Stunning  Bur ash and Walnut inlay table top and Sideboard top (day berth) - custom upgrade
    All cabin doors to be crown cut with Walnut unlay and quarter sawn cross banded trim - custom upgrade
    Saloon upholstery light beige leather (9 hides) light blue piping - upgrade
    Headboard forward Majilite Moccasin Frost J5N2 self piped - upgrade
    Headboard aft Majilite Moccasin Parchment J5D5 self piped - upgrade
    Galley surfaces Avonite Cozumel K3-8575 (top Corian upgrade) white/light blues.
    Both heads surfaces to be in Avonite Antique glass K3-8455 (top Corian upgrade) Light blue/clear
    Both heads floors including shower areas to be in Avonite Cozumel K3-8575 (top Corian upgrade) Light blue/white (as galley).

 

Major Upgrades since new

  • Flush Hatches - Italian Solimar Teak edged (stunning) BriZo was the first 55 to ever fit flush hatches. Provides clean deck finish, modern look, secure.

  • Full Topical Air conditioning throughout (4 units) offers cooling, humidity control and excellent heating. (works 50 or 60Hz)

  • MCA Compliance, (potential for chartering) - Includes, metal through hull fittings in engine room, upgraded pipe work in engine room, upgraded sea water chest, upgraded sea water strainers.

  • Upgraded Ground Tackle - from 40Kg (88lbps) Delta to 55Kg Spade, modifying stemhead to self launch and upgrading Windlass from V4 to V5. (Spade is an excellent setting anchor) Added 100m of all chain attached with WASI ball. Added capstan to Windlass and electronic chain counter.

  • Kedge Anchour - Fortress FX55 mounted to stern Stbd. 10m Chain 50m Octolait)

  • Additional Stbd Mainsheet winch (54ST) (serves as spare and Kedge anchor winch)

  • Upgrade Port mainsheet winch to electric (all electric now except mast halyard trimmers).

  • Upgrade lewmar winches – now 2 x 64 STE 2+1 speed, 3 x 54 STE 2+1 speed (mast manual 2 speed halyards 2 x 46ST)

  • Lewmar winch upgrade of all tops to all stainless (aesthetic/wear)

  • Front Saloon Window upgrade to Opening (really important)

  • Navigation upgrade, Raymarine touch screen E120 (nav station) & E90 (Binnacle), (Navionics), ST70 instruments and Pilot, backup Furuno GP32 GPS and Navtex,  Raymarine AIS.

  • Communications upgrade, ICOM 505 VHF, ICOM 801E SSB

  • KVH Fleet track phone FB250 Broadband (excellent mail and weather)

  • Long range Wifi extender, TV antenna

  • Aqua Media Yacht PC and Flat screen TV in Saloon (interconnected via Routers and Switch), NEMA sockets for additional equipment.

  • Antenna mast in Stainless. All comms mounted to stern port side post

  • 4KW HD Raymarine Radar upgrade

  • Echopilot 2D sonar connected to the E series display (Absolutely excellent around coral or poor charted areas or just getting close to the beach!)

  • Echomax - Electronic Radar reflector amplifier alarm (excellent for oceans)

  • Kenwood Marine Radio, Bluetooth, stick music system with Cockpit and aft cabin remotes and 6 speakers.

  • US Battery charger (in case 110 shore power supply) Victron

  • Isolation transformer - Protects from shorepower problems Victron

  • Seafresh H206A watermaker (102L/hr) - Pure independence !

  • Grey Water Tank - allows for Mediterranean compliance

  • Cooney Simpson Electric Davits and belly bands

  • Outboard Motor stand ocean condition support built into pushpit (excellent for taking the motor on ocean crossings)

  • Launch system for Dinghy (saves sugar scoop damage)

  • Alarm system Dolphin Sea Sure system - tracks usefully mains Power loss, flood bilge, Fire Alarm and sends text mail via Hidden Tracker system via Marine Track satellite link. (excellent when BriZo is alone) also has Panic alarm, linked to

  • Hot Tub plumbing - Useful feature of the 55

  • Retaining catches on floor hatches throughout - Essential ocean safety feature yet fast access to underfloor storage.

  • Major upgrade to all carpentry finishes using Bur Ash and walnut inlay.

  • Concealed mosquito screens/blackout blinds built into hatches

  • Additional storage lockers into fwd. and aft cabins,

  • Additional book shelves throughout in light oak to match

  • Wet locker built into convenient saloon hanging locker

  • Full length mirror recessed into aft cabin door

  • Modern Oceanair Skysol blinds throughout Saloon (custom fit), narrow Venetian blinds in cabins, galley.

  • Teak grating added in aft cockpit.

  • Twin Racor pre-fuel filters for easy fast change and monitoring of fuel quality

  • Shaft rope cutter

  • Additional stern cleats (useful stern to mooring)

  • One genoa whisker pole supplied in white

  • Lockable deck locker catches, built in shelf to Stbd. laz

  • Deck fitted BBQ aft and deck gas pipe fitting - Port side mounted Stainless BBQ

  • High quality side lamps and dimmable reading lights

  • Press dimming light system throughout galley and saloon areas

  • Low Level Mood lighting

  • Underwater LED Lights (blue) - great for attracting fish

  • High quality Caframo fans throughout

  • Boom Lights for cockpit area and step light, BBQ light

  • Lopolight LED Navigation lights throughout

 

Standard Fitting (Reminders)

  • Full size Bosh Washing and Spindryer

  • 480Amp hr Sonnenschein 24V Domestic Batteries

  • Engine Genset Red Flash batteries seperate interchangeable 12V

  • 7 kVA ONAN Generator (really quiet !)

  • Solid rod Lewmar mamba autopilot system (Drive Replaced 2017 at 40000nm)

  • Victron 220V Charger with 2.5kW Inverter system

  • Eberspatcher hydronic 10, 24v heater system (Outlets all cabins) runs on diesel

  • Gori Prop  (reverses out to save almost 400rpm, extending distance)

  • Bow Thruster MAXPOWER CT125 24V (tunnel mounted)

  • Electric Heated Towel Rails

  • GN Espace cooker with glass door (4 ring)

  • Built in Microwave

  • Electric Heads (never had a problem with them either !), soft close !

  • Deck Collection freshwater ability

 

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BriZo Sale Specification and Pictures
BriZo Major Features & Customisation
BriZo Saloon
(click to view)
Master Cabin
(click to view)
Galley
(click to view)
Forward Cabins
(click to view)
Deck
(click to view)
General
(click to view)
Engine and Electrics
(click to view)
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