Silver Lining, a 50-metre, went into the water on June 20, with the silver-hulled 49-metre Chasseur following down the ways five days later. “I really have to tip my hat to our boatbuilders, who worked long hours – some of them more than a month straight without break – to enable us to keep to a tight launch schedule with an equally demanding delivery timeline to follow. It’s just another example of the new attitude at Christensen of getting the job done on time and on budget no matter what the challenge,” says Jim Gilbert, company president.

Chasseur and Silver Lining are now docked in the Christensen marina before sea trials, with delivery to their owners pegged for July. Silver Lining is a large-volume non-MCA vessel that features a traditional high-gloss black walnut interior, while Chasseur is MCA classed with a light, modern interior décor of bleached sycamore, rich rosewood accents and semi-precious stonework.

The yachts were launched using Christensen’s in-house mini-dry-dock system, which involves attaching large composite boxes to the side of a custom-built steel trailer, allowing safe launches even when the nearby Columbia River is at low water. Both yachts will leave the Pacific Northwest at the end of August for a maiden cruise to Fort Lauderdale, where they will be on display at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show in November.

A 49-metre and a 50-metre are in build at the yard, with both hulls actively for sale.

Photos: Stephen Cridland