The 50-foot aluminium explorer yacht UNDRA has received a Smartgyro SG20 as part of a refit preparing the vessel for high-latitude cruising. Owners Nikki and Jason Wynn selected gyro stabilisation to improve comfort without adding external underwater appendages to the semi-displacement hull.
The refit is aimed at remote cruising
UNDRA was purchased for a new programme focused on colder and more remote destinations after the owners’ previous long-range sailing experience. High-latitude cruising places a premium on reliability, autonomy and crew comfort because service facilities can be far apart and weather windows can be demanding.
Roll reduction can have a practical effect on fatigue as well as comfort when a yacht spends long periods underway or at anchor. The owners therefore treated stabilisation as a core refit decision rather than a cosmetic upgrade.
SG20 fit the available space and hull philosophy
Smartgyro’s SG20 was selected for the yacht’s size and for its ability to operate without fins or other appendages outside the hull. That suited the owners’ desire to retain the existing underwater profile while improving motion control.
The installation took place within an established machinery layout rather than a new-build space designed around the gyro. Smartgyro’s modular construction allowed the system to be integrated while preserving future access for inspection and service.
Field serviceability influenced the choice
The owners highlighted the ability to maintain the SG20 in situ as particularly important for remote cruising. Smartgyro designs its systems so key components can be accessed and serviced onboard, reducing dependence on lifting the complete unit out of the vessel.
That does not mean every repair can be carried out anywhere, but it improves the chances that routine work can be managed without major dismantling. For expedition-style yachts below 24 metres, service strategy should be considered alongside stabilisation performance because cruising plans may take the boat far from specialist yards.
Sea trials move the project from theory to use
Smartgyro said UNDRA was undergoing sea trials after installation, with the owners preparing to assess the system in real cruising conditions. Their initial view was that gyro stabilisation represented one of the most significant upgrades made to any of their vessels.
The project is a useful reference for owners considering a gyro during an after-sales refit rather than at build stage. It also shows how equipment choices on smaller explorer yachts are increasingly judged against maintainability and autonomy, not simply headline comfort figures.
