Design and Construction
Cape Horn Engineering used CFD studies to evaluate more than 15 different hull shapes. The resulting hull has half a metre more beam than initially projected. Owners report that the extra beam significantly increased righting moment, and it was expected to make the yacht nearly a whole day faster on a transoceanic passage.
A telescopic keel from Italian specialist APM provides deep-draught performance without taking up interior volume. Draught ranges from 13 feet to just over 20 feet. The designers chose a single rudder to minimize weight.
The forward-facing retractable propulsion system was planned and engineered over eight months alongside the keel aperture. When withdrawn for sailing, it makes the hull markedly slipperier. Its leg rotates 160 degrees in either direction, eliminating the need for a stern thruster.
Weight saving runs through the structure and systems. Liara uses carbon cable trays, Nomex-cored furniture, and titanium deck fittings and stanchions throughout. She also has an extremely high-pressure 350-bar hydraulic package, reportedly only the second such installation on a superyacht.
Rig, Sail Handling, and Performance
Liara carries a large North Sails wardrobe developed with Jeremy Elliot’s UK loft. A powerful square-top mainsail leads the sail plan. Code and asymmetric sails fly from fixed or soft stays and use halyard locks. Two furling staysails set on rams add flexibility; owners describe the arrangement as practical and derived from current offshore race-boat thinking.
Five dedicated sail bins below the foredeck allow the crew to raise and lower sails safely without cluttering the working deck.
According to the owner, the retractable drive and deep keel give her the kind of hull that sails in anything over 8 knots of breeze. During a transatlantic crossing, Liara consistently sailed in the low to mid 20 knots. She touched 25 knots under an A5 and second reef in winds in the mid-20s, while averaging better than 300-mile days out of the Canaries.
Deck and Cockpit
A solid bimini made from high-modulus prepregs and Nomex weighs just 480 kilograms. It can be removed for racing, reducing weight and opening up the deck. Baltic also built a full-size 1:1 deck mock-up so the owner could assess the ergonomics before committing to the layout—a measure of how bespoke the platform is.
The guest cockpit can be enclosed in bad weather using a boltrope groove around the bimini. This turns the open lounging area into a sheltered space without adding a permanent structure.
Accommodation
Adam Lay’s interior combines pale, bleached and stained oak, using distinct textures and vibrant colour. The owner’s brief emphasized natural light. A 9-square-metre sunroof is set into the bimini, while wide, curved-glass companionway doors slide open at the touch of a hidden button.
The master cabin is forward. Two guest cabins lie abaft the saloon, giving their occupants a choice of berths while under way.
Electrical and Cruising Systems
A 115 kW battery bank supports a silent-ship mode for up to eight hours with hotel services running. A generator mounted on the rear of the main engine allows the boat to cruise quietly at night, although the source account didn’t detail the full extent of that installation.
The Verdict
The Baltic Custom 112 is a one-off superyacht in which computational design, aggressive weight saving, and retractable propulsion come together in a 112-footer that sails like a much smaller boat. At the same time, she carries a refined interior configured around her owner’s requirements.
Her engineering is uncompromising, but it also brings complexity. Liara demands a crew or owner comfortable managing bespoke systems.
Pros
- CFD-developed hull with additional beam and righting moment intended to improve passage speed
- Telescopic keel and retractable propulsion preserve interior space and reduce drag
- Extensive use of carbon, Nomex, and titanium to save weight
- High-performance sail plan with practical furling staysails and dedicated sail stowage
- Silent running supported by a large battery bank and night-cruising generator
Cons
- Bespoke 350-bar hydraulics and retractable propulsion are specialist, highly complex systems
- The removable bimini and racing configuration reflect a dual-purpose brief that won’t suit every cruiser
- As the single known example, Liara has no production-fleet experience to draw on
