Dixon’s Project Fly Is How the Eco-Friendly Millionaire Finds Intimacy at Sea

Regular people like ourselves have it easy when it comes to reducing our carbon footprint. As the saying goes, where there’s a will, there’s a way, and since most of us don’t have to think about the carbon footprint of our regular private jet flying or yachting in the summer, it’s theoretically less challenging to live greener lives.

For multi-millionaires, there’s always Dixon Yachts. The British design company unveiled its most recent concept in December last year, and, all jokes aside, it’s a total stunner. Project Fly is a sailing yacht, but, at the same time, it’s a flybridge cruiser that aims to be a “lifestyle statement.” As of the time of writing, it’s still in concept stage, but Dixon is ready to get the ball rolling on it as soon as that multi-millionaire comes along.

Dixon is no stranger to sailing yachts, either. Project Fly’s much bigger and more impressive sibling is Project 175, a 180-foot (55-meter) hybrid sailing yacht we discussed in a previous coverstory. Project Fly is much smaller, at 121 feet (37 meters), because it aims to be more intimate, yet just as luxurious and fancy as its predecessor.

According to Dixon, Project Fly comes to address – and effectively solve – several issues apparent with sailing yachts. Given the rise in the number of sailing vessels in the early 2000s, which drove up construction prices since they integrated modern racing tech allowing for easier operation, Project Fly proposes a middle-way: less performance for a fraction of the budget.

It also aims to solve another problem, that of designing a flybridge cruiser that maintains its sleek, elegant lines without having the flying bridge literally stick out like a sore thumb. It does so in typical Dixon design language, with a razor-sharp bow and edgy, almost aggressive lines, but an overall elegant design that allows for ample interior and exterior space.

The compromise represented by Project Fly is that you get a sailing yacht that won’t exactly blow you away in terms of speed, but that stands out for how stylish and luxurious it is. More importantly, though, it would still be so without feeling like a giant floating hotel that intimidates. It’s what intimacy at sea is like for multi-millionaires.

According to the designers, Project Fly would offer 200 GT of interior space, more than enough for eight guests. Ample glazing would further enhance the impression of airy interiors, which is particularly evident in the open-plan saloon. The master suite comes with access to the beach platform, while guests sleep in the three additional cabins.

Amenities also include a lounge area on top of the flybridge offering panoramic views, a recessed cockpit on the foredeck, and the enclosed flybridge. The deck also offers plenty of exterior space for sunning or al fresco dining.

In case sails don’t make Project Fly enough of a “green” vessel, Dixon says the focus on minimizing impact on the environment is obvious in the use of Amplitex for the hull. Amplitex is a flax-based product that offers the same stiffness and weight as carbon fiber but is less expensive and emits less carbon dioxide to process. So you get a vessel that’s light and durable as carbon fiber counterparts, but with a reduced footprint.

Dixon Yachts did not elaborate on the type of propulsion that Project Fly would use but, considering its predecessor’s hybrid propulsion system, it would probably not be much of a stretch to imagine something similar here. The design studio did say that the future owner of this stunning watercraft would have the final say in terms of customization options, so maybe they’re leaving that to him/her, as well.