Constructed in a highly advanced carbon yard in Greifswald on the Baltic coast of Germany, every YYachts hull is born from the same uncompromising ethos. Michael Schmidt, having spent decades managing some of Europe’s most prominent volume and custom sailing shipyards, grew fatigued by the growing complexity of modern yachting. At Carbon Yachts, we share this exact sentiment. Bringing this prestigious German brand to Australia and New Zealand is not merely a commercial agreement; it is the natural culmination of a twenty-five-year alliance forged on the water and built on mutual, unwavering trust. In a superyacht sector dominated by unnecessary weight and convoluted onboard systems, we stand together in advocating for something far purer.
The vision behind YYachts in Greifswald
Michael Schmidt founded YYachts because the yacht he wanted did not exist: a large, genuinely fast vessel simple enough to sail without crew. After years directing major European yacht production, he identified a glaring flaw in the seventy-to-one-hundred-foot category. The vessels on the market were becoming noticeably slower, burdened by massive displacement and mired in convoluted hydraulic mechanisms. Owners of luxury performance cruisers were forced to hire professional crews merely to cast off for a serene afternoon on the water.
To rectify this, Schmidt established his advanced shipyard in Greifswald in 2017. His vision was anchored by a single governing idea: strip the grand yacht back to what genuinely matters, and the sailing naturally takes care of itself. The shipyard executes this vision strictly utilizing full carbon-epoxy construction. Moving away from traditional, heavy fibreglass ensures absolute structural stiffness alongside incredibly light displacement, allowing each hull to catch wind that heavier cruisers simply do not feel.
A relationship built on 500 yachts
The journey of bringing these exceptional carbon vessels to our local shores relies on a deep-rooted, rich history. Carbon Yachts co-founder Peter Hrones first collaborated with Michael Schmidt well over two decades ago during the early, formative years of Hanse Yachts.
Michael Schmidt built YYachts because the large, fast, simple carbon yacht he wanted simply did not exist.
Their shared belief in responsive, owner-driven sailing yachts saw Peter import an astounding five hundred hulls to Australian waters under Schmidt's previous tenure in the mid-to-late 2000s. Successfully representing a premium European brand across hemispheres requires significantly more than a casual distribution agreement; it demands a unified perspective on what yacht ownership should actually feel like. Over the course of this long-standing relationship, we have seen firsthand how Schmidt’s insistence on clean lines, perfectly balanced helms, and highly robust engineering translates beautifully to the unpredictable swells of the Pacific and the turbulent Southern Ocean.
The Carbon Yachts YYachts team in Australia
Reuniting this formidable partnership involves a highly experienced, deeply knowledgeable local syndicate. Alongside Peter Hrones, Carbon Yachts directors Chris Hrones and Mary Bickley round out the precise, dedicated team representing this extraordinary carbon stable within the Carbon Yachts family.
Our team has collectively managed the demanding logistics of commissioning, building, and shipping premium performance yachts for some of the most exacting owners in the Southern Hemisphere. When you engage with our local outfit, you are working with dedicated sailing professionals who possess an intricate understanding of the shipyard’s meticulous carbon construction methods and operational nuances. The goal is always to mirror the family-business warmth and personalized service found in Greifswald right here in Pittwater. Explore more of our expansive shipyard history within our YYachts editorial coverage to appreciate exactly how deeply our technical knowledge runs.
The Baltic testing ground and European delivery
Throughout his decades in the industry, Peter Hrones spent significant periods living aboard in Greifswald, intimately learning the grey, challenging waters where these exquisite yachts take their first breaths. The Baltic Sea provides an unforgiving but spectacular testing ground, ensuring that every hull launched is strictly proven on the water well before the formal structural handover to the owner occurs.
Engineering the carbon performance fleet
Across the magnificent range, from the sixty-four-foot models up to completely bespoke custom builds stretching past one hundred feet, the structural engineering seamlessly translates this shared philosophy into pure carbon reality. Consider the YYachts Y7; sitting at nearly seventy-two feet in length, its entirely carbon construction keeps the displacement to an astonishing 31.8 tonnes. It is flawlessly refined down to what sailing actually is, relying on a 180-square-metre square-top mainsail that a single helmsperson can easily manage utilizing push-button sail systems without leaving the wheel.
Similarly, the larger YYachts Y8 deliberately delivers an eighty-foot carbon platform reduced entirely to the joy of the sailing experience. The engine room has been cleverly repositioned under the saloon floor to sit incredibly low in the hull, effectively giving the massive interior volume back to your living space. The self-tacking jib handles itself flawlessly, the massive 179-square-metre main draws perfectly, and the entire boat instantly settles into its stride without asking for a cumbersome professional crew. Ultimately, the origins of our decades-long partnership with Michael Schmidt are defined by a singular, proven promise: delivering an exceptionally light, phenomenally robust carbon superyacht that gracefully gets out of your way and lets you sail.
