The ReCrafted Ursus heads home
After a complete ReCraft at Balk Shipyard, the now 30.36-metre Ursus is heading home. The sea trials and delivery were completed earlier this year, and awaited her return home at our shipyard in coordination with the owner’s cruising schedule. Balk Shipyard’s large facilities enabled the yard to provide this flexibility while maintaining the yacht in pristine condition.
“Ursus was completely transformed from bow to stern,” says Evan Kortmann of Balk Shipyard. This type of complex ReCraft is something we’ve refined over many projects, and Ursus showcases what’s possible when an owner has a clear vision and when we partner with an exceptional studio, such as Mulder Design.”
Ursus, the final Bandido 80 by the Dutch builder Acico Yachts, arrived at Balk Shipyard in 2022 for a major transformation, including a 6 metre extension to optimise performance, enhance hydrodynamics, and increase interior volume.
In consultation with Mulder Design, a 3D scan of her hull was created to define her ideal length and optimum cut lines. Both the bow and stern were removed, and new steel sections were fabricated. The tender garage was relocated from its original forward position to the aft, freeing up the foredeck for a new, inviting al fresco cocktail area.
Her sundeck was also extended, and now features a barbecue and Teppanyaki grill station, a comfortable seating area, and storage space for two Jet Skis. One of the largest transformations was made to her stern, where the yard installed a two-tiered beach club with a spacious open upper level and a waterside seating area below. She also now features wing stations port and starboard. This was a complex ReCraft, with very few parts left untouched.
Ursus was also technically enhanced. She was fitted with a hybrid propulsion system, new stabilisers, Veth props, and a dynamic position system. Her bridge was also completely upgraded.
The former Acico Yachts was an important character in the heritage of Dutch yachting. Acico Yachts was a custom builder that evolved from the former Dutch Yacht Builders. The owner of the then-under-construction 49-metre Nassima acquired the shipyard when it ran into difficulties in 2009, ensuring the completion of his yacht and bringing a fresh perspective into the Dutch new build space.
The Bandido 80 series was visionary. It was one of the early adopters of the now-in-vogue utilitarian styling and was what would now be called a pocket explorer. Cantiere delle Marche was making strides in the segment at the time, but across northern Europe, the handful of smaller exploration yachts were primarily conversions. The purpose-built luxury explorer market was yet to boom. The Bandido 80 series was very much ahead of its time.
It was this characteristic that attracted the owner to the series. The family made great use of the explorer, cruising extensively in the Balearic waters. And after spending extended periods on board, the owner had a strong vision for how to maximise enjoyment and performance to complement his lifestyle. This is when Balk Shipyard stepped in.
Ursus: a ReCrafted masterpiece of the sea.
