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DONA FRANCISCA: Where the Golden Age of Sailing Meets Carbon-Fibre Engineering
An Owner’s Vision Brought to Life
DONA FRANCISCA was not conceived as a production yacht or designed to follow an existing formula. The project began with an experienced Uruguayan sailor who had spent much of his life on the water and wanted to create a schooner around his own experience of sailing.
Construction took place in Montevideo over several years, with specialists from Europe and the United States brought into the project. The ambition was considerable, particularly for a yacht being built almost entirely from carbon fibre. Yet the owner did not want the result to look futuristic. His inspiration came from the great sailing yachts of the early 1900s, combining that classical character with the materials, engineering and practicality available to a modern yacht owner.
An Owner’s Vision Brought to Life
DONA FRANCISCA was not conceived as a production yacht or designed to follow an existing formula. The project began with an experienced Uruguayan sailor who had spent much of his life on the water and wanted to create a schooner around his own experience of sailing.
Construction took place in Montevideo over several years, with specialists from Europe and the United States brought into the project. The ambition was considerable, particularly for a yacht being built almost entirely from carbon fibre. Yet the owner did not want the result to look futuristic. His inspiration came from the great sailing yachts of the early 1900s, combining that classical character with the materials, engineering and practicality available to a modern yacht owner.
An Owner’s Vision Brought to Life
DONA FRANCISCA was not conceived as a production yacht or designed to follow an existing formula. The project began with an experienced Uruguayan sailor who had spent much of his life on the water and wanted to create a schooner around his own experience of sailing.
Construction took place in Montevideo over several years, with specialists from Europe and the United States brought into the project. The ambition was considerable, particularly for a yacht being built almost entirely from carbon fibre. Yet the owner did not want the result to look futuristic. His inspiration came from the great sailing yachts of the early 1900s, combining that classical character with the materials, engineering and practicality available to a modern yacht owner.
Classic Lines, Modern Materials
That contrast becomes clear as soon as Katia starts exploring the exterior. DONA FRANCISCA has the proportions and details expected of a traditional schooner, but much of what appears conventional is anything but.
Her hull is built from carbon fibre, as are her masts and booms. At 52 metres, that makes her one of the largest carbon-fibre sailing yachts ever constructed. Javier Soto Acebal's design preserves the elegance of a classic schooner, while the lightweight structure provides the strength, efficiency and corrosion resistance expected from contemporary composite construction.
Even the deck fittings contribute to the illusion. Traditional-looking bronze equipment, mahogany structures and classic detailing sit alongside carbon rigging and highly sophisticated sailing systems. The result does not feel like a modern yacht decorated to look old. The traditional and contemporary elements were conceived together from the beginning.
Classic Lines, Modern Materials
That contrast becomes clear as soon as Katia starts exploring the exterior. DONA FRANCISCA has the proportions and details expected of a traditional schooner, but much of what appears conventional is anything but.
Her hull is built from carbon fibre, as are her masts and booms. At 52 metres, that makes her one of the largest carbon-fibre sailing yachts ever constructed. Javier Soto Acebal's design preserves the elegance of a classic schooner, while the lightweight structure provides the strength, efficiency and corrosion resistance expected from contemporary composite construction.
Even the deck fittings contribute to the illusion. Traditional-looking bronze equipment, mahogany structures and classic detailing sit alongside carbon rigging and highly sophisticated sailing systems. The result does not feel like a modern yacht decorated to look old. The traditional and contemporary elements were conceived together from the beginning.
Classic Lines, Modern Materials
That contrast becomes clear as soon as Katia starts exploring the exterior. DONA FRANCISCA has the proportions and details expected of a traditional schooner, but much of what appears conventional is anything but.
Her hull is built from carbon fibre, as are her masts and booms. At 52 metres, that makes her one of the largest carbon-fibre sailing yachts ever constructed. Javier Soto Acebal's design preserves the elegance of a classic schooner, while the lightweight structure provides the strength, efficiency and corrosion resistance expected from contemporary composite construction.
Even the deck fittings contribute to the illusion. Traditional-looking bronze equipment, mahogany structures and classic detailing sit alongside carbon rigging and highly sophisticated sailing systems. The result does not feel like a modern yacht decorated to look old. The traditional and contemporary elements were conceived together from the beginning.
Designed to Be Sailed
One of the most interesting aspects of DONA FRANCISCA is that she was designed to be genuinely sailed rather than simply carrying sails as part of her identity.
Her sail handling is hydraulically assisted, reducing the amount of physical manpower required on a yacht of this size. Powerful bow and stern thrusters also make manoeuvring considerably easier, particularly when entering smaller ports.
Under sail she can reach around 17 knots, while her shallow 3.5-metre draft opens up anchorages and cruising grounds that would be inaccessible to many sailing yachts of comparable length. Katia also points to another revealing number: despite having travelled from South America to the Mediterranean, the yacht's Caterpillar engine has accumulated relatively low hours. It is a strong indication that DONA FRANCISCA has spent a considerable part of her travels doing exactly what she was built to do: sail.
Designed to Be Sailed
One of the most interesting aspects of DONA FRANCISCA is that she was designed to be genuinely sailed rather than simply carrying sails as part of her identity.
Her sail handling is hydraulically assisted, reducing the amount of physical manpower required on a yacht of this size. Powerful bow and stern thrusters also make manoeuvring considerably easier, particularly when entering smaller ports.
Under sail she can reach around 17 knots, while her shallow 3.5-metre draft opens up anchorages and cruising grounds that would be inaccessible to many sailing yachts of comparable length. Katia also points to another revealing number: despite having travelled from South America to the Mediterranean, the yacht's Caterpillar engine has accumulated relatively low hours. It is a strong indication that DONA FRANCISCA has spent a considerable part of her travels doing exactly what she was built to do: sail.
Designed to Be Sailed
One of the most interesting aspects of DONA FRANCISCA is that she was designed to be genuinely sailed rather than simply carrying sails as part of her identity.
Her sail handling is hydraulically assisted, reducing the amount of physical manpower required on a yacht of this size. Powerful bow and stern thrusters also make manoeuvring considerably easier, particularly when entering smaller ports.
Under sail she can reach around 17 knots, while her shallow 3.5-metre draft opens up anchorages and cruising grounds that would be inaccessible to many sailing yachts of comparable length. Katia also points to another revealing number: despite having travelled from South America to the Mediterranean, the yacht's Caterpillar engine has accumulated relatively low hours. It is a strong indication that DONA FRANCISCA has spent a considerable part of her travels doing exactly what she was built to do: sail.
A Deck Designed Around Life at Sea
The exterior spaces continue the yacht's emphasis on practical sailing. Rather than trying to reproduce the enormous open terraces of a modern motor yacht, the deck has been organised around the realities of operating a large schooner.
The two carbon-fibre masts dominate the profile, while the tender is stored on deck and handled using the yacht's own equipment. Guest seating is protected beneath a fixed structure, providing somewhere comfortable to spend time outside without interfering with sailing operations.
There is also a clear separation between areas intended for guests and those required to operate the yacht. It is a reminder that DONA FRANCISCA was conceived for serious passages and extended periods at sea, rather than simply moving between Mediterranean marinas.
A Deck Designed Around Life at Sea
The exterior spaces continue the yacht's emphasis on practical sailing. Rather than trying to reproduce the enormous open terraces of a modern motor yacht, the deck has been organised around the realities of operating a large schooner.
The two carbon-fibre masts dominate the profile, while the tender is stored on deck and handled using the yacht's own equipment. Guest seating is protected beneath a fixed structure, providing somewhere comfortable to spend time outside without interfering with sailing operations.
There is also a clear separation between areas intended for guests and those required to operate the yacht. It is a reminder that DONA FRANCISCA was conceived for serious passages and extended periods at sea, rather than simply moving between Mediterranean marinas.
A Deck Designed Around Life at Sea
The exterior spaces continue the yacht's emphasis on practical sailing. Rather than trying to reproduce the enormous open terraces of a modern motor yacht, the deck has been organised around the realities of operating a large schooner.
The two carbon-fibre masts dominate the profile, while the tender is stored on deck and handled using the yacht's own equipment. Guest seating is protected beneath a fixed structure, providing somewhere comfortable to spend time outside without interfering with sailing operations.
There is also a clear separation between areas intended for guests and those required to operate the yacht. It is a reminder that DONA FRANCISCA was conceived for serious passages and extended periods at sea, rather than simply moving between Mediterranean marinas.
An Edwardian Atmosphere Below Deck
Step inside and the character changes again. Katia describes an interior influenced by the Edwardian period, with inspiration drawn from the traditional British social clubs that once formed part of life in Buenos Aires.
Polished mahogany dominates the interior, accompanied by bronze details, traditional glass lamps and white-painted overheads. Deck prisms bring natural light below without disturbing the yacht's classic appearance.
The full-beam saloon and dining area are particularly effective because they do not feel like a theatrical recreation of an old yacht. The proportions, materials and detailing create a convincing atmosphere, but the space still provides the comfort and functionality expected on a modern 52-metre yacht.
An Edwardian Atmosphere Below Deck
Step inside and the character changes again. Katia describes an interior influenced by the Edwardian period, with inspiration drawn from the traditional British social clubs that once formed part of life in Buenos Aires.
Polished mahogany dominates the interior, accompanied by bronze details, traditional glass lamps and white-painted overheads. Deck prisms bring natural light below without disturbing the yacht's classic appearance.
The full-beam saloon and dining area are particularly effective because they do not feel like a theatrical recreation of an old yacht. The proportions, materials and detailing create a convincing atmosphere, but the space still provides the comfort and functionality expected on a modern 52-metre yacht.
An Edwardian Atmosphere Below Deck
Step inside and the character changes again. Katia describes an interior influenced by the Edwardian period, with inspiration drawn from the traditional British social clubs that once formed part of life in Buenos Aires.
Polished mahogany dominates the interior, accompanied by bronze details, traditional glass lamps and white-painted overheads. Deck prisms bring natural light below without disturbing the yacht's classic appearance.
The full-beam saloon and dining area are particularly effective because they do not feel like a theatrical recreation of an old yacht. The proportions, materials and detailing create a convincing atmosphere, but the space still provides the comfort and functionality expected on a modern 52-metre yacht.
A Private Owner’s Area and Generous Guest Accommodation
DONA FRANCISCA accommodates up to eight guests in four cabins, with the full-beam Owner's Suite forming one of the highlights below deck.
The owner's accommodation continues the yacht's traditional design language, with rich timber and carefully integrated storage, but also provides the volume and headroom expected of a modern superyacht. An adjoining private office creates an additional space that could be used as a study, dressing area or adapted to suit a future owner's needs.
Three further guest cabins continue the same warm interior style. Rather than filling the yacht with as many cabins as possible, the layout reflects the broader philosophy found throughout DONA FRANCISCA: providing comfortable spaces for a relatively small number of people undertaking serious cruising.
A Private Owner’s Area and Generous Guest Accommodation
DONA FRANCISCA accommodates up to eight guests in four cabins, with the full-beam Owner's Suite forming one of the highlights below deck.
The owner's accommodation continues the yacht's traditional design language, with rich timber and carefully integrated storage, but also provides the volume and headroom expected of a modern superyacht. An adjoining private office creates an additional space that could be used as a study, dressing area or adapted to suit a future owner's needs.
Three further guest cabins continue the same warm interior style. Rather than filling the yacht with as many cabins as possible, the layout reflects the broader philosophy found throughout DONA FRANCISCA: providing comfortable spaces for a relatively small number of people undertaking serious cruising.
A Private Owner’s Area and Generous Guest Accommodation
DONA FRANCISCA accommodates up to eight guests in four cabins, with the full-beam Owner's Suite forming one of the highlights below deck.
The owner's accommodation continues the yacht's traditional design language, with rich timber and carefully integrated storage, but also provides the volume and headroom expected of a modern superyacht. An adjoining private office creates an additional space that could be used as a study, dressing area or adapted to suit a future owner's needs.
Three further guest cabins continue the same warm interior style. Rather than filling the yacht with as many cabins as possible, the layout reflects the broader philosophy found throughout DONA FRANCISCA: providing comfortable spaces for a relatively small number of people undertaking serious cruising.
Built for Long-Distance Cruising
The galley and crew areas reveal another side of the yacht. On a vessel designed to cross oceans, practical considerations such as refrigeration, food storage, laundry facilities and workspace become far more important than they might be on a yacht used primarily for short coastal trips.
DONA FRANCISCA was also specifically designed to operate with a relatively small crew. Hydraulic sail handling removes much of the physical workload traditionally associated with a schooner of this size, while the layout and technical systems were organised to make the yacht manageable without an unusually large complement of crew.
Her ocean-going credentials are not theoretical. The yacht completed an Atlantic crossing from South America to the Mediterranean, demonstrating the capability that had been built into her from the outset.
Built for Long-Distance Cruising
The galley and crew areas reveal another side of the yacht. On a vessel designed to cross oceans, practical considerations such as refrigeration, food storage, laundry facilities and workspace become far more important than they might be on a yacht used primarily for short coastal trips.
DONA FRANCISCA was also specifically designed to operate with a relatively small crew. Hydraulic sail handling removes much of the physical workload traditionally associated with a schooner of this size, while the layout and technical systems were organised to make the yacht manageable without an unusually large complement of crew.
Her ocean-going credentials are not theoretical. The yacht completed an Atlantic crossing from South America to the Mediterranean, demonstrating the capability that had been built into her from the outset.
Built for Long-Distance Cruising
The galley and crew areas reveal another side of the yacht. On a vessel designed to cross oceans, practical considerations such as refrigeration, food storage, laundry facilities and workspace become far more important than they might be on a yacht used primarily for short coastal trips.
DONA FRANCISCA was also specifically designed to operate with a relatively small crew. Hydraulic sail handling removes much of the physical workload traditionally associated with a schooner of this size, while the layout and technical systems were organised to make the yacht manageable without an unusually large complement of crew.
Her ocean-going credentials are not theoretical. The yacht completed an Atlantic crossing from South America to the Mediterranean, demonstrating the capability that had been built into her from the outset.
More Than a Modern Interpretation of a Classic
Perhaps the most interesting thing about DONA FRANCISCA is that she is not really trying to recreate the past.
Her traditional appearance is important, but underneath it sits carbon-fibre construction, modern hydraulics, advanced sail handling, powerful manoeuvring systems and the engineering required for serious long-distance cruising. Following substantial work in 2023 and 2024, including new sails, rigging and maintenance, the yacht has also continued to receive significant technical investment, with further class, mechanical and systems work documented in 2026.
That is ultimately what Katia discovers during the walkthrough. DONA FRANCISCA captures much of the romance associated with the golden age of sailing, but without demanding that her owner accept the limitations that came with it.
For somebody looking for a yacht with genuine character, proven ocean-going ability and a story very different from almost anything else on the market, DONA FRANCISCA is a modern schooner that happens to look as though she belongs to another age.
More Than a Modern Interpretation of a Classic
Perhaps the most interesting thing about DONA FRANCISCA is that she is not really trying to recreate the past.
Her traditional appearance is important, but underneath it sits carbon-fibre construction, modern hydraulics, advanced sail handling, powerful manoeuvring systems and the engineering required for serious long-distance cruising. Following substantial work in 2023 and 2024, including new sails, rigging and maintenance, the yacht has also continued to receive significant technical investment, with further class, mechanical and systems work documented in 2026.
That is ultimately what Katia discovers during the walkthrough. DONA FRANCISCA captures much of the romance associated with the golden age of sailing, but without demanding that her owner accept the limitations that came with it.
For somebody looking for a yacht with genuine character, proven ocean-going ability and a story very different from almost anything else on the market, DONA FRANCISCA is a modern schooner that happens to look as though she belongs to another age.
More Than a Modern Interpretation of a Classic
Perhaps the most interesting thing about DONA FRANCISCA is that she is not really trying to recreate the past.
Her traditional appearance is important, but underneath it sits carbon-fibre construction, modern hydraulics, advanced sail handling, powerful manoeuvring systems and the engineering required for serious long-distance cruising. Following substantial work in 2023 and 2024, including new sails, rigging and maintenance, the yacht has also continued to receive significant technical investment, with further class, mechanical and systems work documented in 2026.
That is ultimately what Katia discovers during the walkthrough. DONA FRANCISCA captures much of the romance associated with the golden age of sailing, but without demanding that her owner accept the limitations that came with it.
For somebody looking for a yacht with genuine character, proven ocean-going ability and a story very different from almost anything else on the market, DONA FRANCISCA is a modern schooner that happens to look as though she belongs to another age.
