SeaLegacy1 – on the Front Lines of Conservation
SeaLegacy1 (formerly Elcie) is a 62‑foot (19 m) aluminium ketch‑rigged catamaran, designed by New Zealand naval architect David de Villiers of De Villiers Marine Design and custom-built in New Zealand for extended blue‑water cruising.
Dimensions & Specifications
- Overall length (LOA): 19.00 m (62′ 4″)
- Waterline length (LWL): 18.42 m (60′ 5″)
- Beam (width): 9.25 m (30′ 4″)
- Draft (hulls, boards up): 0.92 m (3′ 0″); with daggerboards down: 2.57 m (8′ 5″)
- Bridge‑deck clearance: ~1.00 m (3′ 3″)
- Sail area (upwind, dual ketch rig): 192 m² (2 067 ft²)
- Displacement (lightship): ~19 500 kg (42 990 lb)
Construction
- Hull & structure: Constructed from Sealium aluminium alloy, compliant with ISO and Lloyd’s SSC standards.
- Design philosophy: Built for strength, durability, and ocean‑going safety; hulls include six watertight bulkheads for enhanced safety.
- Graphics: Post-acquisition, outfitted with signature orange, carbon‑infused sails featuring SeaLegacy’s humpback whale insignia
Build Process & Rigging
- Initial build: Custom‑designed by David de Villiers; built in NZ before circumnavigating approx. 90,000 nm as “Elcie”.
- Rig type: A split (ketch) sail plan—a main and mizzen mast—to lower the center of effort and ease sail handling.
- Daggerboards: retractable daggerboards for shallow-draft ability, enhancing upwind performance.
- Refit: After acquisition by SeaLegacy, the deck was stripped and replaced, and extensive systems were added, including a full dive-compressor, Starlink, media room infrastructure, and carbon‑infused sails by North Sails.
Materials Overview
| Component | Material / Details |
|---|---|
| Hull & superstructure | Sealium aluminium (marine alloy, RINA/ISO certifiable) |
| Bulkheads | Welded aluminium, six watertight compartments |
| Daggerboards | Yes |
| Deck replacement | Custom materials (SeaDek, etc.) |
| Sails | Carbon‑infused with distinctive orange graphics by North Sails |
| Rigging | Aluminium spars, stainless steel shrouds |
Who Are SeaLegacy?
Sealegacy is a nonprofit co-founded in 2014 by world-class storytellers Paul Nicklen and Cristina Mittermeier – photographers, filmmakers & conservationists united to protect the oceans.
What they do:
They launch high-impact expeditions around the globe, capturing mesmerizing ocean imagery and transforming it into powerful visual campaigns.
Their storytelling inspires public action, supports frontline science, helps create new marine protected areas, and works closely with communities, governments, and Indigenous leaders.
Mission & vision:
“To inspire people to fall in love with the ocean, amplify a global network of changemakers, and spark hands-on diplomacy through hopeful, world-class visual storytelling”.
They blend art, science, and advocacy—using “Storytelling” to rewrite the ocean’s narrative into one of repair, connection, and hope.
Behind them:
A passionate collective of award-winning photographers, filmmakers, scientists, and strategists. With decades of experience, they collaborate with NGOs, governments, Indigenous voices, and influencers to drive conservation wins—from marine reserves to species protection programs.
Summary
The SeaLegacy 1 is a purpose-built, rugged explorer’s schooner: a 19 m aluminium ketch catamaran designed by David de Villiers, built with high-strength Sealium aluminium, featuring dual daggerboards, six safety bulkheads, and a custom media/dive refit.
It combines performance, resilience, shallow-water agility, and a dedicated setup for its conservation mission.