Yacht Class n°39 (dec 2024/jan-feb 2025)

Mishi Yachts

With the Mishi 88, the first model from the new Turkish shipyard Mishi Yachts, the emphasis is on making life on board a pleasure, with large interior volumes and a constant concern for safety. This is a little-explored avenue, which sometimes resembles the world of motor yachts.

Written by : Christophe Varène – Photos : DR

The arrival of a new brand in the world of luxury sailing yachts is always an event. Especially when it is based on a fine family history. Sakir Yilmazturk is the owner of the Turkish shipyard Yonca (Turkish for four-leaf clover), which since 1986 has specialised in the construction of composite and aluminium boats (up to 54 m) for coastguards and customs officers. Knowing that his wife, whom he affectionately calls “Mishi”, was more attracted by the comfort of motorboats, he decided one day to design and build a sailing boat… that he gave to her. And to the praise of his friends and all those who had the opportunity to go on board, he launched the Mishi Yachts brand with this Mishi 88 as the spearhead, before expanding the range with the Mishi 102, currently under development, a project presented at the last Monaco Yacht Show.

An immediate feeling of space

A night outing on the Bosphorus, in the heart of Istanbul, followed the next day by a sail to the shipyard in Tuzla, captured the spirit of this newcomer and its first project. At first glance, the Mishi 88 features a voluminous silhouette with her high freeboard, highlighted by a marked deckhouse and a prominent hard-top. It is no surprise, then, to be struck by the notion of space when you climb aboard: the cockpit is very generous in terms of conviviality, with long bench seats and welcoming tables for around ten guests. The manoeuvring area is aft, with two fully instrumented helm stations and two winches on each side, accessible through the side decks. The notion of safety is omnipresent, as evidenced by the rigid, higher-than-usual railings that surround the boat.

A foredeck like a terrace

Unfortunately, the total absence of wind during these two cruises meant there was no opportunity to test performance under sail (classic mainsail, self-tacking jib and furling Code 0). Under engine, at 1,600 rpm, the cruising speed is 9 knots. A tour of the deck reveals a sunbathing area on the deckhouse, solar panels on the hard-top and a much uncluttered bow with a bench seat forward of the mast. The latter, provided that the self-tacking jib clew is not used, can be fitted with a backrest for enhanced comfort: a much sought-after spot at anchor. The foredeck can also accommodate armchairs and a coffee table. Circulation is facilitated by the flushdeck portholes, which create no rough edges that are often hard on bare feet. The transom opens horizontally to reveal a garage into which the tender slides longitudinally. The platform thus created accommodates two ladders, one for getting out of the water after a swim, the other for reaching the deck.

Contemporary interior design

A visit to the interiors of the Mishi 88 may come as a surprise, as you enter an environment closer to that of a motor yacht than a sailing boat. But Sakir Yilmazturk made this choice in response to the wishes of his wife, Mishi. The atmosphere is based on contemporary design and decoration, with the use of shiny chrome and lacquered surfaces, accentuated by the absence of hull portholes – to meet the owner’s safety requirements. In the same spirit, another key point is the desire to make it easier to move around and to always have a handhold in any part of the saloon when the boat is heeling. In this space, two bench seats facing each other are combined with two tables to provide plenty of space for relaxing or dining.

A cocoon-like master cabin

Moving forward, the functional, well-equipped U-shaped galley is set slightly below. On the same level, to starboard, a cabin offers two bunk beds and its own washroom. The owner’s cabin takes up a large part of the bow, still with a modern, predominantly grey ambience and with a single natural light inlet through a zenithal porthole, for a strong sense of cocooning. An office/hairdresser, plenty of storage space and a beautiful en suite shower room complete the comfortable layout of the owners’ domain. Heading back towards the stern, aft of the saloon, two other cabins are available to passengers. Each provides two single beds and a private bathroom, and the interior design has the same tones, with geometrically-patterned partitions and leather headboards sewn in a chequered pattern. The engine room, which also includes a washing machine and tumble dryer, is located in the central area between these two cabins. As for the crew, they have their own space in the forepeak, accessible from the deck, with two beds and a washroom with shower. Far from some of the standards common to many builders, who place the emphasis on design and performance, the Mishi 88 adopts a different philosophy: to be the ideal companion for cruising in the Mediterranean, she plays the comfort card with aplomb, with generous interior space, a deck layout that facilitates movement and conviviality, and features that are close to those of a motor yacht.