Wauquiez Pilot Saloon 47 — Valkiry Solar Arch

This early-2026 project was our first opportunity to work on a Wauquiez, a 2006 Pilot Saloon 47. It is a premium bluewater deck-saloon cruiser designed by Berret-Racoupeau and well regarded for its elevated saloon, panoramic views, Burma teak joinery, and comfortable long-distance layout. The brief called for a complex, multifunctional arch that would carry three 480W solar panels while incorporating a U-shaped deployable davit system, flagpole, life-raft cradle mount, wind-generator mount, and Starlink fixing bracket. It also integrates with the existing pushpit and extends the safety rails to the first stanchion gate. The arch was shaped to follow the Wauquiez’s elegant lines and complement its refined appearance, while the U-shaped davit system reaches over the boat’s substantial sugar-scoop transom to lift and deploy the dinghy without compromise. Installation took place at MDL Sparkes Marina on Hayling Island, where the pontoons sit close to the quay and allow the arch to be lifted directly from the truck onto the boat. The owner sailed from the Netherlands specifically for the installation, and is the third client to make that journey.