In 2018, 3DT had the honor of taking on the design responsibility for transforming the helm consoles of what is arguably one of Wally Yachts’ greatest masterpieces, S/Y Black Sails (formerly Guardian Angel). Instantly recognizable for its striking lines and radical deck furniture, Black Sails is considered one of the finest modern sailing yachts. The challenge was to enhance its helm even further by redesigning the original large console, reducing its size to a more minimalist form.

​Given the yacht’s iconic status, 3DT enlisted Adriana Monk of Monk Design to bring a fresh vision to the consoles. Adriana created a sleek, elegant concept that involved cutting away everything above the steering wheel hub, replacing the original console with one 80% smaller and relocating most of the buttons and controls into a hidden, fold-out panel within the bulwark.

​3DT’s role was to bring Adriana’s concept to life. As with all minimalist designs, achieving simplicity proved challenging. The first step was 3D scanning the original helm structure and creating precise technical designs for both the console and control panel. The geometry was intricate, especially with the visual carbon layer covering both the original and new console, adding complexity to the build. A particularly elegant detail was the 3mm red trim around the clear carbon, which integrated a fibre optic light to make the trim glow red at night.

​The fold-out control panel was a fully custom design by 3DT, featuring a click-open, click-close mechanism and a clean, practical layout that enhanced both form and function for the helmsman.