Reviews

Azimut’s magnificent Magellano flagship

Reviews / yachtstyle2020

Azimut’s magnificent Magellano flagship

December 9, 2020
2:45 pm

UK-based Ken Freivokh returns with an exterior design for Azimut’s Magellano line, but the biggest surprise on the Collection’s new 25 Metri flagship is the remarkable interior by Italian Vincenzo de Cotiis. By Clare Mahon.

Ken Freivokh designed the Magellano 25 Metri, which joins the 43, 53 and 66 by Cor D Rover

Azimut may be one of the world’s leading builders of fast planing flybridge yachts, but that doesn’t mean it can’t build yachts with longer-range cruising in mind. With the fourth model in their semi-displacement Magellano series, Azimut’s navetta-style yachts are proving themselves to be unique. And the Magellano 25 Metri, with its timeless exterior design by Ken Freivokh and minimalist modern interiors by Vincenzo de Cotiis, could well be the yacht that takes longer-range cruising to a new level.

Following several models by Cor D. Rover, the Southampton-based Freivokh returned to design the Collection’s new 83ft flagship, having designed Azimut’s first modern navetta (‘shuttle’), the Magellano 74 launched in 2009.

The cockpit can offer an infinity aft view when the transom is lowered (below)

For the 25 Metri, Freivokh created a raised pilothouse design with the clean horizontal lines and straight bow of a contemporary trawler. Azimut applied its innovative carbon-tech construction techniques to make the most of the large interior volumes that Freivokh designed by using weight-saving carbon-fibre extensively in the superstructure.

The aft cockpit sets the tone for a yacht where views to the water are given top priority. With twin couches placed perpendicularly to the glass bulwark that encloses the aft section, the cockpit is spacious and comfortable, and the view is unobstructed by structures and furniture.

The transom can become a large swim platform

While at anchor, the transom can open horizontally to become a large bathing platform or slant down to the water for launching the tender or toys from the garage. Either way you are never shut off from the natural environment around the yacht and the sensation is of infinite space.

The foredeck is exceptionally well appointed and has furnishings that can adapt to different uses throughout the day. Depending on the height the tables are set at, the seating can be used as banquettes or as sunpads, making this a versatile open-air area that will be a key part of on-board life.

The foredeck can be set up with cushions on the coffee tables to form large lounging areas

The flybridge, accessible both from the pilothouse and from the aft cockpit, has an outdoor helm station and is also an excellent space for lounging and entertaining, with a dining table shaded by the hardtop and sunpads and a bar aft.

Freivokh’s raised pilothouse layout provided De Cotiis with an open, uninterrupted area on the main deck that has views straight through from fore to aft.

The flybridge has a clean aft area for loose furniture

DE COTIIS OFFERS FRESH VISION

Known for work that pushes the boundaries between architecture, design and art, De Cotiis approached all aspects of the 25 Metri from new angles, sculpting the spaces and furnishing them with organically shaped pieces in a colour palette that recalls the environment around the yacht.

With this interior, De Cotiis shows that yachts don’t have to be symmetrical to be balanced and that an element of surprise only adds to the beauty of on-board living. Much as his treatment of surfaces and furnishings aboard the 25 Metri is unexpected, it never jars thanks to a tranquil and unified colour palette of sea green, cream and brushed brass used throughout the yacht.

De Cotiis used marble, dark walnut, brushed brass, cream-coloured carpeting and bleached wood

Entering the saloon, the immediate sensation is of air and light. De Cotiis masked the yacht’s structural elements with mirror or clad them in curved and reflective materials so that they seem to disintegrate into the diffused light.

He also made sure that no element of the yacht’s decor was predictably square or rectangular by custom designing all the furniture in irregular shapes that flow instead of encumbering as so often happens when loose ‘design’ pieces are used.

By using faceted, organic shapes, De Cotiis created furniture that is functional but never obvious

He loves an imperfect, patinated effect, so even painted wood surfaces are left with a hint of the underlying material showing through for depth and a sense of history.

The dining table shows just how De Cotiis considered living aboard: its top can be rotated away from the centreline of the yacht so eight people can be seated at once, then shifted back to its usual position to reduce the space being used.

Separated from the saloon by a mirrored door, the bright, airy and elegant crew mess could easily be used as a continuation of the saloon, offering a casual spot with excellent views to the foredeck and beyond.

The dining table in the saloon can be rotated 90 degrees if there are extra dinner guests

Federico Lantero, Product Marketing and Communication Director of the Azimut-Benetti Group, explains why Azimut wanted to work with De Cotiis.

“When you’re on a yacht, you don’t want to feel ‘at home’. You want something more magical. We felt that Vincenzo De Cotiis would know how to create atmosphere and give the yacht personality,” he says.

De Cotiis was working on yacht design for the first time

“In Fano, where we have a shipyard, he became fascinated by fibreglass. He started picking up old, damaged pieces and working with them to bring out imperfections and new tonalities. Many of the surfaces in the saloon, like the bases of the tables and some wall panels, are the result of months of work with fibreglass to achieve the effects that De Cotiis wanted.

“It was a kind of philosophical research for him. The yacht is made of fibreglass, but often the material is covered up. He wanted to give the base material new nobility, to bring it out.”

De Cotiis purpose-developed an artisanal method for layering fibreglass

To create the effects De Cotiis wanted, different layers of fibreglass resin were dusted with metallic particles then sanded down. The Italian’s manual, handcrafted craft approach to fibreglass creates surfaces that are difficult to classify and lovely to look at while remaining durable, versatile and uniquely adapted for marine use.

It’s almost ironic that Azimut used carbon-fibre to build the superstructure and hardtop, concealing a material often used decoratively, while De Cotiis explored the decorative potential of fibreglass, a material that is usually considered so humble and bland that it is hidden.

CULTURED CABINS

De Cotiis works his magic again in the master cabin. Like all the guest accommodation, this full-beam cabin is on the lower deck, aft and built in a floating capsule to reduce potential vibration from the engine room.

The full-beam master suite features lush carpeting; interior fabrics are by Loro Piana Interiors

The large hull windows almost graze the waterline, bringing the sensation of being in nature to the forefront. The bed seems to float on a cloud of white carpeting and closet doors are practically hidden they’re so well integrated. The bathroom layout is unusual but functional, with twin basins to port and separate cubicles for the shower and WC.

Even the ceiling treatment – where irregularly shaped polygonal panels are set off with rays of brushed brass – is unexpected, interesting and elegant. The lighting has been designed for warm,

diffused effects.

The master cabin’s ensuite bathroom

Other guest cabins include two doubles to port and a starboard twin cabin with beds that can slide together to become a double.

All cabins have ensuite bathrooms and are furnished in the same colours and luxury materials used throughout the yacht.

The lower deck includes two VIP double cabins to port

Of course, owning a yacht is not all about fun and games. It takes some serious technology to assure comfort and efficiency aboard. Pierluigi Ausonio’s Studio P.L.A.N.A. provided the naval architecture for the 25 Metri’s dual-mode hull, whose double chines and skeg let it navigate smoothly even in rougher conditions.

At cruising speed, the hull runs on its broad upper chine then transitions at 16-16.5 knots to skim along, deflecting the water off its lower chine. Twin 1400hp MAN engines provide a top speed of up to

24 knots while the cruising range at 12 knots is 750nm.

The lower deck includes a flexible twin cabin (above) to starboard, as well as crew cabins forward

As part of its Green Efficiency Program, Azimut has been collaborating with Studio P.L.A.N.A. for new hull shapes and the 25 Metri bears witness to the results they are achieving. A timely touch in these days of the Covid-19 pandemic is the fact that this is the first yacht that can be fitted with Azimut-Benetti’s BCool sanitising system for renewing, refreshing and recirculating the air inside the yacht.

Lithium batteries can also be added so that the yacht’s hotel functions such as kitchen equipment, AC units and the Humphree fin stabilisers can be used for four-six hours by day or six-eight hours by night, even when the generators are off.

The Magellano 25 Metri is the first yacht fitted with Azimut-Benetti’s BCool sanitising system

In the Magellano 25 Metri, Azimut has created a yacht whose truly sophisticated interiors are backed by the kind of technology that will make it both efficient and pleasurable to use. The 25 Metri that isn’t a just place to display art and enjoy the latest technology – the yacht itself is a technological work of art.

And there’s more to come, with Freivokh and De Cotiis reuniting for the 30 Metri, to be launched in 2022.
www.azimutyachts.com
www.azimutyachts.hk

The original article appeared in Issue 56 of Yacht Style

Bali Catspace debuts in Asia

Reviews / yachtstyle2020

Bali Catspace debuts in Asia

December 8, 2020
3:40 pm

One of three Bali sailing catamarans introduced in 2020, the 40ft Catspace features brand signatures like the retractable cockpit door and solid foredeck, plus a fun flybridge and up to 10 berths. By Richard Martin.

Hong Kong is home to the first Bali Catspace Sail in Asia. Photos: Christophe Breschi & Ludovic Fruchaud.

Conceived by entrepreneur Olivier Poncin, founder of France’s Catana Group, and designed by Lasta Design Studio, the new 40ft Catspace is the result of rapid progression within Bali since the catamaran brand was established in 2014.

Inheriting the elegant style and racy profile of other models in Bali’s fast-expanding range, which currently extends to the flagship 5.4 (55ft), the Catspace has a refined exterior, with soft lines and inverted bows flaring upwards.

Yet more notable is that Bali’s new ace in the pack achieves the remarkable feat of offering a flybridge and up to four double cabins and 10 berths, despite being the brand’s smallest sailing yacht.

The Catspace is the new entry model by Bali, the brand created by Catana Group in 2014

The first unit into Asia is set to be unveiled in Hong Kong by local dealer Asiamarine, the model having made her world debut indoors at Boot Dusseldorf in January 2020. So far, the sail cat has met the expectations of new owners and charter clients, says Boris Compagnon, the brand’s Sales Director.

“Our customers are looking for space, to live normally, without a feeling of compromise, comfort that includes autonomy in terms of air-conditioning, fuel and water, and a certain intimacy thanks to the multiplication of different living areas: lazing around, swimming or eating places,” he says. “The Bali Catspace answers all these requests in a 40ft package.”

FLYBRIDGE

A rare feature on a 40ft sailing catamaran, the flybridge is accessed by stairways on both starboard and port, the former leading to the helm station. Offset to starboard, the helm offers a 360-degree view of the sea, with the wheel, winches and engine controls within easy reach.

The flybridge has a portside bench seat offering great views for the skipper

The helm features a wide bench seat, suitable for a couple and fitting two friends at a squeeze, while there’s also a bimini for the skipper’s area.

The helm seating is mirrored to port by another bench seat, which offers a nice spot for forward views while cruising and to provide company for the skipper. Both bench seats have drinks holders in the inside armrest.

Behind, the rectangular, full-width sunbathing area is almost entirely ringed by padded backrests and big enough to fit a few people sitting up, or two adults lying down for a nap or to catch some rays. Aft of the sunbathing area is room for large solar panels, one of several options.

The flybridge has two double bench seats and lots of lounging space

In sailing mode, the Catspace is easy to handle with a small crew and is well balanced for sailing in the breeze. And even if speed is not its priority, it can be equipped with an optional asymmetrical spinnaker for better performance.

The Catspace is delivered with two 20hp Yanmars as standard, although the engines can be upgraded to 30hp saildrive transmission with fixed twin-blade propellers.

BALI FEATURES

Bali’s signature solid foredeck offers another open lounging area, which surprises with its space. As well as four sunpads arranged in front of the windscreen, there’s also a wide, sunken forward lounge

with C-shaped seating. Furthermore, sunpads line the bow, allowing for more people to join the party.

Bali’s signature features include a solid foredeck

Aft, the outdoor cockpit features a wide, forward-facing sofa along with the option of a gas grill or plancha in the starboard locker.

Bali doesn’t separate the cockpit and interior like most builders do, due to arguably the brand’s most iconic feature, the ‘tilt-and-turn’ cockpit door, which basically slides up into the ceiling like a garage

door.

Bali is well known for its ‘tilt-and-turn’ cockpit door, which can retract into the ceiling

In good weather – essentially when it’s warm and dry enough – the door can remain hidden in the ceiling and allow the entire main-deck interior benefit from the sea breeze and open views. Air circulation also benefits from the sliding windows on each side of the saloon, which is remarkably spacious for a 40-footer while cleverly making the most of the ‘open’ design.

An aft-facing L-shaped sofa and a long dining table dominate the port side, and loose chairs can be added for meals. There’s also a sofa to starboard, which means a large group of people can sit on all four sides of the seating area, a nice option for drinks after dinner.

The Catspace features a roomy L-shaped galley to starboard and navigation station to port

The lounge also has immediate access to another of the Catspace’s popular features, the towering 265-litre refrigerator/freezer on the starboard side. This leads forward to a spacious, open L-shaped galley with great views out of the panoramic windows, which also ensure the whole interior benefits from natural light.

To port is a forward-facing chart table and navigation station. While there’s no forward door to the foredeck, as there is in bigger Bali models, the middle of three forward windows can open, which allows for a through breeze and also communication between people ‘inside’ and those lounging in the foredeck.

FOUR CABINS AND 10 BERTHS

The Catspace lives up to its spacious moniker by offering up to 10 guest berths in four ensuite cabins, typically only found in sailing cats from 42ft or 45ft upwards. Beautifully decorated, modern and using high-quality materials, each cabin has its own bathroom with shower and toilet.

View from the forward starboard cabin and ensuite bathroom to the aft cabin

In the four-cabin option, both hulls have matching layouts, with the aft cabin featuring a forward-facing double bed and a bathroom beside the door.

The larger forward cabins each feature a raised, window-facing double bed that’s accessible on both sides up a couple of steps and has bedside ledges for your books, phone and anything else you need at hand. There’s also a fold-out bunk under the hull window – so providing three berths in each of the forward cabins – and a bathroom identical to those in the aft cabins.

View from the forward double on port side to the aft double cabin

A three-cabin version is also available, with the owner’s suite occupying the port hull. The double bed is aft and there’s a sofa, a desk or dressing table, a walk-in dressing room and a large bathroom in the bow with an enclosed shower.

The Catspace has another of Bali’s signature features in the stern, a platform connecting the two skirts that can carry a small tender or toys, then double as a swim platform once it’s clear. A watermaker, folding propellers and solar panels are among the yacht’s many options.

Each forward cabin has the option of a foldout single bed

Well-built and good value, this 40-footer is a real head-turner due to Bali’s user-friendly features, large interior volumes, fun flybridge and remarkable 10 berths, which increases potential charter business even for private owners, who can plump for three cabins if they wish.

And for owners looking for more choice, Bali is developing a sister model, the Catspace MY, which will become only Bali’s second powercat after the4.3 MY.
www.bali-catamarans.com
www.asiamarine.com

The original article appears in Issue 56 of Yacht Style

Galeon 400 Fly: The Mini Transformer

Reviews / yachtstyle2020

Galeon 400 Fly: The Mini Transformer

December 3, 2020
4:57 pm

Now in Asia, the new Galeon 400 Fly is the yard’s smallest model offering its iconic folding balconies, opening a new chapter for outdoor living on a 41-footer.

A recent arrival in Hong Kong, the Galeon 400 Fly was premiered at Boot Dusseldorf in January 2020

It takes all of five minutes aboard the 400 Fly to banish the notion that its balconies are just a gimmick, designed to lure people in at boat shows. The balconies are half of the story when it comes to creating the best cockpit in class, because it’s how the designers have used the spaces around the balcony to really make the most of them.

The way the saloon opens to the outside spaces is very intelligent. The doors slide all the way across to port and expose the aft end of the saloon dinette, which has a two-way backrest so two people can sit facing aft and join in with those sitting around the cockpit table.

At anchor, the sides can be dropped to create an enormous cockpit

Better yet, this double bench pivots and locks in place to straddle the threshold between cockpit and saloon to create a more sociable seating arrangement.

Two other key options that improve the aft deck are the hydraulic bathing platform and the transom wet bar. The platform includes built-in steps that open as the platform descends into the water, so you don’t have an awkward scramble between the main deck and lowered platform.

The cockpit has an adjustable table, while aft is a grill, chopping board and sink

The transom bar features a barbecue grill, chopping board, sink and drained cooler, and these two additions in tandem with the balconies create a genuinely outstanding outdoor living space that quickly become the social hub of the boat.

The balconies can either be left open and used to drop into the water from either side of the cockpit or set up with the poles, ropes, a table and chairs so you can have a drink overlooking the water.

FOREDECK AND FLYBRIDGE

With all this trickery on the main deck, it’s easy to forget that there’s also a flybridge to make use of. It’s a good one, too, sensibly laid out and deep enough that you feel well protected even with the bimini down.

The flybridge offers an enormous amount of wraparound seating, and has the option of a wet bar with a grill, sink and fridge

All the seating is mounted at a good height, with short bases and tall backrests, so it’s comfortable to sit for long periods around the table. There isn’t a sunpad on the top deck, but there is space for a compact wet bar with a grill, sink and fridge.

There is space to sunbathe between either the convertible cockpit dinette or foredeck sunpad. The latter also features a flip-up bench at its forward end, creating a lovely spot to retire to on anchor or when the boat is pushing along at displacement speed.

In the saloon, it’s the helm door, of all things, that steals the show due to the sheer size of it. It essentially opens half of the starboard side of the saloon to the side deck but also locks in three different positions.

The ventilation benefits are obvious, but most impressive is the way it links the saloon and decks, providing a connection to the outside that you simply don’t expect from a smallish flybridge cruiser.

The saloon (above) has large windows, seating on both sides and an adjustable table; the L-shaped galley (below) is forward to port, beside the helm station

It feeds into the clever layout of the aft deck and works in synergy with the balconies and sliding doors aft to create easy circulation around the boat that means you don’t have to rely solely on the cockpit doors to move into the saloon.

TWO ENSUITE CABINS

Few flybridge cruisers with these dimensions are without compromise and on the Galeon it’s found in the midships cabin, which unlike rivals from Sealine and Prestige, has crouching room only.

The lower deck features a full-beam double midships

The rest of the cabin is actually pretty good, the fit-out is smart and, being full beam, there’s a decent amount of room around the bed, although there’s no avoiding the fact the cabin is quite difficult to move around inside.

The ensuite doesn’t suffer from such issues and features classy fittings in the separate shower cubicle, where there’s over 6ft of headroom, with both a pull-out showerhead and rainfall fixture overhead.

The ensuite bathroom for the midships cabin is to starboard

Owners will most likely opt for the forward cabin purely because it has full standing headroom and is also ensuite. Yes, the midships cabin has its flaws, but you can’t grumble too much about a sub-42ft boat that has two double cabins and a bathroom each.

If you have guests on board who aren’t a couple, the scissor-action berths in the forward cabin transform into a pair of singles, which is a useful option and adds to the flexibility of the sleeping spaces.

The scissor-action berths in the forward cabin can transform into a pair of singles

As with the rest of the interior, the cabins and bathrooms are finished to a high standard, with doors that shut with an engineered clunk and classy indirect lighting that emits a homely glow in the evening. It’s pleasing to see that even with one of its smaller models, Galeon isn’t cutting corners when it comes to fit and finish.

FUN FROM THE HELM

From either helm, the 400 is a good boat to drive but, unusually for a flybridge, it’s the lower helm that impresses most. Again, it’s the side door that makes all the difference, allowing the helmsman, in good weather, to romp along with the breeze in their face and the sound of the water streaming past the hull.

The lower helm in the saloon benefits from the side door

It’s brilliant when berthing, too, both for communication with crew and because the skipper can see easily and get out on to the side deck to help with lines.

It does, from the lower helm especially, need quite a bit of trim tab to keep the bow level and maintain a clear view forward. The balconies, hi-lo platform, transom wet bar and the likes of a tender or jetski add weight at the stern of the boat, so it’s likely the trim tabs would be employed a lot of the time to find the optimum running attitude when cruising.

The Galeon 400 Fly can reach almost 30 knots

This weight is another reason why the highest-powered engines are the most sensible choice. We achieved a two-way top speed of 29.4 knots with no cruising gear, less than half fuel, and no fresh water on board, so you can imagine that smaller powerplants might struggle to shift the boat, especially if there is some growth on the hull and props.

As it is, the 400 feels comfortable cruising at 22-25 knots, with 23 knots proving most efficient once you’re past displacement speeds. It’s no sportsboat, but it handles well and feels solidly planted in the water, with no creaks or groans emanating from the interior. I can’t speak for the IPS or sterndrives versions, but in shaft-drive guise, the 400 performs very tidily.

Galeon dealer Asiamarine has been arranging viewings in Hong Kong

The first Galeon 400 in Asia was recently delivered to Hong Kong by local dealer Asiamarine, which has been busy organising viewings for prospects interested in the new ‘mini transformer’. There may be better options out there if cabin space is top of the priority list, but if you cherish life on deck above all else, no other small flybridge cruiser comes anywhere close.

– Mike Ellis

www.galeon.pl
www.asiamarine.com

Asiamarine Grows With Fraser, Galeon and Bali Catamarans | Yacht Style
For a man representing Galeon, one of the world's hottest motor yacht brands, and Fraser, one of the world's leading superyacht brokerage houses, Eric Noyel carries a calm yet cautious air. Eric Noyel (middle), founder & CEO of Asiamarine, with (left-right) Hamish Pope, Kenny Chan, Sum Lo, Adam Blackmore, Laura Verbrugge and Sacha Chouraqu i The Frenchman has good reason to feel assured.

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Fast and Flexible: The new 43wallytender

Reviews / yachtstyle2020

Fast and Flexible: The new 43wallytender

November 5, 2020
4:37 pm

Ferretti Group has launched the first ‘Gator Green’ 43wallytender, which offers 40 knots and a large, flexible aft platform suitable for many purposes, including a fun day out.

The 43wallytender reaches 40 knots with optional 440hp engines

After Ferretti Group announced its purchase of Wally in January 2019, the iconic brand’s first new model under its new owner was the stunning 48wallytender, which debuted at the Cannes Yachting Festival last September and tore its way around the bay during sea trials.

A year later, Ferretti Group showcased its little sister, the 43wallytender, at its annual Private Preview at the Monaco Yacht Club before also displaying her at the Group’s new Private Boat Show in its La Spezia shipyard.

The 43-footer follows on from the 48wallytender that debuted in 2019

While there are a host of similarities between these fast, fun and stylish dayboats, there are also a range of differences to keep things interesting, such as the new centre-cockpit design on the 43, which provides the protection of a cockpit with the practicality and access of a walkaround.

Stefano de Vivo, Managing Director of Wally and CCO of Ferretti Group, said: “Thanks to Wally’s iconic design heritage and innovation developed over more than 25 years, with the 43wallytender our team introduced a fresh new take on the middle part of the boat and its use, creating the new ‘centre cockpit’ concept.

The 43wallytender is distinguished by its ‘centre cockpit’ layout

“At the same time, we evolved our offering to satisfy the yacht owners of today and tomorrow by elevating the day-boat yachting standards. Upholding Wally’s customary cool aesthetics and extraordinary performance, this addition to the Wally family is a benchmark of the future.”

PROUD HERITAGE, NEW IDEAS
Drawing on earlier Wallytender models, the 43-footer displays an abundance of design features that enable it to be used in a variety of ways, such as a family day boat, superyacht tender, resort shuttle and even sailing yacht support vessel, with masses of room to carry sails.

The dayboat feels spacious due to its clean aft deck

Capable of 40 knots, this powerful, practical and seaworthy Category B runabout has the capacity to carry up to 12 people and is the latest creation of Wally founder Luca Bassani to hit the water.

“Our team has worked tirelessly to create a tender that perfectly meets the multifunctional needs of today’s owners while also staying true to our Wally design philosophy,” says Bassani, also the brand’s Chief Designer.

The aft deck offers lounging sofas which become sunbathing pads when the sides drop

“You will not find a single item that does not serve a purpose in its purest, simplest and most beautiful form. I am very proud of what we have achieved with the 43wallytender, which deserves its place cruising alongside our wider family of Wally yachts and tenders.”

When creating the model, Wally’s design team consulted owners of its existing tender fleet to understand how various features benefited day-to-day use. The new model delivers a sheltered passenger and driver experience, excellent handling, high-speed performance, a double cabin, a bathroom with standing headroom and separate shower, and a range of deck configurations.

INSPIRED BY WALLY’S LEGACY
The 43wallytender also draws on Wally’s sailing heritage through the laminated sail mounted across the T-top’s carbon-fibre superstructure, which simultaneously offers open-air living and shelter from the sun.

The carbon-fibre T-top is supported by just one pillar on each side

Made from laminated sail cloth, the T-top is highly practical. Being semi-transparent, it allows plenty of light but avoids sunburn and glare yet is light enough to be supported by a single pillar, so offering excellent visibility for all on board.

Developed by Wally and Ferretti Group’s technical engineering department, the 43wallytender is built in advanced composites with carbon-fibre at Wally’s new production site in Forli, Italy. As with all the brand’s tenders, the 43wallytender is available in a unique range of colours.

The laminated sail cloth used in the T-top is both pioneering and practical

The first unit has a striking iridescent green hull, in a colour dubbed ‘Gator Green’, in honour of the company’s first sailing yacht, Wallygator, which was also green.

PROTECTIVE AND FLEXIBLE
The centre cockpit provides the driver and passengers with excellent protection from the elements, especially at top speeds, as the wraparound glass windshield cocoons those on board from three sides while the T-top offers shelter from above.

The front windshield features an angular bend of a single pane of glass

Remarkably, the windshield’s front section has an angular bend of a single pane of glass, achieved without use of a central strut, again enhancing visibility. The flanking walkways mean passengers can have safe access to the bow as well as the large sunpad on the foredeck.

Ferretti Group describes the yacht as the ‘Swiss Army Knife of the seas’ because of how deck configurations can change to suit the owner’s needs. The flush, open aft deck coupled with the standard wings provides the ideal platform to accommodate many guests or transport sails for a racing superyacht during a busy regatta season.

The foredeck provides additional lounging space

The addition of a fold-out dining table, seating and raised sunbed converts the tender into a family day boat, shuttle or tender.

Further storage in an optional aft sunbed creates a great platform for watersports activities, with space to stow a Seabob, wakeboards, scuba diving tanks and other small toys.

Instead of committing to a single configuration and purpose for the tender at the time of purchase, owners have an armoury of accessories and features at their disposal, which can be stored when not in use and then swapped in at a shipyard in just a day or two.

The yacht provides a cosy double cabin forward

The wide range of standard features include the carbon T-top, LED deck lighting, concealed hydraulic push-button anchor system, side-opening bulwark wings to extend the deck space – carried over from the 48wallytender – teak decking and the classic Wally wraparound fender system.

POWER AND FUNCTIONALITY
Twin Volvo Penta diesel 380hp stern drive engines are an advantage for storage on a lift at a waterside home and give the added benefit of a shallower draft for exploration in remote areas. There is an option to upgrade to twin 440hp engines for top speeds of 40 knots, while the user-friendly joystick controls are ideal for intuitive and easy manoeuvring.

The lower-deck facilities mean an overnight stay is possible

The cockpit has bench-style seating to promote a more social environment, while a fridge and an insulated ice box locker are included as standard, along with a carbon-fibre swimming ladder.

A second, larger fridge and ice maker are among options along with a diesel generator, a proper shower with large shower-head to be assembled aft deck, air-conditioning both inside and outside in the cockpit area, SeaKeeper stabiliser system and automated retractable swimming ladder/passerelle.

The standing-room bathroom facilities includes a separate shower compartment

Several elements can be customised to an owner’s needs. For instance, the carbon T-top can be eliminated should the vessel need to be stowed in a tender garage without sufficient clearance. It all depends on how and where you want to use this colourful addition to Wally’s proudportfolio.
www.wally.com
www.ferrettigroup.com

Ferretti Yachts raises the bar on new 500 | Yacht Style
Ferretti Yachts' new 500 is the smallest model in its range, but it's also a look to the future. The 15.3m model is the brand's third with an exterior by Filippo Salvetti but the first with an interior by IdeaeItalia and ushers in a new for the brand, as both design firms are also working on the upcoming flagship 1000.

Ferretti Yachts raises the bar on new 500

Reviews / yachtstyle2020

Ferretti Yachts raises the bar on new 500

October 23, 2020
8:21 pm

With an exterior by Filippo Salvetti and interior by IdeaeItalia, the new Ferretti Yachts 500 is the Italian builder’s entry-level model and the first to feature the brand’s ‘Just Like Home’ design language.

Ferretti Yachts 500 is the brand’s third model with an exterior by Filippo Salvetti

Ferretti Yachts’ new 500 is the smallest model in its range, but it’s also a look to the future. The 15.3m model is the brand’s third with an exterior by Filippo Salvetti but the first with an interior by IdeaeItalia and ushers in a new for the brand, as both design firms are also working on the upcoming flagship 1000.

“The layout on the Ferretti Yachts 500 is carefully designed to offer the owner all the opportunities of a larger craft,” Ferretti Yachts states. “The all-new interior design embraces the values expressed by the ‘Just Like Home’ claim, which means comfort, ‘Italianness’, timeless design and artisan expertise.”

Twin 550mhp Cummins QSB 6.7 engines produce a top speed of 30 knots and a cruising speed of 25

Salvetti first worked with Ferretti on the 670 that debuted in 2018 followed by the 720 launched last year. The brand-new 500 is currently the entry model for a seven-strong range that also includes 550, 780, 850 and 920 models.

Like all Ferretti Yachts models, the design collaboration included the Ferretti Group’s Product Strategy Committee led by Piero Ferrari and the Group’s Engineering Department.

The submersible swim platform makes the most of the yacht’s 14ft beam

The 50-footer has a beam of just over 14ft (4.3m) and retains many of the same features as the brand’s larger yachts, like the swim platform, which on this unit features optional steps when submerged, for safety while entering the water, and is fitted with a new-generation lift system. The aft area also features generous storage space.

There’s access from both sides up to the cockpit, which has a sofa and a table in front of it. This area can be used for relaxing or as a dining space seating up to eight people. Alternatively, the backrest can be reclined to form a sun lounger, which can be extended by converting the table into seating with cushions.

The cockpit is well connected to the interior and features stairs to the flybridge

The flybridge has multi-purpose setting, with an aft dining area dominated by a sofa that run along port side, aft and slightly along starboard, surrounding a table that can be extended to seat more guests.

The huge sunpad on the starboard side of the bow area is fitted with a double backrest for maximum comfort. Alongside it, the exterior helm station has a new concept dashboard and the dedicated pilot seat. Incorporated in the design is the possibility of sheltering the living areas with a bimini top.

The flybridge helm (above) on the first unit has a 12in screen; the aft area (below) has lots of seating and a wet bar

The flybridge helm station on the first unit is fitted with a single 12in monitor, while the standard version has a 9in monitor.

There’s also outdoor lounging space on the foredeck, which has a central sunpad with optional reclining backrests.

INTERIORS JUST LIKE HOME
The cockpit glass door connects the exterior and interior, boosted by a great tilting window, while the galley is well located and designed to serve the dining area and also the cockpit area.

The cockpit sofa has a reclining backrest, while the table can be covered with cushions

The main deck has a spacious lounge area featuring two sofas and an adjustable table that be converted into a dining table using the rotating extension mechanism, and a coffee table using the up-down system.

On the lower deck, Ferretti Yachts offers two layouts: one with a spacious master cabin and a VIP cabin, both with private bathroom and small laundry, while the other includes a master cabin, a VIP cabin and a double with two single beds and two bathrooms. The big windows flood the bathrooms with natural light.

The first unit features IdeaeItalia’s lighter Contemporary mood; Classic is the other interior option

Midships, the full-beam master cabin features new design solutions such as a mirror behind the bed that stretches across the width of the cabin, increasing the sense of space. The layout also offers a TV area for screens up to 43in, plus roomy lockers and drawers. The basin top and shower walls in the master bathroom are clad in premium materials.

The table can be adjusted for size with the rotating extension mechanism and for height with the up-down system.

The other cabins reprise the design of the master cabin, making use of the same colours and exclusively ‘Made in Italy’ materials.

An attractive option for owners in Asia is that the huge aft peak on the lower deck can be converted into a crew cabin on request.

CONTEMPORARY OR CLASSIC
The first unit is personalised with the Contemporary interior design mood inspired by the colours of Santorini and dominated by oak in different sand-coloured tones for the walls, furniture and parquet, paired with polished and matt lacquer in various shades of white.

The full-beam master suite midships benefits from enlarged hull windows

Glass, polished steel and fabrics in grey, sky blue and beige are expertly combined to create a refined and contemporary atmosphere. The natural stone effect grey tiles and white marble in the galley and bathrooms enhance the interior design with outstanding materials for a 50-footer.

The interiors bring together Made in Italy brands, starting with the furnishings: Graniti Fiandre, Galassia and OML for the bathroom, Colombo handles, Cadorin parquet, Pellini lacquered venetian blinds, Zimmer+Rohde sofas and Paffoni mixer taps. And making the onboard experience even more comfortable is the Gentili Mosconi Home Collection of fabrics for Ferretti Yachts.

The forward VIP suite is the second of an optional three cabins, while a crew cabin can be added aft

The interior is also available in the Classic mood, which features warm colours inspired by the town of Portofino and is dominated by dark oak paired with polished and matt lacquer in black and white. Fabrics and leather in brown and beige are accompanied by polished nickel and dark stoneware effect marble in the bathrooms.

POWER AND TECHNOLOGY
The Ferretti Yachts 500 is powered by a pair of 550mhp Cummins QSB 6.7 engines and, based on preliminary data, is predicted to have a top speed of 30 knots and a cruising speed of 25 knots.

Technology includes Humphree dynamic trim interceptors and gyroscopic stabilisation

The yacht is also fitted with a set of Humphree dynamic trim interceptors with automatic operating mode to simplify use and reduce consumption. It can also be fitted on request with gyroscopic stabilisation to improve stability at anchor and when cruising.

On this first unit, the interior helm station on the main deck has three touchscreen monitors, one 9in and two 12in, and an optional joystick with docking mode eases handling in confined waters.

Ferretti Yachts is preparing to make a big splash with its new 100ft flagship, but at the other end of the range, its new 500 offers all you could want and more in a fantastic 50-footer.
www.ferretti-yachts.com
www.ferrettigroup.com
To contact Ferretti Group Asia-Pacific, email: infoapac@ferrettigroup.com

Sixty 5 rounds out Lagoon’s ‘big four’

Reviews / yachtstyle2020

Sixty 5 rounds out Lagoon’s ‘big four’

September 29, 2020
4:43 pm

Joining Lagoon’s Seventy 8 and Sixty 7 powercats and the pioneering Seventy 7 sail cat, the new Sixty 5 offers comfort, easy handling, remarkable space and a wide range of layout options for all three decks.

Appearing a year after the Sixty 67 powercat, the Sixty 5 has a mast clearance of 111ft. Photos: Nicolas Claris

Lagoon’s new Sixty 5 sailing catamaran completes the brand’s current ‘big four’ and comes out a year after the Sixty 67 powercat debuted at the Cannes Yachting Festival.

The Sixty 5 is the French builder’s second-biggest sail model and is inspired by her big sister, the Seventy 7 that debuted in 2016 at Cannes, from where the first hull eventually made her way to Hong Kong for her Asia debut before heading to her home in the Philippines.

The Seventy 8 powercat premiered at Cannes the following year, with the model’s first hull in Asia arriving this year.

The Sixty 5 is Lagoon’s second-biggest sailing catamaran

The Sixty 5 is the sailing sister of the Sixty 7, but despite the name, has a greater overall length of 67ft 5in (20.55m), exactly a metre longer than her hull length of 64ft 2in (19.55m).

She’s also the successor to the acclaimed 620, which was launched in 2009 and upgraded with a Nauta interior in 2012, and has proved popular across Asia’s warmer cruising destinations including Thailand, the Philippines and the tropical island of Sanya, ‘China’s Hawaii’.

Like the Sixty 7, the Sixty 5 has streamlined bows, a rounded cockpit, high freeboards and, above all, great volume, as well as a beam of 33ft (10m).

VPLP’s Marc Van Peteghem says: “Her long legs allow you to eat up the miles and then you can enjoy her comfort at stopovers.”

Constructed at the Lagoon headquarters in Bordeaux, where the brand’s 50ft-plus models are built, the yacht was drawn by the brand’s trusted design team of VPLP for naval architecture and Italy’s Nauta Design for the interior. The result is wide circulation spaces on board and a modern, well balanced silhouette.

Marc Van Peteghem, who co-founded VPLP in 1983, says: “I’m a sailor at heart and there was no way the Sixty 5 wasn’t going to be a really easy-to-use yacht that could cruise far and wide under sail in comfort and with seakeeping qualities inherited from her big sister (Seventy 7).

“I dream of going long-term cruising on this boat. Her long legs allow you to eat up the miles and then you can enjoy her comfort at stopovers.”

SPACE ABOARD

Stepping aboard via the aft platform, you immediately appreciate the comfort and ease of moving from one space to another, with the sheltered cockpit acting as a hub for most outdoor activities.

A rotating, smokeless barbecue is fitted into the port side of the cockpit, by the aft sofa

The aft of the cockpit features the reversible bench seat seen on the Sixty 7, an innovative and practical design for use at anchor where guests can relax facing the sea.

The heart of the cockpit is an L-shaped sofa and long dining table with plenty of space to port for loose chairs, offering comfortable dining for six people and up to eight at a squeeze. A wet bar to port includes a fridge, freezer, cooler and sink.

A wide staircase to port leads to a great flybridge, which offers over 330sqft of space protected by a rigid composite bimini, with a wet bar beside the staircase.

The bright, spacious saloon features a C-shaped sofa and lounge area with a low coffee table to port, and a large dining table and L-shaped sofa on the starboard side

The fly has two helm consoles and top-of-the-range electric winches. For the skipper, the visibility is excellent and is aided by a camera system that monitors the front and rear hulls of the catamaran, while a bow thruster is an option for those who may need help parking a yacht of this length and width.

Lagoon offers various furniture options and layouts for the flybridge including a large sunbathing area aft and a dining table alongside a fitted starboard sofa. The Tribu version features an athwartships dining table with loose furniture aft.

OPTIONS ABOUND

There are also a range of choices for the interior, starting with either the galley up or down in the port hull.

Grey oak and beige are among upholstery options for the sofas in the saloon, where a 54in TV is hidden in the ceiling

With the galley up, located along the port side of the saloon and featuring an island bar, the accommodation options are six cabins, three on each side, or five, with the owner’s suite using the space of the aft two cabins in the starboard hull.

The hull we sea trialled featured the galley down in the aft port hull and this is likely to be the most popular option for Asia-based buyers, with accommodation ranging from four or five cabins, still a large offering.

With this layout, the 322sqft (30sqm) saloon offers two huge sofas on either side, with a coffee table to port and a dining table to starboard. Forward is a navigation station including an elegant chart

table, while to its right is a well-equipped bar area with ice maker, wine cooler and refrigerator.

The galley has Miele home-size appliances including a microwave, electric stove and oven, double fridge, double sink and a secondary freezer in the floor

The interior offers remarkable views on all sides including through to the forward lounge, which is accessed by a central door and is one space that underwhelms. More cosy than expansive, it has sunken sofas and just two fixed sun loungers, on either side, although there’s room to throw down a few towels if more people want to lounge.

LUXURY ACCOMMODATION

If the large owner’s suite is chosen, as it was on the version we viewed, it’s located aft on the starboard side and has two stairways, from the saloon and beside the cockpit. It’s also the favourite room of Nauta’s Massimo Gino, who led the interior design with Mario Pedol.

The owner’s suite is in the starboard hull and has an en-suite bathroom with private stairs up to the aft cockpit

The interior headroom is impressive and the large window offers plenty of light and a nice sea view. Other strong points included a low king-size bed, a library, plenty of storage areas and, through sliding doors, a large en-suite bathroom with his and her sinks, a separate toilet and stairs leading up beside the cockpit.

The guest cabins all feature sea-facing beds and en-suite bathrooms, and are similarly well finished. There’s an additional layout option. The midships cabin in the starboard hull can be used as a crew cabin with bunk beds, en-suite bathroom, desk by the window and direct access to the kitchen in the galley-down layout.

The galley-down is suitable for a crewed yacht but also offers a beautifully designed enclosed kitchen with a comfortable dinette that could be used by guests for breakfast. Again, the choice is yours.

The Sixty 5 is as attractive at night as she is during the day

Designed for long cruises, the Sixty 5’s long-haul design benefits from the experience of the VPLP office and the builder, which has produced over 5,000 Lagoons for the global market since 1984.

Despite its 40-tonne weight, the catamaran flirts silently with nine knots in 15 knots of wind propelled by an almost 100sqm genoa. The mast set back offers good stability and should reassure family owners, although some will reproach the cat’s lack of feeling at the helm.

Standard engines are twin 150hp Volvo D3s with a cruising speed of nine knots or you can upgrade to 180hp Volvo D4s for a cruising speed of just under 10 knots. The range on the latter is about 800nm at 1,500rpm or 467nm at 2,000rpm, which is over nine knots, reassurance that you can reach your next anchorage even on days without wind.

www.cata-lagoon.com
www.simpsonmarine.com

Riva 88’ Folgore: Fast as Lightning

Leave a Comment / Reviews / yachtstyle2020

Riva 88’ Folgore: Fast as Lightning

September 24, 2020
3:08 pm

Presented at this year’s Ferretti Group Private Preview, Riva’s new Sportfly flagship has a shark-grey hull, serious style and – as its name suggests – lightning speed.

The first unit has a top speed of 39 knots with twin 2,638mhp MTU engines

A new Riva is always a welcome occasion and this year the 88’ Folgore – Italian for lightning – combines the sleekness and speed of a sport boat with the exquisitely finished exterior and interior spaces the brand is renowned for.

Among the new models showcased at this year’s Ferretti Group Private Preview in Monaco, the first unit of the Folgore has a shark-grey hull with bright black detailing, classic colours in the Riva tradition of recent years.

Built from composite materials, with carbon-fibre reinforcements in the superstructure, the Folgore features plenty of marble, crystal glass and stainless steel, yet still racks up 39 knots with the more powerful of its twin MTU 16V options.

The Folgore has an overall length of 26.9m (88ft 4in)

Officina Italiana Design, headed by Mauro Micheli and Sergio Beretta, designs the entire Riva range and for this heir to the Domino, one of the brand’s top sellers, the firm has again collaborated with the Ferretti Group’s Product Strategy Committee, led by Piero Ferrari, and its Engineering Department.

The course set by Officina Italiana Design with the Dolceriva continues with the new design of the hull windows, which looks a bit like a clean black brushstroke along the yacht’s silver side.

The Folgore is another collaboration between Officina Italiana Design and Ferretti Group

Mahogany-and-steel detailing and carbon-fibre elements continue to show the influence of past and present on recent Rivas, while navigation lights framed in polished stainless steel or the continuous aquamarine waterline exemplify sophisticated functional design.

The walkway handrails are also carbon-fibre and steel, with a section on the starboard side that also acts as the handle for the access door to the interior. Making this boat even more unique is the innovative windscreen, manufactured with spherical crystals that result in a slight counter-curvature.

The garage can house a Williams Sportjet 395 and a jetski

Another innovative feature is the glass roof in the superstructure, which swings open both towards the stern and the bow, to allow fresh air in either when cruising or at anchor. Under the roof is a slatted structure that separates the interior and exterior spaces if desired. The standard solution is a fixed roof.

EXTERIORS
Aiming to offer a design that combines aesthetics and functionality, the Folgore delivers a redesigned stern, with a rear door that swings open into two different positions: parallel to the waterline for use as a 6sqm beach club or submerged for launching and recovering the tender.

The cockpit’s mahogany table can be lowered to form a huge sunpad

Two sets of teak side steps lead to the 22sqm multifunctional cockpit area. The first unit has a huge dining area with a sofa that can be transformed into a sunpad by operating the up-down mechanism that raises and lowers the polished mahogany tabletop.

On the left is a service unit with a storage compartment, an ice-maker and either a fridge or the third command station for stern mooring operations. To starboard, the mobile bar next to the sportfly stairs has a Stone by Florim marble top that opens electrically and two stools.

The foredeck has a huge C-shaped sofa and a sunpad for at least four people

The crew quarters can be accessed through a companion hatch under the stairway, as well as from the galley on the lower deck.

In the bow, the layout of this first unit features a huge C-shaped sofa with a coffee table that swings open to reveal a big storage area and, further forward, a sunpad that can accommodate at least four people.

A small sun hood is integrated in the foredeck sunpad

Integrated in the sunpad is a small sun hood that is opened by an electro-hydraulic mechanism, while the entire 23sqm area can be covered with awnings.

The 20sqm sportfly offers the owner even more ideas for ways to relax in comfort, with a big sunpad plus sofa in the stern, another sofa with a coffee table and pouf on the port side, and yet another sofa to starboard.

The sportfly features lots of seating and a central helm station

The helm station is centrally positioned in the bow, with a pivoting backrest shared by the sofa, and features two 16-inch touchscreen displays. This area can also be completely covered with awnings.

INTERIORS
Entered through the glass door in the cockpit, the interiors on the main deck are divided into lounge, dining and helm areas.

The interior areas have 2m of headroom

The height of all the interior areas touches 2m and is even higher on the lower deck, a huge plus point for any guests.

A mix of wood, leather and steel characterises the onboard decor on both the main and lower decks. The dominant wood on this first unit is polished rosewood, combined with pale or dark coloured leather inserts and white parquet.

The saloon has a large Poliform sofa to starboard

These pairings and the contrasting white and black lacquered sections of ceiling create surprising contrasts that infuse the boat with a refined, classical elegance, enhanced by the natural light that floods in through the continuous side windows and the windscreen.

The saloon features a grey marble Poliform coffee table and a big ice-coloured Poliform sofa to starboard that faces a cabinet with a TV (up to 55 inches). Also on the port side is the dining area, featuring a big tinted glass table with a stainless-steel base and grey Minotti chairs with charcoal-coloured nubuck backrests.

Forward of the saloon, the dining table seats up to eight

The helm station is starboard, has two adjustable-height leather seats and is separated from the saloon by a full-height tinted glass partition. The captain can also enter and leave through the door next to the helm station.

LOWER DECK
The lower deck features the full-beam owner’s suite midships, a VIP double in the bow, a portside VIP cabin with convertible twin beds, and a guest twin, all with en-suite bathrooms. The starboard cabin’s bathroom also acts as the day head.

The 20sqm owner’s suite is proposed with three different layouts

Mirrored surfaces dominate all the cabins. Walls clad with tinted mirrors and widescreen TVs are cleverly paired with wood, leather, fabric and colours that match those on the main deck.

The 20sqm owner’s suite is proposed with three different layouts. The first unit is fitted with version A, which has one big owner’s bathroom, a walk-in closet and a vanity table with a leather-and-aluminium Living Divani chair.

The owner’s suite makes the most of the yacht’s beam of 20ft 8in

The furnishings are rounded out by several pieces of freestanding furniture chosen by the owner, including a Poliform brown leather chair, a black-painted steel Frank coffee table by B&B Italia, and a silver armchair by Minotti. Access is down three white marble steps, while the floor, shower and basin top in the owner’s bathroom are finished in white and gold polished Calacatta marble.

The standard version has a smaller bathroom and two walk-in closets, while version B offers the possibility of two bathrooms with separate services and a single central shower, in addition to the walk-in wardrobe.

The VIP cabin in the bow has two wardrobes

The lower deck also features the galley and crew quarters, which contain a mess area, two cabins with bunk beds and head, and a laundry with a washing machine plus an optional clothes dryer. One of the two entrances to the engine room is located here, while the other is in the cockpit.

PROPULSION AND TECHNOLOGY
This first unit is fitted with a pair of MTU 16V 2000 M96L engines rated 2,638mhp, for a top speed of 39 knots and a cruising speed of 33, each speed three knots faster than with the standard 2,435mhp engines.

The first Riva 88’ Folgore has a top speed of 39 knots and a cruising speed of 33 knots

The helm station on the main bridge has Xenta electro-hydraulic steering gear, with independent rudder management for sporty turn optimisation. There’s also a Loop-integrated dashboard developed in collaboration with Naviop-Simrad, which integrates onboard monitoring with navigation and manoeuvring instruments, from which the captain can manage the entire yacht.

The first unit is equipped with three 19-inch touchscreen displays. A joystick features docking-mode functionality for easy handling in confined waters such as when mooring alongside, with lateral movement aided by the proportional bow thruster.

The first unit is equipped with three 19-inch touchscreen displays and a joystick

In addition to all this, a Dynamic Positioning System maintains the yacht in the same position even in strong winds and currents, an ideal solution when preparing to moor or waiting to refuel. The new model is fitted with Humphree stabilising fins, while the Folgore can also be fitted with the Seakeeper SK26 gyroscopic stabiliser.

With the 88’ Folgore, Riva has created another winner in another dynamic year for the Ferretti Group.
www.riva-yacht.com
www.ferrettigroup.com

To contact Ferretti Group Asia-Pacific, email: infoapac@ferrettigroup.com

Ferretti Group Sells 12 Yachts in Asia-Pacific in Record Year
Ferretti Group has secured €70 million in sales in Asia-Pacific so far in 2020 and recently signed two new dealerships in Southeast Asia.

CL Yachts launches lucky CLB88

Reviews / yachtstyle2020

CL Yachts launches lucky CLB88

September 17, 2020
1:14 pm

CL Yachts unveiled its flagship CLB88 in Hong Kong before hull one headed to the US for its world premiere at the Fort Lauderdale show. By Andrew Dembina.

The CLB88 is the new flagship of CL Yachts, which is headquartered in Hong Kong

The much-anticipated CLB88, the second model in the CLB series by Hong Kong-headquartered CL Yachts, debuted in August after production of the first hull remained almost on schedule despite Covid-19.

The motor yacht was temporarily berthed at the company’s office and service yard in Hong Kong, having been built at its production shipyard west of Zhuhai, a city now connected by bridge to Hong Kong.

The Asian ‘reveal’ of the CLB88 preceded the planned world premiere in the US at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, which is scheduled for October 28-November 1.

The CLB88 has a RINA hull construction certificate and a top speed of 25 knots

The CLB88 is CL Yachts’ new flagship and has a RINA-certified hull that planes when underway, tracking smoothly and rising to avoid spray on the bow in most conditions.

The hull was built in consultation with structural engineering firm and composite developer Gurit, utilising carbon-fibre and advanced resin-infusion technology.

ON THE LEVEL
Milan-based designer Jozeph Forakis designed the interior and exterior on the CLB88 in his first yacht design, having created the logo and branding for CL Yachts. The main-deck saloon plays on a long sweep of marine teak flooring laid from aft to helm station, with matching ceiling panelling.

The saloon benefits from large windows on both sides and forward, where there’s a separate dining area, bar, galley and helm station

“Everything is on one level, so it’s less hazardous. A lot of times when you step on a boat, you’re going up and down, and you take it for granted that there are different levels and you don’t even notice it,” says Hans Lo, CL Yachts’ Deputy Director.

“It’s not an easy task in design. You often see levels going up and down to give headroom downstairs in the cabins. It takes a lot of juggling to have that and keep one level upstairs.”

Saloon visibility and sightlines are uninterrupted, with large unobstructed windows accentuating a sense of openness. Forward of the dining area, a counter-cum-serving hatch can look onto the galley and helm. Alternatively, for privacy, its semi-opaque, ridged-glass windows can be closed by remote control, as can matching glass-door access.

The dining table is opposite a bar

HEART OF THE MAIN DECK
“The galley can be an inviting place to gather for friends and family, so we’ve made it as such for the first layout for CLB88,” Lo explains.

A square marble-topped island counter offers plenty of space for food preparation or casual drinking and snacking, as well as twin steel basins. Ample space around the island allows easy access to reach a dishwasher, large oven, one of three icemakers on board, a freezer and deep fridge drawers. The galley’s main double-door fridge is unusually large, even unexpected outside a domestic kitchen.

Forward is the galley with an island counter, plus a raised dinette beside the teak-laden helm station

Just forward of the island counter and its surround utilities are the only two raised areas, a dinette and the helm, to allow elevated visibility for both. “A raised dinette allows you to see your surroundings in your peripheral vision and adds to your comfort while underway.”

A day head at the cockpit end of the saloon features the luxurious materials and use of space seen throughout, incorporating walnut veneer on cabinetry, all of which uses light honeycomb construction material to reduce weight and offset heavier wood and stone surfaces.

LUXE TOUCHES OUTDOORS

The flybridge features a dining table and L-shaped sofa facing a large L-shaped bar with stools

In the cockpit, broad banquette seating sits by an elongated hexagonal riser table with an immaculate French-polished teak veneer top, in keeping with the general on-board design theme of melding classic and contemporary elements with full marine function.

A few steps away is a small bar counter with refrigerator, ice machine, and storage for drinks and glassware. At the stern is access to the crew quarters and a sizeable engine room, containing the twin 1,600hp Caterpillar C32 engines. Further aft, the submersible swim platform can hold a tender, as can the aft area of the flybridge with the addition of a davit crane.

The flybridge can be reached by either cockpit or spiral saloon stairwells. The fully open-sided upper deck is so spacious that several groups of people can find their own space whether it’s the main dining table, long wet bar counter, grill station, aft sun lounger area or forward helm station with companion seating for two.

The aft of the flybridge offers a versatile clear area with a davit and wet bar to port

Back downstairs, the generously wide side decks – which can also be reached through a door behind the main-deck helm – lead to the bow’s banquette and sun pads, which overlook a large stainless-steel windlass and anchor that form focal points at the prow that might be expected on a much larger pleasure craft.

AND ON TO BED
On the lower deck, the CLB88 manages to fit two full-beam staterooms midships, making the most of the yacht’s 22ft 6in width. In fact, panelling against the hull is avoided to gain extra inches.

On the lower deck, the CLB88 features two full-beam cabins situated adjacent amidships, as well as a twin cabin and a double cabin in the bow

It might be an injustice to call the very roomy en-suite bathrooms in each ‘heads’, especially the one in the master suite. All are a combination of tactile wood veneers, marbles and high-quality composites. As well as the two full-beam suites, there’s a twin cabin and a double in the bow, both also ensuite.

LOOKING AHEAD
The brand’s next model, scheduled to launch in the first half of 2021, is the CLX96, designed inside and out by Forakis, with Florida-based naval architect Earl Alfaro handling the hull design.

“The CLX 96 will be a ‘crossover’ boat that encourages you to go on a serious voyage or adventure, to navigate all seas and to give confidence when facing rough conditions. It’s completely new, with new hull and mould designs,” says Lo, who also says the yard is developing additional models.

The CLX96, designed by Jozeph Forakis, is due to launch in 2021

For now, though, attention is on the new flagship, which Lo hopes will enjoy similar popularity to its little sister.

“We know that in this size category, the CLB88 has a very attractive price for what you’re getting. All the equipment is equal to or better than that on European-built boats,” Lo says. “And although we’ve been making spec boats that have sold quickly, particularly in the US, we can also make yachts using appliances, outlets and layouts to suit buyers worldwide.”
www.clyachts.co

Princess flies into space age with X95

Reviews / yachtstyle2020

Princess flies into space age with X95

September 16, 2020
1:00 am

Inspired by a visit to Singapore, the large volume and aggressive profile of the Princess X95 have divided opinions, with a unit set to arrive in Hong Kong in 2021.

The 72ft flybridge is more than double the length of a typical flybridge on a yacht this size

Don’t call it black. It’s Princess’s own Midnight Blue. And don’t assume the next X95 hulls coming out of the Plymouth builder’s historic South Yard will be the same colour. The X95 scheduled for delivery to Hong Kong in early 2021 has a white hull, as do the units set to launch before and after it, with any spraying done post-production.

As images and footage of the first X Class ‘Super Flybridge’ yacht off England’s south coast circulate, opinions are divided, colourful and passionate, especially online, where the model’s global launch was held on Facebook Live this summer.

The yacht’s dark paint scheme looks to have intensified first impressions of a polarising model whose high-volume design, aggressive profile and top-heavy appearance marks a dramatic change for Princess, although the customary elegant lines remain, albeit in different places.

The new hull designed with Olesinski improves efficiency by 15 per cent compared to previous Princess hulls of similar length

In the desire to radically increase space and volume in a 95ft yacht, Princess has created a super-long flybridge or ‘superfly’ that has led to “fairly dramatic styling, which isn’t for everybody”, admits Will Green, Princess’s Director of Sales, who has been with the company since 2003.

But as the X95 divides, it also conquers. Nine sales to the US, Europe and Asia had been secured by late July’s online launch, which was held while the owners of hull one – long-time Princess clients – were away enjoying their new yacht, a model that’s classified as a pleasure vessel due to its sub-24m load line.

It’s a remarkable pre-launch sales figure considering the size of the yacht, Covid-19 challenges and the fact hardly anyone had been able to view an X95 outside of the hull one owners’ family and those involved with making the yacht.

“Selling nine at this stage is quite a statement,” Green admits.

The X95 fuses explorer-style looks with fluid lines, and is the third Princess model designed in collaboration with Italian styling house Pininfarina

BRAVE NEW ERA
As such, the X95 is arguably the Princess ‘revolution’ that the brand had initially promoted with the R35, which was launched at the Cannes Yachting Festival in 2018 and ushered in the builder’s new class for performance sports yachts, joining the V (sports), S (sportbridge), F (flybridge), Y (yacht) and M (superyachts) ranges.

Following on from the R35 plus the stunning Y85 unveiled last year, the X95 is the third Princess model designed with historic Italian styling house Pininfarina, now part of a design ‘golden triangle’ including the Princess Yachts Design Studio and Olesinski, the builder’s naval architectural partner since 1980.

Princess began collaborating with Pininfarina in a bid to advance its models’ design language and make the exteriors of its yachts match the renowned quality of the interiors, although the X95 is a radical reworking in architecture rather than styling.

The sky lounge houses a 4K UHD TV and a DVD Blu-ray system with Naim audio system, while electric blinds on all side-glazing control light levels

Antony Sheriff, Executive Chairman and CEO of Princess Yachts, has described the X95 as the “nautical equivalent of an SUV”, but jokes that he decided against using the acronym for Sports Utility Boat – SUB – due to its worrying underwater connotations.

Like an SUV, the high-volume X95 is designed to offer a comfortable, relaxed journey and be well used for extended periods, not to be tiptoed around as if in a museum or art gallery.

“The X95 is an astonishing yacht and demonstrates a lot of the things Princess has been trying to achieve over the last few years. She has a different architecture, design and layout, not simply to be different but for a real reason – to be better,” says Sheriff.

View through the air-conditioned sky lounge to the aft flybridge

“It’s truly a case of form following function, which is to create a yacht with an enormous amount of flexible, useable space to provide an even better yachting experience for our customers. Anyone who has been on her has been astonished at the amount of space on board.”

Sheriff has driven remarkable growth at Princess since he joined in January 2016, implementing ideas and learnings from his time in the car industry, which included working with Fiat, Lancia and Alfa Romeo then over a decade with McLaren Automotive. Today, he says Princess’s production slots are full for about the next 18 months, with orders for some models stretching into late 2022.

In fact, it was Sheriff who ultimately inspired the out-of-the-box thinking behind the X95 during a visit to the Singapore Yacht Show, when the American looked out from the helm of a Y75 and wondered how to use the space at the front of the boat “to more effect”.

Sky view from the skylounge

After returning to the UK, Sheriff posed the challenge to the company’s design team, even drafting a sketch of his initial ideas and encouraging them to push boundaries by citing the ‘Most Advanced Yet Acceptable (MAYA)’ principle popularised by iconic industrial designer Raymond Loewy.

Andy Lawrence, Princess’s Director of Design, recalls: “Antony challenged us, challenged the norm, questioned why we do things the way we do. I think we’re aware boats in this category can be quite formulaic, so we wanted to see what we could extract out of 95ft.”

After an enormous variety of preliminary design and layout options, a final design emerged led by at least three major differences to any previous Princess model.

The flybridge foredeck features a large C-shaped sofa

Ultimately, the design revolution is the extension of the flybridge to 72ft – more than double the length of a typical flybridge on a yacht this size – so creating both a much longer main-deck interior and almost a third full-length deck up top.

The second great space creator is having just one helm station, on the flybridge, so freeing up more useable space on the main deck. The third Princess ‘first’ is the completely new hull shape by Olesinski featuring a wave-piercing bow.

“It was a chance to do a completely new layout we’d never looked at before and we produced more preliminary ideas for this boat than any other we’ve done,” Lawrence says.

“The main design challenge was proportion. At 95ft, to get a huge flybridge with an air-conditioned sky lounge encased on top is quite a challenge.”

The flybridge has the option of a forward sunpad or hot tub

SPACE AND CHOICE
The results of all this exploration in ideas and concepts is a yacht with 30 per cent more internal volume than any previous 95ft boat by Princess.

Hull one features sliding doors on either side of the main-deck saloon, providing open views and a sea breeze for dining

Using comparisons to the established M Class models also built at South Yard, the X95 has similar square footage to the 35M (115ft). It’s also now the only Princess to feature an air-conditioned sky lounge, which the builder only previously featured on its former 40M (132ft).

And although the X95’s displacement of 104 tonnes is just less than the 110-tonne 30M (100ft), its new deep-V hull means its twin 1,900hp MAN V12 engines achieve similar top speeds of 24-25 knots to the 100ft superyacht, which uses two 2,636hp MTU16V engines – almost 39 per cent more horse power.

Hull one has a master suite forward on the main deck, an area that can alternatively be used for dining, a cinema or entertainment room

Add in 13,400 litres of fuel and the X95 has a range of almost 2,000nm at 10 knots, meaning it’s suitable for some serious passage making.

The lower deck – which will be replicated on the future Y95 – features four guest cabins comprising a full-beam stateroom midships, an aft-facing double in the bow, and two forward-facing twins in between.

Aft of the engine room is the crew quarters and tender stowage, although the latter can be replaced by the exciting option of a ‘beach club’ room overlooking the sea.

The master suite has a deck to starboard and a coffee table and chairs on port side

The main deck includes a large cockpit and a 59ft-long interior that has a huge range of options incorporating a saloon, dining and galley, and a whole host of choices from a forward master suite – as on hull one – to a cinema, boardroom, tea room or entertainment room.

The default option starts with a saloon with curved sofas, a separate coffee corner by the starboard window, and a forward area including a full width open-plan chef’s kitchen with a large centre island and breakfast bar, plus a dining table in the bow.

As Lawrence explains: “The ‘Superfly’ design offers so much space that we can accommodate requests from all over the world. Owners can have a main-deck master, an open kitchen, cinema, karaoke room. Furthermore, they’re getting a semi-custom build but with the reassurance that all design options have been planned for at the outset.”

The cosy coffee corner in the master stateroom on hull one

On the flybridge, the air-conditioned sky lounge features a saloon and a helm station that can be closed off with sliding doors, while there are many options for loose furniture in the aft outdoor area.

There’s another treat up front. A starboard walkway leads to the flybridge foredeck, which features a forward-facing C-shaped sofa and the option of a flexible sunbathing area or a hot tub, an option chosen on hull two.

There’s plenty of room for real customisation such as on hull one where a gym has been included on the lower deck, with a running machine sunk into the floor due to the headroom required. Sheriff says it’s quite a sensation to work out on the machine and look out the window while the yacht is cruising.

Hull one includes a customised lower-deck gym including a treadmill with sea views

“We go to great lengths to make our owners walk on water,” quips Sheriff, whose development team now spends 25-30 per cent of their time on non-standard options – up from 10 per cent – due in large to the X95.

In terms of outfitting the yacht, Princess’s design team works with the world’s leading fabric houses, lighting and furniture companies, and attends shows across Europe to stay abreast of all fashion and style developments.

The London-based office also goes the extra mile for clients, spending time with them to learn what they like, their lifestyle and how they use the boat, and even shopping with them in the likes of Mayfair to personalise and complete their yacht.

Lower-deck options include an exciting interior beach club, which overlooks the aft swim platform

X MARKS THE SWEET SPOT
Already, hull seven is well underway at the company’s historic South Yard, which is now dominated by production of the X95, whose build time is about 11-12 months.

Princess has a high retention rate, with over half of its builds for existing clients, and like the M Class superyachts, the X95 enables upgrading clients to stay with Princess instead of choosing another yard for a larger yacht.

Green believes the owners of hull one would have looked elsewhere if not for the X95, but also says it’s a model that will continue to attract new clients to the brand.

The swim platform is extendable and can be raised or lowered

“In Asia-Pacific, there’s a growing appetite to spend more time on board and with a wider choice of air-conditioned areas, away from the sun, so we think this yacht holds a lot of appeal there as well as everywhere else across the globe,” Green says.

“X Class is exciting, the next step for flybridge owners, with considerably more volume, design options and range, and yet it’s still a CE boat (sub-24m load-line length). This means you have M Class superyacht size but with dramatically reduced running costs, overheads and complications. You can drive it yourself, tie it up, switch it off and walk away.”

Green also thinks there will be more sales to follow as more people get the chance to see hull one and other models in person over the coming months and years.

The midnight blue of hull one

“We’ve had a great deal of success considering how few people have seen this boat. Our biggest challenge is how to get more people to see it, because that’s when people really fall in love with her. The X95 is very different, but it’s fantastic. I love it.”

Sheriff also believes the 95-footer’s space must be seen to be believed and has witnessed people change their opinion of the yacht from viewing renders and images to when they finally get on board.

The first X95 into Asia will arrive in 2021

“We’ve had people see the boat in plans and say it’s interesting, but wanted something more traditional,” says the CEO.

“However, after they walk on the boat and see the amount of space on the main deck or flybridge, we’ve had people literally say, ‘I’ve got to have this boat; this is just unbelievable’.”

www.princessyachts.com

Fairline’s F//Line 33 embodies British heritage, Italian style

Reviews / yachtstyle2020

Fairline’s F//Line 33 embodies British heritage, Italian style

September 2, 2020
2:21 am

Fairline’s fastest yacht is an ice-cool blend of British and Italian pedigree, and there’s a white hull sitting in Singapore waiting to be taken for a spin. For those at home, you can see what your dream F//Line 33 would look like – and cost – by using the new online configurator.

I’m strolling along the boardwalk at ONE°15 Marina Sentosa Cove in Singapore to see the first Fairline F//Line 33 in Asia when two men walking the other way stop to stare at the white-hulled yacht, despite it being the smallest on the dock by quite some way.

Alberto Mancini and Fairline crafted the F//Line 33’s design, layout and detailing

“That’s the one,” are the only words I can make out before the man continues talking excitedly to his friend about the streamline 33-footer as it sits in front of the office of Simpson Marine, Fairline’s representative in Southeast Asia, Hong Kong and Taiwan.

The F//Line 33 has been setting tongues wagging since its official premiere at last year’s Cannes Yachting Festival, hence the excitement around the new unit in Singapore, which is available for sale and has a top speed of 33 knots with twin Volvo Penta 220hp diesel engines.

The multi-functional steering wheel is the heart of the twin-seat helm

However, Fairline’s fastest yacht to date clocks 48 knots with the most powerful of its three Volvo Penta options, the 430hp petrol V8s, which has proved the most popular engine choice on the first 15 units built, which have been delivered as far as Asia, Australia, the US and all across Europe, from the Med to Scandinavia and even a couple of local deliveries into the UK itself.

Italian designer Alberto Mancini, one of the hottest names in yacht design, has worked on every new Fairline model since the brand’s rebirth in 2016 and the former car designer has described the F//Line 33 as a ‘car design in a yacht hull’.

The wet bar can prepare meals for outdoor or indoor dining

Even during the build stage, though, Mancini was keen to emphasise that as well as being a fast performance boat, the F//Line 33 was created to be a practical yacht to be used for weekends or overnight trips.

Miles Moorhouse, Fairline Yachts’ Head of Marketing, was among senior management who in 2017 discussed what the yard’s first sub-40ft boat in almost a decade should look like and be able to do, with the first F//Line creating a new class for the British builder alongside its established Squadron and Targa ranges.

The F//Line’s top speed is 48 knots with the option of twin 430hp petrol V8s

Moorhouse believes the 32ft 9in speedster has delivered on all its promises and points to its success in a highly competitive Superboat category at this year’s Motor Boat Awards held during Boot Dusseldorf, where Fairline also debuted the model’s Outboard version.

“I’ll put it simply,” Moorhouse says. “The F//Line 33 is not just my favourite Fairline – it’s my favourite boat from any brand.”

DRIVING ON WATER
Like Mancini, Moorhouse is a car guy, having spent two decades in the automotive industry before moving in 2008 to Fairline Boats, which was founded in 1963 on the River Nene in the inland town of Oundle near Peterborough, two hours’ north of London.

The two sofas and adjustable table are set up for meals and socialising

He worked for the Oundle yard for four years before joining another British builder, then returned in February 2016 as the newly owned, newly named Fairline Yachts successfully rebuilt the brand soon after the previous business went into administration.

Mancini has since provided the company with sporty, sexy styling to complement the build and finish quality the brand has earned since Jack Newington founded the company almost six decades ago.

“The design of the F//Line 33 is reminiscent of an old English sports car like a Jaguar E-Type. It looks stunning and it’s perfect for a couple or a young family,” Moorhouse says.

The aft bench can also be adjusted to face the swim platform for a waterfront view

“One of the best things about the boat is that it looks as good as it did at the concept stage. In my time in cars and yachts, I’ve seen a lot of cool concepts on paper and even some great mock-ups, but the actual cars and yachts looked nothing like the renders when they came out. The 33 does.”

Muscular, sporty looks aside, the F//Line 33 surprised even Fairline management in terms of performance. Last year, the first hull was shown on London’s River Thames on August 29 before it was whisked down on a lorry to the south of the France for the Cannes Yachting Festival.

Arriving three days before the show, she was unloaded, filled with fuel and taken for her first spin, where she stunned all on board. Fitted with twin 430hp Volvo Penta V8s, the yacht clocked 48.7 knots in the Bay of Cannes while carrying seven people, significant cargo for a six-tonne boat.

The F//Line 33 has even surprised Fairline management with its performance

“We were all were shocked,” Moorhouse recalls. “We were expecting 45 knots, so we were staggered when we clocked 48.7. The seas were calm, but there were seven of us plus full fuel and water tanks.”

Even in far chopper conditions, a media sea trial achieved 47 knots with 10 people, 50 per cent fuel, and full water and holding tanks.

Although she’s very quick, the handling and performance of the yacht is arguably even more impressive, with the deep V hull by J&J Design enabling the boat to provide a smooth ride for passengers even at high speed and during tight turns.

J&J Design designed the hull, fundamental to the 33-footer’s impressive performance and handling

“I’ve really got to know the boat well, and the performance and the handling is stunning,” says Moorhouse, who has spent a lot of time with the 33 during shows, sea trials and media events.

“We knew it would look great and we knew it would be fast, but not that fast. However, the boat turns on a sixpence and the handling is just so good. J&J absolutely nailed the hull design. It’s the softest-riding boat I’ve been on.”

FUN AND FLEXIBLE
Ultimately, the boat’s global popularity lies in its user-friendly layout and versatile features, making it ideal for a group of friends during the day and up to four overnight.

For such a sleek yacht, the saloon boasts a surprising amount of space and headroom

A drop-down transom provides a convenient boarding platform as well as a swim platform, while the aft handheld shower is a useful feature. An adjustable backrest enables the aft bench to face the water, a nice option when it’s time to get wet or simply relax with a sea view and a Sangria.

The triple bench seats provide comfortable seating either side of the adjustable table, with a telescopic option enabling it to be lowered and merge with the seats for an enlarged lounging area.

Forward, a slick wet bar with two hobs, a sink and fridge faces aft, so the chef of the hour can interact with others at the table.

For such a sleek yacht, the saloon boasts a surprising amount of space and headroom

The central twin-seat helm station benefits from a one-piece windscreen, a multi-functional steering wheel and clean electronic display, while a premium Fusion Apollo audio system provides the day’s soundtrack, with an upgrade including a subwoofer, amplifier and two additional speakers.

On each side, pantograph side doors offer access to the foredeck, which has a two-person sunpad, plus storage underneath. For shade, options include a central T-Top above the helm and wet bar, while a hydraulic bimini and optional sky canopies can provide additional cover forward and aft.

However, it’s the downstairs space and especially the initial headroom that surprises most first-time visitors. Situated forward, the saloon features comfortable seating around a table, which again has a telescopic option that enables it to be lowered, in this case to form a comfortable double V-berth. To starboard, the head offers good headroom and has a sink and hand-held shower.

Midships is the cosy double cabin with hanging lockers on each side

The cabin is midships and has locker storage on either side and a decent-sized double bed, even if it’s a squeeze to snuggle into. The saloon at least could benefit from windows or at least portholes, which Fairline says are being considered for future F//Line models.

Aside from four engine choices, the boat’s many options include a TV/ mirror in the saloon, integrated wine coolers on deck and mood lighting, plus a huge range of exterior colours achieved through vinyl wrapping.

CREATE YOUR OWN
In fact, anyone can now envision what their potential F//Line 33 would look like. Inspired by online configurators used in the car industry, Fairline has recently launched the F//Line version where you can try out colour options for the hull as well as seat and sunpad fabrics, or see which hardtop or bimini options look best.

Furthermore, you can also choose from the vast list of options and know how much it will all cost, offering a transparency rarely seen in the yachting industry. As an indication, the hull in Singapore is listed for sale at GBP372,050 (about US$480,000), with Moorhouse believing the price point is another reason for the global appeal of the F//Line 33.

“The price makes it attainable for the audience we’re targeting, which is someone who’s doing well and looking to buy a luxury yacht for the first time. Or maybe it’s their second boat after a ski boat and they want a fast, fun design with the option of staying overnight.”

The F//Line online configurator allows anyone to see what their ideal boat would look like

Fairline can build three or four 33s at any one time and expects to build a total of 20 this year and another 20 or so in 2021. As such, the model has become a key component of the Fairline business and runs alongside annual production of another 50-60 units from the Targa (45-65ft) and Squadron (50-68ft) ranges.

“We had a reasonably strong order book for the 33 pre-launch and the orders keep on coming,” says Moorhouse. “And if you visit the facility, you’ll see that a 33 is built with the same attention to detail as our flagship Squadron 68.”

The first Fairline F//Line 33 in Asia is in Singapore

Furthermore, the yacht’s audience also keeps on growing. After showing an F//Line 33 among its line-up at BOATS2020 in Southampton from September 11-20, Fairline will display the car-inspired speedster at the 15th Salon Privé held on the stunning lawns of Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire from September 23-26.

Despite the competition for eyeballs at the UK’s most exclusive motor show, you can expect a few more people to stop and stare at the new Fairline favourite.

www.fairline.com

www.f-line.com

www.simpsonmarine.com

Yacht Style Issue 54 Out Now: The Charter Issue 2020 - LUXUO
Yacht Style has released Issue 54 (July-August), its Charter Issue for 2020. Flying Fox, the world's largest charter yacht, stars on the front cover of the 208-page magazine, as the 136m megayacht prepares to return to Asia later this year.

Sirena 88: Frers, Rover Mastermind Turkish Builder’s Flagship

Reviews / yachtstyle2020

Sirena 88: Frers, Rover Mastermind Turkish Builder’s Flagship

August 3, 2020
8:38 pm

Designed by German Frers and Cor D Rover, the Sirena 88 is the Turkish builder’s high-volume flagship, which features five cabins including a stunning main-deck master suite with fullheight windows, private jacuzzi access and optional balcony.

Cor D Rover is rightly proud of his intricate work on the Sirena 88, after the Turkish shipyard challenged the Dutchman to design an interior that would appeal to owners around the world. “The brief was: ‘Give me an interior design that we can sell globally.’ Simple brief. Difficult to fulfil,” Rover says.

The Sirena 88 has a wide-bodied, high-volume sub-24m hull, so is categorised as a pleasure boat; the model has secured at least six sales around the world

“Sirena wants to be able to sell this yacht to an American, a Chinese, a European and so on. As such, we wanted the yacht to be rich, luxurious and global.”

With six units already sold – to owners in North America and Europe– the Dutchman appears to have fulfilled his brief.

Rover worked alongside the legendary German Frers, who handled the exterior and naval architecture, having done the same for Sirena’s existing 64 and 58 models that debuted in 2017 and 2018 respectively.
In contrast, the 88 marked Rover’s first design from scratch for Sirena, although he did restyle the interior of the 64 for a new-look model unveiled at last year’s Boot Dusseldorf.

The Sirena 88 was among the largest yachts at this year’s Boot Dusseldorf, having made its world debut at last September’s Cannes Yachting Festival, during which it won ‘Best Innovation of the Year’ at the World Yachts Trophies.

Forward of the foredeck’s large sunbathing area is the owner’s suite skylight and jacuzzi with sunpads (above); the yacht offers great views on all sides (below)

Whether it sits in or out of the water, the 88-footer is a true showstopper, distinguished by a high, wide-bodied hull and leaving first-time visitors in a spin as to what they’ve just seen and how it all fits on a sub24m GRP hull.

Rover’s portfolio includes the exterior of the 220ft Benetti Seasense, a star of the 2017 Monaco Yacht Show, yet he thinks size matters more than length to owners. Sirena – which has built over 400 motor and sailing
yachts since 2006 – believes its 125GT flagship has the largest interior volume in its class, made possible by a whopping beam of 23ft 2in.

“The client of tomorrow wants an SUV,” Rover says. “Big volume and relatively high speed, and that’s what we achieved on the Sirena 88, with five staterooms. That’s the same number of cabins you have on a 150-footer.”

LEGENDARY PARTNERSHIP
With a background in naval architecture and mechanical engineering, Rover designs both exterior and interiors, and his Amsterdam studio has worked with leading yards including Italy’s Azimut (Magellano series) and Taiwan’s Horizon.

On hull one, the flybridge features a large jacuzzi and sunbeds aft (above), while forward (below) are a bar, large dining area and twin-seat helm

Rover specialises in packing a lot into big-volume yachts, yet even he was impressed by the esteemed Frers, who turned 79 on July 4. The Argentine is best known for sailing yachts and has been designing Swans since 1981, but has occasionally worked on a few motor yachts including the exterior of the 85m (280ft) Lurssen Pacific.

For the Sirena 88, Frers designed a 78ft 7in dual-mode hull that operates at both semi-displacement and planing speeds, despite its girthy 23ft-plus beam.

In fact, its 7.1m beam is 50-80cm wider than some recent flybridge models built by leading Italian and British yards with a similar-length hull. When you see its two comfortable twin cabins either side of a central hallway, it makes you wonder how it would all fit if the hull was narrowed by a foot or two.

“The floor width is phenomenal. We did the layout together with German, who offered us a great hull. I’m a naval architect myself, so I know what he goes through,” Rover says.

The cockpit is covered by the flybridge and features a large dining table, C-shaped sofa and chairs; a wet bar and small fridge can also be fitted to port

“To get this space to play with is a blessing as it gives you more freedom. Even 15cm can be the difference between putting in a bed or not being able to put in a bed.

“Floor space is everything, especially as the number of cabins was key. We had to fit five ensuite staterooms while remaining under the 24m rule.”

SOCIAL ZONES
The Sirena 88 has a carbon-fibre laminated superstructure that incorporates a raised wheelhouse in front of the flybridge, which is available in several layouts. Hull one features a large jacuzzi and sunbeds aft, although the latter can be replaced by a full-width sunbathing area.

An attractive L-shaped bar takes centre stage to starboard, behind the twin-seat upper helm, which overlooks stairs down to the main wheelhouse, where there’s even a bed that can be used by the Captain.

The main social area of the flybridge is to port and features a long sofa and table, and loose chairs, while this side also offers access to the bforedeck, a nice way of connecting the outdoor zones.

The saloon can be customised and hull one features facing sofas and a drop-down TV on starboard side; the room leads through to the formal dining area

The foredeck includes a large sunbathing area in front of the wheelhouse and a fun ‘dipping pool’, although a C-shaped sofa and table are another option for this area.

Ideal for a couple, the forward pool is ideal as the preserve of the owners and offers fantastic views, but you might question how it affects the view from the owner’s suite – if you haven’t already been in the owner’s suite.

THE GREAT INDOORS
The walk back is along the starboard side deck to the covered cockpit, where six people could dine comfortably, eight at a squeeze. There’s also the option of a wet bar and fridge in the port bulwark.

Inside, the saloon features opposing sofas, while a TV can drop down from the ceiling on the starboard side. Forward is the formal dining area, which benefits from great views on either side through sliding glass doors that can be fully opened to allow in the sea breeze.

The galley (which can be designed as an open galley) is to port and Rover points out that its ceiling doubles as the bed of the wheelhouse, an example of how he worked not just with lateral space but also vertical.

The saloon’s sliding doors (above) offer a breeze and wide views through the cockpit; the dining area (below) benefits from wide sliding glass doors on both sides

“Putting it all together is a three-dimensional puzzle,” he says. “It’s all interconnected.” The starboard hallway leads past two sets of stairs – one to the wheelhouse, one to the lower deck – and along to the master stateroom,
arguably the yacht’s piece de resistance.

Feeling more like an owner’s suite on a megayacht, this enormous full-beam bedroom offers stunning sea views on either side through full-height, full-width windows.

To make the most of these views, two comfortable chairs and a table make a cosy coffee corner on the starboard side, while a long desk to port presents one of the more serene office environments you’ll enjoy on any
yacht. If this isn’t enough, there’s the option of a drop-down balcony.

Yet arguably the most innovative aspect of the layout is the forward area, where two beautiful, wooden-panelled cabinets with drawers and recessed lighting frame the showpiece bathroom, which takes centre stage.

Lit naturally from above by a wide skylight, the bathroom is a visual centrepiece and, in a masterful design touch, brilliantly uses the forward jacuzzi as a water feature above the mirror. And if you want to jump in the jacuzzi rather than look at it, marble stairs from the bathroom lead up to the foredeck, through a lifting door.

Forward on the main deck, the huge, full-beam master suite has floor-to-ceiling windows on both sides, plus views of the jacuzzi through the skylight

For privacy, the bathroom can be concealed by sliding, mirrored doors, but this is an ensuite to be admired, not hidden.

“It’s cool, right? In the morning, when the light is shining on the pool water, it’s beautiful, and you can see it all from the bed,” Rover smiles.

“Even in the evening, with the light shining through the jacuzzi, it looks amazing. It’s soothing to me, like a zen feeling. It’s an experience.”

GUEST CABINS GALORE
The lower deck is a jigsaw of the highest order, featuring VIP cabins both midships and forward, and two twins in-between, all with ensuite bathrooms. Furthermore, in front of the engine room is an impressive fullbeam crew quarters that houses double and twin-bunk cabins, cooking and dining areas, and shared bathroom facilities.

The staircase to the lower-deck cabins is fairly steep and it’s three more steps aft to the midships VIP, which would be a great full-beam master suite on other yachts of this length.

The master suite bathroom has stairs to the foredeck and jacuzzi

The large forward-facing bed is flanked by bedside cabinets and to starboard by an elegant bathroom, while to port is a desk cum vanity table with a large fold-up mirror, all benefiting from light through the large hull window. Portside options also include a dinette.

Just forward of the bedroom door is a useful communal area with cupboards, drawers and a coffee machine that would be hugely appreciated by many guests in the morning.

After you take three steps up to the main staircase’s landing point, it’s three steps back down to access the other guest rooms, with the first door opening to the portside twin cabin and the second to the starboard version.

The full-beam midships VIP cabin would be a great master suite on any similar-sized yacht and has a superb vanity table to port, below the large hull window

Both are very comfortable, with two single beds and a Pullman, plenty of storage, and an ensuite bathroom forward.

The forward VIP starts with a hallway with three doors, to a walk-in wardrobe and the bathroom on port side, and on starboard to the shower. It’s a couple of fairly high steps up to the sleeping area in the bow, so despite
being billed as the second VIP, it may not be suitable for the elderly.

The lower deck can feel like a lot of stairs when viewing all four cabins, but it’s worth remembering that most guests will only be heading to their room.

The forward VIP double in the bow

“I’m playing with every centimetre I have and trying to optimise the use of space,” Rover says. “I see boats that throw away a lot of space.”

If the forward cabin feels like Rover pushing his three-dimensional puzzle to the limit, he’s quick to reassure you that his creative juices were still flowing. In the yacht’s optional four-bedroom layout, this area can be adjoined to the master suite, creating a split-level stateroom.

“The forward VIP space becomes part of the owner’s suite,” Rover says. “It can become an office, a hammam, anything, and styled like a New York loft. It’s a very interesting option.”

Following all the invention and surprise, it’s almost refreshing to find out the aft garage is, well, an aft garage, with space for a tender and jetski, although it can also be customised. After all, the fixed swim platform can carry 800kg and there’s a hydraulic crane for lifting and launching, while other features include a hydraulic bathing ladder and telescopic gangway.

The portside twin cabin

Due to the global appeal of its biggest-ever yacht, Sirena is now busy keeping up with demand, with delivery of the second and third units scheduled for the third and fourth quarters of this year respectively, and
hulls four to six in 2021. A Sirena 88 may even appear at next year’s Miami Yacht Show.

“I’m very happy with it,” Rover admits. It’s likely the owners will be, too.

www.sirenayachts.com

The original article first appeared in Yacht Style Issue 54 (Charter Issue 2020) – see below:
To subscribe to Magzter version, visit: magzter.com/SG/Lux-Inc-Media/Yacht-Style/Fashion/
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Yacht Style Issue 54 Out Now: The Charter Issue 2020 - LUXUO
Yacht Style has released Issue 54 (July-August), its Charter Issue for 2020. Flying Fox, the world's largest charter yacht, stars on the front cover of the 208-page magazine, as the 136m megayacht prepares to return to Asia later this year.

Bluegame BGX70: Carla Demaria on Italian Disruptor’s Flagship

Reviews / yachtstyle2020

Bluegame BGX70: Carla Demaria on Italian Disruptor’s Flagship

July 27, 2020
1:23 pm

Bluegame CEO Carla Demaria is confident the brand’s flagship BGX70 will enjoy a similar response in Asia as it has in Europe, due to a huge beach club that leads into the saloon and guest cabins, a signature design that will also be seen on the BGX60.

Carla Demaria admits she has heard a lot of praise for Bluegame’s flagship BGX70, which has a well-earned reputation as one of the most innovative motor yacht designs of recent years.

The BGX70 has a low, sleek, stealth-like exterior, a strong, seaworthy hull designed by Lou Codega, and can power up to about 30 knots with 1,000hp IPS350s

Its lower deck starts with an enormous beach club that flows directly in to the main saloon, which itself leads forward to the guest cabins or upstairs to the more subdued main deck of the explorer- styled motor yacht.

Yet despite the BGX70 winning awards held during last year’s Cannes Yachting Festival and this year’s Boot Dusseldorf, Demaria says her favourite reaction to the boat was from a prospect-turned- client at Cannes, where the model made its world premiere and won Most Avant-Garde Yacht at the World Yachts Trophies.

“He is a well-known yachtsman and he told me, ‘This is exactly the boat I have been looking for, for many years, and have never been able to find’,” says Demaria, who was appointed Bluegame CEO in early 2019. “In less than two hours, he bought one, downsizing significantly from the boat he owned.”

Two units had been sold ahead of the BGX70’s show debut before further sales were secured at Cannes, the subsequent Genoa International Boat Show and Monaco Yacht Show, and this year’s Boot Dusseldorf, during which it won the Custom Yacht category at the 2020 Motor Boat Awards.

The beach club (above) leads straight into the saloon (below), which has great views on both sides, access to the owner’s suite and stairs up to the dining area

Demaria describes the connectivity of the lower-deck saloon as “the milestone of the BGX project” and is confident the BGX70 will also sell in Asia, with a unit potentially exhibiting at the Hong Kong Yacht Show (November 19-22) according to Simpson Marine, the brand’s Asia dealer since this year.

“When the BGX70 makes its debut in Asia, we are convinced it will receive the same consensus,” says Demaria, a member of the Board of Directors at Sanlorenzo, Bluegame’s parent company.

“Walking from the beach area through the saloon and accessing the owner’s cabin is a unique and awesome experience. You feel the continuity between the outside and inside, no barriers aft or sideways. And you can experience this same extraordinary feeling sitting in the saloon while cruising.”

SANTELLA, ZUCCON PARTNER – AGAIN
Demaria is an industry heavyweight, having been CEO of Monte Carlo Yachts from 2008-18 after over two decades with Azimut Benetti Group, and last year she finished a four-year term as President of UCINA (Italian Marine Industry Federation).

However, Luca Santella is the heart and soul of Bluegame, which the two-time Olympic sailor founded back in 2004. An architecture graduate from Florence University, Santella represented Italy for 16 years, competing at the 1988 and 1992 Olympics in Seoul and Barcelona respectively, before making his name in yacht design.

After Bluegame’s fortunes fluctuated in its early years, the effects of the Global Economic Crisis eventually led to Santella putting the company on hold in 2012 and he later became Design Development Manager at Sanlorenzo.

The saloon is on the lower deck and offers a sea view over the enormous beach club, which has a large barbecue and external stairs to the main deck (see facing page)

His achievements include conceiving the hugely successful SX (Sport Explorer) range, designing the SX88 (2017) and SX76 (2018) with Zuccon International Project. Meanwhile, in the background, Bluegame was revived and officially relaunched in 2018 as a Sanlorenzo brand.

Santella, 58, and Bernardo Zuccon overhauled former Bluegame models to create the BG42 and BG62 ‘Sport Utility’ yachts, which both feature naval architecture by renowned American designer Lou Codega and were unveiled at Cannes in 2018.

However, it was the BGX70 – using the same line-up of designers – that really put the new and improved Bluegame on the global yachting map, with the eye-catching flagship echoing the styling of Sanlorenzo’s SX series, which Santella himself had inspired.

“BGX70 is a completely different project to BG62 and BG42, which are well defined open boats,” Demaria says.

“However, the DNA of the two ranges is the same and includes a seaworthy hull design for a comfortable ride, large ‘beach’ areas open to the sea, generous forward lounge areas, connected cockpits, fantastic helm station positioning, great attention to details, high- quality construction and understated elegance.

“BGX70 keeps all of these characteristics, but the main design inspiration came from the desire to bring the ‘outside’ inside, letting the outside environment enter inside the boat through innovative and truly unique architecture.”

“Walking from the beach area through the saloon and accessing the owner’s cabin is a unique and awesome experience.” Carla Demaria, CEO, Bluegame

‘TRULY UNIQUE ARCHITECTURE’
Much of the architecture that enabled the saloon to lie below the height of the beach club was down to Codega and his work on the positioning of the engine room, which was key to the BGX70’s pioneering layout.

Using Volvo Penta IPS drives meant the engines could be positioned under the teak-covered beach club and free up space forward for the saloon.

The expansive aft deck features a large hatch for the engine room and is big enough to fit a 13ft RIB, which once deployed, can open up an enormous beach club sheltered by bulwarks and featuring a large barbecue and wet bar to port.

To starboard, external steps up to the main deck, but on the BGX70 boat, the lower deck is the main living area.

Forward of the saloon on the lower deck, the owner’s suite has a forward-facing double bed to port and a dressing table cum desk to starboard

Sliding doors open up to the saloon, which is just a couple of steps down, and it’s here that you realise how unusual – how refreshing – it is to be standing or seated on a sofa at sea level.

As well as comfortable sofas and chairs, the saloon offers a sensational infinity view aft, through the beach club, plus sea views either side, where you can watch the water just feet away, lapping at the hull below.

As the idea of a sea-level saloon sinks in, it’s then equally intriguing to be able to walk through a door into the master suite, a location that has its perks but also privacy risks. Make sure you’re wearing more than Y-fronts when you wander out for your morning coffee, just in case any early risers are loitering in the living room.

Moving on, the full-beam master suite has a forward-facing bed to port and benefits from large hull windows either side, although the starboard arrangement, where you have to walk around a three- sided desk/vanity table to access a walk-in wardrobe, feels overly complicated and creates potential access issues.

On this unit, the ‘middle cabin’ (bottom) is designed as a private lounge connected to the owner’s suite
The forward VIP suite (level) has an aft-facing bed

The ensuite bathroom is forward of the bed and features twin sinks, a head and bidet, and a very large shower.

Forward on the starboard side is a flexible room that can be accessible from the owner’s suite and set up as either a private lounge with C-shaped sofa, a study or a children’s room, with a sliding screen in the bulkhead providing connectivity or privacy.

Alternatively, it can be sealed off from the master suite, accessible only by the forward staircase, and used as a third guest cabin with either a forward-facing double or twin beds running athwartships. The neighbouring bathroom can be designed as an en-suite or closed off and accessed like a day head.

Like the master suite, the forward VIP cabin is full-beam and has an ensuite, but with an aft-facing bed. The crew cabin is in the bow.

The main deck features an aft cockpit (bottom) that can be further shaded by a bimini; The interior dining area (level) benefits from outdoor views each side and aft

NOT THE MAIN DECK
There are three guest staircases up to the main deck, from the beach club, saloon and the forward hallway aft of the VIP cabin. If the lower deck seems to offer more than expected on a yacht of this size, the main deck feels otherwise. If anything, the space is underwhelming and reveals the emphasis on outdoor living over interior volume.

The layout is conventional enough, starting with an aft cockpit with a forward-facing L-shaped sofa and rectangular table.

Sliding doors lead into a white-ceilinged interior that starts with a dining area comprising an L-shaped sofa, rectangular table and three stools, which could also be used in the cockpit, meaning six people could comfortably eat inside or out.

The interior has a slick, white galley along the starboard side and a neatly disguised drop-down TV that lowers behind the central helm seats.

The owner or Captain will enjoy the helm station, which has twin carbon seats, a carbon dashboard with three Garmin screens, and fantastic 360-degree views through the rear-inclined windshield, side windows and aft through the dining room and cockpit.

The foredeck is the main ‘fixed’ outdoor lounging area and features an elaborate arrangement of sunpads beside and forward of two square tables. The high-low tables can even be lowered and covered by sunpads to create an even larger lounging zone, while a bimini can also be fitted to cover the area.

The most ardent sun worshipper can even choose to access the roof, where sunpads can be fitted between the carbon hand rails on each side.

The main-deck interior includes the dining area, a long galley to starboard, drop-down TV, twin-seat helm station and portside stairs to the guest cabins

DISRUPTION TO CONTINUE
The BGX70 can also motor, hitting 30 knots with twin 1,000hp IPS350s, with the kind of reassuring ride you’d expect from a Codegadesigned hull, yet another plus point for a yacht that has many of them

Ultimately, though, it’s the aft-facing, sea-level saloon and the sheer connectivity of the lower deck that offers owners a spectacular platform for waterside living.

“Our clients love the unity of BGX70, the only yacht in its segment offering this extraordinary connection between the beach area, saloon, owner’s cabin and more. There’s also the Bluegame DNA such as generous cockpit and bow lounging areas, fantastic helm station and high-performance hull,” Demaria says.

“I was also proud at the awards in Dusseldorf when the panel described BGX70 as ‘bold and brilliant’ and said it ‘demonstrates there is still room for genuine innovation in a class where evolution rather than revolution is the norm’.”

The fantastic foredeck (also below) features an expanse of adjustable sunpads alongside and forward of two height-adjustable tables

Bluegame is extending its range with the upcoming BGX60, which will exhibit at October’s Genoa International Boat Show and is designed to offer the same concept, features and basic layout as her big sister, but in a smaller scale and with slight changes to the middle cabin.

The brand is also working on other projects in both the BG and BGX ranges in sizes that will not overlap with models from Sanlorenzo, whose smallest model is the SX76, which has an overall length of 76ft 7in.

Furthermore, Demaria revealed that Bluegame is following through on her bold announcement at Cannes last year that the brand would not only enter the powercat market but dominate it. “I confirm Bluegame is developing a new range of disruptive, very luxurious, innovative and highly sustainable multihulls,” she says.

For now, the BGX70 is not only the flagship but the embodiment of a brand that’s daring to design yachts differently, by focusing on modern yacht owners looking for openness, flexibility and life close to the water. “Each area of the boat has a very strong appeal to me,” Demaria says.

“Each is particularly suitable for different moments of life on board, like waking up early, walking through the saloon to the beach club then diving in the calm water.”

As it was for her client, the BGX70 seems exactly the yacht the CEO has been looking for.

www.bluegame.it

www.simpsonmarine.com

Yacht Style Issue 54 Out Now: The Charter Issue 2020 - LUXUO
Yacht Style has released Issue 54 (July-August), its Charter Issue for 2020. Flying Fox, the world's largest charter yacht, stars on the front cover of the 208-page magazine, as the 136m megayacht prepares to return to Asia later this year.

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