Reviews

Bali, 4.4, sailing, catamaran, multihull, show, La Grande Motte, Olivier Poncin, Catana Group, Lasta Design Studio, Marennes d’Oléron, Ile d’Aix

Bali 4.4 extends the winning formula

Reviews / yachtstyle2020

Bali 4.4 extends the winning formula

June 30, 2022
3:03 pm

Designed by Catana Group boss Olivier Poncin with an interior by Lasta Design Studio, the new Bali 4.4 rounds out the French builder’s modern series of sailing catamarans, which range from the 40ft Catspace Sail and 4.2 to the larger 4.6, 4.8 and 5.4 models. By Emmanuel Van Deth.

The Bali 4.4 had her world premiere at this year’s International Multihull Show

With an overall length topping 44ft and a beam over 24ft, the new Bali 4.4 is in some ways a replacement for the 4.3 but more for the 4.5, the very first model in the Bali range. Aboard this catamaran, which is more than ever dedicated to comfort and family vacations, all the attributes of the Bali DNA are to be found – tilting door, opening side bay windows, rigid foredeck and large chilled capacity.

As a bonus, with the size of this model being closer to the 4.6 than the 4.2 among the current Bali range, there’s a forward door, a flybridge and aft platform. Acting as the rear façade of the deckhouse, the large ‘Bali door’ on the 4.4 is 11ft 6in across and 6ft 3in high – and opens electrically in under 25 seconds. The entire saloon is then open to the rear, while the door at the front leads to the foredeck.

The 4.4 fills out Bali’s modern range of six sailing models

Although the deck layout has been designed for relaxation with a maximum area of rigid deck space due to the integral foredeck and the high-low platform that extends to the sugarscoops, it remains functional, with fluid circulation everywhere. Furthermore, the natural ventilation is particularly effective – or at least it would be in warm weather.

Instead, we tested this new Bali in La Rochelle in sub-zero temperatures, which meant much of the time we didn’t enjoy the ‘open space’ mode, which is one of the big attractions of every Bali model. At sea, we kept everything closed, entering the boat via the door within the Bali door, yet the winter configuration proved very homely as the extra-large saloon and its big windows create a warm environment.

Like all Bali models, the 4.4 features a solid foredeck that expands social space

Underfoot, the composite sandwich is very stiff, proof of careful and generously sampled construction. Up front, the hard deck is entirely covered with sunbeds. It looks good and provides an immense amount of social space, although opening the lockers is more complicated with all the covers. The aft cockpit is home to a large, almost 9ft-wide bench seat, forward of the sugarscoops and the hydraulic platform.

SUITABLE FOR ALL SEASONS

We entered the Chenal des Minimes channel under engine, our model featuring the optional twin 57hp Yanmars. It was immediately apparent that the motors propel the boat with little effort, given we were up to about 7 knots at 2,150rpm aided only a little by the northeast wind, as we hardly noticed any difference when we turned and headed into it.

Up on the flybridge, accessible from both sides, manoeuvring is simple: everything happens from the helm station, which is offset to port and neighbours a raised L-shaped sofa to starboard. Aft is a lounging area surrounded by padded rails, while the designers wanted to limit the height of the boom. In fact, the lazy bag is easily accessible, and the mainsail area is larger.

Despite the cold, the halyards and sheets manage to run over their respective sheaves, round the winches and through the clutches. As soon as the mainsail was hoisted and the Code 0 unfurled, we trimmed the traveller and the sheets. With the wind oscillating between 8-15 knots on the beam, our boat speed was 7-8 knots with a few peaks at 9 knots during little gusts.

The Bali door raises electronically to connect the cockpit and saloon

When the main is set just right, you can clearly feel the Bali 4.4 is just waiting to be sailed. The Code 0, promoted by the yard, brings an obvious bonus up to about 70° off the wind. It won’t go higher because the sheeting angle logically passes outside the shrouds. To get closer to the wind, we rolled up the Code 0 and unfurled the self-tacking solent. This reduces the headsail area from 796sqft to 452sqft.

Despite a sail-area-to-weight ratio of 8.68sqm/t, which is more favourable than the 7.07 of the Bali 4.2, the difference in punch is clearly felt. When we came up to 50/55° off the true wind, boat speed barely exceeded 5 knots, leeway was noticeable, and the sail trim needed to be quite precise. In such conditions, not ideal for relying purely on sail, one or two of the engines can be used to help you maintain course.

OPEN SPACE IN AND OUT

During most of our day of sailing, we stayed warm inside, the perfect view over the water allowing us to keep a close watch and the autopilot remote control did the rest. Obviously, some changes in angle of the wind coming off the coast did force some of the crew up on to the flybridge to make adjustments.

The saloon has over 7ft of headroom in areas and the option of two lounge chairs to starboard

For the rest, we were able to taste oysters – the famous Marennes d’Oléron, of course – while making good speed towards the island of Ile-d’Aix. The level of comfort inside the saloon is enhanced by its generous headroom, which reaches up to 7ft 3in in places. Far from being exclusively reserved for tropical or summer use, the Bali ‘open space’ concept shows it’s also comfortable in less favourable climates.

The galley features a large L-shaped work surface complemented by a sideboard and a plus-sized fridge-freezer that is another Bali standard. The recess for the helm station is integrated into the whole, although the table in this area can be bigger on the four-cabin charter version. Forward, to starboard, a chart table is fitted.

The galley to port offers storage, cooking appliances, sinks and countertop space on three sides

The ‘Elegance’ finish on our test boat included upgraded upholstery, armrests, two club chairs and integrated bar and leather handles for the storage spaces, all nice touches on a model that featured the three-cabin owner’s layout downstairs.

AT HOME IN THE HULLS

The port hull is entirely dedicated to the owner and is accessed down five steps. The master suite includes a big double bed configured as an island bed, a dressing table/desk, a huge bathroom, large windows in the hull, two opening portlights, and numerous storage spaces. It has it all.

In the owner’s version, the master suite occupies most of the port hull

The companionway to the starboard hull has a sturdy handrail, which is very useful in choppy seas. The aft en-suite cabin has the same dimensions as on the port side, with a minimum headroom of 6ft 5in.

The 4ft 9in-wide bed in the forward en-suite cabin is a little narrower than at the stern and much higher, lying almost 3ft above the floor as opposed to just under 2ft in the aft cabin. Both rooms benefit from large hull windows, great ventilation and plenty of storage space. In fact, all three cabins are plus points.

Forward view of the master suite

Like most Bali models, the 4.4 is designed for boaters who want a platform for enjoying life on the water, a floating home that can be moved from anchorage to anchorage, and even from one ocean to another.
www.bali-catamarans.com

Dufour’s dynamic new flagship

Reviews / yachtstyle2020

Dufour’s dynamic new flagship

June 23, 2022
2:21 am

Winner of the Best Large Monohull 50ft and Above category in this year’s SAIL Best Boats awards, the new Dufour 61 is a brand flagship that instils confidence. Words: Zuzana Prochazka Photos: Jérôme Kelagopian & Jean-Marie Liot

The Dufour 61 is the flagship of a range of nine models

Dufour Yachts shifted their marketing strategy two years ago and did away with their Performance and Grand Large differentiators, opting instead to go with a hybrid model and a solitary number in their naming scheme.

This created a combination yacht that’s both performance-oriented and popular with cruisers, and the approach seems to be working. The newly launched Dufour 61 becomes the second in this series and the flagship of the French builder’s line.

The twin-helm Dufour 61 is a solid performer

Despite the change in positioning, Dufour continued with their design team, Felci Yacht Design. At first glance, the Dufour 61 looks like a typical cruiser with a plumb bow, a long chine that builds interior volume, a low coachroof and plenty of beam. Below the waterline, however, she has the same single rudder and deep keel as the builder’s previous performance models.

The construction includes a solid fibreglass hull with an integrated structural grid topped by a cored and infused deck. The bow is blunt, and the drop-down transom is snub, maximising waterline length. The fractional rig has a tapered mast and triple aft-swept spreaders. The best sail plan for short-handed sailing is offered with a self-tacking jib and a Code 0 attached to the sprit.

ON DECK

A boat must function well both under sail and at anchor, and Dufour has improved the on-deck experience from both perspectives.

The Dufour 61 offers plenty of seating aft and on facing bench seats for others to join in the fun

There are two winches set on an angle on either side of the working cockpit. This is a nice separation, so crew handling sheets or halyards stay out of the way of the driver.

As is standard with Dufour, all lines are led aft and the decks are clear. Sailing simplicity includes a mainsheet attached up high on an arch which also holds a spray dodger. In the cockpit, twin helm stations are set on streamlined, angled pedestals with large multi-function displays, instruments and engine controls on superyacht-style binnacles.

The optional aft sunbed offers a great place to relax and can even be arranged as a dinette

The social cockpit is just ahead and features a drop-leaf table that hides an optional refrigerator and wide settees ideal for dining or napping. From here it gets really interesting. There’s an optional sunbed between the wheels. It’s the place to lounge because you’re in the centre of the action but still out of the way.

At anchor, the middle section of the sunbed can be raised to form an athwartships table while the forward and aft sections of the pad serve as seats. It doubles the al fresco dinner guest occupancy or forms the quintessential kids’ table.

The outdoor galley sits above the tender garage

An optional outdoor galley is integrated into the transom where the chef stands on the electric drop transom to use the grill and sink. With the transom open, you’ll also notice a full dinghy garage that accommodates the tender with an outboard attached.

DOWN BELOW

Below, the Dufour 61 is reminiscent of the many models that came before but now with even more opportunity to make it your own.

View of the saloon with the full-width, forward galley, while the owner’s suite is in the bow

Layout options include three or four cabins and three or four heads, but the way the accommodation can be switched up is surprising.

Our test boat was set up for proper owner cruising with the master in the bow and two cabins and heads aft. That leaves an open saloon with an L-shaped dinette and a folding table to port, and a C-shaped sofa to starboard.

Aft view of the galley, which is a step below the saloon

The signature Dufour split galley separates the master stateroom from the saloon. To port is a double sink, a cooktop and a refrigerator/freezer, while to starboard is additional refrigeration and more countertop space. With the galley forward, the saloon benefits from the maximum beam of nearly 16ft 6in.

The master stateroom is forward and has a bed offset to port and a large head in the bow. This cabin and the saloon, with its forward-facing navigation desk on starboard, remain the same regardless of the rest of the configuration choices.

The owner’s cabin with en-suite bathroom forward offers great space and natural light

The galley can be located aft in the portside corner. This adds a small cabin with a single bed and head that are perfect for a professional captain. With the galley here, there’s room forward for an over/under twin cabin on port and an additional head across on starboard.

Another approach is to keep half the forward galley, put over/under bunks on starboard, skip the additional head and maintain the layout of the other cabins as is. To my eye, Dufour’s signature split galley makes the most sense for owner/operators.

This model defines bright and airy with what could be called an “array of sunshine” overhead. Triple fixed skylights lie ahead of triple opening hatches and bring in abundant light and ventilation.

Twin set-up for one of the aft guest cabins

Add to that the hull and deck portlights and the option of light wood and fabrics, and you’ll never feel buried in the hull. The fit and finish are quite upmarket for a production boat and Dufour prides itself on their workmanship with good reason.

PERFORMANCE

The thing about sailing Dufour models is that they feel stout, competent and friendly. That last word can’t be underscored enough.

Today’s size creep has put less experienced or older sailors on some large designs that can get out of hand quickly. But the 61, like all Dufour yachts, is stately, measured and easy-going. With the self-tacking jib, there’s hardly anything to do even in a tacking duel. She stays on her feet and builds confidence as she takes care of her owners.

The Dufour 61 is suitable for short-handed sailing and older skippers

Wind speeds of 15-20 knots are perfect for this design. On flat water, you can expect to sail in the nine-knot range and enjoy pointing up to 40 degrees where the Dufour 61 is still comfortable and doesn’t feel overpowered.

A big boat requires a big engine, and this model offers a 175hp Volvo Penta diesel with a straight shaft that gets the job done. Top speeds are 9-10 knots, but an efficient cruise is more around eight knots. The boat responds quickly from a standstill as the prop pushes water directly over the single rudder. With a bow thruster, even this large model is a cinch to fit into the tightest of spaces.

Dufour now markets nine model from 32-61ft and they get better looking the bigger they grow. Our test boat was outfitted with a few extras including air-conditioning, genset, outdoor galley, electronics and more.

The foredeck is big enough for several people to sunbathe or socialise

Add commissioning, bottom paint, delivery and a few other goodies, and you can expect a price tag around US$1.3 million. She’s versatile and attractive and instils confidence in anyone inspired by wanderlust. www.dufour-yachts.com

Sunseeker puts the sport into Sport Yacht

Reviews / yachtstyle2020

Sunseeker puts the sport into Sport Yacht

June 16, 2022
2:47 pm

The British builder’s new 65 Sport Yacht can appear like most yachts in its category – until you climb into the SkyHelm™ racing seats. By Michael Verdon.

The low seats in the SkyHelm™ offer a sportscar-like driving experience

There’s a classic Maxell cassette ad from the 1980s that shows a man literally getting blown away by music from his stereo. He’s hunched down in the seat, hair streaming back, having to stop his wine glass from being pushed off the table because of the pulsing music.

I felt a bit like that guy on a sea trial of Sunseeker’s 65 Sport Yacht, sitting in the body-hugging seat on the flybridge SkyHelm™. With the racing steering wheel in front of me, ocean winds tossing my hair, the 65 leans over in a hard, curving turn.

It’s hard to believe that one feature can put the ‘sport’ in sport yacht, but the ride that day felt so much more like I was on a smaller, faster boat. It made me a believer in the possibility of having fun on a 65ft, 38-tonne motor yacht.

A retractable bimini is an option on the flybridge

Of course, there’s a lot more to like about this Sunseeker, which I tested at this year’s Miami International Boat Show.

The British builder has since released the Predator 65 built on the same hull, but with a curved hardtop rather than an open sportbridge. The Predator version – which debuted at the Palm Beach International Boat Show – will appeal to coupé lovers, but for running in fair weather, the Sport Yacht’s open upper deck adds another dimension.

SKYHELM™ SUPREME

The SkyHelm™ – a highly recommended option along with the retractable bimini – includes two matching, slender Besenzoni seats, with a centre console that has the throttles, VHF, wireless charging pad for a smart phone, and several bezelled instruments with analogue outer screens and digital screens that show different ship functions in the centre.

The SkyHelm™ can be complemented by a sunpad (pictured) or L-shaped sofa with a flexible table

For the driver, it’s a simple layout, with only an adjustable steering wheel and IPS joystick to worry about, plus another control for the bow thruster. The set-up provides a nice connection with the person in the navigator seat because they also have access to controls if the skipper needs help.

A pair of footplates let you plant your feet forward as the boat leans into tight turns, while being so high up guarantees you won’t hear the engines vibrating. Our boat had twin 1,000hp Volvo Penta 1350 IPS engines that gave a top end just shy of 35 knots. At 20 knots, it consumes about 200 lph, giving a range of 280nm, and the yacht has a stated range of 750nm at 10 knots.

The wheel can be raised to allow a skipper to pilot while standing, such as for mooring

When the driver wants to stand while piloting, such as to get a better view of the immediate waters and surroundings, the wheel tilts up at a 45-degree angle on its long pedestal, a useful feature in tight-quarters manoeuvring.

Aft of the SkyHelm™ is the option of a sunbed that offers space for two and a foldup backrest, with a stainless protective rail. It’s ideal for sitting at anchor on a calm day, less so if you’re out in big seas or carving tight turns. The option of a fitted L-shaped sofa and flexible dining table might be more popular in Asia.

The cockpit includes a large sunpad that provides aft seating with sea views (left);

The clever design continues in the cockpit, with an outdoor teak table for cocktails or dining, a galley-side wet bar with grill – a feature that can be replaced by bar stools – and a sunbed that hangs over the swim platform. The sunbed has a backrest that creates a forward-facing sofa, while layout options include extended seating that continues around the port side and under the aft galley window.

The foredeck, which can be covered by a sail canopy, also feels spacious for a boat this size, with a forward sunbed for two and lounge at the rear. Flexiteek is used for the outdoor decking and stairs, and to allow for the innovative shape of the transom.

The garage can house a Williams jet tender, Seabobs and other toys

Perhaps the smartest use of space is the transom, where the tender garage was designed in an oversized square shape. The square is ideal for a Williams jet tender on a track for easy launch and retrieval, as well as Seabobs or other water toys.

You can also add chocks to the hydraulic swim platform for the tender and turn the garage into a bona fide beach club with the addition of furniture, while there’s a rain shower built into the underside of the garage door.

OPTIONS ABOUND

Forward, the door to the main saloon slides open, while a window over the panel separating the cockpit from the portside galley slides down out of sight, further connecting interior and exterior as the galley becomes part of the cockpit.

Sliding doors and an aft galley window that lowers into the countertop widen the saloon entrance

Sunseeker gave the galley a sophisticated look, with plenty of counter space, and directly across are a refrigerator and freezer. The boat we reviewed was dressed in high-sheen, smoked Eucalyptus, which was offset nicely with whites and, in some areas below, stainless-steel designs etched into the wall.

The saloon has excellent headroom, with a C-shaped sofa and a foldable table to port facing an entertainment centre with a pop-up television to starboard, where a sofa and rise-and-fall TV can also be installed.

The sofa can face either an entertainment centre (pictured) or two-seat sofa with retractable TV

Sunseeker even offers a non-galley main-deck layout with extended port side seating that runs the length of the saloon, a design that could work in tandem with the lower-deck galley option.

The two-person lower helm has a carbon-fibre dash, with round, clock-like bezels on some of the gauges and a Garmin all-glass console in the centre. Visibility is excellent from the helm, thanks to a single-piece windscreen and big swathes of glass on all sides. Another bonus is the electrically tilting sunroof that opens to let the outside in, another feature that makes sense on a sport yacht.

The saloon includes a flexible high-low table, while forward are stairs to the lower deck

Just a further word about the glazing. Not only are there lots of complex curves and many square feet but Sunseeker’s design team did a great job with the hull profile by giving the glazing a modern twist and incorporating stainless-steel trim between the glass panels that adds more complexity to the design.

MASTERFUL CABINS

Below decks, our review boat featured the Grand Master layout, so aft of the dedicated day head to port, the owner’s cabin starts with an elegantly designed dressing area and vanity table with a foldout seat.

The master suite has huge hull windows with portholes and is shown with a portside daybed

Other options for this port area include a saloon with a sofa facing a TV, a galley or a single cabin, all separate to the master suite.

The full-beam master suite midships is generous, with large windows on either side and portholes for fresh air, plus a side lounge and vanity, and a large en-suite with a glassed-in shower forward to starboard. The television is incorporated into the forward bulkhead.

The Grand Master option extends the owner’s stateroom

The VIP forward also feels generous considering its bow position, with a double bed and its own en-suite, while there’s a twin guest cabin with en-suite to starboard, plus a single crew cabin aft.

The guest accommodation features beautiful stainless-steel detailing in the panelling and doors. The attention to detail throughout is what you’d expect from a Sunseeker.

Options for the portside area include a TV room, galley or single cabin

Options like the Seakeeper motion stabiliser will add to the quality of life on board, and our test boat had upscale items like Royal Doulton dining ware and Dartington crystal. While those niceties help put the yacht in sport yacht, give me that SkyHelm™ over anything on the options list. It changes the whole yachting experience.

www.sunseeker.com

Beneteau’s Gran Turismo 45 is open for fun

Reviews / yachtstyle2020

Beneteau’s Gran Turismo 45 is open for fun

June 9, 2022
2:16 am

Now in Asia, the Gran Turismo 45 is sleek, sporty and seriously versatile, with Beneteau’s new express cruiser flagship offering a range of flexible features designed to improve life at anchor. By Michael Verdon.

The GT45 leads an express cruiser range that also includes 32, 36 and 41 models

Most builders in the 40-50ft range are trying to be all things to all boaters. Foldout transoms, convertible cockpits and even vertical bows attempt to replicate boats closer to 65ft in terms of usable space and amenities. Some work, others look like ‘Frankenboats’.

Beneteau’s new Gran Turismo 45 is in the Swiss Army knife camp of design, and honestly, on my first visit to the boat, I wasn’t that impressed. It has an almost retro look, with a long profile reminiscent of a 1990s express cruiser and a curved hardtop that has been a standard feature on some competitors’ boats for three or four years.

The Gran Turismo 45 is ideal for family trips

But on the second visit, the detail in the design was more apparent, as was the builder’s focus on creating a multipurpose but open layout in a limited envelope. On this boat, the devil is in the details – and multiple functions.

BEACH CLUB TO BARBECUE

Starting at the transom, which has become one of the go-to places for owners in this category, the pieces are put together as nicely as a Chinese tangram. First, the hydraulic swim platform has tender chocks built into the surface. It lowers into the water for easy launch and retrieval, and provides a nice platform for people who want to go diving, snorkelling or just sit partially submerged in the water.

The tender garage is under the island sunpad

The aft sunpad is also multifunctional and includes drink holders embedded in the soft upholstery (no skin-sticking like vinyl covers on this seat) and a foldup headrest. Best of all, the entire sunpad unit lifts hydraulically to reveal a garage for a second tender, dive tanks or storage.

Furthermore, the aft end of the sunpad reveals a foldup electric barbecue that allows you to grill from the swim platform. I like the idea of the grill here because it moves the cooking and smells away from the cockpit, although this is not such a problem in a boat with such an open, breezy design.

The hydraulic swim platform can also lower under water when needed

The midsection of the cockpit is also well thought out, with some nice second-gen features from an earlier Gran Turismo. First, the door on the portside folds flat against the side, while the aft single-piece glass window can lift into a slot along the ceiling via electric actuators.

This allows the end of the covered area to be wide open for extra breeze and views during hot months and closed during cooler or rainy times.

The aft window can be raised, while the interior includes a wet bar and retractable TV to starboard

To port is a wet bar with fridge, icemaker and sink, while a pop-up television is embedded in the back of the unit. Opposite is the main dining table and a C-shaped sofa, which basically offers covered alfresco dining when the aft window and door are open. The table can fold in half to create more space or during rougher running, as the stainless supports underneath the teak slats offer both curved grabrails as well as drinks holders.

CURVES AND OPENINGS

The curved hardtop is a feature Beneteau points to during tours, noting that its competitors typically join different pieces held together rather than its single-piece design. It not only looks better than the others, with no seams or caulking, but also has higher structural integrity.

The 30-plus knots driving experience is enhanced by a double companion seat, side windows and a 45sqft sunroof

However, the feature I liked most was the huge sunroof opening, measuring 45sqft, because it lets the sun in while still offering protection. The side windows have sliding panels to give a cross breeze if the cockpit is buttoned down. The area also has vents near the helm and midsection for the 24,000BTU air-conditioning.

The helm area has a single captain’s chair and double companion seat, both with bolsters, along with a minimalist, uncluttered dash. The GT 45 has Beneteau’s Ship Display, which monitors engines, as well as the Volvo IPS glass helm, shown on a 16-inch Garmin display, for the IPS system.

The system includes electronic throttles with joystick controls for easier manoeuvring around the docks. The GT 45 also has a Sidepower bow thruster for more precise control in big winds or currents. On this unit, the Volvo 600s produce 440hp for each engine.

The foredeck sunpads can be partially shaded by a bimini

Forward of the windscreen is a large sunpad for two to three people, which provides a nice place to hang out and can be partially covered by a retractable bimini.

LOWER-DECK LIVING

Below deck, the jigsaw puzzle configuration continues. At the bottom of the stairway to port is a full galley featuring a fridge/freezer – and nice push-button security to keep the doors closed in big seas – as well as a convection microwave and two-burner stove.

Across is a C-shaped sofa and a table for indoor dining or just hanging out, with a window and opening to port. The head just forward of the galley has two doors – one in this common area, to make it a day head, and the other in the forward cabin for private use.

The dinette is to starboard of the galley, while the VIP cabin is forward

The lounge can be modified into a berth with a filler cushion. If the owner wants a third cabin with bunkbeds, Beneteau can add a bulkhead, although this would dramatically reduce the area’s open feeling.

The bow cabin has scissor berths, which can either stay together as an island bed or split apart as singles for noncouples. Storage is decent, and both the overhead escape hatch and two side windows provide good light.

The full-beam master suite is midships

Aft of the lounge is the full-beam master. The engine placement aft on the IPS system comes in handy with IPS-equipped boats, as it allows more space for the midships master. Beneteau did a nice job with the layout, placing the queen-sized berth in the centre, and then designing separate bench seats and storage areas on either side, with good windows. The head is large for this size of boat, with a separate shower stall.

The boat incorporates Beneteau’s Alpi wood panelling, a blend of natural and synthetic composites, along with a teak floor both inside and on the outer deck area. Fit and finish is clean, precise and what you would expect from a top production builder.

CLASSY TOUCHES

However, the designers also added thoughtful touches throughout the boat, almost like subliminal messaging to up its luxury game.

The hidden grill at the end of the island sunbed offers an ideal place for cooking outdoors

They include curves along the steps from the swim platform to the cockpit, the residential-feel upholstery on the aft and forward sunbeds, embedded phone chargers and the Fusion sound system. The heads have basin sinks, and the headboard in the master suite is backlit.

Other details that matter for onboard living include 17-inch-wide passages on the gunwales and stainless rails along the sides, with slight, outward-sloping curves, that are 24 inches high.

The table can be fully opened for dining or folded to create more space

There are two access points to the engine room – one just off the swim platform and the other in the tender garage – and a hot-and-cold shower near the swim platform. There’s also a 7.5kW generator and hot-water heater.

The boat has a 32-knot top end, according to Beneteau, and cruises nicely at 23-24 knots. The boat’s air-stepped hull is designed for stability rather than speed, as one would expect from most stepped hulls.

A GT45 is in Hong Kong following a sale by Simpson Marine

With all its bells and whistles, the GT 45 should certainly be a strong contender for anyone who wants a fast cruiser that can also make a great weekend home.

www.beneteau.com

www.simpsonmarine.com

Nimbus T11 cruises into Asia

Reviews / yachtstyle2020

Nimbus T11 cruises into Asia

June 2, 2022
3:47 pm

A new arrival in Hong Kong through Asiamarine, the powerful, two-cabin Nimbus T11 from Sweden is most notable for its remarkably flexible sunbathing and seating areas – and is making at least one diehard sailor think about buying a motorboat. By Guy Nowell.

The Nimbus T11 is the flagship of the Swedish builder’s ‘Tender’ line

‘T’, they say, stands for Tender, which would be something of an understatement. What they really mean is that the Nimbus T11 is a high-speed, supremely stable, brilliantly designed, ingeniously practical, perfectly constructed, fabulously versatile go-anywhere boat. But that would probably have involved too many initials.

Until recently, I hadn’t heard of an ‘adventure boat’. Ok, so I’ve been living in a cave (actually, Hong Kong, but there’s a similarity) and I’m a dyed-in-the-wool sailor, so clearly I’ve not been taking a lot of notice beyond the guardrail. However, I was recently introduced to Nimbus and its T11, and the effect is remarkable: all of a sudden, I want a motor boat.

The Nimbus T11 is ideal for sunny days, with the brand making inroads into Asia over the past year

Yacht Style was invited for a sea trial of the T11 by dealer Asiamarine, which has represented Nimbus in Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam since last year.

In Hong Kong, a sea trial usually means a slow speed cruise from Aberdeen to Deep Water Bay in the company of a few young ladies from the society magazines who have been reminded to leave their high heels on the dock and who don’t want to spill the prosecco.

The first Nimbus T11 in Asia is in Hong Kong, while there’s also a hull in Thailand

In Europe, an invitation to a sea trial means “here’s the wheel, give it the beans”. Happily, Asiamarine adheres to the European model, so this was an opportunity to properly put the T11 through its paces – and my oh my, it didn’t disappoint.

Here’s the short review: if you’re looking for a boat around 40ft that will move 12 people pretty much anywhere, fast and in comfort, then please don’t sign anything until you’ve checked out a Nimbus T11.

The first Nimbus T11 in Hong Kong features ‘Tomato’ red upholstery

You’ll be excused for thinking that the T11 is lacking in curvy curves. Instead, it comes across with a more purposeful look. It’s a big boat, more Amazon than ballet dancer. It has a super-sharp bow profile, high freeboard and accommodation for four.

And this is a walkaround day boat? That high freeboard means correspondingly high bulwarks on the inside which makes the T11 feel like the safest walkaround ever. Hmm … it’s going to need a new label.

POWER & PERFORMANCE

Let’s start at the stern. Two 300hp Mercury outboards come as standard, but you can upgrade to 350hp or 400hp versions, or even have a pair of Volvo Penta D4 DPI inboards.

The T11 offers a variety of engine options and seating arrangements

There’s never going to be lack of power, but – and it’s not a secret – in standard configuration, this boat gets up on the plane in a heartbeat and cruises effortlessly at 40 knots. That’s Sai Kung to Tai Long Wan in 19 minutes, or Central to Cheung Sha Wan on Lantau in just 25. Do you need more?

Get behind the helm of the T11 and it proves to be an exceptionally well-mannered boat. The T11’s hull has a properly sharp entry for low drag at low speeds, which allows the boat to accelerate fast and break out onto the plane very quickly indeed.

The Nimbus T11 cruises in Hong Kong

Two spray rails slide away aft to a 20.6˚ deadrise that gives the boat immense stability, while the two race-derived hull steps reduce wetted surface area and therefore speed-killing drag. With the throttles wide open and the helm fully down, the roll angle of the boat was only 22˚ (we measured it). The boat showed no inclination to bite in the turn. It’s a beautiful ride, no doubt about it.

FLEXIBILE & FUNCTIONAL

Go forward past the engines and you’re in the social part of the boat. Honestly, I’ve never seen a dayboat of any size that offers so many seating, lounging and dining configurations in one unit.

The shade provided by the hardtop can be extended by a bimini

The designers at Nimbus must have sat down one day with the intention to create a Transformer, this time not based on a car, but a boat.

The aft sunpad connects to a trio of – sometimes – adjoining bench seats with movable backrests. The side bench seats can face the full-scale dining table that can fold open to full size and seat nine.

Alternatively, for when you want to get to the beach as fast as possible, the table can be folded in half and the side bench seats can be rotated 90 degrees to sit side by side and provide a row of forward-facing seats, complementing the long aft sofa behind.

The flexible seating can be set up as three sofas around the adjustable table

In front of the main social zone are two seats alongside the helm to keep the pilot company, giving you forward-facing seating for 11-12 people when required. And that doesn’t include the foredeck

seats.

The helm position has got all the toys to hand – two screens displaying all the relevant running and navigation instrumentation, as well as the bow thruster, joystick and Skyhook.

The latter is a real gem. Arrive in the marina short-handed, engage the Skyhook to keep the boat stationary while you prep the lines and fenders, and then use the joystick to get into the berth. Step ashore and tie up. The system is so good and easy to use that it’s laughable.

The gorgeous triple-seat helm station allows the skipper to sit, lean or stand

Fridges, drawers, lockers, a sink and a grill inhabit the unit between seating area and the helm, and there isn’t a cubic inch anywhere that isn’t dedicated to storage space – under the floors, under the lifting bench seat, and under the aft sunpad.

Remarkably, the whole aft bench seat opens upwards on an electric/hydraulic ram to reveal a huge amount of storage space below. Inboard engines are going to take up some of that space if you have them fitted, which may be a good reason to stay with the outboards.

FORWARD AND BELOW

Forward a little more, on the port side, and down three craftily designed offset steps, and you are in the main cabin. This boasts a full-size double berth, almost 2m of headroom, and a fully-fitted bathroom with head, basin and separate shower.

The lower deck includes a galley and storage opposite the bathroom, plus a forward double bed

Hull windows let in the light, and so does a deck hatch, so this is no dark cave. Turn hard right and down another step, and you’ll find another double cabin. This one fits into the void under the cockpit floor, so it’s a thoroughly practical feet-first-and-slide-in arrangement.

Forward of the helm position is the front deck sunpad arrangement, with storage underneath, naturally. There’s a windlass and anchor locker, of course.

The midships double bed is cosy, but good for sleeping and reading

The build quality of the Nimbus T11 is better than first class. There are no rattles and no wobbles. This is the first time I’ve seen a T-top arrangement that has absolutely no movement in it – solid as a rock.

The finish throughout the boat is impeccable, from the hull construction to the stainless steel, and from the teak deck to the thoughtful provision of appropriate handholds, rails and grab points. Even the upholstery is top quality and fun. Nimbus call it ‘Tomato’, but it looks like a happy fire-engine red to me.

This flexible two-cabin walkaround is much more than the Tender name suggests

Here’s the real skinny: if you can produce a powerboat that impresses a sailor, you’re doing something quite extraordinary. I’ll never give up sailing, but now I want a powerboat, too: a Nimbus T11.

www.nimbus.se

www.asiamarine.com

Sunreef’s super powercat is a super statement

Reviews / yachtstyle2020

Sunreef’s super powercat is a super statement

May 26, 2022
11:08 am

While the 60, 70 and 80-footers in Sunreef’s modern Power range are coming out of the brand’s two shipyards in Gdansk at a steady pace, the luxury catamaran builder moved into a new dimension with its flagship powercat – the 100 Sunreef Power. By Norbert Concin.

The 100 Sunreef Power is the Polish builder’s largest powercat to date

Sunreef Yachts’ continuing growth is evident to anyone visiting the company’s new shipyard, as illustrated by the number of recently launched boats in front of the buildings on the banks of the Martwa Wisla River. Our mission here was to try out the brand’s new flagship powercat, the 100 Power, which was delivered to her owner in January.

Since 2017, the year Sunreef launched its current range of power and sailing cats, the Gdansk builder has delivered over 40 models between 60-100ft including 10 powercats and is still also using its original site in the historic Gdansk Shipyard to keep up with demand.

The 100 Sunreef Power has a central hydraulic platform that links with the transoms

The order book remains full, with many of Sunreef’s clientele coming from the monohull superyacht sector. The 100 Power is a new landmark in the brand’s irresistible ascent. Offering 5,400sqft of living space, equivalent to the social space found on a 130ft monohull motor yacht, the vast powercat is the biggest example so far of Sunreef’s ongoing journey into the world of superyachts.

FAMILIAR FORMS

At first glance, it might be difficult to distinguish this 94-footer from other models in the range, especially from a distance on the water. Understandably, the brand has retained its basic design DNA, although the T-top of the flybridge is set further aft compared to the 80 Power, for example.

However, the silhouette is similar in proportions, which translates into impressive volumes. Figures that illustrate the 100 Power’s scale include the towering 11ft 6in freeboard and the 44ft-plus beam, making it wider than the 40 Open Sunreef Power is long.

The huge cockpit has an aft sofa with a backrest that can fold down to make a large sunpad

The familiar design with rounded corners is pleasing, even giving this enormous vessel a slightly sporty look. Hull one, Shimali, looks great with its anthracite hull, teak deck, black coachroof windows and copper-pink superstructure.

To reach the main deck, it’s nine steps up from the wide transoms. The central hydraulic platform can carry more than 1,300kg and Shimali’s 18ft colour-coordinated dinghy is a notable feature. A concealed garage, below the aft sunpad, can accommodate a pair of three-seater jet-skis, a refuelling station and various water toys, deploying them when the garage floor lowers to water level.

SPACE IS LUXURY

On deck, the aft cockpit and interior saloon combine to form a vast covered socialising area. The wide cockpit table is large enough to seat a dozen guests, while the sofa backrest can fold down to complete an enormous sunbathing area overlooking the sea. There’s also a daybed to port, while also worthy of note is a day head to starboard – a very useful inclusion on such a large yacht.

The enormous solid foredeck

Huge side decks lead to the foredeck, a vast area where the yacht’s 44ft beam comes into play, offering two L-shaped sofas and tables in front of the saloon windscreen, as well as a large clear area with hatches in-between. Forward is an expansive sunpad, while the whole area can be beautifully lit at night by pop-up lamps.

From the aft cockpit, a starboard stairway leads to the flybridge, which is one of the yacht’s most remarkable social areas. Covering an enormous 915sqft, similar in scale to the entire saloon below, the flybridge starts with an uncovered aft area that’s dominated by a custom-built jacuzzi, which is flanked by sunbathing areas either side.

The flybridge has lots of space between the long bar to starboard, dining table to port and jacuzzi aft

The area covered by the 645sqft hardtop is lined to starboard by a long bar with barbecue and tall stools, and to port by a long dining table for 10. In the middle is plenty of space to arrange sofas and chairs as you wish. The covered area can even be transformed into an outdoor cinema with a retractable projector and screen, and high-end audio system.

Forward, the central helm station sits between companion seating on both sides for those who want a skipper’s view through the wide windscreen. We had the opportunity to try the helm during a sea trial held in the bay of Gdansk in beautiful weather, although it’s worth noting there’s little ‘feel’ due to the electric control system, requiring you to consult the analogue rudder angle indicators. Yet if it’s acoustic comfort you’re looking for, you’re in the right place.

The upper helm has companion seating on both sides

Like most Sunreef models, the 100 Power is built for long-distance cruising. With up to 28,000 litres of fuel on board, a speed of 9-10 knots will ensure 3,000nm-plus transatlantic range, while 7-8 knots will take you over 5,000nm, although the range drops to less than 1,000nm if you maintain the top speed of 17 knots.

HOME FROM HOME

On the main deck, the vast interior is separated into four distinct zones, starting with the main lounge to port and a huge custom-built bar to starboard. Forward are a professional galley cleverly separated by glass windows, and a portside gym with a treadmill overlooking the sea.

The saloon includes a lounge with facing sofas to port and a bar with high chairs to starboard

Sunreef was a forerunner in the introduction of luxury on catamarans, so it’s interesting to see that the brand is further enhancing its expertise in custom décor.

In this instance, the specifications by the owners – who are using Shimali exclusively for private use – include a very traditional New England style decor, but with a touch of fantasy. When cruising, the owner wants to feel at home in the truest sense of the word. He even sent photos of the inside of his house so Sunreef’s interior design teams could reproduce his chosen style.

The décor and furniture are inspired by the owner’s home

All the woodwork in matte white lacquered oak veneer and the light brown oak floor contrast with the rose quartz veneer of the bar and the gold brass trim. The furniture is classical: fir-green velvet Chesterfield sofas, Club chairs, and a pink silk carpet and fancy lighting add a touch of originality.

BEAUTY SLEEP

The cabins have been designed in the same spirit, with Paris Metro-style tiles for the bathrooms. Accommodation in the port hull features a large owner’s suite with a stunning bathroom.

Located in the centre of the port hull, the master is one of five en-suite guest cabins

Forward is another en-suite guest cabin with a window-facing double bed, while there are a further three en-suite guest cabins in the starboard hull. Each room includes individual air-conditioning and a TV, while headroom exceeds 7ft 3in throughout, offering an enormous feeling of space.

Sunreef provides an exclusive air-conditioning system to ensure a peaceful night’s sleep, with a very economical (350,000 BTU/hr) system powered by an oversized battery bank, meaning generators are not needed at night.

The master suite’s beautifully decorated bathroom

Two large twin crew cabins are in the forepeaks, while aft in the port hull is a captain’s cabin with office space and a double bed. If the captain is part of a couple, the yacht can accommodate six crew to look after up to 10 guests.

CAREFUL, ROBUST CONSTRUCTION

If you see these boats before they’re painted, the robustness of the construction is self-evident: bows, forefoot, hull bottoms, hatch surrounds and chines are all built in monolithic GRP. The thickness of the foam sandwich speaks for itself. Carbon cloth is used for reinforcement in high-stress areas such as the hull to nacelle connections or the structural bulkheads.

The U-shaped galley is forward of the bar

The entire area of the nacelle is doubled by a lower compartment dedicated to the technical elements. This technical area is accessible via hatches in the foredeck, saloon galley and aft cockpit. It’s also possible to enter from the forward crew cabins and exit into the toy garage, as all the ‘basement rooms’ are linked by a passageway.

The battery bank, chargers and inverters, air-conditioning, laundry room and even cold-storage room are installed here, with the quality of the technical installations and finish particularly high. Beyond its intrinsic qualities – proven architecture, oceangoing range and exceptional space – the big appeal of the 100 Sunreef Power is the possibility of a fully customised layout and décor on all three decks.

Port of the galley is an area that can be used as a gym

And like all the brand’s current models, it’s also available in an Eco version, with solar panels and custom-engineered batteries.

In its progression towards increasing size, luxury, customisation and sustainable options, Sunreef seems unstoppable, with the 100 Power its biggest statement so far.

www.sunreef-yachts.com

Leopard’s ‘middle child’ powercat coming to Asia

Reviews / yachtstyle2020

Leopard’s ‘middle child’ powercat coming to Asia

May 5, 2022
4:43 pm

After a world premiere at Miami in February and a European premiere at La Grande Motte in late April, the Leopard 46 Powercat will soon be in Asia, with a unit for Hong Kong to be followed by two hulls for Southeast Asia. By Michael Verdon.

Leopard’s 46 Powercat follows the 53 and will be joined by the 40

Unveiled at the Miami International Boat Show in February and making its European debut at the International Multihull Show in France in late April, the new Leopard 46 Powercat is the second of what will be three new-generation models in the South African-built power catamaran series. The first, the 53, was launched at the 2020 Miami show, while the new 40 will make its debut there next year.

The new family is a departure from the powercats that were earlier converted from its sailing cat line. The conversion didn’t work nearly as well as a clean-slate design, so the company hired Dutch studio Simonis Voogd to create the new family.

The first Leopard 46 Powercat for Asia is heading to Hong Kong

The Leopard line is owned by THL Marine, which also owns The Moorings and Sunsail charter fleets, and is built by Cape Town-based Robertson & Caine, which has a long history in producing sailing and power cats.

BUILT FOR ENTERTAINING

As the middle child of the growing family, the 46 PC will arrive in Hong Kong this summer with further hulls set for Malaysia and the Philippines. It has the same layout as its larger 53ft sibling, but owners won’t be sacrificing that much in terms of liveability.

I had a chance to tour both Leopards and while the 53 clearly has a 13-inch wider beam and larger bow and stern areas, the 46’s interior space doesn’t feel like much of a downgrade compared to the 53.

Forward of the transom (above), the aft cockpit (below) can host up to eight people

Although the cockpit is a little smaller than on the 53, it’s still big enough to host a group of eight comfortably due to the solid teak table and large wraparound lounge in the centre. It also offers a good view of the stern, which has a hydraulic platform for launching and retrieving the tender. It remains at main-deck height when the boat is running.

The two side passages to the bow are wide, with a high stainless rail. Also in the cockpit is the stairway – again, wide – up to the flybridge. This is a great social area and features a three-person helm bench seat in the starboard corner, while directly behind is a cooking station with electric grill, sink and fridge.

The large flybridge has a sunbed aft, dining area and wet bar, plus helm and companion seating forward

On the opposite side is a C-shaped sofa with another teak table that seats up to eight, with loungers in front and behind that area. Drink holders are embedded into the armrests. The hardtop offers shade and a mini-windshield along the front provides protection from wind when the boat is running.

BREEZY INTERIOR

Inside, the fit and finish is strong, neutral colours keep the look universal and contemporary, and there’s a charter-boat sensibility to the layout, which means it’s designed to be used much more than a conventional private yacht, without too many gee-whiz features.

The aft galley has an L-shaped configuration to port, while there’s countertop space, storage and a dishwasher to starboard

Still, there are nice residential details like a door that leads to the front of the boat, a rarity on this size of powercat. Another is the large galley aft, which has a full-sized fridge, freezer and icemaker, two-burner cooktop, microwave and convection oven, and good counter surface, made even more pleasant by the inflow of natural light from the long windows along the sides.

There’s also a separate food-prep area just opposite on the starboard cabinet that is typically used as a desk. This side also has a dishwasher, with storage in the drawers and cabinets. This food-prep space is a nice touch, particularly since the 46 is designed for socialising with large groups.

The saloon forward features facing sofas, while a design highlight is the central door to the foredeck

The saloon is long, open and airy, with good headroom. Inset LED lighting on the ceiling and along the walls offer ambient lighting at night. Stairs run down to the staterooms on either side, while forward are a large C-shaped sofa and a coffee table to port plus a two-seater to starboard. The 46 I toured had the optional lower helm station forward of the starboard couch, offering excellent visibility.

At the rear are sliding doors that link the aft cockpit to the saloon for an indoor/outdoor connection that extends the length of the main deck, from the aft cockpit to the sun loungers on the bow.

MASTER OPTION

Having both doors at opposite ends also creates a breezy crossflow that keeps the boat cool at night via natural ventilation, so owners don’t have to run the air-conditioning and generator, for a quiet and fume-free sleeping experience.

In the three-cabin layout, the master suite occupies the starboard hull

For accommodation, owners can choose a four-cabin layout or three cabins including a large master suite on the starboard side. The three-cabin layout – which features on the hull for Asia – is also a game-changer for Leopard.

The master suite has a desk/vanity and storage before the twin-sink bathroom

Anyone who has ever spent time on a large cat knows there’s a bit of an attitude adjustment with being inside a long, narrow stateroom, but the Leopard design team did a great job with the master suite.

The forward guest cabin has a window-facing bed

The rear berth extends from bulkhead to bulkhead, with a desk/vanity positioned in front, storage and then the head – with two large sinks – situated in front of the toilet. An unusually large shower stall gives the area a true luxury feel.

The bed in the aft guest cabin faces forward

The other two cabins have space-saving configurations, with the rear having a double bed looking forward and the forward cabin’s bed facing the window. This design is mirrored on the starboard side for the four-cabin version.

POWERFUL & PRACTICAL

Engine options include twin 370hp Yanmar diesels that give the boat a top speed over 24 knots. The hulls have a draft of just over 3ft and are designed for rough-water running, with a video of the 46 Powercat showing it decisively handling 2-3ft seas.

The Leopard 46 Powercat reaches over 24 knots with twin 370hp Yanmar diesels

One of the highlights of this boat for owner/operators is the design of the engine spaces. They’re separate and offer excellent access to the Yanmars for routine maintenance like changing oil, coolant and filters, as well as accessing the main systems. Since Leopard used to position its engines under the staterooms, this new configuration is a big leap forward for the brand.

Typically, the middle child is seen as one that gets overshadowed by larger siblings, but the new Leopard 46 will hold its own with any big cat and its class. If you want a turnkey boat designed around practical amenities, smart use of space and a hull for rough water, this boat should be on your shortlist.

www.leopardcatamarans.com

VP Yachts hands over Leopard 42
Vivian Chan of VP Yachts handed over a new Leopard 42 in Hong Kong to an owner looking forward to his first sailing catamaran.

Heliotrope 48 powercat holds Asia-Pacific appeal

Reviews / yachtstyle2020

Heliotrope 48 powercat holds Asia-Pacific appeal

April 14, 2022
1:20 pm

A colourful variety of Heliotrope 48s have been delivered to Hong Kong, Thailand, Malaysia and Australia, with the tall powercat by Thailand’s PMG Shipyard offering huge outdoor areas, multiple layouts for all three decks and the option of solar power for onboard systems.

Pattaya-based Albert Nazarov designed the Heliotrope 48

The Heliotrope 48 has already made quite an impression in Asia-Pacific, with hulls cruising in Southeast Asia, Hong Kong and Australia. Yet although they share the same hull and superstructure, the looks, layouts and uses of the 48ft powercats built in the Gulf of Thailand by PMG Shipyard vary almost as much as their locations.

‘Custom Yacht Builder’ is more than just the Rayong shipyard’s tagline, with hull colours so far including silver-grey, all white, and even a lively mix of orange on starboard and white on port side.

The first hull with four cabins was followed by an owner’s version with three. Meanwhile, the two-cabin conglomerate-owned hull for Hong Kong was heavily customised for corporate entertaining before the version sold to Sydney was designed for high-demand day charters forup to 40 people at a time.

The Sydney Seabird was designed for charters

And although the first hulls had a central steering station on the flybridge, the Hong Kong hull required the helm on the starboard side before the Sydney Seabird needed it – you guessed it – to port.

Throw in varying regulation requirements from Europe’s CE to UK-based Lloyd’s and Australia’s AMSA and you’d be forgiven for thinking customisation was a bad word. Not for Philippe Guenat, whose 20,800sqm beachfront shipyard in Rayong has experience building Heliotrope models, Silent-Yachts solar-electric powercats, sailing catamarans and commercial boats.

“We typically build to CE (A), so we learnt a lot doing Lloyd’s and AMSA (Australian Safety Maritime Authority) regulations, even if it meant having to read hundreds of pages,” the Swiss smiles.

A Heliotrope 48 in Hong Kong; Photo: Karen Ball

“We have a lot of experience building for different clients – and not only for private owners – so when people order the Heliotrope 48, we always ask, how do you want to use it … and where do you want the steering console?”

PIONEERING SPIRIT

PMG offers the option of solar panels and batteries on the Heliotrope 48 and has become well known in the past couple of years as a production facility for the Silent 60, the first model in the fast-selling new generation of solar-electric catamarans by Silent-Yachts, which also builds in Italy and Turkey.

PMG launched the first Silent 60 last year, has since launched hulls two and three, and there are more in build. However, long before the shipyards’ cooperation was prompted by Hong Kong-based broker Bart Kimman connecting Silent-Yachts founder Michael to Guenat, PMG was building its own solar-assisted models.

A Heliotrope 48 with an orange hull to port and white hull to starboard

Guenat’s interest in the technology stemmed from his flying days when he became friends with fellow pilots and renowned adventurers Bertrand Piccard and Raphaël Domjan, the first to circumnavigate by solar-powered fixed-wing aircraft and solar-powered boat, respectively. Guenat was still managing his hospitality company well over a decade ago when he began looking at applying solar technology to a production-style pleasure boat, a novel concept at the time.

“When I was discussing this with shipyards and at boat shows in Europe, people thought I was from another planet,” Guenat says. “I was even told by someone very well-known at a prominent Italian shipyard that if I couldn’t afford fuel, I shouldn’t be owning a boat.”

HELIOTROPE EVOLUTION

Guenat was a regular visitor to Thailand, where he had lived for a decade and still had furniture made for his hotel group in Switzerland. In 2009, he eventually found support for his solar concept at the Bakri Cono Shipyard in Ocean Marina Yacht Club in Jomtien.

The bow is shown with a sunken foredeck, but new designs feature a flat, sunpad-covered area above larger forward cabins

Working with yacht designer Dr Albert Nazarov, who had founded Albatross Marine Design in nearby Pattaya in 2006, Guenat built the first Heliotrope 65, which was eventually launched in 2013 and used solar power for all onboard systems but not propulsion.

“We developed the solar system on the Heliotrope 65 as we wanted it to have plenty of roof capacity for solar panels,” Guenat says. “Once we saw it was a success, we looked into smaller models.”

Heliotrope 48 production began at the Ocean Marina facility and continued once the company relocated to its current two-hectare site in Rayong, with Guenat later buying the company and renaming it PMG.

Like the 65, the Heliotrope 48 features naval architecture by Nazarov and a huge flybridge, one of the 65’s signature features. The first 48 was initially built for the US market, leading to an emphasis on comfort and a lot of room for people to move around easily. Both sides had two cabins, each with their own toilet and sink but sharing a large shower in the middle, a design Guenat remains fond of.

Like its larger predecessor, the Heliotrope 48 is distinguished by its large flybridge

However, by the time the boat was completed, the client’s company had been sold and Guenat kept the boat. He put the boat into charter, which he says “worked extremely well, as I was able to get more orders”. Those included a Malaysian client who wanted a larger bedroom, so the shipyard developed the owner’s version with a master suite occupying the port hull.

Different layouts, features, furniture and decor were developed for the boats in Hong Kong and Sydney due to their very specific uses. Meanwhile, back-to-back requests for the steering station to the side led to more seating at the front of the flybridge, another customer-led design PMG has implemented.

HELIOTROPE RETURNS

Production of the Heliotrope 48 was paused due to three successive large-scale contracts for corporate clients that took up much of PMG’s capacity and manpower. However, with two of those contracts completed, PMG has been able to resume building its most popular in-house model alongside production of the Silent 60 and 62 3-Deck.

The cockpit offers alfresco dining

Built for use in generally warm climates, the 48 is distinguished by its outdoor areas. Almost 24ft wide, it starts aft with two fixed transoms and a central option of either a davit or hydraulic platform that can complete a full-width bathing platform. For private owners, the 290sqft cockpit is offered with a very wide sofa, a large teak table and folding chairs, as well as a lovely bar area facing the aft galley.

Port stairs lead to the towering 230sqft flybridge, where a C-shaped sofa wraps around the aft end and provides plenty of seating around adjustable tables. A U-shaped or customised wet bar can be installed to starboard, while forward options include the helm station to starboard and L-shaped seating to port.

The cockpit features a stylish bar that connects with the aft galley

The foredeck can sit up to eight people around an almost rectangular seating area featuring a drinks table and cup holders, while a flatter, sunpad-covered layout is an option.

FLEXIBILITY IN DESIGN

The suggested interior layout includes an L-shaped aft galley to port and a central island bar, along with a forward lounge featuring an aft-facing C-shaped sofa illuminated by natural light through the panoramic windows. Woodwork can be in certified teak, white oak or Asian mahogany, although Guenat is keen to emphasise that the interior can be customised, as it has been on all hulls so far.

“Interior customisation is especially important and we’re particularly flexible,” says Guenat. “We design the interior based on how the client wants to use the boat. Aside from the layout and furniture, décor and fabrics can be customised.”

With no helm, the interior offers lots of space and a forward lounge lit by wraparound windows

Accommodation options include the owner’s layout with a bespoke master suite in the port hull, while a new version with four cabins – each with private sink and toilet but sharing a large shower – includes forward cabins with raised beds facing the hull windows.

Another reason PMG is open to customisation, new materials and additional features is because the Heliotrope 48’s basic structure is light, weighing less than 13 tonnes. And when it comes to performance, it’s notable for a 1m-high bridgedeck clearance that allows waves to pass under the saloon floor during passage.

Aft cabin in the four-cabin layout

The flybridge helm is also notably high to provide better visibility for the skipper, both afar and of the waters immediately around the yacht. Guenat is a firm believer in driving from the flybridge, although a second, simpler helm with a joystick and one screen can be added in the saloon.

“With catamarans, it’s very important you’re as high as possible, especially where seas are busy or not that clear or clean,” he says. “You need to be able to check all around you and avoid anything you don’t want caught in the props.”

The yacht’s solar offering is now even more appealing following the technology’s rise in popularity in recent years, as Guenat has witnessed with the demand for Silent-Yachts models. The Heliotrope 48 offers solar panels across the flybridge hardtop and on the C-shaped overhang above the cockpit.

Stairs to the guest cabins, which each have their own toilet and sink and share a shower

The power generated can charge batteries and silently operate all onboard systems including air-conditioning while at anchor or berthing, so no generator is needed at night.

“Things have changed in last three years and there’s a much wider demand for solar technology,” he says. “Depending on where you are, electric propulsion can be a very pleasant way of cruising, but it’s not ideal for everywhere.”

Guenat believes the demand for conventional propulsion will remain popular in areas exposed to rough weather and without a convenient network of marinas, citing the fact there’s no major facility between Ocean Marina and Singapore, a 1,200nm trip.

A forward cabin

“From the Gulf of Thailand down to Singapore, there can be some extremely strong winds and impressive waves, yet once you leave Ocean Marina, the next proper marina is in Singapore, which is five days of navigating day and night,” he says.

“When you have a storm, you need to be able to either hide yourself in a marina or cruise through the waves, and you need power for that.”

www.pmgshipyard.com

www.yacht-heliotrope.com

PMG Shipyard: Pride of Thailand
Best known internationally for building the new Silent 60 for the fast-growing Silent-Yachts, the PMG Shipyard in Thailand owned by Philippe Guenat also produces its own solar-assisted Heliotrope powercats as well as custom builds in a spectacular two-hectare beachfront facility that’s now also equipped for catamaran refits.

Fountaine Pajot’s stunning new starter sail cat

Reviews / yachtstyle2020

Fountaine Pajot’s stunning new starter sail cat

March 31, 2022
3:44 pm

Several units of Fountaine Pajot’s Isla 40 sailing catamaran are already sailing around Asia following strong demand for the La Rochelle builder’s new entry model.

With three winches and two banks of clutches, the helmsman can manage all sailing manoeuvres

Fountaine Pajot’s seven sailing catamaran models through to the flagship Alegria 67 have names ending in ‘a’, including some such as the Elba 45 and the Tanna 47 that refer to islands. For its new entry-level model, the Isla 40, the French builder settled on the generic Spanish word for island, pronounced ‘iz-la’.

Measuring just over 39ft overall, the Isla only had its official world premiere at last year’s Cannes Yachting Festival, yet it has already sold multiple units across Asia, where owners – including a client in Japan who switched from a 48ft motor yacht – have started exploring islands, beaches and bays around the region.

“When we think of Asia, we sometimes think of big boats because of motor yachts, but you can have a very capable, fully equipped Isla 40 delivered here for €500,000 (about US$570,000), so the pool of customers is much wider,” says Kevin Corfa, Fountaine Pajot’s Head of Asia.

A fixed helm bimini is an option

“These new owners are attracted to boats they can sail themselves without having crew while still having large social areas and privacy when needed

“For the same amount of living space, the Isla consumes much less power because it’s a sailing yacht but also when motoring because it’s a cat. It can have a big water tank and because owners will handle more things on board themselves, they appreciate having so much space around the engine in the technical area, making maintenance easier.”

A LITTLE EXTRA IN THE HULLS

Like all Fountaine Pajot’s current sail cats, the Isla 40 features naval architecture by Berret-Racoupeau Yacht Design. The newcomer succeeds another island-themed model, the Lucia 40, and is a notable upgrade on her popular predecessor, which sold almost 300 units in five years.

The comfortable bow area is accessed by wide side-decks aided by long handrails on the coachroof

The main modifications focus on the interior and the hulls, whose bows now adopt inverted stems. The hulls have gained 8in at the waterline, increasing the length from 38ft 6in to 39ft 2in, and it’s remarkable how the inverted bows alter the silhouette and give a much sportier, seductive design.

In this pivotal 40ft category – much below this length, some crews might hesitate to embark on ocean passages – the performance/comfort compromise is a subtle equation, for want of space. Hulls that are too narrow deprive the boat of double berths in the forecabins. On the other hand, a nacelle that’s too large translates into displacement and consequent windage.

The inverted bows give a modern and elegant silhouette to the Isla 40

The Isla 40 scores highly, with sufficient but controlled volumes everywhere. A light displacement of nine-plus tonnes and a total sail area of about 1,025sqft (95sqm) gives a good sail-area-to-weight ratio.

BUILT TO LAST

The generous semi-circular sections of the hulls can carry the load, while the design offers fine-entry bows and comfortable bridgedeck clearance. The hulls adopt a discreet chine on their inboard sides.

Using infusion, the hulls are made up in three sections: the underside of the nacelle, the inboard topsides and the outboard half-hulls. The sandwich consists of a balsa core and skins made of multiaxial glass cloth.

The cockpit is backed by a wide aft sofa, while the starboard daybed is by steps to the helm station

The deck and coachroof, true to the yard’s know-how, are injected parts – vacuum lamination in a two-sided mould. A closer examination of both the bilges and the electrical circuits inspires confidence, with all elements accessible and connections carefully made. The engine compartments are particularly large and the three-cylinder motors benefit from easy access for maintenance.

In addition to its sandwich construction, it should be noted that the Isla 40 is equipped with four buoyancy zones. The assembly of the catamaran’s steering components is robust and all the elements such as the rod connecting the two rudders and the autopilot ram are accessible.

TRIALLED AND TESTED

We were able to discover the Isla 40 at Bandol in the south of France, where our test model was equipped with twin 30hp Volvo engines, offering 7-8 knots. The helm station is raised, but it’s not on the coachroof, which has the option of three solar panels aft but is otherwise clear.

The cockpit includes an L-shaped sofa and a table to port

The helm offers good visibility over the water and the helmsman can easily manage all sailing manoeuvres using the three winches and two banks of clutches.

The area is user-friendly due to the double bench seat and the proximity of the cockpit below, while steps and a railing allow easy access up to the optional fixed bimini.

The mainsail is quick to hoist. As soon as the overlapping genoa is unfurled, the Isla 40 starts to move with barely a ripple on the water, even with fuel and water tanks 80 per cent full. Despite a still-low speed, she tacks easily to get closer to where the breeze looks to be.

The interior benefits from panoramic views, natural light and breeze through windscreen hatches

There, with 8-9 knots of wind, we strode along at five knots at an angle of 50° off the true wind. No need to head up any further – the Isla 40 prefers the sails just a little open. The wind finally settled down between 12-15 knots and we took advantage of this to unfurl the gennaker, which is an option. This gave the predicted turbo-boost, with the GPS displaying between 8-9 knots.

OUTDOOR ZONES

The first impression when you stroll around the Isla 40 is that the deck is clean, bare and efficient. The side decks are at least 2ft wide, the non-slip is effective even when wet, and each side of the coachroof has two long handrails.

The bow area presents a wide sunbathing area aft of the trampolines, while stools at the tip of each hull provide a fun place to watch over the water. The anchoring gear is well designed and easy to use.

There’s a watchkeeper’s berth and additional storage space

The aft cockpit is covered by a generous overhang. To port, there’s a big L-shaped sofa that seats five and a long table (5ft 5in by 2ft 9in), but with the addition of four stools, you could squeeze in up to 10 guests.

To starboard is a comfortable lounger, while aft is a 6ft-wide forward-facing sofa. The large open areas facilitate circulation and access to the deck as well as to the wide sugarscoops, plus there’s also a dinghy davit, with Fountaine Pajot offering a 10ft Hypalon with 15hp outboard as an option.

INNER SANCTUARY

The sliding bay door is the passing point between the cockpit and the saloon, and the opening is wide, while there’s also a sliding galley window that helps the flow between the exterior and interior. Like the Elba 45, the overall finish inside is very attractive, while the saloon feels roomier and more relaxed compared to the Lucia 40.

The saloon starts with an aft galley to port

The L-shaped galley includes a three-burner hob, oven, double sink and drawer-fridges. Compared to the Lucia, it offers additional storage space and pleasing, rounded corners, while the forward chart table has disappeared. Instead, all the navigation equipment is grouped together to starboard, by the cockpit.

The interior headroom of 6ft 10in offers plenty of volume, while there’s a lengthways window in the coachroof. The side windows are wide, with the view particularly expansive toward the stern, and so many windows make the saloon very luminous, especially since the uprights are quite discreet.

The three-cabin Maestro version has the master suite in the starboard hull

At the forward end, Fountaine Pajot has kept its sloping windows, which are topped by a small overhang like the peak of a cap, lessening the greenhouse effect. Furthermore, two large opening hatches provide effective ventilation. The lounge features a large, comfortable C-shaped sofa with table, which can be transformed into a double berth.

MAESTRO OR QUARTOUT

In the hulls, there are options for three or four cabins. Maestro, the three-cabin version, has the master suite occupying the starboard hull with an island bed aft, a desk/vanity table, plenty of drawer space and hanging wardrobes, a separate toilet and a forward bathroom and shower.

The port hull has a VIP cabin with island bed aft and a guest cabin forward, and there are options for both of these cabins to have en-suite bathrooms or share a larger bathroom.

Views of the master cabin’s en-suite bathroom in the Maestro version

Quatuor (quartet), the four-cabin layout, offers two cabins in each hull, either with en-suites or a shared bathroom in each hull, while there’s also space for a compact crew berth in the starboard forepeak. Overall, ventilation in the cabins is well thought out and the mattresses are of excellent quality.

If you try the Isla 40, it’s likely you’ll want one. We took great pleasure in sailing her, as she’s well balanced under sail and easy to handle. A single-hander will manage fine, novice sailors will quickly get their bearings as the miles go by, while the boat’s numerous stowage spaces support offshore journeys. The Isla is an evolution as intelligent as it is seductive.

The VIP suite on the port side

“The layout is slightly different and more open than other brands, with the cockpit and saloon of a similar size, while there’s still a very good flow of communication between passengers,” Corfa says. “I think the interior finishing is the same level as on the 51, so I’m really happy with the result of the Isla. Sales figures are really encouraging.”

Note: Original article by Multihulls World
www.fountaine-pajot.com

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Galeon 640 sets the bar for entertainment

Reviews / yachtstyle2020

Galeon 640 sets the bar for entertainment

March 23, 2022
7:17 pm

Galeon’s innovative 640 Fly is packed to the gunwales with party tricks like the brand’s iconic transformer-style wings and waterside bar, but is there more to this boat than a penchant for quayside theatre?

The Galeon 640 Fly is packed with innovation

The 640 Fly has been on the market a little while now, but it’s telling that it’s still the most innovative flybridge cruiser in the class, with a second unit in Asia arriving in Hong Kong last year, sold by Asiamarine.

Cockpit terraces have become a far more mainstream addition in the time since the 640 first hit the water, but the truth is this boat still possesses the most imaginative and usable deck spaces in her category.

The Galeon 640 Fly is designed for entertaining

Now more than ever, we want our boats to be secluded floating islands and there aren’t many better places to be than in the cockpit of this boat with the sides down and the water lapping gently over the hydraulic bathing platform. The drop-down wings, however, are just the tip of the tip of the iceberg when it comes to this boat’s party tricks.

As standard, the cockpit is fitted with an L-shaped bench, but with the carousel seating option, the entire dinette is mounted on a turntable and can be swivelled and locked every 45 degrees or turn the full 180 degrees and face out to sea. Surely, that’s where you want to be looking when you’re sitting in the cockpit?

Guests can relax on the back or drop-down sides of this remarkable boat

It’s a brilliant bit of design that also incorporates a decent tender garage, meaning the aft platform is either kept free of obstructions or can be fitted with chocks to carry a jet-ski.

IN FRONT AND ON TOP

With the terraces down and the bar stools set up, it’s so easy to drift around the main deck of this boat. With equally inventive modular seating on the foredeck that can switch between dining and sunbathing space at the touch of a button, you’ll be able to find your own space to enjoy here, even if the boat has a large party of guests.

The flexible foredeck can be accessed from the forward saloon door

The outdoor spaces on the main deck are a winner, but the beauty of the 640 is that on top of the fun and games on the middle level, there’s a spacious, well-designed flybridge to enjoy.

The hard top is an optional extra and most customers will tick this particular box. If you don’t opt for it, a rear-raked radar arch and bimini are standard. The top deck stretches as far aft as the transom below, so the amount of space on the flybridge is extraordinary for a boat of less than 70ft.

The huge flybridge has lots of seating and a wet bar

The layout puts great focus on seated space, with a vast aft dinette served by a three-part opening table and a smaller coffee table midships opposite the imposing bar area, which is more of an outdoor galley than a wet bar.

BLURRING INSIDE AND OUTSIDE

The border between interior and exterior space is blurred almost into nonexistence such is the sheer amount of glass in the saloon, most of which slides open. The central pane of the windscreen even retracts into a cassette in the flybridge moulding to grant access through to the foredeck.

At night, outdoor areas can be lit up while the lower-deck rooms also add to the effect

The iconic foredeck door, the side door at the helm and the aft cockpit doors offer three separate access points to the saloon and multiple options if you want to naturally ventilate the interior without resorting to firing up the air-conditioning.

For a full production boat, that amount of flexibility and customisation on offer is impressive and it’s not just the choice of woods, colours and materials.

The aft galley and bar to port (above) can look across to the starboard bar (below)

The lower deck, which is home to the boat’s sleeping accommodation, can be arranged in a variety of configurations, always with separate access between the master suite and guest accommodation.

The master cabin is located forward and accessed via a companionway adjacent to the lower helm, while guests have their own stairway to cabins opposite the dinette. The heart of the guest accommodation is a spacious, full-beam VIP with the option to have an identical double forward, an athwartships twin or a pair of twins. The latter is a good layout if the boat is to be used for charter.

The master cabin has a dinette to port, storage to starboard and a vanity table (below) and bathroom forward

However you choose to use the boat, there’s an interior layout that will suit most needs. The fit and finish is excellent, too, with expensive-feeling materials, high-end components and superb timber work lending the 640 Fly an air of quality that’s right up there with some of the best production shipyards in Europe.

PERFORMS ON THE WATER

You might think that with all the added complexity and weight of the deck gadgets, the 640 might feel compromised out on the water in comparison with its more strait-laced competitors, but this isn’t the case.

The helm by the central foredeck door

Engine options range from twin 900hp to twin 1,200hp diesels from Volvo Penta or MAN and our test boat had the mid-range 1,000hp Volvo D13s for a comfortable top speed of 30 knots. The meaty MANs may add a knot or two to the top-end performance, but either way, the comfortable and efficient fast cruising speed is around 22 knots for a range of around 250nm with 20 per cent in reserve.

Even with all that weight at the stern and a jet-ski on the bathing platform of our test boat, the 640 settled into a level, composed fast cruise and ate up the miles in some light chop with ease.

The Galeon 640 can top 30 knots depending on engines

The handling is equally compliant, with good response to the wheel and a steady turning circle, with the deep propeller tunnels and bite of the shaft-mounted propellers ensuring the boat feels incredibly planted in turns and on the straight and narrow. In essence, it’s an easy boat to handle, both at speed and when manoeuvring around a marina.

It’s easy to be distracted by the headline-grabbing toys that adorn the 640’s transom, but there’s so much more to this boat than its transformer-style party pieces.

Galeon’s innovation and performance are matched by its craftsmanship

It’s a high-quality machine with fresh thinking on display throughout its design and, most importantly, the gadgets are underpinned by sound boatbuilding and on-water dynamics that aren’t in any way compromised by their presence.

Galeon is a great example of a shipyard unshackled by tradition, one that’s assured of not scaring off its existing customer base with brave, innovative design. The 640 Fly embodies this spirit to its core.

www.galeon.pl

www.asiamarine.com

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Azimut’s new 68 Fly glides into Asia

Reviews / yachtstyle2020

Azimut’s new 68 Fly glides into Asia

March 17, 2022
12:43 pm

Featuring extensive use of carbon-fibre, the sleek Azimut 68 wows onlookers with its sporty lines by Alberto Mancini. However, the Italian builder’s new Flybridge model is also notable for its choice of three saloon layouts by interior designer Achille Salvagni, including an aft-galley version chosen for the first unit in Asia. By John Higginson.

The 68 is Azimut’s third Flybridge model with an Alberto Mancini exterior

Firmly established as Azimut’s leading dealer in Asia, Marine Italia was last year recognised as the Italian builder’s second most successful distributor globally, behind only US giant MarineMax.

Founded in 2015 and co-owned by Directors Paul Grange and Thomas Woo, the regional dealership is headquartered in Hong Kong, where it’s known as Azimut Yachts HK, while it also represents the brand in Macau, Guangdong, Taiwan and Singapore.

Azimut sales in these markets have been dominated by Flybridge and Grande models, with Marine Italia regularly selling superyachts ranging from the 25 Metri to the 35 Metri and even the 38m Grande

Trideck, with a unit of the new flagship ordered by a client in Singapore last year.

The first Azimut 68 in Asia recently arrived in Hong Kong

However, Grange still retains genuine enthusiasm for all the builder’s models and is particularly excited about Asia’s first Azimut 68, which has been typically well specced.

A stock order (still available at time of publication), the hull in Hong Kong includes premium options such as a hard top, gyro stabiliser, upgraded navigation equipment and more, yet Grange is most animated about the hull in ‘Thames Metallic’, the same colour seen in all the accompanying photos.

“One of the most exciting things about this particular Azimut 68 is the exterior colour, which depending on the sunlight seems to change from almost bronze to dark grey, with many shades in between,” says the Brit, who has been selling yachts since 1992 and is now in his 10th year selling Azimut in Hong Kong, having also represented the brand under its previous dealer.

The hull in Hong Kong and these photos is finished in ‘Thames Metallic’

“Exterior colour is a very personal feature of a yacht. White boats always look great, but many clients prefer to add some colour. For me, what’s most important is the personal ‘kerb appeal’. When you walk or swim up to your new yacht, you want to feel that ‘wow’ factor. The new Azimut 68 in this amazing colour definitely gives you that.”

SLEEK BUT STRONG

The Azimut 68 is the third Flybridge model with an exterior by Alberto Mancini, following the 78 and 53, while the Italian’s work with the brand also includes the S8 and Grande S10 sportbridge models and the 125ft Grande Trideck.

Launched just ahead of its world premiere at last September’s Cannes Yachting Festival, the 68 features typically sleek lines from a man who cut his design teeth in the car industry.

The region’s first Azimut 68 is available through Marine Italia

Azimut’s quest to combine large volumes with speed and fuel economy has led to an extensive use of carbon-fibre in the superstructure, hard top and some of the deck, which has helped reduce weight and lower the centre of gravity in the 69-footer.

Add all this to an efficient hull designed with P.L.A.N.A. (Pierluigi Ausonio Naval Architecture) and the Azimut 68 can reach 32 knots with twin Volvo Penta IPS1350 engines, while owners also benefit from user-friendly technology including active trim control, joystick steering and Garmin onboard systems management.

The hull on show in Cannes clocked 32.1 knots during media sea trials in the bay and impressed with its agility during full turns at full speed with nine people on board. She also felt particularly light at the helm when cruising at 20-25 knots.

The aft cockpit features furniture with the look and feel of indoor furniture

“It’s an Azimut, so the styling, quality and finish all go without saying. However, with the new generation of Flybridge yachts, I think it’s the ‘Jekyll and Hyde’ nature on the water that stands out,” Grange says.

“By that, I mean the 68 can effortlessly switch from a stable, calm luxury yacht one minute into a high-performance, exhilarating sports yacht the next. This is made possible by combining Azimut’s hull design with the latest Volvo IPS drive chain. The result is a very impressive and flexible-use yacht that can deliver exactly the yachting experience you want at that moment.”

OUTDOOR COMFORT

The hydraulic swim platform is the base for swimming and watersports, and is big enough to store an Azimut edition of the almost 11ft Pirelli J33 tender. It also provides access to the two-berth crew cabin, which includes extra storage on both sides.

Elegant outdoor furniture is exemplified by the wet bar to starboard

Stairs on both sides lead up to the aft cockpit, which is fully covered by the flybridge overhang and illustrates the yacht’s outdoor furniture looking and feeling as comfortable as the interiors designed by Achille Salvagni. The C-shaped sofa, the adjustable table and the stylish, standalone wet bar all look as though they belong in the saloon.

The comfy outdoor areas continue forward, where the foredeck starts with a wide lounging sofa and an adjustable table. However, it’s the 2m-long triple sunpad that performs the party tricks, as it folds and flips to become an extra-deep, aft-facing sofa and complete a full outdoor lounge complete with built-in drinks holders and ice buckets.

Foredeck arrangements include facing sofas

And when the sun is too much, the whole area can be covered by a bimini, with poles set up forward of the sunpad. The foredeck is great, but it’s the flybridge that makes you go ‘wow’, with all the furniture featuring flowing, curved lines that echo the indoor look and feel.

Reached by portside stairs, guests are greeted by an L-shaped wet bar with wood trim that faces the sea, so allows easy circulation to the C-shaped sofa and table to starboard.

The flybridge offers three separate social areas

The main sofa connects to an aft-facing double sunpad that enjoys great views through the transparent railings, while the forward area is up a step and has a large sunpad to port alongside the twin-seat helm station to starboard.

FORWARD OR AFT GALLEY

One of Azimut’s major innovations on the 68 is offering owners the choice of three styles of saloon based on the style and position of the galley, with the options designed to cater to owners across the world. Two layouts are based on the galley located on the starboard side of the raised forward level, which is two steps higher than the aft saloon featuring facing sofas and a hidden TV.

The saloon is offered in three layouts; the hull in Hong Kong has an aft galley (not pictured)

Named Lanterna by Salvagni, the enclosed galley configuration has a sliding door yet feels airy due to the elegant vertical wooden ribbing and plexiglass design allowing ‘light but not sight’ into the kitchen. Owners can also choose an open version of the galley in the same location.

In both layouts, the upper lounge can be used as a quiet reading area and even a cosy cinema or video games zone due the option of a TV on the galley bulwark. Alternatively, it can be converted into a dining area due to the two coffee tables that can be raised, folded out and combined to form a large nine-segment table.

The third layout features an aft galley to port that faces a dining area to starboard, with the raised forward level hosting the saloon, again with facing sofas. This less formal layout allows the galley to link and serve both the exterior and interior dining areas, and was chosen by Marine Italia for the hull in Hong Kong.

The interior is distinguished by Achille Salvagni’s soft, flowing style

“After much discussion between Thomas and myself, we ordered this first 68 with an aft galley. Previous models like the 66 and 72 feature a forward galley, so we wanted to showcase the new alternative from Azimut,” Grange says.

“However, the decision to have a forward or aft galley is a personal one. The options give the yacht a different feel, but all are fantastic. I suspect our clients will be split in their preferences.”

SALVAGNI COMFORT

Grange is in no doubt, however, about the impact Salvagni has made on the Azimut models he has worked on. The Italian’s emphasis on curves, pastel colours, comfort and relaxing informality are seen on six models from the current Grande Collection as well as several of Azimut’s newer Flybridge models including the 55, 60, 78, 83 and now the 68.

In any layout, the ‘second’ lounge facing the galley can also be used for dining due to the adjustable tables

“For me, the biggest impact is because he’s not a yacht designer but a world-renowned interior and furniture designer. It’s because of his choice of materials, colours, textures and furniture shapes. He uses brass, natural woods, 100 per cent gloss woods, textiles rarely found on other yachts, to give each Azimut a uniquely homely feel, more akin to a luxury penthouse than a yacht,” Grange says.

“Whether owners are new to yachting or experienced boaters, Salvagni’s style and detailing are a welcome breath of fresh air and a very appealing advantage compared to the competition.”

It could be argued that on the 68, Salvagni’s iconic style is most evident in the lower deck, which features four colourful cabins. These include a full-beam master suite, where the bedhead lies under the starboard window, so the owners face the port side with its long hull window and retractable TV. The configuration has been used on other Azimut models.

The full-beam master suite faces the port side (below) with its long hull window and retractable TV

“Personally, I’m a big fan of this layout. I think it’s far nicer to be sat in bed looking out of a window than staring at the back of the cabin door or being on display in bed when the door is open,” Grange says.

Having the bed athwartships also allows the full-height wardrobe and the bathroom to act as a further sound barrier between the cabin and the engine-room systems such as the generator and air-conditioning.

The open-style bathroom is elegantly designed and features the stone flooring used along the port side of the bedroom, helping create a spa and wellness vibe that recalls Salvagni’s master en-suite on the Grande Trideck.

The forward VIP is among four guest cabins with distinct styling by Salvagni

The Salvagni style is also on show in the forward VIP and the two guest cabins, including a port one with L-shaped bunks that shares the starboard cabin’s en-suite bathroom.

The main materials in the cabins, including pale Thai wood with hints of mahogany, are predominantly matt, while exceptions include the polished brass, mirror and mahogany accents. Other details are in white lacquer and eco-leather, such as on the bedheads and wardrobe doors.

The Azimut 68 is latest new model brough to Asia by Marine Italia

Marine Italia always welcomes clients and prospects to its office and shipyard in Shau Kei Wan, where Asia’s first Azimut 68 was being commissioned ahead of potential showings.

“In the current market,” Grange concludes, “this is a special opportunity to acquire Azimut’s newest Flybridge model for immediate handover ahead of Hong Kong’s main boating season.”

www.azimutyachts.com

www.azimutyachts.hk

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Ferretti Yachts 780: The Second Coming

Reviews / yachtstyle2020

Ferretti Yachts 780: The Second Coming

March 9, 2022
6:25 pm

Singapore is home to Asia’s first two units of the restyled Ferretti Yachts 780, which features a refined exterior and exciting new interior options by IdeaeItalia that match the ‘Just Like Home’ concept introduced on the brand’s 500 and flagship 1000.

The two units of the newly restyled Ferretti Yachts 780 in Singapore

When Ferretti Group’s Cattolica shipyard on Italy’s Adriatic coast launched its first yacht of 2022, it was notable that it was a Ferretti Yachts 780. Hull number 36, no less. In fact, sales of the 24m model are already in the mid-40s, marking impressively consistent demand for a model that originally premiered at the Cannes Yachting Festival in 2017.

However, continuing demand is also because the 780 has recently been enjoying a second wind as the newly restyled version launched last year features the same ‘Just Like Home’ concept introduced on the 500 and 1000, the brand’s first two models with interiors by IdeaeItalia.

The new version debuted at Cannes last September

In fact, two owners from Singapore were the first in Asia and among the first around the world to benefit from the restyle of the 780, which is built in Cattolica along with other 20-30m Ferretti Yachts models including the flagship 1000.

Both clients ordered their yachts though Singapore dealer Hong Seh Yachting in April 2020, when the pandemic looked like it was here to stay, and people quickly realised that weekends and holidays would be spent in their home nations for the foreseeable future.

SISTER YACHTS

The two almost-identical yachts – one hull is in ‘Custom Line white’ – are berthed at ONE°15 Marina Sentosa Cove, managed by Hong Seh Yachting and regularly used, with one owner spending three straight weeks aboard the yacht.

The glazed surfaces in the hull have been expanded

The Singaporean who booked hull 29 is a first-time yacht owner and last September became the first client in Asia to receive the restyled 780. The second owner was ordering his third Ferretti Yachts model and his new 780 arrived in Singapore in October, having been used for the restyled model’s world premiere at the Cannes Yachting Festival a month earlier.

The first owner of the new 780 was sold on the model after seeing an earlier 780 in Singapore, which had been heavily customised and features a lower deck with a large entertainment room and just two cabins.

The aft cockpit in the Contemporary mood decor by IdeaeItalia

Della Pearce, Director of Hong Seh Yachting, says: “It allowed the client to see first-hand how the 780 could be configured either with three or four cabins, and galley on the main or lower deck. These multiple configurations are unique for this category and stem from Ferretti Group’s experience of building larger yachts.

“The 780 appealed to our clients because of the yard’s flexibility to accommodate their customisations. It also helped that the model is RINA Category A, which allows her unrestricted navigation in open sea.”

Mirror view of the stairs to the flybridge

Both the new 780s in Singapore feature the standard four-cabin layout and IdeaeItalia’s Contemporary mood interior, an upgrade option as opposed to the more colourful Classic, which is offered as standard.

OUTDOOR PLAY

Although much of the restyling is focused on the interior, there have been a few changes to the exterior such as an expansion of the main glazed surfaces in the hull, which gives the yacht a sportier look.

The beach club has drop-down sunpads and storage lockers by each stairway

The fun starts at the swim platform, which can accommodate a tender up to 4.35m. The two panels can fold down separately or together to create a large waterside sofa, while the whole area can be covered by a bimini. To the side of each stairway are storage lockers that provide enough space to store a Seabob.

Side gates provide access to a cockpit with a forward-facing sofa and a table. Symmetrical side decks lead to a large and cleverly designed foredeck, where a C-shaped sofa faces an adjustable table and seating at the aft end of a huge triple sunpad. As at the other end of the boat, a bimini can cover the area.

The foredeck has seating fore and aft of the table plus a triple sunpad

The flybridge, reached by starboard stairs from the cockpit, is one of the yacht’s main attractions and remains a winning design. Both owners in Singapore have chosen a black hard top with a fixed plexiglass insert, while options include a panel system that can open.

For the restyled 780, the flybridge includes a larger central bar, which is situated to starboard and has the option of bar stools.

The flybridge has a new, larger L-shaped bar to starboard and the option of an island sunpad aft

Opposite is the main social area, a C-shaped sofa and table, while the option for an extended sofa and dining table has been taken by one of the Singaporean owners. All exterior furnishings are from the Roda collection exclusively customised for Ferretti Yachts.

Forward of the bar is a flexible sunpad with moveable headrests that can convert into two facing sofas by removing the central pad, while to port is the helm station featuring two Poltrona Frau chairs.

The yachts in Singapore feature sun loungers aft, while one has the extended table

The aft end is surrounded by clear railings and can fit a large modular sunpad or be left clear to fit sun loungers, the latter chosen for the two units in Singapore.

CONTEMPORARY MOOD

It’s the interior by IdeaeItalia that really brings the 780 in line with the newest generation of Ferretti Yachts models exemplified by the 500 and 1000, which also offer either Classic or Contemporary moods.

The saloon featuring the Contemporary mood decor by IdeaeItalia

Classic’s warmer, more traditional colours are inspired by the island of Ischia in the Gulf of Naples, while Contemporary offers a more urban, modern look with cooler colourways inspired by Taormina in Sicily.

The main-deck interior features a long clear path on the port side all the way through to the raised pilot house, which makes for a nice sight line. The ceiling is clad in fine fabric and accommodates the new lighting design, with adjustable round spotlights plus three light cylinders in the dining area. Other new features include mirrored steel surfaces, electric window blinds and a hidden sound system.

The saloon and dining area benefit from large windows

The saloon starts with a large L-shaped sofa to starboard and a coffee table, while to port is a huge 65-inch TV, which has the option of a wine storage cabinet next to it. Forward is the dining area, which has a dining table for eight to starboard and a long sideboard to port.

The galley, also to starboard, is available in various configurations. The standard version has a fixed glass partition, while options include a closed version or a sliding glass partition that reveals a bar counter. North American clients can order a completely open version.

The galley can have a fixed or sliding glass partition, or be fully enclosed

Inside, the galley features the hobs, oven and main storage areas forward, while aft is a large fridge freezer and a prep/serving area facing the dining table. The galley also benefits from multiple side windows including a small one that opens. A second layout option includes a day head just before the entrance to a galley with a different configuration.

In both layouts, the galley and other forward areas can be sealed off by a mirrored door that slides across from in front of the port door to the side deck. From the hallway, it’s three steps up to the raised pilothouse, which has a comfortable dinette to port and the main helm station to starboard, featuring two gorgeous Poltrona Frau chairs and three Simrad screens.

The lower helm features Poltrona Frau chairs

Technology includes the electro-hydraulic steer-by-wire system developed in partnership with Xenta and the integrated Loop system from Naviop-Simrad, which controls the main propulsion, navigation, monitoring and home automation functions.

LOWER-DECK OPTIONS

The steps to the lower deck are opposite the galley and lead down to a hallway that starts aft with the entrance to the full-beam master suite, dominated by a large bed facing a mirrored TV.

On the port side is a comfortable sofa and the beautifully finished bathroom, which has twin sinks with Silk Georgette marble tops, big mirrors with integrated mixer taps, and a central rain shower. The starboard side of the bedroom features a desk-cum-vanity table, while aft is a walk-in dressing room, where a full-length mirror door comes into good effect.

The gorgeous master suite midships has a stunning en-suite bathroom

The hallway leads up three steps to three en-suite guest cabins, starting with a twin to starboard, then a similar port cabin whose bathroom also acts as the day head. The VIP suite in the bow has an aft-facing bed, storage and hanging cupboards on either side, plus a bathroom to starboard.

Owners in Asia still have the option of an entertainment room in place of the master suite, as well as an open bar on the main deck, in which case the galley is located on the lower deck.

The well-hidden access to the crew quarters is concealed in the cockpit, underneath the starboard stairs to the flybridge. A hallway leads aft to an en-suite captain’s cabin (or storage space), to port to the crew cabin with en-suite, and forward to the engine room.

An evening cruise for a new Ferretti Yachts 780 in Singapore

The standard propulsion is twin 1,400mhp MAN engines, which produce a top speed of 28 knots, but both owners in Singapore have the upgraded 1,550mhp versions for a top speed of 31 knots.

Other options include a joystick with docking mode, DPS (Dynamic Positioning System), a Seakeeper NG16 and Humphree fin stabilisers. New Ferretti Yachts models arriving in Singapore include a 500 and 550, while the brand’s next collaboration with IdeaeItalia is the upcoming 860, which will succeed the 850 and sit above the 780 in the eight-strong range.

“It’s an exciting time for Ferretti Yachts in Singapore and across Asia,” Pearce says. “All the new models with the IdeaeItalia interiors are proving very popular, so like all our owners, we’re looking forward to seeing the Ferretti Yachts 860 later this year.”
www.ferrettigroupasiapacific.com
www.hongsehmarine.com.sg

Della Pearce on Singapore’s ups and downs
It has been a stop-start couple of years for yachting in Singapore, with encouraging sales and initiatives offset by frequently changing restrictions on group gatherings that have frustrated cruising and charter activity.

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