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Leopard adds new spot on 42

Reviews / yachtstyle2020

Leopard adds new spot on 42

July 29, 2021
3:54 pm

One of seven models reviewed in Issue 60 that will appear at the Cannes Yachting Festival, the new Leopard 42 has evolved from a proven design and added a new hangout spot with its upper lounge to offer a practical, seaworthy and spacious entry-level model. By Kevin Green.

The Leopard 42 was premiered at this year’s Palm Beach International Boat Show

The new Leopard 42 shows the brand continuing to evolve with Simonis Voogd, the Dutch design studio that also has an office in Cape Town, home of builder Robertson & Caine. The 42 joins the brand’s accomplished 45 and 50 sailing models, and all three will be on display in Port Canto at this year’s Cannes yachting Festival along with the 53 PC powercat in Vieux Port.

Despite the market’s continuing demand for more liveable space and volume, the new entry-level 42 still incorporates reasonable performance, as I found out when sailing hull number three in Australia, where the model made its regional debut at the 32nd Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show.

The foredeck features direct access from the saloon, a popular Leopard feature

Although production cruising catamarans like this 42-footer with mini keels are not about drama or exhilaration, they are far from dull, yet a safe bet for family coastal cruising with the wind generally behind the beam.

This is not always a given. The cruising catamaran market is vibrant for many reasons and lifestyle is a major one, so builders are continually asked to incorporate more into hulls, which can consequently be compromised, along with performance. However, Leopard has grown to become one of the catamaran sector’s ‘big three’, with Lagoon and Fountaine Pajot, by being able to tick most boxes.

The foredeck is a comfortable and safe place to relax

As a huge supplier to the charter market – The Moorings charter cats are Leopard designs – the brand’s practical designs need to cater to a range of sailors covering the good, bad and the ugly. And being relatively conservative also has strong merits in the private market when considering the large number of new sailors in the multihull space.

Yet the Leopard 42 shows a brand that continues to refine and improve with each model. For starters, the infused hull with its rounded chines and snub bows is a major revamp of its predecessor, the 40, while its elongated windows and new upper lounge with an L-shaped sofa and a table are inherited from its larger siblings.

The upper lounge is a distinct new feature

In an increasingly competitive catamaran market, seeking market differentiators can be challenging in the mass-production sector where everything is built to a price point and componentry is shared. This is where economies-of-scale kick in, so with typical annual production of about 150- 200 hulls from Robertson & Caine, the brand’s exclusive builder, the price for such an entry-level boat becomes even more reasonable.

The other major plus from these numbers is a thorough test of ergonomics. Like all Leopards I’ve sailed, everything is sensibly placed on the new 42, from the layout of the navigation controls to the versatile saloon that accommodates a range of users, whether it’s a blue-water sailing couple or an eight-person charter party.

The upper lounge connects with the helm to starboard

Liveable deck space is a major feature of all Leopards and the 42 has a large aft cockpit shaded under the saloon top, with bench seating both sides, while the wide hull steps invite easy water access. Similarly, equally large side decks safely guide guests forward to the foredeck cockpit with its large twin sunbeds.

BALANCED FUNCTIONALITY

The model comes with three or four en-suite cabins – the latter an impressive offering on a 42-footer – and retains all the brand’s signature features including the foredeck cockpit with direct access from the saloon.

The cockpit includes a U-shaped sofa with adjustable aft backrest as well as a starboard sofa

Other key features include a forward L-shaped galley to starboard and a sizeable navigation station to port, while the interior finish is cost-effective dark laminates. The galley comes with a three-burner gas stove, oven and microwave, alongside a deep sink which is surrounded by drawers, generous Corian worktop space and drawer fridges. The L-shape is also ideal for supporting the cook in a seaway.

Another good feature is the adjustable dinette table, which retracts to become a bed by using the lounge benches and cushions. While lying down, you can look skywards through a long skylight to view the mainsail, which is handy. Storage is generous throughout the saloon, with lockers in the nacelle, and sensibly, the substantial bank of four AGM house batteries which centres the weight.

The saloon features a large galley and a table that can convert to a bed

Downstairs, there’s a washer-dryer and there’s space for other goodies such as a generator, which can go in the bow locker to run the optional air-conditioner. A watermaker would be my other consideration for blue-water cruising with generous shower times.

ROOMY OWNER’S LAYOUT

Our review boat had a three-cabin owner’s layout, so the entire starboard hull is one dedicated apartment with double bed aft, vanity table centre and elongated bathroom forward. The semi-island bed gives some side access, which is preferable for older owners who don’t want to crawl about.

The Leopard 42 offers three or four en-suite cabins

Those long hull windows give plenty of light, while airiness is added with opening skylights and transom hatches. Storage is again plentiful with wardrobes and deep drawers.

Underfoot is hull access to seacocks and systems. Interestingly, despite its size, escape hatches are not fitted. “Our foredeck saloon door is our emergency exit,” says Australian dealer David Flynn, my host for the day.

In the three-cabin layout, the master to starboard includes a desk and bathroom with washer-dryer

USER FRIENDLY

On deck there’s a single elevated starboard helm to give the skipper commanding views of the four hull quarters. Helm controls include a Raymarine chart plotter, autopilot and wind instruments, plus power controls; all ideally placed for viewing and operation.

Engines are twin Yanmar saildrives with hatch access near the transom. Here, the sturdy alloy steering crossbeam impinges over the engine, but a turn of the wheel gives access for servicing.

The starboard helm is connected to the cockpit below

Engine rooms come with watertight bulkheads, safely separating them from the living areas, while the bows also have crash bulkheads, all giving this fibreglass foam-injected hull plenty of buoyancy should major water ingress occur.

Ease-of-use is core to Leopard so there are no unpleasant surprises with the rig. Sensibly, the sail plan is kept low by avoiding a high flybridge design, but it means that guests on the upper lounge should watch their heads when underway. All lines lead neatly to two sets of substantial jammers with twin Lewmar 45 winches plus one for the mainsail.

The elevated helm also allows communication with the foredeck

Control of the mainsail is via a double block system, rather than a track, which means there’s two sets of sheets to operate, but it does give you extra control via jammers and the sheet winch. For eating up the sea miles, the Performance Pack option has a square-topped mainsail and bowsprit-hung cruising chute (both were fitted to our review boat).

SETTING SAIL

Motoring from the busy marina near the major city of Brisbane, the seaward views are of islands and a myriad of hues of blue reflecting the shallowness of Morton Bay. One of Australia’s main boating hubs, the area abounds with marinas and facilities, so with an international airport nearby, it’s an ideal location for visiting sailors.

The author sea-trialling the hull in Australia

Underway, the Leopard 42 had generous power from the twin 45hp Yanmars with fixed propellers that sped us along to 8.2 knots at 2,950rpm before slowing to a more economical cruising speed of seven knots at 2,500rpm while consuming about 10 litres per hour.

Hoisting the mainsail was effortless, as my foot simply pressed the electric winch button; five minutes later, the sail was set and I was unwinding the roller furler genoa. Then, a pleasing sound, the hiss of the bow wave followed as we glided on a broad reach in the light 10-knot wind, reaching a speed of 5.1 knots.

The varied sail plan can include big top mainsail, genoa, jib and spinnaker

The Lewmar helm gave enough feel to make steering worthwhile before we wound-in the mainsail to go closer to the wind, managing about 45 degrees as the speed showed as 6.8 knots.

Ideally, cruising sailors would turn downwind and hoist the Code Zero, to enjoy the northward voyage to tropical Queensland, something the new owners of this boat will do. They will be well cared for in the Leopard 42.
www.leopardcatamarans.com

Multihulls Special 2021: Leopard powering on
One of the household names in cruising catamarans, Leopard recently launched its new entry-level sailing cat a year after debuting its flagship powercat.

Riva 90’ Argo shows Asia-Pacific appeal

Reviews / yachtstyle2020

Riva 90’ Argo shows Asia-Pacific appeal

July 22, 2021
2:27 pm

The newest member of Riva’s modern Flybridge range, the 90’ Argo has proved particularly popular in Asia-Pacific, where the Italian brand retains its premium appeal.

The 90’ Argo is the newest model in Riva’s Flybridge range

Boasting an overall length of 93ft 6in but classed as a sub-24m hull, the Riva 90’ Argo may not technically be a superyacht, but nothing is going to stop this famous Italian shipyard from going mega on looks and performance.

The exterior by Officina Italiana Design shows the shape of Riva’s upgraded Flybridge range: a sporty and aggressive look achieved with just a few bold lines that start high aft to gradually converge at the bow. The swooping arch of a hardtop over the flybridge ties it all together and makes the sun deck seem weightless.

The 90’ Argo has had orders from Hong Kong (two), mainland China, New Zealand and Australia

In Greek mythology, the Argo was the ship that Jason and the Argonauts sailed from Iolcos to Colchis to retrieve the Golden Fleece. In modern times, Riva’s Argo was unveiled in 2019 and sailed into the brand’s Flybridge offerings, which include the 100’ Corsaro and 110’ Dolcevita, the brand flagship until the launch of the 50Metri.

The world premiere of the 100’ Corsaro was held in Hong Kong in 2017, but the 90’ Argo has had an even greater impact across Asia- Pacific. Already, there have been two deliveries to Hong Kong and one to New Zealand, another is headed for mainland China, while the first hull in Australia will arrive next year.

The foredeck’s U-shaped seating can be transformed into a large sunpad

Interestingly, only one of the region’s Argo owners previously owned a Ferretti Group model – and that was a Pershing – showing that the yacht’s lure is strong enough not only to tempt an upgrade but to switch brands entirely.

“The Riva 90’ Argo is a perfect balance of volume and proportion, of sleek exteriors and comfortable spaces inside,” says Fabiomassimo Discoli, Sales and Marketing Director of Ferretti Group Asia Pacific. “It offers two full-beam master cabins with en-suite bathrooms and walk-in wardrobes, plus a garage for a tender and jet-ski. These are unique features in this size of yacht.”

VIEWS OUTSIDE AND IN

Boarding the Argo from the beach platform, symmetrical staircases lead to the cockpit. Almost without noticing it, you pick up tips as to how important light and views are to the design.

The cockpit table can be lowered to form a huge sunpad

Twin banquettes are placed length-wise so guests look out to the horizon and not into the yacht; railings are in glass and chromed steel, so you can look through them and onto the water. There are even large glass inserts in the fashion plates.

Due to different shading options and a truly versatile table, owners can use this polyfunctional space for dining, cocktails or even for sunbathing. Seeing is believing.

The open aft area of the 500sqft flybridge can be used as the owner wishes

The flybridge is over 46sqm (495sqft) with a large, open area aft that can be set up any way you want and a dining area with a bar and grill under the hardtop.

A small door next to the settee on the port side gives access to stairs to the foredeck where a U-shaped seating area can transform to become a sunbed.

The garage contains ramps for a jet tender and jetski

On starboard side, another set of stairs leads from the bow to the cockpit then on to the beach platform in an uninterrupted wraparound path that allows for fast and easy flow all around the yacht – and beyond, seeing how lowering the beach platform reveals a set of steps into the water.

The transom opens to reveal an aft garage with separate launching ramps for a Williams SportJet 395 tender and a jet-ski.

The saloon benefits from huge glass doors and windows all around

Even indoors, the accent is on the views, with windows running the length of the saloon. Mirrored mullions reflect the outdoors and disguise supports for the flybridge.

The interiors are fitted with subdued, tasteful materials that are becoming new Riva trademarks: dark glass and rich walnut set off by polished steel, stitched leather and gunmetal grey accents.

The interior decor leads on to the dining area

The saloon is set up with living and dining areas. A curved glass wall behind the table performs both decorative and architectural duties, contrasting nicely with a textured wood panel and creating a lobby that encases the wood and chromed steel stairs that lead up to the bridge and down to the guest cabins.

Since the 90’ Argo is semi-wide body, the full-beam owners’ cabin forward on the main deck seems even wider than the main saloon.

The enormous master suite is located forward on the main deck

With spaces for a settee, desk and centrally placed bed, the cabin also has a walk-in closet and excellent views. The full-beam bathroom a couple of steps down from the cabin gets fabulous natural light from a skylight.

Guest cabins on the lower deck include a full-beam VIP cabin, which would be a master on most other yachts of this size and occupies a space that can also be set up as a living/ entertaining area. Further forward are two doubles, one of which can convert to a twin. All guest cabins are en-suite.

The master suite features a desk to port and a full-width bathroom forward

Speaking of flow through the yacht, crew living areas and work paths are well separated from guest areas. The two crew cabins forward on the lower deck have direct access both to the galley and to the bridge via a dedicated crew staircase to protect guests’ privacy.

POWER AND FLEXIBILITY

Riva didn’t build its reputation on looks and comfort alone. In fact, speed and handling are a large part of this brand’s appeal. Owners of the Argo are sure to enjoy feeling the power this yacht delivers, either at the centrally placed helm seat in the bridge or up on the fly where twin Simrad-Naviop monitor screens are retractable to be less noticeable when the area is being used for entertaining.

The full-beam VIP cabin midships on the lower deck is the equivalent of a master suite

Owners can choose between three different propulsion options, all supplied by MTU, for a top speed between 26, 28 or 30 knots depending on engine choice. A smooth ride is assured by standard underway and zero-speed stabilising fins and gyroscopic stabilisers that can be installed on request.

Discoli says most hulls headed for Asia-Pacific are fully optioned, with stabiliser fins and gyro, as well as tropical-strength air-conditioning and upgraded navigation equipment, while some owners choose the optional layout with entertainment room.

The staircase and lower lobby are strikingly designed

“Each owner has their own choices, so each boat is different. We accommodate each client’s taste with the Riva touch,” says Discoli, who believes the Ferretti Group brand retains its premium positioning in the market.

“Rivas are appreciated for their uncompromising design and attention to details, as well as the unparalleled standard of equipment and finishing. Riva is also synonymous with timeless elegance. Hong Kong and other markets have very refined clientele with solid nautical experience, so they only choose the best, a design that can distinguish them at sea.”

The Riva 90’ Argo will exhibit at this year’s Cannes Yachting Festival

As well as gliding over the water, the Riva 90’ Argo has been moving quickly out of the sheds, with production for the model sold out until mid-2023. However, as several are already in or coming to the region, keep your eyes open for the mega good looks that have made this Italian brand a legend.
www.riva-yacht.com
www.ferrettigroupasiapacific.com

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

Bali 4.8 leads ‘second generation’

Reviews / yachtstyle2020

Bali 4.8 leads ‘second generation’

June 24, 2021
3:16 pm

The new 4.8 is Bali’s second-biggest model, offering all the brand’s signature features and up to six cabins with en-suite bathrooms, a rarity on a sub-50ft sailing cat. Meanwhile, dealer Asiamarine has ordered a specially customised unit for Asia.
Words: Francois Tregouet. Photos: Bali Catamarans

The Bali 4.8 is nearly 49ft long overall with a beam of almost 26ft

Since the first Bali models were launched in 2014, it’s clear that the range, created from scratch by Olivier Poncin, has silenced the doomsayers. Not only has the Catana Group become one of the world’s top catamaran builders but it’s also pursuing its ambition by producing models to match sizes offered by the competition.

The 4.8, the brand’s seventh opus, has an overall length of 48ft 9in and fills the gap between the 5.4 and the 4.6, with all the expected Bali features – and some new ones, too.

The yacht has a full-beam aft platform that can carry a RIB

With a rigid foredeck, fully open interior, full-width tilt-and-turn door that opens or encloses the saloon in seconds, plus huge 220V refrigerators “just like at home”, Bali catamarans have made the most conservative yachtsmen who haven’t yet assimilated the multihull revolution shout out loud.

Technically, Bali boats benefit from the know-how of parent company Catana Group, notably an integral construction in closed-cell PVC foam sandwich and bulkheads that are not simply glued but laminated, an assurance of rigidity and longevity.

Apart from size, the new 4.8 is distinguished from her predecessors by an evolution in the exterior style, as we observed first-hand ahead of a sea-trial from the builder’s hometown of Canet-en Roussillon in the south of France.

Bird’s-eye view shows the clean side decks and large solid foredeck

The exterior is more fluid, in line with the Bali Catspace, with both models unveiled in 2020 and joined later in the year by the 4.6 as part of the brand’s ‘second generation’ of models.

BIG SISTER FEATURES

Moored alongside the pontoon, getting aboard is easy via the sugarscoop that extends beyond the imposing topsides. The 4.8 has a lot you’d find on the flagship 5.4 including an impressive flybridge, home to the main helm station on starboard side.

The flybridge is accessible from both side-decks and features include a table with sofas and a huge sunbathing area, an impressive feat on a hull measuring 46ft 10in. A high helm station means all four corners of the catamaran are within sight, but the downside is that you can feel a bit isolated during port manoeuvres. You’ll have to rely on a good pair of crew members to pass the lines ashore.

The flybridge has a bench-seat helm, L-shaped sofa, table and large aft sunpad

On the other hand, all sail trimming manoeuvres are within reach, even if the winches are a little low for my liking. Conversely, the boom is high, as on all flybridge cats.

At eight knots with the engine at 2,400rpm, the Bali 4.8 quickly cleared the coast to find a light southerly breeze of around 12 knots. As the boat struggled to exceed 6.5 knots under the self-tacking jib (47sqm), unfurling the Code 0 (90sqm) doubled the surface area of the fore-triangle and immediately brought the boat to life.

Without claiming that she was born for performance, her behaviour was more than I expected. Cruising at 8.5 knots, at 95 degrees off a wind blowing at a mere 13 knots, is no disgrace for a purely cruising or even charter catamaran.

The signature solid foredeck features a sunken lounge and full-width sunbathing area

As well as the flybridge, the Bali 4.8 has a lot more you’d find on the 5.4 including the foredeck door, slightly offset to starboard. The 160sqft foredeck offers two L-shaped benches surrounding a table and a full-width sundeck. This is the advantage of this entirely rigid section, which Bali replaced the traditional trampoline with.

ROOMY ‘INTERIOR’

Meanwhile, Bali’s signature feature is its remarkable saloon door, which on the 4.8 is 10ft wide. Complemented by sliding windows on the sides, the lifting door can transform the saloon into a cockpit, and vice-versa, in no time at all.

The tilt-and-lift ‘Bali door’ is the brand’s most iconic feature

And we’ve got to admit that when the breeze freshens and the sun goes down, closing the door presents an attractive, cosy interior. Suddenly, everything outside is muffled and protected from the wind, yet the space remains impressive.

But in most cases when the weather’s good, the door is open and shows off Bali’s winning indoor outdoor layout.

The 4.8 offers an enormous indoor-outdoor social area

The space offers a saloon, galley and chart table area of a good 290sqft, entirely on the same level, with light entering through windows from almost 360 degrees. The table and seats are simultaneously those of the cockpit and of the saloon, so dimensions are generous.

The huge double-door refrigerator/freezer sits between the saloon and the galley, easily accessible from either. The galley itself has plenty of space, with 8ft 6in of Corian-covered worktop. There’s storage space all around including up high where a microwave can be integrated, lower down where there’s a clever compartment dedicated to waste sorting, on port side and forward to the chart table.

Bali has fitted a huge, 615-litre fridge/freezer on the 4.8 port side

The chart table benefits from a nice surface area and is usefully forward-facing, offering a panoramic view. It is both pleasant when the sea is idyllic and reassuring as you keep a constant watch on the coast, the buoys and other boats.

ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS

The Bali 4.8’s accommodation offers great flexibility to offer no less than five versions, each offering all its cabins with en-suite bathrooms.

For starters, the attractive three-cabin version has a huge owner’s suite occupying the port hull and featuring a window-facing double bed aft, desk, masses of storage and large en-suite bathroom forward. Depending on the layout, the owner’s suite and aft cabins have the boat’s only opening deck hatches and offer direct access to the transom, ideal for a private morning swim.

The master suite in the three-cabin version

The master suite also occupies the port hull in the owner’s version of the four-cabin layout, which has three guest cabins to starboard, while the symmetrical four-cabin layout has two on each side. The owner’s suite and forward cabin(s) benefit from having bathrooms in the forepeaks with separate showers, the only ones on the boat, with the others having ‘open’ showers.

The five-cabin version includes a portside midships cabin with bunks so is suitable for children, teenagers and adults who aren’t a couple. The room can provide plenty of storage when not in use.

The 4.8 really comes into her own in offering – for the first time on a multihull under 15m (50ft) – six double cabins with en-suite bathrooms, with the opening deck hatches providing the only entrances to the aft cabins.

The en-suite bathroom in the master suite

Knowing that via professional charter companies or through the charter-management of privately owned boats, many catamarans built are destined for charter, there’s no need to get out your calculator to work out what investors will see in the six-cabin version, compared to what was until now the ‘norm’ in the 50ft bracket.

Between the exceptional spaces outside, under cover and in the hulls, and the very pleasant performance considering the volumes offered, the Bali 4.8 is yet another remarkable offering from this exciting new player in the world of cruising cats.

SPECIAL BALI 4.8 FOR ASIA

A customised 4.8 will arrive in Asia later this year

Regional dealer Asiamarine has ordered a customised Bali 4.8 that’s scheduled to tour key yachting hubs in Asia from this summer before arriving in Hong Kong by the fourth quarter. The special three-cabin unit will be fitted with the highest options, furnished with the latest Minotti and Poltrona Frau furniture, and include a brand-new hardtop flybridge design featuring on the model for the first time.

“The Bali 4.8 is simply the highest-volume boat in its category that can be acquired in Hong Kong and operate with an easy-to-obtain Grade 2 licence,” said Eric Noyel, founder and CEO of Asiamarine. “The version that will eventually arrive in Hong Kong will be one of the most luxuriously accessorised catamarans here.”
www.bali-catamarans.com
www.asiamarine.com

Multihulls Special 2021: Bali’s rapid expansion/a>
Bali is continuing to disrupt the cruising catamaran industry as features like the ‘Bali door’ and solid foredeck make the French brand increasingly popular in Asia and around the world.

Ferretti Yachts 500: Your Private Island

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Ferretti Yachts 500: Your Private Island

June 16, 2021
11:42 pm

With two units already in Asia, Ferretti Yachts’ new 500 features Filippo Salvetti’s familiar clean exterior lines but is the brand’s first model to feature interiors by IdeaeItalia, which offers high-end elegance in two distinct moods.

Stepping aboard the first Ferretti Yachts 500 in Asia, it’s the ample space that first grabs my attention, despite the fact this is the Italian builder’s new entry-level model. Firstly, the depth of both the swim platform and cockpit belies the fact that this is a 50-footer. Then again, this is no ordinary 50ft motor yacht.

Making its debut at the Ferretti Group Private Preview at the Monaco Yacht Club last September, the 500 is the third and smallest of four Ferretti Yachts models featuring an exterior by the renowned Filippo Salvetti along with the 670 (2018), 720 (2019) and the flagship 1000 (2021), which premiered at this year’s Venice Boat Show.

Furthermore, it’s the first Ferretti Yachts model to feature an interior by IdeaeItalia, the design studio based in La Spezia, which is also home to one of Riva’s biggest shipyards. And despite being one of the smaller models produced within the Group, only a dozen or so units are scheduled to be built each year.

The first Ferretti Yachts 500 in Asia proves an ideal way to escape the city

“It’s not a mass-production yacht,” stresses Fabiomassimo Discoli, Sales and Marketing Director of Ferretti Group Asia Pacific, as he guides me around the first 500 in Hong Kong before she headed to Taiwan for delivery to her owner. “The high level of finishing and details, especially in the interior, have been mentioned by those seeing it in Asia via video and in other parts of the world.

“Usually in a boat of this size, the competition is in the price. Unfortunately, Ferretti Yachts cannot compete on price because our engineering and production follow the same path as our bigger boats, despite the size of the 500.

“The engineering, the mould, bonding, materials and finishing are still very expensive to manufacture. We do want to be in this size segment, though, to attract newer clients. Some may aspire to own a Ferretti and would like to own a small one.”

The sofa and table in the aft cockpit can be set up in various ways

The previous 45ft model in this line had been produced with a different concept in mind, a little more conscious of budget, but the newcomer has the same DNA as its big sisters.

“The 500 feels like a larger Ferretti Yachts model in terms of the luxury experience. In the interior, you can’t see any fibreglass,” Discoli emphasises.

“Everything is covered by wood, leather or other materials. IdeaeItalia was able to understand that we want this feeling of being in a fresh, contemporary luxury interior that is understated and very nautical [in practicalities]. All corners are rounded, for example, which is very important for a small boat.”

AFT ENTERTAINING AREA

Those soft corners inside the saloon are all the more important due to the generously-sized cockpit, which has been noted as a key attraction by would-be owners internationally. The multifunctional bench seating and table set are the focal point, transforming in seconds from a tilting back rest, to a flat lounge area, to upright seating with raised, full-size solid-teak dining table.

The sliding doors and raised galley window create a connected, covered social zone

Within reach is an outside cabinet with refrigerator and ice-machine option, adjoining the galley, positioned aft of the saloon to be fully open if desired. This allows meals or cocktails to be easily served, especially if self-piloting without a crew.

Crew-cabin access is via a concealed hatch within the cockpit bench. The cabin has natural ventilation via portholes as well as air-conditioning. Mooring lines are kept out of sight and harm’s way within flip-up cladded housing.

The yacht has a large adjustable swim platform

Also with safety in mind, two steps down, the swim platform descends and ascends on an outward sloping angle without ever losing contact with the stern, a signature feature on Ferretti Yachts models that prevents any potentially dangerous gap.

A shortened platform length is available, making manoeuvrability a little easier if self-captaining. Importantly, the reduced length makes the model eligible for use with a Pleasure Vessel Operator Grade Two licence in Hong Kong, which allows piloting of vessels under 50ft, while the standard FY500 is classified as Grade One.

INNER SALOON

With the galley-up configuration as standard, meals can be had at an extendable portside table with C-shaped banquette seating that fits up to six. With a reduced table size, this spot makes a good lounging or viewing area opposite a two-to-three person sofa to starboard, behind which a 43-inch flat-screen TV gently rises at the touch of a control button.

The galley is aft, while the saloon is a step up

IdeaeItalia has created two interior ‘moods’ for owners to choose from. Asia’s first hull has the Contemporary selection, with its subtle palette of grey, blue and ivory, inspired by Mediterranean hues. The Classic mood features more earthy and natural tones.

The galley itself is equipped with a microwave oven, four-ring stove (two-ring is standard), full-size refrigerator and freezer drawers, a dishwasher (an additional option) and plenty of storage cabinets and drawers.

The saloon enjoys excellent views, while the table can be adjusted for casual use or dining

Furnishing materials in the saloon and elsewhere feature top-grade upholstery fabrics and panel claddings, such as Alcantara synthetic and washable suede covering for ceiling panelling.

“Durability is important,” says Discoli. “We plan for the quality of materials to stay the same for 20 years.”

Grey-stained, attractively-grained engineered walnut wood veneer atop composite cabinetry is used to help keep weight down.

The lower helm station is comfortable and comprehensive

A customised stainless-steel steering wheel at the helm is covered in cream leather that matches the captain’s chair. Sunken spotlighting in the saloon can be dimmed to avoid reflection when underway at night, and two micro-sized spots above the helm can be illuminated.

STAIRWAY TO HAVEN

The flybridge is accessed by a newly designed cockpit stairwell that has wide, deep, round-edged steps and easy-to-reach rails of generous girth each side, suitable for passengers of any age. Salvetti has lowered the height of the top deck compared to previous models to improve stability in open water and impart a sleeker silhouette to the vessel.

The flybridge has a large sofa and a table aft, plus a wet bar to port

A spacious helm station is within talking distance of a versatile lounger, with thoughtful wraparound “place-all” shelving. The grill station, basin and fridge-freezer behind the helm are convenient for the L-shaped bench seating and table area. A sturdy flybridge canopy is fitted as standard and goes up in minutes at low speeds or when stationary.

The bow, accessed by side decks from the cockpit, is a tranquil, expansive sunpad area with drinks holders at each side.

The flybridge also has a large sunbathing area by the helm

Accessed by a central stairwell in the saloon, the standard three-cabin configuration presents noticeably generous headroom throughout the lower deck.

The midships master cabin has an ensuite bathroom and makes full use of the 14ft 2in beam, with large windows and portholes bringing in light and ocean-level views.

Lit by large hull windows, the master suite has lots of storage to starboard and a sofa to port

The roomy VIP suite forward and a twin-bunk cabin to starboard share another bathroom. All cabins contain good storage space. There’s also an option for just two guest cabins on the lower deck, with

Discoli is confident that the Ferretti Yachts 500 will continue to attract owners in Asia, where a new unit for sale recently arrived in Hong Kong, home to Ferretti Group’s regional headquarters.

The forward VIP cabin is among two or three guest cabins

“There is a lot of space on board for a family of four or more,” he says. “I’ve already had talks with long-term clients in Hong Kong who own the previous 450, 460 or the old 500 who are interested in upgrading.”
www.ferretti-yachts.com
www.ferrettigroupasiapacific.com

Ferretti Yachts shows flagship 1000
The Italian builder has revealed details and images of hull one of its biggest-ever model, the brand’s first to feature extensive use of carbon-fibre..

MCY 76 Skylounge: Raising the Game

Reviews / yachtstyle2020

MCY 76 Skylounge: Raising the Game

June 9, 2021
1:45 pm

Monte Carlo Yachts’ newest model offers an enclosed flybridge and expanded options in the main-deck interior, as well as all the winning design traits that distinguish the new MCY 76.

The MCY 76 Skylounge debuted late last year

When the MCY 76 Skylounge world premiere was held at the 61st Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show late last year, Monte Carlo Yachts was showcasing its biggest Skylounge model so far, following the 70 version whose first unit into Asia was sold in Hong Kong by Asia Yachting earlier this year.

The newest Skylounge model is based on the new MCY 76, which is the Italian builder’s newest open flybridge model and had its global debut at the Cannes Yachting Festival in September 2019.

The Skylounge version is based on the new MCY 76

Furthermore, the new MCY 76 is the updated version of the first-ever model launched by Monte Carlo Yachts, in 2010, and the biggest of the Monfalcone yard’s three ‘second generation’ flybridge models unveiled two years ago.

“The MCY 76 is among the best-selling models in Monte Carlo Yachts’ history and definitely the most iconic one, having been a game changer on the market since the first debut,” says Sergio Loiacono, Monte Carlo Yachts’ Sales and Marketing Director.

The foredeck offers large seating and sunbathing areas, and adjustable tables

Before profiling the MCY 76 Skylounge, it’s worth looking at the yacht it’s based on. Like the entire Monte Carlo Yachts range, the original and new MCY 76 models were designed by Carlo Nuvolari and Dan Lenard of Nuvolari Lenard, whose headquarters is just a 90-minute drive from Monfalcone.

For all second-generation models – which also include the MCY 66 and 70 – new hulls, decks, layouts and superstructures were developed to increase floor area on all three decks, including notably enlarged flybridges. On the lower deck, new propulsion systems and the integration of fuel tanks into the hull created significantly more space.

The only helm station is in the enclosed flybridge

There was also a large increase in natural light created by larger windows and other means such as lowering furniture, with many of the changes reflecting client feedback over the previous years.

SKYLOUNGE WORLD

The Skylounge models were designed to be able to be used year-round. The most obvious difference is the flybridge, most of which is enclosed so adds another indoor area that can be used in inclement weather. The 197sqft enclosed flybridge offers great headroom of 2.02m, creating a luxurious feeling of space that’s replicated in the main-deck interior (2.05m) and the owner’s suite (2.00m).

The enclosed flybridge features large windows and openable skylights

Made of carbon-fibre for its weight, strength and durability, the enclosed flybridge benefits from enormous windows and large, openable skylights, which increase the natural light and allow fresh air when wanted, an appealing option day or night.

The Skylounge was first announced as a model targeted primarily at the US, where sportfisher designs are popular. However, the design also holds appeal in some Asian yachting markets such as Hong Kong, where it can drop to single-degree temperatures for a couple of weeks a year, while the long, hot summers are incredibly humid and there’s a lot of heavy rain.

The area can be configured as an office, studio, lounge, children’s room or entertainment room

However, the Skylounge’s appeal in this region is also due to the extra privacy afforded by an upper deck that can be freely customised, like most interior areas on an MCY yacht. The owner of hull one, on show at Fort Lauderdale, uses the enclosed flybridge as an office, but it’s just one among a wealth of options such as a second saloon, an office, playroom or cinema.

“The Skylounge is ideal for cold weather but also for hot climates, as the enclosed flybridge offers an additional air-conditioned area, protected from the elements, that can be enjoyed all year round,” says Loiacono, who formerly worked in Asia.

The aft terrace is 60 per cent larger than on the MCY 70 Skylounge

“However, it’s not only a matter of extending the boating season. The enclosed flybridge offers further possibilities of increasing privacy and multiplying the living experiences. It’s a large, customisable entertainment area that can be turned into the owner’s private studio, a playroom or a second saloon with inspiring 360-degree views over the horizon, perfect for relaxing moments.”

The flybridge offers an outdoor aft terrace, which is accessed through sliding glass doors and can fit an open-air galley and loose furniture. This area, for one, is notably larger than on the MCY 70 Skylounge.

The aft terrace has seating and an outdoor galley

Another notable difference between the two Skylounge models is the position of the flybridge’s internal staircase, which is aft on the 70 and forward on the 76.

EXPANDED MAIN-DECK OPTIONS

The Skylounge’s second major difference from the standard range is that it has just one helm station, in the enclosed flybridge, which allows for significantly more social space in the main-deck interior and clear views all the way forward.

The wide cockpit is one of the four main outdoor areas

The main deck is proposed in two layouts – galley aft, as seen on hull one, and galley forward. Galley-aft offers a direct link from the galley to the aft cockpit, which shares the same design as on the standard MCY 76. A curved sofa, large dining table and space for loose chairs makes it a popular place for dining, as well as a hub before and after swimming and watersports.

The galley-aft layout creates space for not one but two lounges. As well as a lounge forward of the galley, with portside seating facing the TV to starboard, there’s a second lounge further forward and up a step, offering great views.

The main deck can be designed galley aft (pictured) or forward

The C-shaped sofa can be used as a coffee or cocktail corner when the table is folded and set low, or a dining area when the table is raised and expanded.

The other proposed layout uses the raised forward area for the galley, with a formal dining table midships and saloon aft, although owners can create their own arrangement.

The galley-aft layout allows for a lounge in the middle of the interior space

“The main deck offers many customisation possibilities and the configuration chosen by the first owner is just one example,” Loiacono says.

“There’s also a galley-forward layout, while others can be designed with the client to reflect their different needs and desires, as there are very few structural limits. In Asia, we could expect requests to customise the decks with business or entertainment options.”

The forward area can be used as a second saloon cum dining area

In the bow, there’s the iconic MCY foredeck featuring a central passageway flanked by huge sunbathing areas on each side around semi-circular teak tables. For outdoor dining, the tables can be electrically raised and then connected to form a large table, while a bimini can be set up for shade.

FURTHER FLEXIBILITY

Lower-deck plans are the same as on the MCY 76 and it’s a great layout for both guests and crew. The main-deck stairs to the guest cabins are forward to starboard and descend to a hallway that leads aft to the full-beam master suite, which is situated midships.

The owner’s suite has a 2m-high ceiling and many options for the furniture

It has a forward-facing bed in the centre, with the brand’s signature overlapping portholes on each side offering views and lots of light. Furniture on both sides of the cabin can be customised and options include sets of drawers, sofas and desks cum vanity tables. Aft of the bed is the en-suite bathroom to port and a walk-in wardrobe to starboard.

The hallway leads forward to guest cabins on either side – each with two sliding single beds – and a VIP in the bow, all with en-suites. One of the most remarkable areas is the crew quarters, forward of the engine room and accessed by stairs from the starboard side deck. The default crew layout offers single cabins on both sides and a shared bathroom.

On hull one, the owner extended the walk-in wardrobe for more storage and a laundry area.

However, even the crew quarters can be customised. On hull one, the owner extended his walk-in wardrobe aft – in place of the starboard crew cabin – for more storage and hanging space, and a laundry area. Other options for the crew quarters include a double cabin, bathroom, laundry and storage, or a twin-bunk cabin, bathroom, dinette and galley, which could prove popular in Asia.

As well as customisable layouts on all three decks, there’s a vast array of options for décor, furniture, furnishings, fabrics, marbles and mosaics. These include all of those offered at Nuvolari Lenard, where the extensive menu of exclusive materials on offer reflects the studio’s decades of creating custom-designed superyachts and megayachts for some of the world’s wealthiest yacht owners.

The master cabin’s en-suite bathroom

Typically, clients or prospects visiting the Monfalcone shipyard would also visit the designers’ studio, so during recent restrictions on travel, Monte Carlo Yachts has had to work hard to maintain this option.

“Luckily and thanks to a lot of organisation, we’ve been able to offer this unique experience to our main customers despite the different restrictions,” Loiacono says. “We’ve also organised remote visits and calls to involve the clients in the design process and set direct meetings with Dan and Carlo.”

The VIP suite in the bow

MCY models may be best known for their design inside and out, and the widespread customisation options, but the yachts also pack some serious hardware and technology. The MCY 76 Skylounge is offered with either two 1,550hp or 1,650hp MAN V12s, with the latter fitted on hull one and able to propel the yacht to an impressive top speed of 30 knots. The fuel and freshwater capacities are both 25 per cent larger than on the 70.

The large hi-lo swim platform can accommodate 800kg and carry a tender up to about 13ft (4m), which typically weighs 400kg or less. It’s an alternative to the garage, which can instead be converted to a storage and beach area. However, the real fun is choosing how you want each deck to look and be used.
www.montecarloyachts.it
www.asiayachting.net

New MCY 76 in Hong Kong
The MCY 76 is the newest flybridge model by Italy’s Monte Carlo Yachts and the first hull in Asia is available for quick delivery through regional dealer Asia Yachting.

Lagoon 55 links to the ‘Big Four’

Reviews / yachtstyle2020

Lagoon 55 links to the ‘Big Four’

May 25, 2021
3:49 pm

Yacht Style attended the Lagoon 55 preview at Groupe Beneteau’s CNB shipyard in Bordeaux, where the brand’s third-biggest sailing cat cruised along the Garonne river before showing off her feature-packed outdoor zones and colourful, detailed interior. By Geoffroy Langlade.

The Lagoon 55 on the Garonne; Photos: Nicolas Claris / Lagoon

After a restricted year with few boat shows and sea trials, we were excited to be invited to the CNB shipyard in Bordeaux to see the first hull of the Lagoon 55, which is set to cause quite a stir this year as further units are unveiled and are distributed around the world.

The 55 is Lagoon’s third-biggest sailing model and follows last year’s release of the Sixty 5, which completed the brand’s new ‘big four’. This lofty quartet began with the Seventy 7 in 2016 and includes the Seventy 8 and Sixty 7 powercats released in 2017 and 2019 respectively.

The 55 project began two years ago, revealed Thomas Gailly, Lagoon’s Brand Director, who says it’s targeted at owners of models from 45ft upwards who aren’t quite ready to make the leap to the Sixty 5 or Seventy 7 but want to enjoy the upgrade in space and finishing that the ‘big four’ have added to the brand.

The Lagoon 55 sits below the Sixty 5 and Seventy 7 sailing cats

“We will be carrying out technical tests and sea trials before a world tour, which will start this summer,” says Gailly, a regular visitor to Asia, at least before Covid. “In this context of the pandemic, we’ll continue all the local initiatives of Lagoon around the world, including in the Asia-Pacific, which remains one of our key markets.”

The 55 also holds special significance for the brand as it’s the same name as the first-ever Lagoon catamaran, launched in 1987 when the brand was an offshoot of Jeanneau. Since then, with Groupe Beneteau buying Jeanneau and its other brands in 1996, Lagoon has built an astonishing 6,000 units, having established itself as the world leader in cruising catamarans.

LINK TO THE ‘BIG FOUR’

Today’s 55 not only provides a link to the new ‘big four’ but also provides a significant upgrade from the Lagoon 52, which will be phased out of production after a hugely successful run since its own launch in 2012.

The Lagoon 55 has a 9ft 6in beam, almost 6ft wider than the Lagoon 52

And this is no superficial upgrade. At 54ft 4in in length, the 55 is over 2ft longer than the model it’s succeeding but remarkably, its 29ft 6in beam makes it almost 6ft or 25 per cent wider. Furthermore, the 55 has a fully developed flybridge, which when combined with a significantly bigger rig and the overall increase in volume, means it’s over 23 per cent heavier than the 52.

As well as naval architecture by the world-famous VPLP design team founded by Marc Van Peteghem and Vincent Lauriot-Prévost, the 55 features an exterior design by Patrick Le Quément and an interior by Italy’s Nauta Design, which has been handling the brand’s interiors for over a decade.

Le Quément’s handiwork is the first we see when approaching the model, which is tied up on the Garonne river that flows in front of the CNB shipyard.

Features include a sliding window, adjustable foredeck table and forward sunpads on the flybridge

“The Lagoon 55 reveals a carefully created exterior design. All around, the deck bulwark lends the boat an elegant and refined profile, plus a protected promenade around the deck,” says Le Quément, who spent most of his career as a renowned car designer for the likes of Ford and Renault.

“The exterior design of the coachroof participates in the overall flowing appearance. Its integrated handrail contributes to slimming down the overall impression of height in the coachroof, as well as featuring the now identifiable Lagoon graphic signature – a roof in perceived levitation.”

STAIRWAYS TO HEAVEN

Like the ‘big four’, the 55 is distinguished by its wide circulation spaces on board. However, as well as the full flybridge, the model’s most distinguishing feature is arguably its redesign of the aft cockpit into what Lagoon calls “an open terrace on the sea”, inspired by motor yachts.

The “open terrace on the sea” has aft-facing seating and transoms cleared to become waterside hangouts

The steps from the two transoms have been moved inwards to free up space for sitting or lying by the water, or even cooking at the optional plancha to port side. Other options include a retractable bench seat to starboard.

Martina Torrini, Lagoon’s Product Manager, says: “The revolutionary and innovative character of the 55 begins with the access on board via the new steps, which allow the aft skirts or transoms to be completely cleared. These are no longer just passage areas but living areas, allowing us to offer new options on a sailing catamaran, such as an outdoor galley or retractable cushions.”

The extra-large covered cockpit covers 270sqft and includes a large dining area opposite a wet bar, aft-facing sofas on each side and a raised daybed to starboard.

The cockpit provides a covered dining and lounging area

“With the Lagoon 55, we have completely rethought the catamaran with a real terrace on the sea,” says Gailly, who has worked for Groupe Beneteau since 2004. “With this crisis, customers feel a need to escape, they feel a need to go far away, to sail and to spend time on board.”

COVERING THE OUTDOORS

The foredeck or bow terrace is nicely integrated into the architecture of the catamaran and offers a comfortable C-shaped sofa, with both sides big enough to double as sunbeds.

The built-in foredeck sunshade is raised into place to provide elegant shelter

Winning new features are the foldable table and more notably the foldable sunshade, a mini bimini that makes for an elegant and cosy sheltered area once erected. Unlike some of its competitors, such as Leopard and Bali, Lagoon doesn’t have a forward door connecting the saloon and foredeck, but has a large opening window connecting the two areas.

Lagoon has greatly increased the scale of the flybridge, which is accessed from portside, although additional steps on starboard side are an option.

The helm station is starboard, fully equipped with electronics, practical storage and cup-holders. All winches are well located next to the mast and the helm, while due to the Harken FlatWinder, all manoeuvres come back to the helm and make it easier to handle the boat alone.

The flybridge has a folding table and L-shaped seating to port, wet bar and helm to starboard, full-width sunbathing area aft and double sunpad forward

Compared to the 52, where the lounging areas featured sunpads on the coachroof, the 55 has a full flybridge, with an L-shaped sofa, foldable dining table and a full-width sunbathing area aft. There’s also a wet bar to starboard, aft of the helm bench seat. As if that wasn’t enough, a large sunbathing area for three or more people has been fitted forward on the coachroof.

BRIGHT INTERIOR

The welcoming interior on the main deck offers almost 300sqft of space. The version presented featured a fully-equipped L-shaped galley and bar area to starboard, navigation station to port and a comfortable saloon dominated by a large C-shaped sofa forward of the mast. The coffee table can be raised and folded out for dining.

The interior by Italy’s Nauta Design includes a flexible saloon table

The cockpit doors and the forward opening window create ventilation and through breeze, while overhead windows have been added to bring in even more natural light and increase the visual connection to the outdoors.

What’s most noticeable is that the detailing and finish reflect the upgraded interiors seen on the ‘big four’ and there are some elegant design touches like the built-in bookcase behind the sofa and below the window line, which adds a homely feel.

The large starboard galley with stylish bar

Accommodation options include a four-cabin version, all with en-suite bathrooms and double beds facing the hull windows, with the owner’s suite situated aft starboard. The cabins feature some of the finest detailing on the yacht and provide genuinely comfortable rooms to relax in, day or night.

The five-cabin version replaces the owner’s suite with two cabins, with the aft starboard cabin accessed from the cockpit. The six-cabin version offers the same such layout in both hulls, requiring a slight reconfiguration of the saloon to feature forward stairways on each side. Customised layouts are also possible.

The master suite (above) is aft starboard in the four-cabin version; the aft port cabin (below)

The Lagoon 55 was initially scheduled to be unveiled at the International Multihull Show at La Grande Motte starting at the end of April, so with the event’s cancellation, this private premiere was a major step in showcasing the brand’s newest gem.
www.cata-lagoon.com
www.simpsonmarine.com

Multihulls Special 2021: Lagoon leads the way
In the first chapter of our ‘Kings of Cats’ cover story in Issue 59, Yacht Style profiles market leader Lagoon, which recently passed the 6,000 mark for cruising catamarans.

Aquila 70 bridges best of both worlds

Reviews / yachtstyle2020

Aquila 70 bridges best of both worlds

May 19, 2021
10:08 pm

Designed to be as sleek and fast as a monohull motor yacht, the Aquila 70 also offers the enormous living areas of a large powercat, while luxurious, semi-custom interiors and advanced technologies further open the doors to a new level of clientele.

The Aquila 70 is the brand’s new flagship

When charged with creating the Aquila 70, J&J Design was faced with an unusual challenge: design a new 70ft powercat that looked fresh, unlike anything on the water. It had to lose the usual boxy look of most big cats and instead have a sleek, contemporary profile that would match the yacht’s top speed of 27 knots.

The Slovenian firm, which has created new designs for more than 50 builders around the world, also had to make sure the new boat had a luxurious interior and smartly designed exterior.

J&J created a sleek, dynamic profile

J&J has been designing for Aquila since the latter was founded in 2012, with the brand’s other models including the 32, 36, 44 and the new 54, which was unveiled in February along with the 70. But the flagship had to be a special design, aimed at a much more exclusive client.

“The aesthetics and handling had to be the main drivers of this boat,” says Lex Raas, President of Aquila and co-founder of the brand with MarineMax co-founder Bill McGill and Sino Eagle’s Frank Xiong. “But we also needed to focus on a yacht-quality finish. At this upper end, you’re talking semi-custom rather than production, so you need to give the clients quality and choices.”

The Aquila 70 has a top speed of 27 knots

Owners do have the option of customising the 70, including choosing interior amenities and number of staterooms. Other choices include at least two completely different layouts for the main-deck interior, the galley up, down or both, and an open or enclosed flybridge.

MONOHULL PERFORMANCE

Aquila has strong competitors in the 65-75ft power cat segment including Sunreef, Lagoon and Fountaine Pajot, but Raas was really aiming at motor yacht builders like Azimut, Sunseeker and Princess.

“A lot of these powercats may only do 15 knots and have boxy shapes,” he says. “We surveyed the owners of those yachts and they told us that’s what they don’t like about big cats. We understood we needed performance and looks. They have to have a reason to change.”

The aft platforms provide a beautiful setting by the water’s edge

In profile, the 70 could almost be mistaken for a monohull, with the sleek shape, trendy window patterns and sharp forefoot. “Everyone is blown away by the lines,” Raas says.

With the twin 1000hp Volvo D13 inboards, the boat not only has a stated top speed of 27 knots but also proved it on a recent test off Clearwater, home to the MarineMax headquarters in Florida. On our short run into the Gulf of Mexico, which involved running a gauntlet of crab traps, the boat handled well, hitting 27.4 knots without hesitation. The friendly cruise is 21-22 knots at 2,000rpm.

The large foredeck can be accessed from the side decks or the flybridge

Running a cat feels different than a monohull, especially when it comes to sharp course corrections, but the Aquila felt solid in the minor chop.

It’s clear that much thought went into the exterior design, from the wide passages along the main deck to the bow, to the centreline steps from the bow to the Portuguese bridge and up into the flybridge itself.

The helm station in the enclosed flybridge

Aquila made sure the 70 can be navigated from multiple positions, so besides the full helm in the flybridge, there are wing stations with joystick controls on both sides of the Portuguese bridge as well as in the saloon.

The enclosed section of the flybridge, with three comfy Stidd helm seats, offers excellent visibility of the water, and there’s a lounge and dining table behind. The open aft section is also partially protected by the hardtop and has a Kenyon grill, Isotherm fridge and stainless sink, so is ideal for cooking and drinks before or after meals, with plenty of space for loose furniture.

The flybridge also has a dining area and an aft deck with outdoor galley

Aquila has even created its own tenders for the 70 as well as the 54. On the 70, the 14ft multihull tender fits in a special lifting platform at the stern, so it sits flush with the boat and above the tunnel, rather than hanging off the back on davits, like many tenders. This way, it’s more secure and won’t impact the performance.

The central aft platform carries and deploys a 14ft Aquila tender

Multihull specialists Morelli & Melvin, known for America’s Cup designs, created the tender, with greater buoyancy and carrying capacity than a same-sized monohull. When the tender’s out, the transom works as an outstanding multi-level beach club, with enormous areas for loose chairs and sunbathing right by the water.

REFINED INTERIOR

Of course, any cat’s secret weapon against a monohull is interior volume. In the case of the Aquila 70, its nearly 27ft beam gave the designers 300sqft for the main saloon.

The cockpit offers a covered outdoor area for al fresco dining

The luxurious interior is the yacht’s highlight, with the open saloon being the primary focus. The 9ft headroom and wide beam deliver a sense of openness, but Aquila did a fine job creating a spacious chef’s galley to starboard, then populating the saloon with a lounge, entertainment centre and eight-person dining table forward.

Combining top brands, such as a Gaggenau cooktop, oven, microwave, espresso machine and wine chiller, with details like a touchless faucet and leather-wrapped stainless handles, gives a sense of refinement.

The interior features Natuzzi furniture and Gaggenau kitchenware

The Natuzzi décor comes from the Italian designer’s Herman collection and includes the lounge seating, coffee table, bar chairs, dining table and chairs. Electric blinds, Denon HEOS surround-sound system and controllable LED lighting also add to the high-end sensibility.

Forward is another showpiece room – the full-beam master suite. The large windows and king-sized bed, along with a lounge, are the first signs that this is a special, private space. It just feels big, with two adjoining areas down steps either side taking advantage of the cat’s width.

The dining table is opposite the galley, which can be separated by a raised panel

On the port side is the ensuite bathroom, with two sinks, glass-enclosed shower and private head, while to starboard is a dedicated storage area with six pull-out drawers, cabinets and walk-in closet. The room’s overall storage area is equivalent to three walk-in closets, a big draw for owners who live or spend significant time on their yachts.

The four-stateroom design includes a VIP suite on either side, each offering a spacious, light-filled cabin and an ensuite bathroom, while there’s a surprisingly large rear crew cabin.

The full-beam master is a few steps down and forward of the saloon

Another big draw is the engine room. Aquila made it large and functional, with stand-up headroom and good working space around the Volvos, with equipment like Kohler generators, Marine Exhaust Systems underwater exhausts and Webasto Blue Cool V77 air-conditioning. These are part of a longer list of name-brand equipment chosen because of their worldwide service networks.

Insulated to limit noise and vibration, the engine room is accessed via a watertight door to the crew cabin and day head. A C-Zone Digital switching system sits in an adjoining room, next to monitors for engine functions and navigation. In short, it’s a serious, yacht-like setup.

Storage on the starboard side of the full-beam master suite

In the end, the Aquila 70 is a winner for Aquila and J&J Design, with the luxurious interior of a yacht, but also filled with thoughtful, useful details for real-world boating.
www.aquilaboats.com
www.simpsonmarine.com

Aquila premieres flagship 70
The semi-custom Aquila 70 is the new “king” of the fast-growing powercat brand, which is represented by Simpson Marine in key markets across Asia.

Damen Yachting’s SeaXplorer 77 La Datcha heads for Kamchatka

Reviews / yachtstyle2020

Damen Yachting’s SeaXplorer 77 La Datcha heads for Kamchatka

May 6, 2021
4:18 pm

Available for charter, La Datcha is a purpose-built expedition yacht set to explore some of the world’s most remote and stunning locations, starting in Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula. By Bruce Maxwell.

La Datcha is Damen Yachting’s first 77m SeaXplorer

Heliskiing and volcano visits on the Russian Far East’s Kamchatka Peninsula are among activities offered to charter guests aboard Damen Yachting’s recently-launched luxury SeaXplorer 77 La Datcha, described as “a unique project never seen before in the yachting industry”.

Availability is from July to December and the rate is €740,000 (about US$885,000) a week plus 30 per cent advance provisioning allowance. Bookings are reportedly brisk.

After that, La Datcha heads for Cabo San Lucas, a sportfishing mecca on the Pacific Coast of Mexico’s Baja California, and then, via Chile, to the Ross Sea in Antarctica.

Two master suites, two VIPs and two more 40sqm suites make good use of the vessel’s huge volume

Other exotic cruises, some working with EYOS Expeditions, are to include the Bering Sea and Alaska, the Northwest and Northeast Passages, Arctic Svalbard and Greenland, as well as remoter parts of Micronesia, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu. Southeast Asia, Maldives and the Seychelles are in the schedule, too.

Says La Datcha’s website: “The Mediterranean and Caribbean Seas and their islands are undoubtedly beautiful, but altogether they amount to only 5 per cent of the world’s coastlines. Most luxury superyachts never venture any further, leaving 95 per cent of routes unexplored. If you are willing to go off the beaten track, we are there for you.”

Each individual suite has a bathroom with bath or shower, and walk-in wardrobes

In Kamchatka alone, Marketing and Sales Director Dasha Tinkova talks of brown bears, tundra wolves, Arctic foxes, snow sheep, reindeer, moose and muskoxen. The 1,250 km peninsula almost encloses the Sea of Okhotsk, where La Datcha will position for some charters, and offers all six species of Pacific salmon, Arctic narwhales, beluga whales and walruses, plus superb diving.

Huge sea eagles soar overhead and this remarkable “land of ice and fire” has 160 volcanoes, 29 of them active, in a World Heritage Site. Klyuchevskaya Sopka at 4,750m is the highest volcano in

the Northern Hemisphere. Close offshore, the mysterious Kuril-Kamchatka Trench is 10,500m deep.

A chess nook is located in one of the lounges

To tackle such environments, a very special vessel is needed, so the owner’s team, project managers, designers, builders, EYOS and others combined to produce an ocean-going charter yacht reflecting Amels’ advanced superyacht outfitting abilities on a tried and tested Damen Yachting SeaXplorer hull.

Says Rose Damen, the builder: “The SeaXplorer is a design and concept that appeals to those who are excited by the idea of adventure and exploration, but are still looking for that crossover with luxury yachting. That is exactly where La Datcha’s journey began.

Backgammon is an option, too

“The owner wanted to bring a whole new approach to the explorer market. A yacht built for adventures in the far-flung corners of the world, without any compromise on the luxury experience, and with a commercial goal. This was to be a yacht intended for charter in both polar and tropical regions.

“With such a vision, our goal was to deliver the first purpose-built Explorer yacht in time to charter a few weeks after delivery. We took our SeaXplorer range as the build platform for this 77m vessel.”

Russian designer Vasiliy Shprits was asked to create a warm and natural interior, while still being chic and unusual

EYOS Expeditions was aboard from the outset, and Damen says it benefitted hugely from their operational know-how and experience. This was the key in achieving a level of capability “that cannot be found in traditional superyachts and conversion designs”.

“We incorporated hundreds of operational design features based on real expedition experience, and were able to customise and build to the owner’s brief, including many unique features which truly make her one of a kind.”

Casual lounges and different dining facilities are a hallmark of the vessel

That brief began forming in 2017, when the owner took an interest in an Amels 60 Limited Editions design, attracted by the clean vertical lines of the axe bow, but once he saw the SeaXplorer concept, this instantly became his designated project.

Azure Yacht Design was called in. They had created the SeaXplorer series exteriors for the Damen Group as a development of the latter’s famous Yacht Support Vessels, a hybrid that combined the strength of the Damen Sea Axe hull and lines with the more classic beauty and luxury of subsidiary Amels superyachts.

Look-alike 9.26m ‘mini me’ limousine tender doubles as rescue boat

Parent Damen is an enormous family-owned Dutch defence, engineering and shipbuilding group that has businesses in 120 countries, based at Vlissingen near the Dutch-Belgian border, with access there to the North Sea.

Erik Spek of Azure says: “The challenge was to make a commercial and potentially bulky-looking vessel look dynamic, yachtlike and well proportioned.

“As it was going to be a fully committed explorer-type yacht, we wanted to use a strong conceptual incentive to visually ‘protect’ guests on board. By wrapping the colossal bow around the superstructure, the exterior design both visually and literally created the yacht’s armour against the sea and ice.”

Three-person Triton 1650 submarine is likewise finished in custom La Datcha colours

Other exterior design features include an observation post in the bow for activities like whale watching or perhaps observing arctic scenery, and a ‘floating band’ in the profile continues forward of the panoramic interior observation lounge, providing an extra sense of security. There’s also a custom lifeboat cum limousine tender that is a replica of La Datcha herself, a sort of ‘mini me’, which when stowed, blends beautifully into the hull and its Saharan tan colour scheme.

The aluminium mast’s Crow’s Nest offers an extraordinary 360-degree viewing point, and the forward observation lounge on the upper deck likewise affords spectacular 270 degree vistas.

Two helicopters are carried by regulation in polar waters

La Datcha refers to a second home in Russia, also spelt dacha. Traditionally it is a small cottage in the woods, where Russian people spend their holidays and weekends. This floating cottage spans six decks and offers luxury accommodation for 12 guests in six suites, including two masters and two VIPs. Each comes with an ensuite bathroom and walk-in wardrobe.

The owner’s suite on the principal deck is an expansive 95sqm and on the upper deck it is 67.5sqm. This can be combined with a 35sqm suite to form an apartment-style set-up. The three other suites are 40sqm, the same size as VIP suites aboard an Amels 242 Limited Edition, so La Datcha really does deliver luxury volume within its 14m beam. Ceiling heights are 2.2m.

Jacuzzi pool on the upper deck is one of many places to relax and watch the scenery drift past

She carries a crew of 19 bolstered by up to six expedition-related staff such as helicopter pilots, heli engineer, and expedition guides for specific activities.

Initial Build Captain Darren Wakelam says: “La Datcha’s 6,000nm range and 40-day autonomy at sea gives us enormous capability to cruise to remote areas, which tend to be more rugged and offer more wildlife. Her voyage to the Russian Far East is sure to be fabulous. It is pretty much the end of the world. Hard to access, unspoiled, and very, very few yachts have ever travelled there.

Observation areas are custom created throughout

“Without doubt, she’s built to a high standard both externally as a ship and internally in the luxury spaces. She looks rugged and capable, and with a well-appointed interior, promises adventure. I have zero doubt that she will make good on that promise.”

As La Datcha is now well under way, two further Captains, Alistair Reed and Alexander Baronjan, are handling the vessel in rotation. Custom interiors are created by Russian architect Vasiliy Shprits, who has previously focused on private residences and luxury resort fitouts. Apart from the comforts of the salons and lounges, guests have an extra-large beach club with sauna, steam room, massage and gym.

Ice bar feature is over 3m long, made of clear epoxy resin and can be illuminated in various colours

Natural oak, leather, bronze, marble and onyx are blended with stone mosaics and woollen rugs to create chic and unusual aspects while still being simple and warm, with adventure as the underlying theme.

There is a sideboard with 3D leather panelling, and a featured ice bar 3.2m long and made from almost completely clear epoxy resin. It looks like a real block of ice and can be illuminated in different colours.

The vessel itself is Ice Classed and built to the latest IMO Polar Code. Other parts of the Damen Shipyards Group construct Ice Breakers and Coast Guard Ships, so they already had state-of-the-art expertise in these fields.

Another attractive al fresco dining area is tucked in behind a bulkhead for protection from the wind when La Datcha is under way

The Code now includes having a reinforced Ice Class 1C Ice Breaker hull, and stabilisers are retractable to avoid being trapped by drifting ice floes or submersed logs.

She is fully equipped for world class heliskiing with two helicopters, a certified helideck and below-deck hangar, ski room, snowmobiles and avalanche safety equipment, and is designed to carry

an impressive inventory of tropical equipment for ocean exploring, such as a dive centre, three-person Triton 1650 submarine finished in La Datcha colours, wave runners, more toys and watercraft, and three large tenders.

On the port side is a Fassmer, custom designed and built rescue boat cum limousine tender of 9.26m. On the starboard outside is an 8.5m Beachlander, and inside a 9.1 m RIB tender, both by Insider

Yachts.

Three wave runners in custom colours supplement an enormous array of other toys and watercraft in the dive centre and beach club aft

La Datcha is designed to deliver 40 days of autonomy at sea thanks to extra-large stores for provisions, laundry, luggage, fuel, waste-water holding tanks and garbage management. There is also a hospital aboard, close to the crew quarters, where the crew gym is located. Having a hospital is a formality required by class, and it has complete quarantine facilities, including its own separate air-conditioning and sewage systems.

Project management for the owner was conducted by Alexander Pizano of Fraser, and charter bookings may be made via Victoria Verhovskaia at agents Edmiston Monaco.

Concludes Pizano: “She is the first purpose-built expedition yacht with a fixed itinerary, a product never seen before in the yachting industry.”
www.damenyachting.com
www.edmiston.com
www.ladatcha.com
www.eyos-expeditions.com

Damen Yachting updates SeaXplorer 77
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Sanlorenzo SX112: ‘Crossover Queen’ coming to HK

Reviews / yachtstyle2020

Sanlorenzo SX112: ‘Crossover Queen’ coming to HK

April 29, 2021
2:15 pm

A big step up from the SX88 and SX76, the new Sanlorenzo SX112 is the flagship of the Italian builder’s iconic crossover series, with the first hull in Asia scheduled to arrive in Hong Kong later this year.

The Sanlorenzo SX112 is the new flagship of the SX range

Sanlorenzo calls its SX series ‘crossover’ yachts because they combine the best features of explorers with the comfort of flybridge yachts. But a visit to the range’s new flagship, the SX112, shows that these yachts bridge more than just vessel types.

Like the SX88 and the SX76 before her, the 33m SX112 offers a ‘no barriers’ experience of life at sea. Bernardo Zuccon of Zuccon International Project has designed the exteriors of the entire SX line and has used no-nonsense, workboat-like features such as vertical bows, forward-slanted glass and long, open aft sections throughout the range. The look is strong, distinctive and modern without being radical.

Bernardo Zuccon designed the exterior of the SX112

While the exteriors of the SX range have a family resemblance that recalls seafaring traditions, the interiors were designed by Piero Lissoni, a man who has been determined to shake up the nautical world’s preconceptions ever since he became Sanlorenzo’s Art Director in 2018.

Lissoni begins his tour of the yacht with an announcement: “I don’t see why a yacht should be a compendium of all things associated with wealth – marbles, hides, exotic woods – because luxury and vulgarity often go hand in hand,” he says.

The large aft cockpit offers an infinity view

“I have asked yacht designers and I asked myself: Why do people who have beautiful homes have such vulgar yachts? I think that the source of this vulgarity more often than not comes from the shipyard architects who seem to think that wealthy owners want splashy materials. I don’t agree with that.”

SPACE IS SANCTUARY

After Lissoni’s words, it’s no surprise to board the yacht and find a space where nothing glitters but

everything shines in its own way. In the saloon, built-in pieces blend discreetly into the yacht’s structure while tatami and natural wood tones offer a subtle backdrop to design icons such as electric-blue Utrecht armchairs by Gerrit Thomas Rietveld and produced by Cassina.

On hull one, the main-deck saloon features designer furnishings

There are also B&B Italia couches, a Poul Kjaerholm PK-80 daybed and Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni’s classic Toio lamps produced by Flos.

“When I design a yacht, I approach it just as I would any other project, aiming to create something functional, comfortable and beautiful,” Lissoni continues. “It used to be that a yacht and everything aboard it had to be made by a yacht designer.

There’s a forward dining area beside an intimate seating area

“Outsiders like me have changed the rules by showing that a yacht can be a floating villa furnished with some of the most beautiful design pieces on the market today. We are modern people living in this day and age. Why not design an interior that reflects that?”

But Lissoni’s bold new approach to yacht interiors goes far beyond furnishings. Entering the yacht, you look straight through an open and airy space accented by a glass-enclosed swirl of a steel staircase that runs to all decks and disguises an engineering feat behind deceptively simple lines.

The spiral staircase is a practical and visual centrepiece

There is a living area aft and a dining area fore. There is no lobby and the bridge area is notably absent. In fact, Lissoni requisitioned the area with the best views from the captain and put it at the disposal of the owners and their guests.

The SX112 only has one helm and it’s on the fly deck. While this arrangement breaks with tradition, it makes for a main saloon that’s flooded with light and immersed in nature.

On the lower deck, Piero Lissoni has turned the spiral staircase into a work of art

Proceeding down the spiralling staircase to the lower deck leads to an alcove where tatami is used extensively, introducing an East/West mixture that represents another crossover on the SX112.

With its neutral colour, interesting texture and inherent soundproofing qualities, tatami is used extensively in the guest cabins that, on this hull, include an owner’s cabin aft and two VIPs.

The headboard in the owner’s cabin is under the large hull window

Walnut and Verde Alpi marble are other recurring materials while the chromed porthole frames are left visible, so the industrial-grade beauty of the yacht’s build technology shows through.

OUTDOOR PLAYGROUND

While it mixes features of flybridge yachts with explorers and blends Eastern vibes with Western icons, the SX112 really crosses over when it blurs the boundaries between indoor and outdoor living. A world opens up when you turn a handle concealed in the panelling of the owner’s cabin and find that it leads directly to the gym, beach lounge and a spectacular aft deck.

The aft lower deck features an interior beach lounge

Much, much more than a swim platform, this 90sqm expanse of free, open space is a private ‘beach’ whose size and airiness increase exponentially when the yacht’s side terraces are opened over the water.

Access to the water is easy, the sense of freedom and space is unlimited, and the owner literally has all of this at his or her fingertips at any time of the day or night. In keeping with his minimalist approach, Lissoni has furnished the SX112’s outdoor spaces with simple, linear pieces that are commercially available.

The enormous outdoor beach club makes the most of its drop-down sides

“In my opinion, everything that’s used aboard a yacht should be commercial because industrial designers are better attuned than nautical designers to how we live today,” he says. “On top of that, commercially available products are made from certified materials that only industries have access to. They can guarantee quality and durability.”

Lissoni paid as much attention to flow through the yacht as he did to its furnishings. The stern deck and the main deck aft connect both physically and philosophically. The stairs are straight and easy to walk up and the space, with loose furniture facing aft, is planned as a continuation of the stern, not as an introduction to the saloon.

The central staircase also leads to the upper deck

From there, it’s another quick hop up to the fly deck with its excellent views. Here, the space under the hardtop can be entirely enclosed to become a kind of cabana with a dining area, bar and the helm station.

LOOKING AHEAD

Much as Lissoni believes that a yacht should feel like a villa, we all know that they are complicated pieces of machinery. But with spaces such as a dining room where the bridge usually is and a gym and beach club where the engine room is often located, it’s hard to imagine where the SX112’s four Volvo IPS engines are tucked away.

The sole helm station is on the upper deck, which offers panoramic views

As it turns out, the engine room is accessed from a hatch on the stern deck and from a small door on the starboard side of the beach club. But even when the yacht’s fast displacement hull is launched at top speed, the pod’s smooth and quiet ride means that you’d barely know they were there.

The SX112 fills the bill for anyone who wants a yacht for living freely, in easy contact with the water and in great style. And Lissoni is looking forward to continuing in his work with Sanlorenzo.

The enclosed section of the upper deck looks out to an expansive aft deck

“I’m attracted by the difficulty of nautical projects, by the challenge of designing something that moves, that exists in nature and that is impacted by it. At the same time, I want to stay an architect first and foremost,” Lissoni says.

“I like being the outsider in the nautical world and I’d really like to convince my insider colleagues to have the guts to change. Look ahead to the future, not back on tradition.” The SX112 is that forward-looking yacht that crosses over boundaries to create a new style of life at sea.

Simpson Marine, under Sanlorenzo Asia, has sold the first unit into the region, which is arriving in Hong Kong by the end of theyear.
www.sanlorenzoyacht.com
www.simpsonmarine.com

Sanlorenzo delivers first 62Steel
Italian builder reveals two units of its new metal superyacht are already sold, with a third under construction.

Fairline finds sweet spot with Squadron 50

Reviews / yachtstyle2020

Fairline finds sweet spot with Squadron 50

April 14, 2021
9:56 pm

The Squadron 50 sits in the ‘sweet spot’ of Fairline’s increasingly wide range, with the quick sale of the first unit in Hong Kong showing the potential of the British builder’s expanded regional partnership with Simpson Marine.

The first Fairline Squadron 50 in Asia looks at home in Repulse Bay

Soon after Simpson Marine’s representation of Fairline Yachts was increased to cover 10 countries and territories within Greater China and Southeast Asia, the regional dealer staged the Asian debut of the Squadron 50 at last year’s Thailand Yacht Show, just four months after the model’s world premiere at the 2019 Southampton International Boat Show.

Not long after, however, the ‘C-word’ started to spread around the region and the globe, with many Southeast Asian yachting markets retracting in the aftermath. It proved an inauspicious start for Fairline’s new relationship with Simpson Marine, but the Squadron 50 eventually arrived in Hong Kong late last year, where it was soon snapped up in the region’s most active yachting hub.

Fairline’s Squadron 50 has a top speed of 31-32 knots depending on the choice of Volvo IPS engines

The model’s quick sale didn’t surprise Fairline, whose range of yachts has spanned in size from the F//Line 33 to the flagship Squadron 68 since those models were also launched in 2019, but which is still dominated by multiple models within the 45-53ft range, the British builder’s heartland.

“The Squadron 50 has proven to be extremely popular, hitting our market’s sweet spot perfectly when it comes to size and features,” says Miles Moorhouse, Fairline’s Head of Marketing.

“It has a combination of large exterior and interior spaces, which means owners can enjoy their boat whatever the weather. It also has an array of options including flexible accommodation, galley up or galley down, and the choice of an aft crew cabin, all of which makes it perfect for customising to owner’s preferences.”

Fairline’s British heritage is emphasised by eye-catching cushions

Simpson Marine had represented the British builder in Hong Kong and the Philippines since June 2018, but in January 2020 the dealer announced its scope had increased to cover both territories plus Taiwan and seven Southeast Asian nations – Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia and Myanmar.

SQUADRON REBOOT

An F//Line 33 and a Squadron 68 have since arrived in Singapore and Hong Kong, respectively. Meanwhile, scheduled deliveries to Hong Kong include a Squadron 53 in April to be followed a couple of months later by a Targa 45 GT, a model that had its world premiere at Boot Dusseldorf in 2020.

Both sit in and around Fairline’s sweet spot, where the Squadron 50 is the first of three new models sharing the same platform, along with the Targa 50’s Open and GT versions. The Fairline Yachts Design Studio is responsible for the design of these new models, which built on the brand’s well-established 48ft selection.

The roomy cockpit has a wide sofa and side gates to the swim platform

The new exterior styling includes an anthracite-coloured hardtop, which instantly differentiates the new 50ft range and provides a visual ‘trick’ to the eye, making for a sleeker, lower profile. “The Squadron 50 is a rebooted version of a classic Fairline, with new sporty accents,” Moorhouse explains.

Unlike Targa sports cruisers, the Squadron 50 offers a flybridge, a popular feature in Hong Kong and much of Asia. The yacht offers a relatively classic set-up, one that gives owners in Asia plenty of teak-laid outdoor areas to enjoy the region’s great weather.

The sheltered aft cockpit has a roomy sofa flanked by side gates that lead to the roomy bathing platform, just two steps down. Up front, the sleek foredeck offers a double sunpad with drinks holders.

The foredeck has a double sunpad and drinks holders

For larger groups, the flybridge is the place to be as it offers seating for at least six on an aft L-shaped sofa around a good-sized table, while the entertainment system provides the soundtrack and meals can be knocked up at the wet bar, which has a barbecue, fridge and sink.

Forward is a double bench seat to starboard and the twin-seat helm station to port, where most of the driving is done, certainly in Hong Kong.

The flybridge is built for entertaining, with plenty of seating and a wet bar

The Squadron 50 has the option of twin Volvo IPS650 or IPS700 engines for a top speed of 31-32 knots, as well as all the associated benefits of IPS such as user-friendly joystick controls, great manoeuvrability and performance, excellent efficiency and low emissions.

COOL INTERIOR

Inside, the tropical-spec air-conditioning has the desired effect in creating a cool interior that acts as a welcome refuge from time in the sun and offers the finish and detailing Fairline is renowned for.

The first unit in Hong Kong features high-gloss walnut joinery and the galley-down layout, so has a starboard sofa by the 32in pop-up TV

The first Hong Kong unit features a galley-down, two-cabin layout, which offers a great saloon with a large C-shaped sofa and adjustable table to port, as well as a starboard sofa that sits in front of the 32in popup TV. Large windows all around ensure the interior is well lit, although views are frustrated by the horizontal strips running along the middle of each side window.

All the seating features elegant white upholstery, while there are numerous other choices among Fairline’s four interior décor themes: St Tropez, Capri, Amalfi and Hamptons.

The forward part of the interior is raised and features the helm station to starboard and a companion seating area to port

The muted oak flooring contrasts with the high-gloss walnut joinery, as seen on the starboard cabinet and the raised forward area, where the helm station features the twin helm seats and the steering wheel in Italian leather.

To port, there’s a cosy L-shaped sofa with an elegant coffee table and nice views through the windscreen, as well as down the stairs to the galley and lower saloon to starboard, an area that can instead be used for a third cabin if specified. However, for owners who prefer more entertaining and dining areas, and only need two cabins for a family or two couples, this is an ideal layout.

The helm seats are finished in Italian leather

The lower saloon has an L-shaped sofa and adjustable table that makes a nice setting for breakfast or for indoor dining when it’s too cold or wet outside, while there’s also a 22-inch TV. The facing galley is well equipped with a Carrara white marble worktop, an oven, grill and hobs, as well as cupboards, eye-level lockers and a large fridge/freezer all finished in high-gloss walnut.

Forward is the VIP with sliding scissor berths, which has private access to a starboard bathroom that also doubles as the day head.

The raised corner lounge has good views, including down to the galley and lower saloon

Midships is the full-beam master cabin, which has a forward-facing bed and masses of drawers on each side, although there’s the option of a sofa to starboard by the ensuite bathroom. Both bedrooms feature New Zealand wool twist carpeting.

“The interior offers multiple spaces for modern entertaining, all featuring the handcrafted woodwork, luxurious touches and attention to detail Fairline is renowned for,” Moorhouse says.

Showing the atmospheric lighting to good effect, the lower saloon provides a nice area for breakfast and an indoor dining option

Having worked for the brand from 2008-2012 and re-joined in early 2016, Moorhouse is among Fairline’s longer-serving managers and sees a strong future for the brand in the region as Asia’s largest yacht dealership begins its second year overseeing its enlarged remit.

“The expansion of Simpson Marine’s coverage across the region delivers significant advantages for both Fairline and customers. Working in partnership with us, Simpson Marine has showcased its experience and knowledge of the region to match the right Fairline product to the customer’s exact boating requirements. The company’s extensive aftersales coverage then ensures owners are looked after efficiently and professionally,” he says.

The full-beam master suite is midships and features extensive drawer space on both sides, although a sofa can be fitted to starboard

“There is now a steady flow of exciting new Fairline motor yachts arriving in Asia, particularly in Singapore and Hong Kong, so we look forward to this continuing as regional travel restrictions lift and we begin to enter a post-Covid world.”
www.fairline.com
www.simpsonmarine.com

PREMIUM PACK

The Squadron 50 is available with Fairline’s first Premium Pack, a turnkey solution that offers owners an easy route to go boating. Highlights include high-capacity air-conditioning, Onan 11Kw generator, a submersible bathing platform with 400kg lifting capacity, Sleipner bow thruster, 21kg Ultra anchor with 50m stainless steel chain, Fusion entertainment system with Bluetooth connectivity, teak-laid flybridge floor, 12in Volvo GPS Map 8612 touchscreen display, blue exterior mood lighting, and wet bar complete with griddle, fridge, icemaker and sink.

Lavish launch of new Fairline in HK
Highlights include high tea and champagne served by The Peninsula..

Sunseeker Manhattan 55 leads ‘Famous Five’ to Asia

Reviews / yachtstyle2020

Sunseeker Manhattan 55 leads ‘Famous Five’ to Asia

April 1, 2021
1:53 pm

The first of Sunseeker’s ‘Famous Five’ new models to be sold in Asia, the Manhattan 55 features a refined exterior along with a sophisticated interior styling and detailing that reflects the upgraded look and feel of the British builder’s new generation of yachts.

Sunseeker’s new Manhattan 55 on the run in San Diego, California

Sunseeker is swinging back into the yachting world’s spotlight with not one but five new models showcasing this spring. As per the new normal, the global premieres will be held online and will be supplemented with Asia-specific presentations reflecting the British builder’s new-look regional network, which includes NextWave as its distributor in the key market of Hong Kong.

In Poole, Sunseeker’s home base since the 1960s, the first units of each of the five new models have been in the water for a head-spinning mix of final fitouts, fine-tuning, testing, sea trials, video and photo shoots, and client visits.

The Manhattan 55 reaches 32 knots with twin 800hp Volvo Penta engines

Not only is Sunseeker simultaneously orchestrating five global debuts while most shipyards typically release one or two new models a year, but the builder’s new models are notably varied. They span in size and range from the Manhattan 55, Predator 55 EVO™ and 65 Sport Yacht to the immense 88 Yacht and 90 Ocean, the latter the builder’s most exciting new model of recent times.

The new Predator recently appeared at the Palm Beach International Boat Show, yet the first of the ‘Famous Five’ models out of the blocks was the Manhattan 55, which already has units as far as the US – the exterior photographs seen here are from California – and at least two orders from Asia.

Already, the 55 is following the success of its big sister, the Manhattan 68 that debuted last year and has at least four orders in this region.

Shown with the hardtop option, the Manhattan 55 has received multiple orders in Asia

“We’re delighted with the initial demand for the Manhattan 55 as owners and prospects are seeing the same advancements we made on the Manhattan 68,” said Douglas Culverwell, Sunseeker International’s Director of Distributor Development. “We expect many more sales across Asia and the rest of the world for the Manhattan 55 and other models among the ‘Famous Five’.”

As well as sharing the 68’s popularity, the 55 also features the same interior styling as its big sister. It’s part of a complete upgrade in interior design, décor and detailing that Sunseeker has incorporated in all new models since the Predator 60 EVO™ premiered in September 2019, reflecting the design influence of CEO Andrea Frabetti, who earlier that year became the first Italian to head the yard.

Structurally, the Manhattan 55 builds on the platform of the hugely popular Manhattan 52, although it’s quicker than Sunseeker’s fastest-selling model, reaching 32 knots with two Volvo Penta D13-800 engines.

The Manhattan 55 succeeds the popular Manhattan 52, which sold over 130 units including many to Asia

Subtle exterior upgrades include a second, thinner stainless-steel bowrail around the yacht that’s stronger, safer and more elegant than the guard wire it replaced. Aft, the air-intakes have been upgraded from composite to a lighter carbon-fibre weave, its dark offset matching the hull glazing.

AFT, FORE AND FLY

The yacht’s fun features start by the water, where the full-beam hydraulic platform offers access to a treasure chest of compartments as part of Sunseeker’s popular Beach Club package. The drop-down barbecue is a winner and benefits from being well clear of any interior spaces, in case you slightly burn the steaks.

When it’s play time, a wide beach seat folds down to let you watch the kids, rest after a swim or put on or pull off flippers with a lot more grace than if you were standing up. To starboard is a pull-up door, which doubles as an overhead shower along with providing access to a good-sized storage locker for anything from ropes and fenders to towels and toys.

The Beach Club package includes a barbecue, bench seat and overhead shower

To port is the door to the optional crew cabin with ensuite and space for a washer-dryer. Alternatively, this aft space can be used as a storage room. Heading up three steps and through the lift-up side gates brings you to the cockpit, which has a big C-shaped sofa and a foldout teak table.

Useful details include a small locker for lines by the cleat and optional capstan on each side. To port there’s a chest-height locker for a third helm station, where a Xenta joystick and other controls can be fitted.

The side decks lead to the foredeck, a relaxing area that combines a sofa with two loungers around a high-low table. It’s an ideal area for sunbathing, reading or intimate gatherings in the evening, when the built-in lighting and sound system can set the mood.

Aft view of the flybridge which has multiple social areas and a wet bar

The flybridge is accessed from the cockpit by a starboard stairway that’s topped by a see-through hatch, which shields the rain and even acts as a type of safety net in the case of accidental falls at the top of the steps. The stairs come out by the twin-seat, twin-screen helm station, where a wireless phone charger is among useful features.

Aft is a huge C-shaped sofa aft that comfortably fits six or more around a foldable table. Add a couple of loose chairs and you can have up to eight dining al fresco, which is made more appetising by the barbecue option in the portside wet bar. Below the seats are fitted speakers for an AV system that can play the same or different music to that in the foredeck or saloon.

Forward of the wet bar is a C-shaped sofa and a coffee table, although the best views are offered in front by the full-width sunlounger, which has convenient backrests on both sides. Shelter options include a foldable bimini or a hardtop with a sliding sunroof and which can also fit a bimini extension aft.

NEW MANHATTAN STYLE

Back on the main deck, the cockpit’s seamless connection to the galley and saloon is one of the highlights of the Manhattan 55. You only need to open the starboard cockpit door then watch as the galley ‘window’ automatically slides down at the push of a button, to see the interior open to the outside and create a huge communal area.

Once the galley window is lowered, a fold-out countertop makes an attractive bar

Furthermore, fold out the bar counter and you’ve got a solid reason to perch on the cockpit bar stools (optional) and relax with drinks and snacks.

Look inside and you’ll soon notice the showpiece ceiling, where LED lighting runs along perpendicular and diagonal lines and panels, as seen on the Manhattan 68. The overhead lighting is supplemented throughout the main deck and cabins by elegant wall lamps, also seen on the bigger model.

Almost disguised beneath the height of the bar and the raised saloon, the aft galley is a wonderment of design. Step inside and to the left and you’re surrounded on all four sides by surfaces and storage, both of which you can never have enough of in a kitchen.

The comprehensive galley is surrounded by storage and work surfaces

By the port window is a Miele oven and four-hob induction burner plus a double sink, while above is a wide bank of head-height cupboards plus extractor fan. Aft is a large prep area above an optional dishwasher, while forward is an elegant storage area for cups, crockery and glassware, lit from within.

Head back into the ‘hallway’ and the treats continue with a wine cooler and full set of drawers. As an option, this forward section of the L-shaped bar top can also remain open underneath to store two loose galley bar stools that turn the area into a breakfast counter.

To starboard, Sunseeker has designed a full-height corner unit with shelving, enclosed storage and more power points – coffee machine, anyone? Under the countertop are two large refrigerator drawers, plus there’s the option of an extra cabinet forward featuring another two fridge/ freezer drawers topped by an elegant serving area.

Up two steps from the aft galley, the saloon features a three-sided sofa facing an enormous 55in TV

Two steps up bring you to the saloon, where the large, three-sided sofa can comfortably sit six people and a designer table replicates the angular detailing of the ceiling. To starboard is a side cabinet with a huge, 55in TV and surround-sound system, while there’s also an ottoman that can be used for storage and moved to the starboard side of the table to complete a full dining set-up.

“Like the Manhattan 68, the 55 features elegant, sophisticated interior styling, yet which is clearly distinctive, for example, from the curvy, sporty interior of new Predators,” says Culverwell. “The detailing in both ranges has gone to another level in these new models.”

The helm station is up a step and features a leather bench seat with adjustable bolster and multi-functional steering wheel. The console has the option of two touch-screen Simrad displays, plus wireless charging, USB ports and a display for Sunseeker’s Cm8, which manages and monitors a range of systems from power, fuel, tanks and engine data to lighting, air-conditioning, AV and more.

CABINS AND STORAGE

Down the stairs and it’s straight ahead to the VIP cabin, which benefits from light through side windows and a deck hatch. There’s overhead storage, hanging cupboards and drawers on both sides, as well as ensuite access to the portside bathroom that doubles as the day head, shared with the twin cabin to starboard.

The master suite pictured features a dinette to starboard

The master suite is back down a couple of steps to midships, where this full-beam stateroom stands as another example of the huge upgrade in styling, décor and detailing that personifies the new Manhattans.

The entrance lobby brings you first to the ensuite bathroom to port, then it’s another step down to the bedroom, which benefits from great headroom and large windows either side. The bed faces a huge TV and soundbar, while beside them is a cabinet topped by elegant shelves with recessed lighting, ideal for books and other display items.

There’s storage all around, from the full-height cupboard on starboard to the huge cabinet that occupies the port side of the room and is packed with drawers, shelving and cupboards. Add in the bedside cabinets and there’s a place for everything.

In the master suite, starboard options include a dinette (pictured), sofa, chaise longue or the same cabinet as on port side

There’s room for even more storage, if you wish, as the space under the starboard window is offered in several arrangements including a mirror of the portside storage cabinet, a sofa, a dinette or a chaise longue, the latter three all including some storage below.

“The Manhattan 55 has taken a proven layout and really stepped it up another level in terms of practicality, finish and detailing, right throughout the yacht,” Culverwell says. “I can’t wait to see the first yachts arrive in Asia so people can hopefully see for themselves.”
www.sunseeker.com
www.sunseekerhk.com

Four Sunseeker Manhattan 68s for Asia
The first Sunseeker Manhattan 68 in Asia will soon arrive in Thailand before further hulls head for Singapore and Hong Kong.

Benetti Oasis 40M: Superyacht Sensation

Reviews / yachtstyle2020

Benetti Oasis 40M: Superyacht Sensation

February 24, 2021
7:35 pm

Boasting double-digit sales around the world including orders in Asia, the popular Oasis 40M is the first model in Benetti’s exciting new range dedicated to spectacular outdoor living.

By Clare Mahon

Rebeca is the first Oasis 40M

The first unit in Benetti’s Oasis 40M line, Rebeca, is an open invitation to step in. Into the water, into the yacht or into a casual, relaxed lifestyle that couldn’t be more inviting.

Sensing there was a need for a different approach to on board living, Benetti contacted British design studio RWD and New York-based Bonetti/Kozerski Architecture with a brief that called for a yacht that would be open to the sea.

While RWD worked on the overall concept, exterior lines and layout, Bonetti/Kozerski began to plan the interiors with Benetti’s Interior Style Department, as the Azimut-Benetti Group handled naval architecture.

UK-based RWD worked on the overall concept, exterior lines and layout

The resulting yacht, the Oasis 40M, reflects a new take on an oceangoing lifestyle, one that’s dynamic, informal and elegant, and allows everyone on board to live life on the water to the full.

The exterior design that RWD created may have surpassed Benetti’s wildest dreams. Not only is the yacht open to the sea but it also literally opens onto the sea. It’s no surprise that a section opens out from the transom to become a swimming platform but side sections also fold down to make the entire aft deck a huge terrace on the water.

As the focal point of on-board life, the area is much more than a beach club – it’s an entire beach. When the whole area is open, the beam jumps from 8m to 11m and the entire area offers about 60sqm of waterfront living.

The beam expands to 11m with the fold-down sides

There are just a couple of steps up from the swim platform to the main beach platform, which features the glass-backed infinity pool, an adjustable sun lounger and an aft-facing C-shaped couch and table. There’s space for sunchairs on both sides and movement through the space is free and unencumbered.

NEW LIFESTYLE FOCUS

There are another couple of steps up to the main deck, where RWD avoided including an outdoor staircase to the upper deck, as is usually the case. The consequent feeling is of unlimited, boundary-free space. Curved glass doors open wide and welcome you to the main saloon, which seems more like a garden pavilion than an indoor space.

The swimming pool is a hub of the beach club

However, as architect Enrico Bonetti explains, the design objective wasn’t so much for a wow effect but to introduce a lifestyle of understated elegance and relaxation.

“Imagine a couple stepping aboard this yacht. He’s wearing beautifully made linen pants, a button-down shirt and excellent quality leather shoes, but without socks. She’s wearing a summer linen dress and sandals with low heels. Her hair is loose on her shoulders,” Bonetti says, describing the type of people he was designing for.

“They’re tanned, fit and clearly love the outdoors. Only if you look closely will you notice that he is wearing a priceless vintage watch and she has a very beautiful ring. These are the owners we imagined for the Oasis 40M.”

The beach club links seamlessly to the open interior

The owners Bonetti visualised for the Oasis 40 want a yacht that reflects their casual yet sophisticated lifestyle while remaining informal and comfortable. They are active so they want excellent access to the water, a gym and maybe even a wellness area.

More than sunbathing, they’re interested in enjoying the company they’re with and experiencing the places they travel to. Sure of themselves and of the quality of their lives, they don’t need to impress but they do want to enjoy.

LIGHT AND NATURAL

RWD’s design incorporates lots of glass so the interior is flooded with light and the view to the sea is always close. Blurring the boundaries between spaces, teak is used on the floors indoors and out. Bonetti/Kozerski used light colours in the interior but most notable is the absence of bling.

Teak flooring links the aft deck with the circular-themed saloon

The architects used leather instead of suede, stone instead of marble, and simple cotton and linen weaves in natural colours instead of velvets and damasks. These materials speak softly of quality and durability, transmitting an overall sense of self-assured calm.

The living area of the main saloon has a circular theme, evident in curved glass doors that open wide to the aft deck, curved couches and a round light source in the ceiling whose gilded backing glows like a sun.

The dining area benefits from full-height windows on either side

Forward, the dining area is flanked by floor-to-ceiling windows in a single, large pane of glass, while a small area preceding the lobby can be used as a study, gym or wellness space.

The full-beam owner’s cabin is also on the main deck and has the aft-facing bed to port. The entire starboard side is a private living area with a couch and armchairs. Moving fore, a large walk-in closet precedes the full-beam bathroom where a central shower divides the space into his and hers areas.

The full-beam, main-deck owner’s suite has an aft-facing bed to port by a huge window

The panelling throughout the suite is in rosewood and details are in brushed brass, but the real luxury is in the details that you perceive but might not even notice at first glance. As an example, the ceiling is lined in finely worked Foglizzo leather for a subtly beautiful effect that also has the practical bonus of soundproofing.

Leather also lines the treads of the stairs that lead down to the four guest cabins on the lower deck where the colour tones and level of finishing echo the master cabin except that brushed steel is used for accents instead of brushed brass.

The owner’s suite has a full lounge to starboard (above) and walk-in closet and bathroom forward (below)

UPPER DECKS

Guests can reach the upper deck via the lobby staircase or another staircase discreetly tucked away by the side passage. They can access the sundeck by a staircase enclosed on the starboard side of the upper deck. In a welcome change from the usual layout, there are no exterior stairways cluttering the aft and upper decks, so the outdoor areas are totally open and free.

The upper-deck skylounge has an L-shaped couch and stools to port, while on the starboard side is a bar and a large dining table by the long window. Aft, sliding glass doors tuck to the side to open the whole interior to the aft outdoor area, where there are relaxing sofas and plants to emphasise the connections with nature.

The upper deck has a skylounge with a large sofa, bar and dining table, plus an open aft deck with sofas

However, the real showstopper on the upper deck is the bridge. In keeping with the Oasis 40M’s dynamic and informal outlook on yachting, it was designed for use by both the owners and their crew. In an unusual layout, a central helm seat is flanked by Seastema integrated interface panels. The wheel feels quite small but it’s easy to use.

Adrian Chisnell, RWD’s Team Principal, explains: “We designed these yachts for an active, engaged owner who wants to be part of their yacht’s operation and who really wants to experience the areas that the yacht cruises to.

RWD designed the bridge for use by both the owner and Captain

“Since the Oasis 40M has an integrated navigation system, we’ve made the bridge an area where crew and guests can discuss plans for the day then enjoy participating in the yacht’s operation.”

An owner of the Oasis 40M could easily sit down in the beautiful leather helm chair and enjoy the thrill of commanding his or her yacht via the Seastema integrated interface while chatting comfortably with guests and crew.

On the upper deck, the foredeck offers another great outdoor area

“Guests really interact with their crew and do it differently than they would have even just a few years ago,” Chisnell continues.

“Now, often you have a crewmember who is also a water sports or yoga instructor, so they really spend some quality time with guests. This blurring of lines between crew and guest areas means that guest spaces increase, boundaries are less distinct, and all of the yacht is available.”

The sundeck includes a jacuzzi forward and covered dining area

Speaking of which, if all the yacht is available and the entire aft deck by the water is dedicated to living by the sea, where is storage for the tender and toys?

For that, RWD designed side-opening hatches that give access to a garage large enough for a 6m tender or for a smaller tender plus a jetski. That way, enjoyment of the aft-deck area can continue undisturbed, even if someone wants to run back to land to go shopping.

The aft sundeck has a long bar table with stools, bar and grill

With head-turning good looks while cruising and show-stopping features while at anchor, Benetti’s new Oasis 40M looks to be a yacht that will go beyond meeting a new set of needs to create a whole new set of seafaring expectations.

Rebeca was first shown to the public at the Genoa International Boat Show last October and by November a dozen units had been sold including four to the Asia-Pacific, confirming Benetti’s new series has hit a market sweet spot. If other owners want to enjoy this Oasis, they’d better move quickly.
www.benettiyachts.it

Sustainability: Motor Yacht Builders – Azimut-Benetti
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