Reviews

Dufour delivers again with new 37

Reviews / yachtstyle2020

Dufour delivers again with new 37

August 3, 2023
3:29 pm

Sometimes big things come in small packages as shown by the voluminous Dufour 37, with the French builder’s popular new model securing multiple sales in Asia.
Words: Zuzana Prochazka
Photos: Dufour

The 37 is among Dufour’s newest models with the 41 and flagship 61

Historically, cruising sailboats have been evaluated on two basic aspects – comfort and performance. If the builder dials in just one of these, the new model will likely sell well, but when they nail both, the sales orders really fly. That seems to be the case with Dufour and its new 37, a small boat with a big attitude that serves up fast sailing as well as easy onboard living.

When counting the Dufour 41 that premieres at this year’s Cannes Yachting Festival, the La Rochelle shipyard now has nine models in a series spanning 32-61ft, with the Dufour 37 sliding in above the brand’s 32ft entry model.

ALL-NEW DESIGN

Weighing in at close to seven tonnes, the 37 replaces the previous 360 with a completely new hull that’s just 33ft long, although including the bow sprit gives an overall length of 35ft 4in. Rounding up LOA numbers isn’t a new strategy for Dufour, but there are features that make this compact design seem much larger than her specs suggest.

The 37 is available in Easy, Ocean or Performance editions

Offered with two or three cabins, the Dufour 37 is beamier than the previous 360 and carries that width nearly all the way to the transom, which drops down manually to form a small swim platform.

Fuller sections forward increase her buoyancy as well as her interior volume. For improved performance, the forefoot has been made deeper to reduce pounding into head seas. The fractional Z-Spar rig was moved aft a foot to increase the size of the fore triangle and the headsail, also to reduce hobby-horsing.

The foredeck can be fitted with a sunpad for a secluded lounging area

The rig is also taller than her predecessor’s, with a higher aspect ratio and an additional 20sqft of sail area. A self-tacking jib is standard, but you can opt for a 108% overlapping headsail and tracks. When the jib is combined with the optional downwind screecher on a furler, you have just about the perfect sail plan for any wind direction and sea state.

Twin wheels on angled pedestals open the cockpit and command a single spade rudder, as is standard for Umberto Felci designs. Below the waterline is a 6ft 3in L-shaped fin keel with a bulb. That’s relatively deep for a boat of this size and it helps her point well.

PERFORMANCE

In our sea trial, hull two performed well on flat water in 9-12 knots of true breeze. In nine knots of wind, we sailed 6.5 knots on a beam reach, then inched up to 35 degrees apparent wind angle (AWA) where we still held on to 6.2 knots of speed.

The cockpit’s foldout table offers a lovely place for alfresco dining

The self-tacking jib makes it almost too easy, even when sailing short-handed, while the top/down gennaker gave us a boost in speed that we carried up to 70 degrees AWA.

In light gusts we stayed fairly upright, as the boat leaned on her hard chine to a maximum of only 18 degrees of heel. The helm was light and responsive, and we had to take care not to over-tack and leave S-turns in our wake.

A plancha grill and sink are below the aft bench seat

We came away from the sea trial pleasantly surprised by this little speedster. She tracked well, made good progress even in a light breeze, and although quick and agile, she never felt out-of-control or tender and that helps build confidence in all who take her helm.

ONBOARD COMFORT

As mentioned, this is a yacht that nails both performance and comfort. The cockpit is massive for a boat in this class, with a generous folding table and good handholds. Dufour’s trademark Eno plancha grill and sink have been incorporated into the transom to mimic her bigger siblings. There’s even space in the bow for a fitted double sunpad.

The transom shown in barbecue mode

Below deck, the boat looks deceptively long and wide, and that makes a great first impression from the foot of the companionway. A compact L-shaped galley is to port and has a double sink, two-burner stove, microwave and top loading refrigerator. Integrated wine bottle storage, a Dufour signature, is below the cabin sole as usual.

There’s one bathroom, to starboard, although its size and configuration depend on whether two or three cabins are chosen.

Forward view of the galley, sofas, foldable table and master suite in the bow

Four people can gather for a meal around the enormous drop-leaf dining table and an inflatable cushion may be tucked in at the settee to form an additional double berth. Light wood finishes and fabrics make the interior seem bright and inviting rather than buried in the hull and cramped.

You can really see the increased volume in the forward master stateroom, where two can now sleep with their heads forward instead of having to U-turn in the bed before tucking in for the night. The three-cabin layout has two aft guest cabins with aft-facing double beds.

Port view of the saloon showing overhead storage and windows

With the two-cabin layout, the aft guest cabin to port has a large inward-facing bed, while there’s space for provisions, tools and luggage in the aft starboard corner, a room also accessible via the opening cockpit bench above. Another benefit of the two-cabin layout is that the head becomes larger and a small navigation desk is added to the aft end of the saloon’s starboard sofa.

OPTIONS & IMPRESSIONS

The Dufour 37 is available in three versions or ‘packs’. The basics in the Easy Pack are a good starting point, but you may want to step up to the Ocean version for a more traditional layout or Performance for racing, where you get extra equipment like additional winches for easier line handling and an adjustable backstay.

Aft view of the galley, companionway and guest cabins

Standard propulsion is provided by an 18hp engine, although on our test boat we enjoyed the extra power of the upgraded 30hp Volvo Penta diesel that pushed us along easily at 6.5 knots at 2,100 rpm.

We topped out at 7.8 knots and 3,100 rpm, but that last knot is hard-won and guzzles diesel without great payback. An optional Side-Power bow thruster is available and can help new boaters really stick the landing.

The transom can be lowered to form a small swim platform

The Dufour 37 delivers greater comfort, more usable space and better sailing performance than her predecessor. As far as ‘improvement over time’ is concerned, Dufour got it right.

www.dufour-yachts.com

Prestige M8 offers home on the water

Reviews / yachtstyle2020

Prestige M8 offers home on the water

July 27, 2023
3:18 pm

The new flagship of Prestige’s M-Line of multihull motor yachts and a world premiere at this year’s Cannes Yachting Festival, the M8 takes luxury real estate on the water to a new level.
Words: Clare Mahon
Photos: Prestige

The M8 can reach 20 knots and cruise at 15 knots with twin Volvo Penta D8-600 engines

If luxury real estate could float, it would look and feel like the Prestige M8, the new 65ft flagship of the French shipyard’s M-Line of multihull motor yachts. Big-city life lived large is the first thing you think when boarding, such is the space and the glam that surrounds you. Or imagine a gleaming penthouse crossed with an ultra-exclusive beach club.

Only aboard a multihull motor yacht like the M8 can you mix polished chrome and wide-open views with an easy-going pieds dans l’eau lifestyle. This floating home away from home might leave you thinking that you never want to go back to your house again.

The yacht has beam of 29ft and an Opacmare transformer central platform

A quick look at the numbers can explain the feeling of space and solidity you get when you board the M8, which was designed by longtime Prestige collaborator Camillo Garroni – also behind the M48 – and features naval architecture by Marc Lombard.

Start with an LOA of 19.82m and combine it with a beam of 8.85m (29ft), and you get plenty of length and width, which equals lots of floor space and a steady ride, a perfect combination for old salts and land lubbers alike.

OUTDOOR ZONES

Boarding the M8 is as easy as stepping out of a door and into a different dimension. You feel suspended somewhere between the air and the sea in a space where an abundance of glass and reflective surfaces can almost leave you wondering where you’ve landed.

The wide aft platform can be raised to extend the aft cockpit

The Opacmare transformer central platform can be raised to extend the floor space in the aft cockpit and create a suspended balcony over the sea.

Lower it at the push of a button and it becomes the central section of the beach platform, an ideal spot for sunning, launching toys or even storing the tender. Lower it even further into the water and it makes swimming and retrieving toys a breeze.

The cockpit, which owners can furnish with loose pieces as they please, is separated from the saloon by sliding glass doors. Railings and transom gates are also glass and there are glass inserts in the fashion plates.

The flybridge can be set up with dining to port and a lounging area to starboard

Everything is slender, glittering and visually barely there, yet you sense solidity and security underfoot. It’s an ideal combination when at sea. The temptation is to swarm all over the boat, up the stairs to the fly, down the side passages to the foredeck, because everything is easily available and well connected. And there’s no shortage of space for conviviality and relaxation.

Accessed by stairs on the port side of the cockpit or a gorgeous see-through staircase on the starboard side of the saloon, the large flybridge has a wet bar and outdoor kitchen, and the main helm station. Guests can choose to set up a port dining area and a starboard lounge under the hard top, and can furnish the aft end entirely as they please.

With its height and views, the flybridge is usually like the icing on the cake of a yacht, but aboard the M8 the foredeck is the top spot – even if it isn’t literally so.

The stunning foredeck has a wide sunbathing area and an innovative sunken bow area, with seating on all four sides

Designed on two levels, the foredeck’s social areas start with a very wide sun pad under the saloon windscreen and a truly fabulous aft-facing, C-shaped couch sunk into the bow, with a smaller sofa opposite.

Sitting there, cruising along with only air between you and the sea, is wonderfully relaxing and truly satisfying in a way that only feeling like the master of your little universe can be.

SENSATIONAL SALOON

Back to the stern and a centrally placed bar is a buffer area that serves both the cockpit and the saloon, another expansive, open space that owners can set up as they chose.

Forward view of the saloon, which starts with a full-width lounge

While the first hull in the M8 series has the galley fore and starboard in the saloon with a small helm station next to it, owners can also opt to leave this corner zone as an ‘all play’ area and have the galley below, towards the aft of the starboard hull.

Either way, the saloon is truly vast, with expansive glazing and slender, open structural elements that subtly define the different areas while leaving views and visual lines free and open.

Port view of the dining table and owner’s-suite stairs

Decorated by Valentina Militerno de Romedis with loose furnishings by Pininfarina, the interiors are bright, serene and functional, with sliding side doors increasing the indoor-outdoor feeling.

Forward, a central staircase leads from the saloon down to the full-beam owner’s cabin, a 35sqm (380sqft) suite that comes complete with a double bed, an en-suite bathroom and walk-in wardrobe to port, and a study and relaxation area to starboard.

The centrally placed bed is laid sideways to the centreline, facing the starboard hull windows, an unusual arrangement that only this cat’s extreme stability makes feasible.

Aft view of the saloon, showing the aft bar that can be shared by guests in the cockpit

On either side of the saloon, staircases lead down into the hulls. Owners can choose between a variety of layouts and guest sleeping arrangements, such as with or without a galley, a TV room, an extra crew cabin or a VIP suite instead of two guest cabins to port.

Regardless of the chosen configuration, the spacious full-beam owner’s suite forward is a constant as are two crew cabins fully fore, accessed via hatches in the bow.

While the Prestige team chose space and volume over speed when designing the M8, the boat’s performance in terms of efficiency and ease of use is very respectable. Equipped with twin Volvo Penta D8-600 IPS engines, the boat has a top speed of close to 20 knots, a range of about 350nm at a cruising speed of 15 knots and turns on a dime.

Port view of the full-beam owner’s suite, where the bed faces the starboard windows

Special attention was paid to soundproofing these already relatively quiet engines, while an efficient thermodynamic air-conditioning system keeps emissions to a minimum. With a set-up like this, you can enjoy tootling around in comfort and safety, taking all the comforts of home with you yet leaving behind things like heeling and seasickness.

Furthermore, the M8 is also available in a ‘silent’ version, with solar panels and lithium battery bank, and this model is scheduled to appear at this year’s Cannes Yachting Festival.

The working and living area on the starboard side, where the sofa faces a TV on an aft bulkhead

If you find yourself looking fondly at the M8 over your shoulder once you step back on land, you’ll see that the Garroni-designed exteriors recall the Prestige look while avoiding that certain visual clumsiness that plagues so many catamaran designs. And recalling your time aboard, you may well find yourself standing on the ground but walking on air.

www.prestige-yachts.com

www.asiayachting.net

Riva’s super Sportfly shines in Hong Kong

Reviews / yachtstyle2020

Riva’s super Sportfly shines in Hong Kong

July 20, 2023
1:44 pm

Asia-Pacific’s first 76’ Perseo Super arrived in Hong Kong ahead of the summer boating season, with the 37-knot Sportfly soon impressing onlookers and guests including Ferrari owners.
Words: Andrew Dembina
Photos: Ferretti Group

Asia’s first Perseo Super has twin 1,800hp MAN V12 engines for a top speed of 37 knots

Riva’s streamline 76’ Perseo Super made her Asia-Pacific bow in Hong Kong in June and was quickly photographed and videoed cruising through Hong Kong harbour and around Repulse Bay.

With Ferretti Group Asia Pacific bringing in the stock model ahead of the city’s summer boating season, Yacht Style was given a tour of the newly arrived 76ft Sportfly yacht, which remarkably is hull number 28 of the Perseo Super line.

The upgraded ‘Super’ edition premiered at the Cannes Yachting Festival in 2021 and was always going to be a winner, building on what was already a hugely popular model. The original 76’ Perseo debuted in 2015 and quickly captured the imagination of high-end motor-yacht owners, due to its stylish good looks and impressive performance and handling – as have its Sportfly siblings, the 66’ Ribelle and 88’ Folgore.

The Riva 76’ Perseo Super looks at home in Hong Kong

In the Asia-Pacific region, the original 76’ Perseo was sold to owners in Japan, Singapore, Thailand and Hong Kong, to name a few, and was another successful collaboration between Officina Italiana Design co-founder Mauro Micheli and Ferretti Group’s Product Strategy Committee led by Piero Ferrari and its Engineering Department.

Changes on the Super version include an interior upgrade to incorporate high-gloss rosewood surfaces, which was introduced as standard on the Riva 110’ Dolcevita unveiled in 2018. The rosewood makes a strong impression when walking aboard, alongside matt black sole leather panels, surfaces and detailing. New refinements include grand, sweeping curved exterior lines.

Engine options comprise twin 1,550hp or 1,800hp MAN V12s, with the hull in Hong Kong fitted with the upgraded versions, which provide a top speed of 37 knots and a cruising speed of 32 knots with a 315nm range.

Pictured in Repulse Bay, the yacht shows off her Shark Grey hull and superstructure

The Perseo Super is fitted with automatic Humphree dynamic trim interceptors as standard, while options included on the Asia-Pacific debutant include a 19kW second generator and a Seakeeper 18 gyro stabiliser. And it’s no surprise to see the inclusion of ‘super-tropical’ air-conditioning.

Another good choice is the metallic Shark Grey-painted hull and superstructure, which contrasts well with the polished stainless steel and high-gloss mahogany exterior details and trim.

LOUNGING IN STYLE

Boarding from the marine-teak hi-lo swim platform, it’s a few steps up to the expansive cockpit, which makes the most of the yacht’s almost 19ft beam. The area starts with a C-shaped sofa around a natural teak-topped riser table that can descend low enough to be covered with cushions to transform the settee into a large sun pad. Options include a drawer refrigerator under the sofa.

The aft cockpit’s C-shaped aft sofa can convert into a sunpad (below)

Forward to starboard is an L-shaped sofa, although Riva also offers this sheltered area as a bar with Corian countertop, fridge, icemaker and sink. Adjacent to the portside stairway to the flybridge is a compact third control panel station with a clear view, useful during tight manoeuvres in marinas.

The open design of the sportsbridge maintains the Perseo’s low-slung, sporty profile. The compact fly starts aft with a triple island sunpad that’s fronted by a forward-facing sofa. Further forward are aft facing chaise longues that can also double as companion seating either side of the central, single seat helm, which includes two Simrad screens and an aft-facing seat behind the skipper.

The foredeck has a seating area and sunpad, while the sportfly has chaise longues and island sunpad

A low windshield provides protection for the skipper and guests, while carbon-fibre detailing includes grab rails and the poles used to support a soft UV-protected awning, when needed.

On the main level, the foredeck provides a roomy outdoor zone and starts with an inset seating area fitted with audio speakers, while forward is a large, triple sun pad. A bimini can be erected to provide shade, while an unobtrusive anchor locker lies beneath teak decking in the bow.

ROSEWOOD INTERIOR

Heading inside, the transition from aft cockpit to saloon flows especially easily, as the door slides under the cockpit stairs and the starboard window opens fully, combining to almost open the entrance completely. The main lounge to starboard is dominated by a long L-shaped sofa, while the saloon offers a great feeling of space during the daytime due to the large, low-reaching windows on both sides.

The saloon features a long L-shaped sofa to starboard and another by the dining table

Light grey-coloured seating, table and counter surfaces also help distribute saloon lighting, as well as appearing as an elegant neutral background tone. A dining area that can seat up to eight to port combines L-shaped booth seating with freestanding chairs. Above this is a dropped ceiling with integrated audio speakers.

To starboard is the twin-seat helm, which can benefit from fresh air via a skylight that opens at the press of a button. Three touchscreen Simrad monitors and controls sit below a large windscreen, while a premium internet package onboard allows reliable wi-fi everywhere.

The twin-seat helm station

Forward stairs lead to the lower deck. To starboard is the galley, which is finished in black gloss rosewood and features white surfaces with chrome finishes, coordinating with the palette in the four en-suite guest cabins.

Midships, the full-beam master suite has large windows inset with portholes and a large bathroom to port featuring white marble with grey, black and goldish veining, an option chosen for all guest cabins instead of standard white Corian.

The full-beam master suite has an en-suite to port

The Perseo’s standard layout includes an elegant VIP suite in the bow, a guest cabin to starboard and a lower lounge to port, but this hull instead has a fourth en-suite guest cabin. All four cabins have generous headroom.

There’s also a full-beam crew cabin with bunk beds, which is accessible via a hatch and stairwell from under the cockpit’s flybridge stairs and has direct access to the engine room. The transom contains a submersible garage that easily stores a 3.25m tender and other water toys.

The elegant VIP suite in the bow is among four guest cabins

Yacht owners who visited the hull in Hong Kong were impressed by the space the 76-footer offers for its length, while those who had been on sea trials noted its seakeeping, chiefly its performance and stability both when underway and stationary, due in large to the Seakeeper.

Even the Ferrari Owners’ Club Hong Kong, viewing Riva as yachting’s equivalent of their high performance, high-end automobile marque, were captivated by the 76’ Perseo Super. As Alberto Galassi, CEO of Ferretti Group, said at the model’s premiere, its “prodigious beauty radiates elegance and sportiness. Super by name and in reality.”

www.riva-yacht.com

www.ferrettigroupasiapacific.com

Gold Vision, Green Soul: Sol, the stunning 80 Sunreef Power Eco

Reviews / yachtstyle2020

Gold Vision, Green Soul: Sol, the stunning 80 Sunreef Power Eco

July 13, 2023
12:43 pm

Sol, a bright-gold 80 Sunreef Power Eco, is being delivered to a family preparing to enjoy the 24m catamaran in the US and Caribbean.

Sol, an 80 Sunreef Power Eco

Sunreef Yachts is in the process of delivering a stunning, gold-hulled 80 Sunreef Power Eco to US-based owners with a strong passion for sustainability. Named Sol, the striking solar-electric luxury catamaran is the first publicised version of a Power model from Sunreef’s Eco Line and has been described as the “world’s most advanced electric motor yacht” by the Polish builder.

The builder’s first Eco sailing catamaran, a Sunreef 80 Eco, was launched early last year. Distinguished by her dark-blue hull, Marie-Joseph went on to exhibit at the Cannes Yachting Festival and Monaco Yacht Show last September, as well as this year’s Dubai International Boat Show in the UAE, where Sunreef is developing a new production facility.

Sol features Sunreef’s revolutionary solar panels integrated into the hull sides and superstructure

Soon, there was more to come from the Eco line. Marie-Joseph was followed last year by a Sunreef 60 Eco sail cat and this year by the second Sunreef 80 Eco. It was then the turn of Sol, which was named in honour of the Norse sun goddess and launched in May at the builder’s second, larger production facility in the north-coast city of Gdansk.

Sol, also Spanish for sun, is an Eco version of the hugely popular 80 Sunreef Power, whose many owners include tennis star Rafa Nadal. Officially unveiled at the 2019 Cannes Yachting Festival, the 80 Power has already sold about 30 units between its standard and Eco versions, a staggering total considering the size of the 24m catamaran with a 12m beam.

Sol has two 360kW electric engines and 990kWh of batteries

However, eco-friendly propulsion and energy systems were priorities for Sol’s owners, a family of experienced boat owners “deeply engaged in sustainability and looking for the perfect eco-responsible motor yacht”, according to Sunreef.

Sol features Sunreef’s revolutionary solar-power system, with panels fully integrated into the hull sides and superstructure, and has two 360kW engines and 990kWh of batteries. The yacht also features an energy-saving air-conditioning system and smart energy management, while the tailored layout and décor includes four en-suite cabins to accommodate eight guests.

CHOOSING SUNREEF

The yacht’s owners have a long history in yachting. Spending time on the water since childhood, they’ve raced sailboats and cruised extensively in New England, Florida and the Bahamas with family boats, also chartering in the British Virgin Islands.

Forward view of the flybridge, fitted with a dining table, bar and L-shaped outdoor galley

“Our three generations of close-knit families have enjoyed countless joyful experiences on board our family yachts, but the climate impact of large power yachts is significant,” the owners said.

“We’ve taken extensive steps to impact the climate crises, so we could only consider a motor yacht if it incorporated technologies that are rapidly scaling in other sectors such as solar energy and electric vehicles. Given our focus on sustainability broadly, only an electric ‘Eco’ boat aligned with our values.”

Having researched the market with The Catamaran Company and visited overseas shipyards “to determine who was genuinely and successfully advancing state-of-the-art with electric and sustainable yachting”, the owners decided to build with Sunreef Yachts.

Forward view of the vast saloon, which the owners will outfit with additional furniture after the yacht arrives in the US

“The result of our discovery process was clear,” the owners said. “Sunreef leads the industry with research and development, high-quality production, highly evaluated sourcing, and compelling on-water performance.”

BUILDING THE DREAM

The couple, their captain, designer and broker all worked directly with Sunreef throughout the project, interfacing remotely with the shipyard’s client-facing team, sometimes on a weekly basis.

“Sunreef allowed for significant input and choice on our part. While we’ve never designed and built a yacht, we’ve brought our style and ideas from our home and hospitality projects, and enjoyed learning and shaping our future marine home,” the owners said.

Aft view of the cockpit, which offers alfresco dining

“On-site visits were extremely efficient in terms of making early design decisions about layout, material, colours and furnishings. Sunreef is a family-run, private company with a history of high achievement, and that culture is evident throughout the organisation.”

At time of writing, there was still work to be completed, with the owners planning to have the teak decking and most of the furniture installed in the US. Once it’s all done, the owners plan to spend summers on the yacht in the Northeast and winters in the Bahamas and the Caribbean, when the boat is not being chartered.

Sol’s technology includes an energy-saving air-conditioning system and smart energy management

“The Caribbean is mostly a frontier for us and will offer a wonderful escape from the cold northern winters!”

www.sunreef-yachts.com

www.sunreef-yachts-eco.com

Note: Sunreef’s dealers in Asia include Hong Seh Marine in Singapore and Lee Marine in Thailand.

Gulf Craft’s fresh start with Majesty 72

Reviews / yachtstyle2020

Gulf Craft’s fresh start with Majesty 72

July 6, 2023
2:05 pm

Boasting a 19ft 5in beam, the voluminous Majesty 72 ushers in a new dawn for Gulf Craft as the UAE builder’s first collaboration with Phathom Studio. Words: John Higginson Photos: Gulf Craft

The Majesty 72 is distinguished by flowing lines and elegant hull glazing

As Gulf Craft exhibited 15 yachts at this year’s Dubai International Boat Show, the builder’s display also acted as a showcase of its new collaboration with Phathom Studio, whose work was seen on the Majesty 72 and three world premieres: Majesty 111, Nomad 101 and the upgraded Nomad 70 SUV.

Founded in the Netherlands in 2019 by three Design Partners – Spaniard Raquel Hernandez Grijota, Canadian Sean Bekeschus and Dutchman Fabian Henke – along with Commercial Director Jacob van de Haar, Phathom designed the exterior and interior of the Majesty 111 from scratch.

For the tri-deck Nomad 101, an extended version of the Nomad 95 with an added sun deck, the studio collaborated with Gulf Craft on the exterior upgrade while revitalising the interior with natural or sustainable materials. On the new-look Nomad 70 SUV, the company designed the new eco-friendly interior and contributed to its external facelift.

The Majesty 72 has a beam of 19ft 5in and forward-angled hard top supports

However, Phathom’s first project with Gulf Craft was the interior of the Majesty 72, a 75GT flybridge motor yacht that had initially debuted in front of a smaller audience at the Abu Dhabi International Boat Show last October.

Mohammed Alshaali, Chairman of Gulf Craft, was convinced to work with Phathom based on the ideas the young designers offered for the Majesty 72, which is 1ft 5in longer and 1ft 8in wider than the former Majesty 70 and a world away in terms of exterior and interior refinement.

“Phathom approached us as a young studio with fresh concepts. We thought they had some good ideas for the market – new, fresh and inspirational,” says Alshaali, who co-founded Gulf Craft in 1982 and developed it into the Middle East’s leading yacht builder, renowned for the world’s largest production fibreglass superyacht, the Majesty 175.

The warm, yellow-toned Sirocco décor is among two themes offered by Phathom Studio

“We decided to go with them and we liked what they’ve done on the Majesty 72. Now we’re selling mostly in Europe, US, Australia, so our designs have changed to accommodate the customers and the new 72 is different, more of a European style.”

EUROPEAN STYLING

Compared to the Majesty 70 and other previous models like the 75, the Majesty 72 has a far more modern exterior, with fluid lines and a long, shapely band of glazing replacing the potted series of hull windows and portholes seen on its predecessors.

The foredeck features a three-sided sofa and a table

The 72 is the most recent addition to Majesty’s Yacht Collection, following the Majesty 62 and Majesty 62M, but this flybridge design is a cut above, with forward-angled hard top supports nicely echoing the lines of the main-deck superstructure below. In fact, from afar, it’s comparable to some of its European-built counterparts, but is notably different in at least one aspect – beam.

The Majesty 72 is significantly wider than many similar-length competitors. It’s over 1ft beamier than longer models from two renowned Italian builders and a full 1ft 6in wider than a British-built model that’s almost 3ft longer.

The large aft cockpit features a fitted sofa and table, and a port counter with fridge

The beam is first noticeable when boarding the swim platform, where six stairs on each side lead to a large 16sqm (172sqft) cockpit with a relatively clean, conventional design. A forward-facing sofa faces a long table, with plenty of space for three chairs on the forward side plus one more at each end.

There’s a fridge with a countertop in the port corner, where the saloon doors slide behind each other and offer an open invitation to the saloon. This is where the Majesty 72 really comes into its own.

WINDSWEPT FINISHES

Huge windows on each side illuminate the 35sqm main-deck interior, which is formed of three areas: the saloon, the dining area and galley, and the helm station and raised companion seating. The interior layouts on both main and lower decks were initiated by Gulf craft’s in-house designers, who then collaborated with Phathom to fine-tune the GAs, furniture, fittings and material choices.

The main deck features stained white oak flooring

For the material trims, Phathom offers owners the option of Sirocco or Chinook themes. Named after warm winds from the Sahara to Mediterranean, Sirocco is the warmer, yellow-dominated theme. Chinook, named after coastal and interior winds in western North America, is a cooler, blue-themed finish using desaturated woods.

“To emphasise this conceptual direction, we’ve included a very soft interior architecture ‘windswept’ with accents indicative of wind patterns,” says Grijota, who attended this year’s Dubai show with Bekeschus and Van de Haar.

“The wall design of the headboards in all of the cabins exhibit this design detail,” adds the Spanish designer, whose career includes time with Dutch studios Sinot and Guido de Groot Design. Alshaali, for one, is delighted with the finish of the interior, which reflects the builder’s focus on a more international market following its extensive success in Europe, the US and Australia.

Forward view of the U-shaped galley to port

“One priority for designers is to give the feeling of open space. You feel the space here. This is a relatively small yacht compared to our superyachts, but you feel it’s bigger than most yachts of this length,” Alshaali says.

“We wanted something different, new, modern, which is what we’ve found with Phathom. Plus, they emphasise earthy, environmentally friendly materials and that was important. For example, they use old teak decking to make the floor, they use fish nets and other fabrics to make the carpet, so they have these kind of ideas, which we liked very much. It goes with our theme.”

LIVING, DINING & SLEEPING

The yacht’s vast beam is immediately felt upon entering the lounge, where a long L-shaped sofa to port faces another long sofa along the starboard side. To starboard, there’s fitted shelving in the aft corner and a 55-inch pop-up TV behind the sofa.

The eight-seat dining table to starboard

Forward is a long dining table for eight, with chairs at each end and three chairs on port side, and a fitted three-seat sofa to starboard, although it’s a tight squeeze to slip into the couch.

Facing the dining table – and almost hidden from guests in the saloon – is the U-shaped galley, neatly hidden beyond the forward sofa on the port side. There’s a long countertop with sink facing the dining area, while aft is further counter space above a Siemens dishwasher.

The full-height fridge-freezer is on the port side and neighbours the main cooking area, which includes a Miele oven and Siemens hobs by the window, while overhead is an extractor fan and more storage.

Aft view of lower helm and corner sofa

It’s a step up to the forward section, where’s there’s a cosy corner lounge to port, with a pair of two seat sofas and a coffee table elevating the area to much more than companion seating. The helm station is to starboard and has two attractive, adjustable helm chairs, which allow the skipper and companion to stand, lean or sit, with adjustable footrests adding to the comfort.

Just forward of the galley, a curved staircase winds down to the lower-deck hallway, which leads aft to a full-beam master suite covering 24sqm and which is well lit due to large windows. A large double bed sits centrally and is flanked by bedside tables elegantly bordered by curved sides.

The master suite has a vanity and walk-in wardrobe to port, and a sofa and bathroom to starboard

The forward port corner is diagonal and has storage and shallow shelves, while by the window is a desk cum vanity table, with storage either side of the chair. Aft is an impressively roomy walk-in wardrobe. Starboard of the bed is storage and a sofa, while aft is a twin-sink bathroom with a large shower with bench seat located centrally and the head by the window.

Either side of the hallway are guest cabins with forward-facing twin beds, with guests sharing the starboard bathroom, which also acts as the day head. Forward is the VIP, which has an aft-facing double and en-suite bathroom, and benefits from two hull windows and a sky light. Bekeschus is happy with the result of Phathom’s work on the all-new 72-footer.

The forward VIP suite is lit by two hull windows and a deck hatch

“We’re quite content with the interior result of the Majesty 72, which gave us the opportunity to push Gulf Craft’s current aesthetic to an even greater level of sophistication,” says the Canadian, who has worked at Guido De Groot Design and Cor D. Rover Design.

“In our opinion, the soft language and varied material choices create a very balanced, harmonious interior, which we hope will define the future standard of the Majesty line-up. We’ve attempted to develop an interior that will withstand time and looks interesting from every vantage point.”

STRONG ALL-ROUNDER

As well as spacious, comfortable interiors, the Majesty 72 also has sizeable outdoor areas, including a foredeck with a three-sided sofa and a table.

Aft view of the flybridge, which has a U-shaped bar to starboard and dining area to port

The flybridge, reached by starboard stairs from the cockpit, has a C-shaped sofa and a foldable table opposite a U-shaped wet bar, while forward is the upper helm to starboard and L-shaped companion seating that extends the guest area. The aft deck has been left clear for loose furniture or to store a tender and water toys and a crane.

The swim platform can carry up to 600kg, while Gulf Craft offers two options for the crew area. Accessed from the swim platform by a central door, the non-garage version offers two crew cabins on starboard side and a roomy area to port featuring an L-shaped galley, laundry, storage and fridge freezer, plus a central, standalone bathroom beside a centreline door to the engine room.

The upper helm is to starboard

The alternative option has a bunk cabin and bathroom to starboard, and a good-sized garage for a tender and toys to port.

Alshaali concludes: “The response to the Majesty 72 has been very good, because of the space inside and four guest cabins including an enormous master suite. It has a good flybridge, spacious engine room, and either a large garage or large crew area, so I think for its length, it’s a complete yacht. It fits the market very well.”

www.gulfcraftinc.com

Shining Light: Azimut Grande 36M

Reviews / yachtstyle2020

Shining Light: Azimut Grande 36M

June 29, 2023
10:34 am

Following Alberto Mancini’s work on Azimut’s Grande Trideck, the Italian shipyard entrusted him to design its second-biggest superyacht, with the new Grande 36M also featuring a stunning interior by long-time collaborator Achille Salvagni.
Words: Clare Mahon Photos: Azimut

The 116ft Grande 36M is Azimut’s second-largest superyacht

Azimut just keeps adding temptation to temptation with new models launched at a fast clip. For the Grande 36M, the Italian shipyard called in frequent collaborators Alberto Mancini and Achille Salvagni to create a superyacht where style meets substance without dictating a playbook to potential owners.

Alberto Mancini Yacht Design has penned three yachts in the Azimut Grande series, bringing a real family feeling to the line-up by using similarly clean and simple lines across the size range. Mancini also designed the Grande Trideck (38m) and Grande 26M, both of which have been sold into Asia by regional dealer Marine Italia, illustrating the universal appeal of the new models.

The bow of the upper deck has a large sofa with two tables, a quadruple sunpad and a spa pool

“I always try to create a dialogue between traditional and modern, land-based and seafaring, keeping in mind that a hull has to remain a hull,” Mancini says.

While the yachts he has designed for the Grande range have long sweeps of glass that contrast with structural elements and bring lots of light into the interiors, Mancini never overdoes it.

The sun deck has a bar and lots of seating and sunbathing areas

“Huge, glazed surfaces that cut hull lines are not necessary for a modern interior,” he says. “As a designer, I feel I should coax owners back into a more seafaring world where a yacht’s lines are beautiful in themselves. It’s also important not to forget that we are at sea and have to respect it.”

Respect for the sea played an important part in the design process of the Grande 36M. Constructed in GRP with elements of the superstructure and the beach platform in weight-saving carbon-fibre to improve efficiency, the hull shape is the latest evolution of the D2P (Displacement to Planing) technology designed and engineered by Pierluigi Ausonio Naval Architecture (PLANA) with Azimut-Benetti’s R&D Department.

The fold-out beach club welcomes guests to the Grande 36M

This type of hull has double chines that allow it to cruise smoothly on its broad upper chine in displacement mode, then transition to planing mode at higher speeds, skimming along on its lower chine and deflecting the water.

Another key feature of this hull is the wave-piercer bow, which adds to efficiency peaks that the yard claims can reach 30 per cent in displacement mode compared to traditional hard chine hulls, earning the Grande 36M a place among Azimut’s Low Emission Yachts, which now applies to more than half the yachts in its portfolio.

The aft cockpit has a bar to starboard and a table for alfresco dining

Twin 2,200hp MTU engines are standard, but owners can opt for 2,400hp versions, offering a top speed of 24 knots and cruising speed of 18 knots.

ONBOARD ATTRACTIONS

Lots of the fun to be had on a seafaring vacation comes when you’ve jumped off the yacht, and aboard the Grande 36M it’s easy due to a transom that opens out to become a beach platform backed by a beach club. Guests enjoying the aft cockpit can easily keep an eye on whatever’s going on in the water through glass bulwarks.

The lounge seating in the ‘living & dining’ version of the main-deck saloon

The 116-footer was conceived to be adaptable to diverse configurations to meet a variety of lifestyle needs. The yacht’s large, open volumes are punctuated by large windows – many of which are actually sliding doors – and can be furnished with freestanding pieces in a variety of layouts, and that’s where architect Achille Salvagni steps in.

“I am an architect, not a decorator, and I think that’s why the interiors I design stand out,” Salvagni says. “I want to sculpt the space I’m working with and give it character, dignity and strength. It’s not a question of pretty things placed here and there. The materials and the lines I work with must have tension. I don’t want corners because they break the line; I want curves that join and flow.”

Formal dining in the main ‘living & dining’ version of the saloon

The Grande 36M is filled with custom pieces purpose-designed by Salvagni for the yacht. “I don’t use production pieces in my interiors because I’m not filling up a furniture showroom. Every interior I design is exclusive and unique.”

Add beautiful and luxurious to exclusive and unique and you get the gist of the main saloon. Large windows, open air and organically shaped furnishings in the colours of a day of sunshine make this a standout space, with living and dining areas that connect seamlessly to the aft guest cockpit with its bar and social area. You only perceive glamour because practical things like a large TV screen and storage spaces are concealed and integrated into the décor.

The full-beam owner’s suite has full-height windows on both sides

Forward on the main deck is the full-beam owner’s suite, with a centrally placed bed and two floor-to-ceiling picture windows.

There are four additional guest cabins on the lower deck, comprising a VIP with its wash basin integrated with the rest of the cabin’s furnishings, a double and twins with Pullman berths, all fitted to the same level of good taste and luxury as the rest of the yacht.

The aft upper deck features two adjustable sunpads/sofas either side of a foldable table

Four crew cabins, also on the lower deck, ensure there’s enough accommodation to assure a high level of service quality. The crew use separate pathways from guests for privacy.

SEMI-WALKAROUND UPPER DECK

The upper deck has a spectacular skylounge with three sets of sliding glass doors, one that leads to the aft dining and lounging area, and others on both sides that connect to the side decks. When all the doors are open, the lounge seems more like a breezy beach pavilion than an indoor space.

The skylounge can be open on three sides

Add that you can walk all the way around from the aft deck dining and lounging area to the spa pool and sunpads on the foredeck without changing floor levels and you’re assured that this is a deck that will get plenty of use – and will provide plenty of memorable moments.

In fact, the entire sun deck above is an option on the Grande 36M, because the shipyard predicts that many owners will feel they have plenty of outdoor spaces without it and will chose the sleeker ‘coupé’ version of the yacht.

The skylounge featuring the ‘media room’ layout

With a winning team of designers bringing diverse talent and skillsets to the Grande 36M, Azimut has created a winner. This is a yacht that doesn’t dictate to its owners, it adapts to their needs, assuring that it will be their favourite vacation home away from home for years to come.

www.azimutyachts.com

www.azimutyachts.hk

Prestige stars on multihull debut

Reviews / yachtstyle2020

Prestige stars on multihull debut

June 15, 2023
5:05 am

Designed by Camillo Garroni with Philippe Briand, the French builder’s M48 is taller and slimmer than its powercat competitors, yet offers large, innovative outdoor areas, premium finish and detailing, and a breathtaking full-beam owner’s suite. Words: John Higginson Photos: Prestige

Garroni Design handled exterior styling of the M48

Starting with the Prestige 41 designed by Vittorio Garroni and launched in 1989, Genoa-based Garroni Design has designed all the French builder’s models over more than three decades. Today, Prestige is a world leader in 40-60ft motor yachts, due to the popularity of its F-Line of flybridge motor yachts (420, 460, 520 590, 690) and S-Line of sporty coupes (420S, 460S, 520S).

Renowned for its elegantly designed monohulls with smart layouts and refined finishes, Prestige has shaken up its image and product offerings in recent years, first with the radical X-Line. Introduced in 2020, the trawler-inspired X70 features a reverse-raked windshield, extra-long cockpit and wide-body saloon benefiting from no side decks. The asymmetrical X60 followed.

However, the brand went a step further last year when it debuted the M48 power catamaran, the first model in its new M-Line. It was only logical, according to Brand Director Erwin Bamps.

“Over the years, we’ve seen a trend of people wanting more space outdoors and indoors, more light, more storage, more comfort overall, so it was a natural progression to end up with the multihull concept,” he says.

PRESTIGE DNA

Although sailing and power catamarans continue to grow in popularity, Prestige was the first of Europe’s leading flybridge [monohull] motor yacht builders to move into the twin-hull sector. From the outside, it appeared like another radical leap, but internally it was simply the next step in the brand’s “horizontal diversification” of its offerings for clients.

While many powercat builders moved into the market from sailing catamaran backgrounds, Prestige had over 30 years of monohull history before moving into multihulls. To ensure the new series maintained the brand’s DNA, Garroni Design – now headed by Vittorio’s son Camillo – was entrusted with the exterior styling and layouts of the M48, despite little history in designing catamarans.

The hydraulic platform is a fun base for watersports

“Garroni Design understands the DNA of the brand and where we want to go with styling and features,” Bamps says. “Camillo understands our clients and what they like, which was more important than whether the studio had experience of designing powercats or not.”

The legendary Philippe Briand was brought in to handle naval architecture, having worked on many designs with fellow Groupe Beneteau brand Jeanneau. Yet despite close relationships with sister companies Lagoon and Excess, Prestige started with a blank sheet of paper, as it sought to design a completely new multihull design from the ground up – or from inside to out.

The cockpit with full-width seating for dining

With the challenge of maintaining sleek motor yacht-style lines while offering large volumes inside, particularly in the cabins, Prestige worked with the design studios to create a yacht that’s taller and notably thinner than most similar-length powercats.

RISING TO THE CHALLENGE

By raising the living areas, the M48 includes a full-beam owner’s suite and two midships guest cabins that meet in the centreline. Together, the guest cabins span the width of the boat due to a full-beam lower deck, a pioneering layout on a 48ft catamaran that Prestige says offers the living space of a 60ft monohull.

After removing the central seat, guests can step from the cockpit to the raised hydraulic platform

Rosalie Le Gall, Product Manager at Prestige, says: “Having two hulls offers amazing opportunities for space on board, but we had the opportunity to reinvent the codes of catamarans with new dimensions to optimise the space. The M48 was basically designed from inside to out, to optimise the space for the cabins, and the designers led the development of the overall architecture.”

With a beam of 6m (19ft 8in), the M48 is over 2ft wider than the brand’s flagship X70. However, it’s significantly slimmer than even shorter powercats by Aquila, Leopard, Fountaine Pajot and Bali, which have models ranging in length from 13.1m to 14.1m and boasting beams from 6.6m to 7.3m.

Roda furniture is used in outdoor areas including the cockpit

Garroni and Briand have managed to create a twin-hulled motor yacht that tastefully expands Prestige’s flybridge offerings, with a profile that’s only notably different to F-Line models because of its almost vertical bows and a hard top like the X60’s.

“People appreciate the lines and look of the M48, which fits with motor yachts,” Le Gall says. “They appreciate the motor yacht look; it’s very Prestige. People notice this when they first see the boat and then there’s the wow effect when they get on board – the space, the width and the way it has been laid out.”

The platform is also ideal for relaxing over the water

FUN IN THE SUN

The cockpit and the beach club are among the M48’s standout zones. Featuring diagonal sides, the hydraulic platform dovetails with the transoms to create a full-width beach club just above the water, providing easy access to the central garage for water toys like Seabobs and paddleboards.

Able to carry a tender or jetski, the platform can be lowered into the water for deployment and retrieval, or even as a fun base for bathers to splash around from. However, the platform’s prime position is arguably when it’s fully raised, with guests able to step down to it from the cockpit and use it like an aft balcony or even a diving platform.

The platform can carry a tender and allow access to the toy garage

This access is enabled when the middle seat in the modular Roda furniture is moved out and the starboard table is folded, leaving two L-shaped benches on either side of a central passage to the platform. Otherwise, when the sofa is filled in and the tables extended and joined, there’s space for six to eight guests to dine alfresco.

Like the X-Line models, the M48 has a particularly long cockpit. By the saloon doors, there’s a fitted L-shaped sofa to starboard and a corner seat to port, allowing for guests to sit on all four sides of the spacious cockpit. As on the X-Line models, Roda outdoor sofas are used in the cockpit and flybridge.

The foredeck has an aft-facing sofa

On the M48, there’s also a C-shaped Roda sofa fronting the foredeck, where it faces aft to a row of sunpads, two almost full length and a shorter one in the middle.

The back of a sofa at the front of a boat may not benefit the exterior design, but this additional furniture hugely increases the amount of people who can socialise up front, while visually it somewhat mirrors the cockpit’s aft sofa and guard rails. On either side of the bow sofa are port and starboard deck hatches to the crew cabin and bathroom respectively.

The flybridge has a three-sided sofa around the table, plus weighted backrests on the aft sunpad

The other major outdoor area is the excellent flybridge, which is reached from the cockpit by a portside staircase with refreshingly wide, long steps, so making it a pleasure, not a worry, to get up and down. The stairs – which can be covered by a hatch in case of rain – lead up to the wet bar, which has a Kenyon grill, sink with a fold-down tap, fridge and storage.

Forward is the M48’s primary driving station, which has a bench seat and includes a joystick for close quarters control of the two 320hp Volvo Penta D4 engines. The skipper enjoys excellent visibility, with the hard top propped up on both sides by curved carbon poles, like those used in the aft cockpit to support the overhang.

Companion seating and the upper helm station

The starboard side of the flybridge features a clever arrangement of modular Roda furniture, starting with a forward-facing sofa by the helm that makes for excellent companion seating. Aft is a three sided seating arrangement around a large table, with the weighted backrests set aft creating a further sofa in the stern. The weighted backrests can be moved to instead create a full-length double sunpad.

INDOOR SURPRISES

Designed with Italian Valentina Militerno de Romedis and featuring a Walnut finish as standard, the main-deck interior of the M48 is revealed by a sliding door and a flip-up starboard window aft of the galley. On the port side of the galley are two slim cabinets with fluted panelling, with the longer one forward containing the high-low TV and the smaller one aft neatly containing cutlery and glassware.

The M48 interior was designed with Italian Valentina Militerno de Romedis

Forward is the sink, while by the window to starboard is a cooking area with a three-zone Siemens induction cooktop, a Whirlpool microwave grill, overhead storage and a large fridge-freezer with twist handles to secure the doors.

The lounge is to port and features a long C-shaped sofa around an attractive dining table, both a tribute to the builder’s in-house production team responsible for all the interior furniture, joinery and fixtures.

Starboard view of the main-deck interior, which is finished in walnut

Opposite, just forward of the galley, are a couple of steps up to a sliding ‘door’ to the side deck, although as it’s only about 3ft high, it’s more suitable for small children, flexible grown-ups or emergency situations. Also on starboard side is a simplified driving station, suitable for use in inclement weather, yet the lower helm is only an option and can be replaced by more storage.

CABINS SUPREME

Forward and four steps down is the master suite, which provides a ‘wow’ factor and has been described as the M48’s masterpiece. An aft-facing double bed with a slatted headboard and huge bedside tables is the centrepiece of this beautifully finished bedroom, which spans the entire 6m beam. The desk and drawers to starboard and the sofa to port are all on the same level.

The full-beam owner’s suite has a sofa to port and a desk and drawers to starboard

Looking aft reveals hanging cupboards either side of the bedroom door, with the starboard one fronted by a Samsung TV. At the starboard end of the room, two steps lead down to the toilet and sink, while the shower room with sink is on the port side, with both parts of the split ‘bathroom’ boasting enormous headroom.

Natural light floods in through long and small hull windows on both sides, high forward windows facing the foredeck, and two deck hatches in the ceiling, while the use of mirrors amplifies the sense of space and light. The full-beam owner’s suite is a selling point of the M48, but two symmetrical forward cabins take its place in the four-cabin option.

The owner’s bed faces aft to two large cupboards and bathroom facilities on both sides

Meanwhile, each of the midships cabins has private access. The steps to the en-suite VIP are just behind the captain’s chair, while the stairs to the port cabin are aft of the sofa. Separated only by a centreline bulkhead, both rooms have a very similar layout, with each featuring raised, window-facing beds that can be manually arranged as two singles or a double.

Each cabin has impressive headroom in the walking area beside the 6ft-long hull window, which provides excellent natural light and great views. The starboard cabin enjoys VIP status due to having an en-suite bathroom aft, while the bathroom for the port cabin is on the aft side of the stairway, so doubles as the day head.

M-LINE AROUND THE WORLD

A catamaran offers more space due to its wider platform, but also offers two other major benefits: stability and fuel economy. Le Gall says the M48 delivers on both aspects.

The VIP cabin with en-suite bathroom is to starboard

“It’s very stable, naturally because it’s balanced on two hulls but also because of the design. Furthermore, we have a duty, especially with motor yachts, to address the sustainability issue and building catamarans is a key step, as they’re much more efficient due to the twin-hull design,” she says.

“The M48 has the living space of a 60ft monohull, but uses the fuel of a 40ft monohull, so almost half. When we tell clients it consumes 80 litres an hour at 15 knots, some think we’re talking per engine, but that’s the total. Then they clearly understand the benefits.”

The guest cabin to port has window-facing beds that can slide together

Prestige debuted the model to much acclaim at last year’s Cannes Yachting Festival and this year showed it at Boot Dusseldorf before it made US debut at the Miami International Boat Show.

The builder says the first M48 in Asia could arrive in Hong Kong through Asia Yachting by the end of this year, while other units have been scheduled to appear at next year’s Japan International Boat Show and Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show in Australia.

The bench-seat helm on the flybridge is the primary driving station

“The reaction to the M48 has been extremely positive and for many people the boat even exceeds their expectations, which is nice to hear,” Le Gall says. “All catamarans offer wide platforms, but there’s no other of this length that offers so much space on every level, while the owner’s suite and guest cabins are unique, completely new to the market.”

www.prestige-yachts.com

www.asiayachting.net

Sunseeker’s Top 100 Yacht

Reviews / yachtstyle2020

Sunseeker’s Top 100 Yacht

June 8, 2023
3:19 pm

A strong statement that the British builder’s sporty DNA is still alive and kicking, the Sunseeker 100 Yacht can reach up to 30 knots, while its many attractions include walkaround access between the flybridge and foredeck, as well as a stunning owner’s suite fronted by a cosy bow terrace.
Words: John Higginson Photos: Sunseeker

The 100 Yacht at rest

Even when Sunseeker’s 100 Yacht is at rest, she looks like she’s ‘already moving’. The aggressive lines and sharp angles of this shark-like flagship of the Yacht series of larger flybridge models show the British shipyard staying true to its performance heritage while introducing a series of notable new features, many combined on a yacht of this length for the first time.

Joining the 76 Yacht, 88 Yacht and 95 Yacht, the 100 Yacht is a stylistic alternative to the likes of the beamy 90 Ocean, the first model in Sunseeker’s growing series of big-volume vessels and set to be followed by its skylounge edition, Ocean 182, and the shorter Ocean 156, both named after their volume in GT.

Powerful, lean and muscular, the 100 Yacht is even a little imposing from afar. It’s 9ft longer than the 90 Ocean and 20 tonnes heavier, yet it’s almost 1ft narrower. It’s just a different physique altogether, yet one that also has a sub-24m load line length, with her CE Category A certification easing demands on owners and crew.

The 100 Yacht can reach 30 knots

And just like the 88 Yacht did when it debuted alongside the 90 Ocean and others as part of the ‘Sunseeker Famous Five’ a couple of years ago, the 100 Yacht proves that both ranges can run in parallel and achieve great success.

Sunseeker announced 15 hulls had been sold by late April, an impressive tally considering the 100 Yacht only debuted at the Cannes Yachting Festival last September and that the similar-sized 30M sold 17 during its entire life span over a decade ago.

Furthermore, the recent launch of the fourth unit of the 100 Yacht revealed dramatic Midnight Grey paintwork that should gain the new model further attention this summer.

The X-TEND™ can be raised to cockpit level

“The 100 Yacht is a fusion of our expertise in design and ultra-modern styling, and it’s a response to us listening to client feedback, asking what the market needs,” says Mark Chinery, Sunseeker’s Sales Manager. “We want to lead the market and we want a yacht that turns heads and appeals to owners.”

WALKAROUND TOP DECK

While sharing some of the styling and big-boat attributes of the 116 Yacht and tri-deck 131 Yacht, both now grouped in the builder’s Superyacht series, the 100 Yacht is more cohesive, with long bands of glazing all pointing to the knifelike bow, which cradles one of the model’s signature features – the owner’s private forepeak terrace.

However, it’s worth noting that there are other ways to reach this cosy nook other than through the master suite. After all, this is the first Sunseeker to feature full walkaround access between the aft flybridge and the foredeck.

The flybridge includes a jacuzzi, sunbeds, bar, dining table and sofas

There are at least three ways to reach the foredeck from the aft cockpit, with the flybridge providing the scenic route among the two outdoor paths. After heading up the starboard stairs to the flybridge, guests are provided with a first view of the starboard walkway, which spans much of the length of the top deck.

The stairway emerges behind a long bar that faces fixed bar stools as well as a huge, foldable dining table and lots of seating to port, all of which can be specified by the owner. The aft open area of the flybridge can feature one of three spa tubs offered by Sunseeker and integrated sunpads or space for free-standing sunbeds.

The foredeck is accessible from the aft flybridge and port stairs

Forward are two L-shaped sofas either side of the sliding glass companionway door to the pilothouse, although an outdoor helm is an option in place of the starboard corner couch. The new hard top design has the option of a sunroof or adjustable slats and is wide enough to cover the start of both side passages to the foredeck.

The forward social areas start with a C-shaped sofa – with fridge drawers to hand – and a table across from an opposing sofa, which is integrated aft of a magnificent quadruple sunpad with electrically adjustable backrests. This area can be covered by a bimini, then when the sun goes down, it can be transformed into an open-air cinema with a laser projector and 140-inch screen.

The forepeak is a few steps down from the walkaround foredeck and flybridge

To port are a few steps leading down to the forepeak, but as this area was designed for the owner’s use, we’ll retrace our steps to the aft cockpit and take the indoor route through the saloon.

X-TENDING SOCIAL OPTIONS

Before heading indoors, it’s worth having a closer look at the cockpit and the whole aft area. The cockpit can be arranged with free-standing or fixed furniture, with guests able to enjoy clear sea views and the beach club through the glass balustrade. In the forward port corner is an integrated wet bar with a fridge, ice maker, stainless-steel sink and storage.

The X-TEND™ folded out as a sofa

Furthermore, the 100 Yacht is Sunseeker’s third model to be offered with the X-TEND™ option, following the 88 Yacht and 90 Ocean. This remarkable in-house system folds out to become a huge sunpad above the swim platform or can be raised to main-deck level, creating a forward-facing sunpad and a nicely protected social area once the balustrade doors are opened.

The X-TEND™ is also the door to the impressive tender garage, which can house a Williams SportJet 460, 3.5m three-seat jetski, diving equipment, paddleboards and other water toys, along with dedicated Seabob storage. Should a bigger tender be required, or the garage needed for other items, it’s worth noting that the bathing platform can take up to a Williams DiesetJet 565.

The X-TEND™ raises to reveal the garage

A hydraulic ladder passarelle allows guests to easily access the toys and make the most of their time in the water, while Sunseeker’s renowned Beach Club offering includes an oversized rain shower and large built-in barbecue.

CALM INDOORS

In contrast to the array of enticing options and attractions in the outdoor areas, the interior – designed with long-time collaborator Design Unlimited – is refreshingly calming.

The calm saloon

It oozes a refined luxury that almost sits midway between the formal, intricate detailing seen in the 88 Yacht and the relaxed, laid-back vibe of the 90 Ocean.

The 100 Yacht benefits from floor-to-ceiling glazing, which provides magnificent views and allows for masses of natural light during the day. The standard layout for the saloon includes a large, L-shaped sofa to port and a 55-inch standing TV to starboard, where low cabinets ensure the window views take centre stage during the day.

The dining table seats 10 guests

Forward is a dining table for eight to 10 people, with Sunseeker offering the option of sliding doors on the starboard side, allowing for a cool breeze and easy access to the half-length side deck for an evening stroll or a chat overlooking the water.

A central cabinet and feature wall forward of the dining area also act as a screen for the central staircases – floating steps from port up to the wheelhouse, and the carpeted starboard stairway down to the four en-suite guest cabins.

VIP suite to port

The lower-deck hallway leads aft to two almost mirror VIP suites, each with an inward-facing double bed, bedside tables and an 11ft-long bathroom aft. Forward are two guest cabins, both with aft-facing single beds that can be slid together to form a double, while each room can also be fitted with a Pullman berth to expand the overnight capacity to 12 guests.

OWNER’S HAVEN

Back up on the main deck, the starboard hallway leads to the day head before the entrance to the master suite, which is arguably the crowning glory of the interior design.

Hall leading to the master suite

The long lobby is flanked to port by cupboards and drawers then a magnificent walk-in wardrobe with full-length mirror and feature shelving, while to starboard is an elegant countertop and long drawers next to a longer vanity desk and drawers following the same design.

Entering the main bedroom provides the view that puts a smile on your face, with beautifully designed, curved cabinets framing a feature stairway up to a sliding glass companionway door that provides direct access to the forepeak.

The entrance hallway is flanked by a desk, drawers, cupboards and walk-in wardrobe

It’s a stunning sight and one the owners can wake up to every day from their bed. However, it’s still not quite as nice as the almost 360-degree vistas from the bow terrace, where the teak decking – free of any hardware – can cosily fit two chairs and a table, ideal for coffee or a quiet place to read.

“Overall, the most innovative parts of the 100 Yacht have had a great response and the owner’s suite with the walkthrough to the forepeak has gone down really, really well,” says designer Ewen Foster, Sunseeker’s Chief Technical Officer, who has worked with the shipyard since 1985.

The master suite features a stunning stairway up to the forepeak

“The bow terrace is still a practical area for the anchoring side of things, but once you’re at anchor, it can be set up for the owners.”

The bedroom also has a pop-up TV port of the stairs, while the bathroom is aft of the bed on port side and features twin sinks and mirrors, a rain shower and an enclosed toilet with sink.

The private forepeak is a signature feature

As well as guest flow, crew flow was also essential in early design and development. Sunseeker is quick to emphasise that the bow terrace works as well as it does for the owners because service to the foredeck can be quick, with easy access from the galley via stairs from the port side deck.

“We’ve worked hard with our team and with clients and crew to make sure the circulation around the yacht works internally and externally,” Chinery says.

The forward part of the galley

Situated forward of the dining room to port, the galley starts with two full-height fridge-freezers and a sink, countertop and storage below the window, while inboard is a spacious three-sided working area with masses of storage.

Beside the side deck door, a forward staircase leads down to an impressive crew quarters featuring an L-shaped dinette, corner galley, laundry facilities, a captain’s cabin with en-suite to port, and two en-suite bunk-bed cabins forward.

The pilothouse

The pilothouse, linked by separate stairways to the galley entrance and the flybridge, has a single captain’s chair facing a console topped by three Simrad screens, with an oversized chart table to port and L-shaped companion seating in the aft starboard corner. Wing stations are fitted as standard, while an outdoor helm on the flybridge is optional.

Chinery, for one, has been impressed with the performance of the 100 Yacht along with the comfort, both in terms of vibrations and volume. “It’s a very quiet, smooth ride. I was astounded at how peaceful it was.”

Evening lighting on show

Sunseeker offers owners plenty of choice in terms of décor, furniture and fixtures, but the 100 Yacht is already a popular proposition due to its thoughtful layout and many highlights, be it the large tender and toy storage, beach club attractions including the X-TEND™, the walkaround top deck with numerous different social areas, or the master suite with the private terrace.

“The 100 Yacht has multiple unique selling points,” Chinery says. “Bringing them together in a single package of this size has been a significant achievement that our clients are now enjoying.”
www.sunseeker.com

Fountaine Pajot’s stylish, sexy sedan

Reviews / yachtstyle2020

Fountaine Pajot’s stylish, sexy sedan

June 1, 2023
11:25 am

The French multihull builder has maintained a long commitment to powercats, but shook up the market with its sedan-style MY4.S, the new 36ft entry model for its four-model motor yacht range.
Words: Emmanuel Van Deth Photos: Fountaine Pajot

Below 1,400rpm, the range of the MY4.S is over 1,000nm

Fountaine Pajot’s introduction of the MY4.S coincided with the rebranding of its Motor Yachts range, with MY5 and MY6 becoming the new names for the MY40 and MY44 respectively. The idea was to give ‘monohull equivalent’ references in terms of surface area and volume, with the MY5 corresponding to a 50ft motorboat and the MY6 to a small 60ft motor yacht.

As for the 36ft MY4.S, it’s comparable to 40ft monohulls. And the S stands for sedan or ‘sportop’, as Fountaine Pajot describes it. The La Rochelle builder has opted for a racy design by sacrificing the flybridge, an option offered on the MY37 it succeeds while sharing its hulls.

With no flybridge, the MY4.S becomes a very elegant sedan

The manufacturer has done well. Daniel Andrieu’s design already offered excellent seakeeping qualities, with hulls characterised by particularly fine-entry bows and a chine so marked that it forms a deep recess on the bows. However, above the chine, everything is new.

And what stands out is the finesse of the coachroof. Without the flybridge, the 4.S becomes a very elegant sedan, capable of holding its own among the gleaming single-hulled weekenders.

POWER AND RANGE

Fountaine Pajot offers twin 150hp or 250hp Yanmar engines, the latter featuring on our test model. The MY37 was equipped with two 150hp Volvo engines as standard and 220hp versions as an option, and the extra 60hp on the MY4.S increases the top speed from 20 to 23 knots.

The cockpit bimini neatly extends the coachroof lines

The helm, without being hard, responds well and the trajectory is always precise. We find the same excellent behaviour as aboard the MY37: perfectly flat turns, smooth passage in short chop, absence of spray – it’s literally broken by the chine – and hulls optimised for cruising between 9-15 knots in open water.

The best illustration of the efficiency at these speeds is that the range is greater when motoring at 13 knots than at 11!

Due to the low-consumption engines, efficient hulls and fuel tanks totalling 1,200 litres, the range of the MY4.S is 1,600nm at five knots and even more than 1,000nm at six knots. The MY4.S lends itself to a programme of weekend boating, as well as semi-high-speed cruising, although the range is about 400nm at 18 knots or 265nm at full speed.

Strangely enough, it’s during low-speed sailing that the underside of the nacelle or the flat face of the chines are likely to slam a little. When manoeuvring in port, you can play with the twin engines to pivot at will, although a bow thruster is an option. Housed in large compartments at the stern, the engines are easy to access, while camera surveillance of the engine rooms is also an option.

CLEAN DECK PLAN

The increasing willingness of boat builders to install flybridges on all their boats has almost made us forget the charm and features of a sedan. In addition to a much more elegant silhouette, this configuration benefits from better weight distribution and frees up the cockpit or side decks from one or two stairways.

The 8ft 6in-wide cockpit sofa can be converted into a sunbathing area

The cockpit is equipped with a large bench seat spanning 8ft 6in (2.6m) that can be converted into a sunbathing area. Optional extras include a fixed or hydraulic platform, a galley and an outdoor table.

The side decks are 1ft 5in (43cm) wide at the cockpit end and relatively narrow compared to those of sailing multihulls. Yet this is not surprising when you consider the beam of the MY4.S is 16ft 9in (5.1m), which is 4ft 10in (1.5m) thinner than a similar-length sailing cat, for example.

The solid foredeck incorporates a large sunbathing area

Moving around on board is made safe by a stainless-steel rail and the small handrail near the cockpit deserves to be complemented by optional handholds on the coachroof. The solid foredeck offers large sunbathing areas. Ground tackle and other lockers are ready to use.

FINE FINISH, OPEN TOP

The aft bay window forms a nice, wide opening. In the interior by Pierangelo Andreani, the saloon has a similar layout to the MY37, with the galley on port side, dining area to starboard, and helm station forward. However, the overall finish seems much more flattering, in keeping with the builder’s increasingly sophisticated interiors.

The cockpit sofa backrests can fold down

The builder has set the bar very high, always with the aim of being a credible competitor to the single hulled weekenders, which are generally quite luxuriously finished. The headroom in the saloon is very comfortable, at 6ft 9in (2.07m). The galley countertop is a useful size, at 8ft 10in (2.71m) in length, and there’s a double sink, two-ring burner, refrigerator and numerous storage spaces.

The dining area is a bit more modest and features a kind of L-shaped sofa and a table measuring 2ft 4in by 2ft (70cm x 60cm), with the option of a foldout version. You can share a meal with five people, but not really any more, without using stools that would inevitably interfere with circulation.

The opening sunroof and fold-out dining table are appealing options

Up front, the helm station and companion seating occupy a central space under the windscreen. You can stand or sit at the twin helm seat, which can be raised a few inches for the shorter to medium-sized skipper. From the control helm to port of the centreline, you have an excellent view of the water, except for two small blind spots aft.

Natural light simply floods in: first of all, because the windows are an imposing size, up to almost 3ft high and quite clear. As for the coachroof uprights, they’re slender. Above your head is a car-like sunroof, but an extra-large version.

The Pierangelo Andreani interior includes an almost 9ft-long galley countertop with a TV

The control for this is a bit lazy, but you can sail as if with the top down or almost. The sunroof and electric awning add more than €24,000 (before tax) and an owner could pay almost €200,000 in options and a ‘Pack’ (Exclusive, Gold or Platinum) for a well specced model.

MAESTRO OR QUATUOR

On the Maestro version, the port hull is dedicated to the owner. There is a large semi-island bed with a width of 5ft 3in (1.6m), plenty of storage, an incredible sea view, two ventilation openings and a beautiful bathroom in the bow. Headroom is 6ft 3in (1.91 m), with the floor set four steps or 3ft 5in (1.03m) below the saloon.

On the Maestro version, the port hull is dedicated to the owner’s suite

The starboard hull houses two cabins and a shared central bathroom. The aft berth is as generous as that in the port hull, although the forward berth is a little less inviting, measuring 4ft 11in (1.5m) wide at the pillow end as you walk in, and just 2ft 4in (0.70m) at the forward end. This twin-cabin, one-head set-up is mirrored in the port side in the four-cabin Quatuor version.

Aft, the sound volume remains contained, even with the motors at higher rpm, although a few squeaks can sometimes be heard. Each cabin has two opening windows to ensure effective ventilation.

In the starboard hull, the aft guest cabin offers a wide semi-island bed

Even more convincing to former sailors, Fountaine Pajot’s challenge with its MY range is to shake up the supremacy of monohulls. By opting for a range – and model names – that highlight the surface area and volume provided by a catamaran, and now by offering a very elegant Sedan version, the manufacturer is widening its appeal.

And we can’t blame the builder for sharing the hulls of the former MY37. Firstly, because the design is proven, and secondly, because the previous model sold 72 units, which bodes well for the MY4.S.

www.fountaine-pajot.com

Leopard Powercat family’s new cub

Reviews / yachtstyle2020

Leopard Powercat family’s new cub

May 25, 2023
12:50 pm

Following the 53 and 46 models, the sharp-lined, three-cabin 40 Powercat completes Leopard’s new family of power catamarans by Simonis Voogd Design. Words: Valencia Tong Photos: Leopard

Twin 370hp engines powered hull one to 23 knots in sea trials

On a breezy day at this year’s Palm Beach International Boat Show in March, Leopard’s booth was packed with chic, pastel-clad visitors eager to tour the yachts on display. As the newest of the brand’s three power catamarans, the Leopard 40 Powercat was again in the spotlight.

The model had its world premiere at the Miami International Boat Show the previous month, while hull two was allocated for the model’s European debut at the International Multihull Show on France’s south coast in April.

At the Palm Beach show, the 40-footer attracted families and couples, who took turns to explore the features of the exciting new catamaran designed to make exciting travel dreams come true.

The 40 Powercat can be fitted with solar panels

A family in pale pink, floral outfits hopped onto the yacht to inspect the airy, light-filled saloon. With a myriad storage spaces tucked neatly in multiple locations, within the cosy cabins and underneath the captain’s seat, the model ensures those on board travel in style and comfort.

MORE THAN JUST A CAT

Designed by Alexander Simonis of Simonis Voogd Design, the 40PC is surprisingly roomy, notable for an almost 22ft beam and a spacious flybridge that Leopard describes as “the largest ever seen on a 40ft vessel”.

However, each of its social areas – aft cockpit, flybridge, saloon, foredeck – essentially offers an intimate setting for a group of six, in comparison to the 46PC and flagship 53PC models in the powercat series, which both cater to larger groups of eight or so.

Alexander Simonis has created a notably sharp exterior

Like its big sisters, the 40PC features sharp lines and a modern design, where excellent features include making the engine rooms easily accessible.

From a distance, the cat looks ready to deliver a sleek, efficient and high-performance experience, and it delivers on expectations. Equipped with twin 250hp engines as standard, it offers the option to upgrade to 320hp or 370hp engines, which enable the powercat to reach over 20 knots and cruise at about 17 knots.

The hulls encase large cabins

To get aboard, guests can use either of the symmetrical staircases on both sides of the aft platform, flanked by two shore powerlines. The cockpit has a fixed, forward-facing sofa and a table, with foldable director’s chairs offering extra seating.

Side decks offer access around the boat, with grabrails on both sides of the superstructure increasing guest safety along with the wraparound double railings. The foredeck can also be reached via the forward saloon door, a special feature of Leopard models since 2010.

Wide side decks and grabrails offer foredeck access

The bow area is centrally fitted with sunpads, including a single to starboard and a double to port, both with fitted headrests. The sunbathing area extends to the bow, where at least two people can lie horizontally.

In a clever piece of design, there’s ample space underneath the soft sunpads for storage. This is ideal for modern travellers who would like to entertain guests while keeping the appearance of the yacht minimal, sophisticated and tidy.

A forward saloon door leads to the foredeck

Arguably the best outdoor area is the flybridge, which is accessed from the cockpit by port-side stairs. The steps lead up to the forward end of the flybridge, where the upper helm is to starboard and has a double bench seat with a moveable backrest.

The helm features a control panel fitted with Raymarine and Yanmar displays, while there’s a low-set windscreen in front and on both sides of the flybridge.

The large flybridge has a C-shaped sofa facing a wet bar and bench seat

To starboard is the main social area, a C-shaped sofa with a table, which is available in teak or fibreglass and is fitted with multiple cup holders, allowing guests to safely stow cold drinks on a hot day.

To port is a wet bar and a double sofa forward, allowing for four sides of seating, ideal for conversation and cocktails. There’s also a large, clear area aft that can be used how the owner sees fit. Overall, the flybridge provides a comfortable environment for relaxing and enjoying the sea breeze, offering 360-degree visibility to make it the yacht’s prime location for panoramic views.

The aft cockpit features a long sofa and a table offering alfresco dining

Another key feature is the model’s emphasis on safety, and the red label with the word ‘Fire’ is present on many storage space surfaces to indicate where safety equipment is located. Moreover, some surfaces on the foredeck are hollow to allow the swift drainage of water if a wave or spray lands on the bow.

STYLISH INTERIOR

The saloon can be accessed from the aft cockpit by a sliding door or from the foredeck through a forward door. Starting aft, the saloon includes full-height refrigeration to starboard and an L-shaped galley to port, where equipment includes a stove, oven, sink, dishwasher, dish-drying rack and lots of storage.

L-shaped galley to port and refrigeration to starboard

When necessary, the dish-drying rack area can be converted to make a double sink. Nearby is a hidden counter that can be extended, with electrical sockets ideal for plugging in a coffee machine. The cream-coloured countertop is refined and sophisticated.

When preparing food or drinks, the galley provides a spacious area for entertaining guests. The designers thoughtfully ensured easy access to the power controls near the galley, so people can keep an eye on the indicators while in the area.

The lounge has an L-shaped sofa facing a single chair, aft of the helm

The forward lounging area includes an L-shaped sofa to port plus a facing chair to the starboard, aft of the lower helm, which has an adjustable backrest. Finished in elegant grey and cream tones, the interior features many large windows, providing a panoramic view of the ocean from the saloon and accentuating the airy feeling of the light-filled space.

The angle of the TV screen, mounted on an extension arm fixed to the bulkhead, can be adjusted for those seated at the L-shaped sofa or facing chair. The soft carpet and the comfortable fabric of the pillows create a relaxed atmosphere and a nice hub for conversation.

In the starboard hull, the master suite has a desk underneath the TV

To starboard, the helm seat is equipped with storage space underneath. Moreover, the Raymarine screens, joystick and monitoring system ensure the skipper is aware of everything that’s going on. The control panel allows the skipper to monitor data including tank levels, speed and much more.

Starboard stairs lead to the full-length master stateroom, which starts aft with a forward-facing double bed. The cabin also has a central desk below a large, adjustable TV, while forward is a full-height cupboard, drawers on both sides and more storage before an en-suite bathroom with a large shower in the forepeak.

Forward is lots of storage and the en-suite bathroom

The stairs on the port side descend to the two guest cabins, which each have an island bed and a full length mirror, and share a bathroom. In all the cabins, the soft, warm glow from the dimmable lights along the edges of the ceilings provides a cosy feeling, while there are blinds on the windows. Each cabin is also equipped with fire-safety equipment.

All Leopard models, including charter-specified versions branded for The Moorings and Sunsail, are built in Cape Town by Robertson & Caine, one of South Africa’s leading yacht builders.

The forward guest cabin shares a bathroom

Like its sister models, the 40PC is available for charter and private owners under a management programme through The Moorings, while also offering the most affordable entry into Leopard’s renowned powercat family.

www.leopardcatamarans.com

Aquila 42 Yacht expands flybridge offerings

Reviews / yachtstyle2020

Aquila 42 Yacht expands flybridge offerings

May 11, 2023
12:07 am

Having expanded its offerings with the 54 Yacht and flagship 70 Luxury, Aquila has added a fourth flybridge model with the new 42 Yacht, which retains brand signatures like the large outdoor areas, cockpit bar and foredeck steps, while introducing new cabin options – and a swinging hammock!
Words: Michael Verdon; Photos: Aquila

The 42 Yacht joins Aquila’s 44, 54 and 70 flybridge models

It’s not clear at first why Aquila added a new 42 to its Yacht line, with no plans to discontinue its best-selling 44 Yacht. That is, until you step on board the new vessel.

“They attract two different buyers,” says Alain Raas, Brand Manager at Aquila Power Catamarans. “But this will be the start of a new generation of our Yacht line. And what’s special about this one is its cabin configuration – it’s unique for a 42ft boat.”

The 42 Yacht features Aquila’s iconic forward flybridge steps

Hull number one had an interesting stateroom configuration, with the master suite portside, the smaller VIP starboard, plus up front, in the centre of the 21ft-wide powercat, a ‘utility’ cabin for the captain. But first, let’s talk about the performance of hull one, which I ran in the Gulf of Mexico near Aquila’s Clearwater headquarters in Florida.

The Gulf of Mexico that day was calm, with a minor chop, and few other boats on the water. We passed the local ‘Pirate’ ship, a tourist attraction shaped like a barque but using diesel power. There was also a go-fast party boat, also carrying tourists, that attracted a pod of dolphins wakesurfing at the bow. In short, it was a gorgeous Florida day.

The 42 Yacht retains Aquila signatures including large aft platforms

Standard diesel engines for the 42 Yacht are twin 230hp Volvo Penta D4s, but our boat featured the upgraded 300hp versions, while there’s a further upgrade option of two 370hp Yanmar 8LV engines.

As we piloted from the flybridge, the boat came on plane in eight seconds. At 1,500rpm, speed was 9.3 knots; at 2,500, 12.4 knots; at 3,000, 18.1 knots. Ultimately, the 300hp Volvo Penta D4s were able to push our boat to a top end of over 21 knots at 3,450rpm.

HANGING OUT

The hull shape by French naval architecture firm VPLP includes a sharp entry and planing surfaces running the length of the sponsons. Exterior space is 610sqft, nearly the same as the interior, with particularly generous areas being the flybridge (192sqft), aft cockpit (137sqft) and sides/foredeck (218sqft).

The crane system for the tender can hold up a hammock

An innovative feature worth pointing out is the stern crane system for the tender, which, on our boat, was a Highfield Classic 340 GT.

A winch extends and retracts the crane from the flybridge, while an electronic winch lowers and raises the tender. And when the boat is out, it can serve to hold up a hammock! It’s a clever system adapted from the sailing world.

The foredeck has two flexible sunpads, each able to host a couple

The swim platform is also broad, allowing easy access across the transom to the side passages to the foredeck. The cockpit features an aft sofa and a large table, while forward is the brand’s signature bar area.

The side passages felt safe, with sturdy handrails for easy passage from stern to the bow. The foredeck has two double sun loungers and small seats tucked into the forward edges of the sponsons.

Accessible from the cockpit and foredeck, the flybridge has a central wet bar

The wide stairs up to the flybridge – a standard feature on all Aquila’s Yacht flybridge models – are a major differentiator in what Aquila bills as an oceangoing boat. There’s nothing like fast, easy access from the helm to the anchor rode to enhance the onboard experience.

Up top, the flybridge is huge, boasting not only the square footage but enormous headroom. “We had 15 people seated here the other day,” Raas says.

The flybridge has L-shaped seating aft and along the port side

The layout includes an L-shaped lounge that runs along the port side and rear, an alfresco dining table, and centre island galley that includes a grill and fridge. There are also seats on both sides of the two-seat helm in the centre.

INTERIOR OPTIONS

Of the interior’s total liveable space of 621sqft, the saloon and galley occupy 240sqft, while the three (or four) cabins and heads total 381sqft. My initial impression was that of a boat where open space is the priority, rather than rooms being jig-sawed into tight quarters.

Aquila features cockpit bar stools by the galley countertop

As per the 44 Yacht, the cockpit connects to the galley via an opening window and counter, with two bar-style seats. That kind of arrangement connects inside and out on fair-weather days, while when it’s raining, everything buttons down nicely.

The main saloon is on a slightly raised platform to starboard, while hull one featured the standard layout, without a lower helm. Instead, there’s a portside console with instruments for monitoring engine stats, performance and GPS coordinates. Aquila offers the inclusion of a lower helm as an upgrade and Raas said the option has been selected on about half of the current orders.

The raised saloon enjoys plenty of natural light from wraparound windows

I wasn’t crazy about the wall material, a faux-wood-grained Formica surrounded by hardwood frames. It made the boat look cheaper than a yacht-calibre vessel should. Raas countered that the material doesn’t age like real wood, adding to resale value several years down the road.

I liked the rest of the 42 Yacht’s interior – very much. The windows are large, so natural light is plentiful, and headroom is generous, even in the staterooms.

To port is the option of a cabinet (pictured) and console or a lower helm

The full-length master suite to port features a queen-sized berth, desk space, exceptional storage and a forward en-suite bathroom with a large glass shower (including rainforest shower head).

The VIP to starboard is shorter in length but not cramped and features an aft-facing bed and, again, a large en-suite bathroom, this time aft.

The master suite in the port hull has a desk by the window

In the three-cabin option, the forward utility cabin becomes a larger third stateroom by having a double berth athwartships, cutting out the starboard bulkhead and using the space for the large storage box forward in the starboard hull as an en-suite, accessed by steps.

In the four-cabin layout, the starboard cabin becomes the master, and the port hull features two cabins, fore and aft of a shared bathroom.

This unit features the forward utility cabin

Fit and finish was exceptional across both interior and exterior, from the glass work to the double stitching in the exterior seating to the big beefy stainless cleats that have become an Aquila signature.

Like all Aquila powercats, the boat is built at the Sino Eagle Group factory, but this time the facility used single-piece moulds for both hulls and the superstructure.

The first 42 Yacht in Asia is expected in 2024

“That was a challenge for production because everything is vacuum-bagged and these include very big moulds,” Raas says. “But doing it this way speeds up production and makes it a much stronger boat.”

The 42 Yacht is rated for 12 passengers offshore and 21 at the dock. With the hard top, the height above the waterline is 18ft, which could be an issue with low bridges, although the yacht can be ordered without the hard top.

Other units are set for Dubai and and Australia

All in all, a great cruising cat, with lots of space and thoughtful cabin options, and a welcome addition to Aquila’s growing flybridge family.

www.aquilaboats.com

www.simpsonmarine.com

Wallypower58 revives iconic line – and heads to Asia

Reviews / yachtstyle2020

Wallypower58 revives iconic line – and heads to Asia

May 4, 2023
2:18 pm

Set to arrive in Singapore this summer, the wallypower58 renews the iconic wallypower range in Wally’s new era within Ferretti Group, offering ultra-clean hull lines, an enormous beach club, covered dining and ‘magic portholes’.
Words: John Higginson
Photos: Gilles Martin-Raget (Exterior) & Toni Meneguzzo (Interior)

The wallypower58 has an ‘ultra-deep-V’ hull

It’s not often you’ll see a 56ft-plus hull without windows. And Wally is probably the only yacht builder that can get away with it, as shown by its wallypower58, which had its US debut at February’s Miami International Boat Show following its world premiere at last year’s Venice Boat Show. Hong Seh Yachting has since secured the first sale in Asia, with the yacht set to arrive in Singapore by July.

As embodied by the revolutionary wallypower118 launched 20 years ago and series sisters like the 80, 70, 58 (first) and 52, Wally is renowned for its clean, pure hull lines – and the new wallypower58’s double-chined hull is about as pure as you can get.

It reaches 38 knots with triple 600hp IPS800 inboard engines

For starters, there’s no wraparound fender as seen on the wallytender48 and wallytender43 (and their ‘X’ outboard versions), Wally’s first motor yacht models since the brand joined Ferretti Group in 2019. And when the optional and removable guard rails aren’t fitted, the hull lines are as clean and sharp as a knife.

Starting from the vertical bow, you need to look closely to notice barely discernible lines framing the pop-out anchor locker. Run your eyes back along the smooth hull and the first vertical lines you’ll see are the air intakes, reminiscent of shark gills. Just aft are the fold-down bulwarks that transform this open sport cruiser to a beach club extraordinaire.

“For those who appreciate essential, simple and pure lines”

As Luca Bassani, founder and Chief Designer of Wally, says: “The wallypower58 is for those who appreciate essential, simple and pure lines, and who understand how they really want to use a yacht.”

Above the hull, the angular dome made of carbon-fibre and glass is a classic Wally superstructure, fronted by a curved, one-piece windscreen and flanked by curved, one-piece side windows. The pillarless windows offer clear views and reduce blind spots, important when you’re running at close to 40 knots, when the yacht still provides a secure, grounded ride due to the ‘ultra-deep-V’ hull.

The slightly tapered, vertical bow contains the pop-out anchor system

Like the wallytender48, the wallypower58 uses Volvo Penta’s IPS system and features a triple configuration to reduce the engine block size and draft, which is 1.7m.

With the standard 550hp D8-IPS700 engines, the yacht has a top speed of 36 knots and a cruising speed of 30, while the 600hp D8-IPS800s add two knots to each category, with both engine options giving a 320nm-plus range at cruising speed. The IPS system features Volvo’s proprietary joystick manoeuvring, dynamic positioning and Assisted Docking software.

SIDES, STEPS & SHADE

At anchor, this is a boat all about aft deck space and waterside living. Wally is proud of its role in pioneering drop-down sides and the wallypower58’s aft bulwarks fold down beside the aft deck to create a three-sided beach club in a similar layout to the two current wallytender models.

The drop-down sides create a huge waterside beach club

The optional hydraulic aft platform can be submerged at the touch of a button to deploy or retrieve a tender or jetski up to 3.25m or other water toys, while also providing easy access to the water for guests. In addition, Wally’s customary hydraulic passarelle is included as standard, with this retractable portside stairway able to double as a bathing ladder.

Like the wallytender48, the wallypower58 features an adjustable island sunpad, which can be configured to offer multiple lounging options for up to four adults, while it also incorporates a forward-facing sofa for four people. It doesn’t end there.

The island sunpad includes toy storage and can be covered by a stylish electric awning

Underneath is a large toy storage unit that’s accessed via two gullwing doors, while another exciting feature is a striking electrical awning that swings up out of the deck and over the sunpad like the roof of a soft-top car.

COVERED WONDERLAND

The area forward of the sunpads is covered by the hard top and features two symmetrical, parallelogram-shaped bench sofas, which combine with the sunpad’s forward sofa to offer three-sided socialising for up to a dozen guests.

The hard top covers the dining area

By the starboard sofa is a lengthways table that follows the parallelogram theme and has an anti-sliding surface. It can fold out to become a full dining table, with foldable chairs to port completing the set-up.

Forward, the open, full-beam galley is split across port and starboard sections, and allows the owner to select the configuration of the cabinets and spaces from a long list of options including fridges, icemakers, cooking tops and storage.

A personal favourite on the unit viewed was the cutlery and crockery drawers in the counter beneath the two tall helm seats, which are the same type as used on the 89ft wallywhy200 and face twin Garmin screens.

The facing sofas and foldable table follow a parallelogram theme

The adjustable roof features an electric hatch that can open for increased ventilation and the covered area can even be air-conditioned to offer relief against heat. When cruising in chillier climates, the cockpit can be fully enclosed by isinglass.

However, if the weather’s nice, there’s another outdoor area in the bow. The wide, deep side decks include three long steps up to the foredeck, where integrated sunpads wrap around the deck hatch and skylights above the master cabin. Using the foredeck is only advisable when the boat’s stationary, due to the completely flat surface and low bow rails.

WHERE THE MAGIC HAPPENS

By the helm, forward stairs lead down to an elegant, almost airplane-like interior with a midships zone offered in two configurations. The standard layout features a full-beam, symmetrical ‘double saloon’, where each side has a sofa and stylish, leather-handled overhead lockers. Forward to port is a day head with shower.

Forward view of the full-beam ‘double saloon’ option

The optional layout includes a cabin on the port side. The guest cabin set-up has a double bed aft and direct access to the port bathroom, while the room can also be used as a crew cabin with overhead access via a hatch in the floor of the galley, a suitable option for charter boats and large-yacht chase boats.

In these two-cabin layouts, the saloon contains a single starboard sofa facing a TV screen installed on the port cabin bulkhead. Options for the downstairs area include space for a microwave or fridge. As there are no hull windows, natural light is provided through a long overhead glass panel embedded in the main deck under the windscreen, while the ceiling has strip lights and spotlights.

The lower saloon features a ‘magic porthole’ screen relaying the outside view

And for views? Wally has come up with ‘magic portholes’ on either side of the saloon. These are much larger than the word ‘porthole’ might suggest and offer an interior screen featuring imagery of the exterior as relayed by images from gimbal-stabilised cameras with 4K resolution.

The master cabin is in the bow and features a queen-size bed below a forward mirror and under a deck hatch and two skylights. Both sides of the cabin have the same overhead lockers as seen in the saloon, while there’s a cupboard to port, Samsung TV and starboard bathroom featuring a large, standalone shower room with a wooden bench seat.

The owner’s suite in the bow benefits from skylights

Recent Wally deliveries in Asia include units of the wallytender43 to Hong Kong and Singapore, with the latter soon to also welcome the region’s first wallywhy200 (sold by Thailand dealer V Yachts Asia) along with the wallypower58, offering a spectacular cross-section of the brand’s three motor yacht ranges in the Ferretti Group era.

www.wally.com

www.ferrettigroupasiapacific.com