The latest arrival to the Magellano fold is a little sister, the 60, which wears its family resemblance proudly and debuted at this year’s Cannes Yachting Festival before exhibiting at the Genoa International Boat Show. Marine Italia has already sold units in Hong Kong and Taiwan, due in spring 2024, with the regional dealer also representing Azimut in Macau, Guangdong and Singapore.

Ken Freivokh designed the exterior

Freivokh has kept the same clean look for the entire Magellano line that today comprises yachts ranging in size from the 60 (18.5m) and 66 (20.15m) to the 25M and 30M, with a unit of the series flagship set to arrive in Hong Kong in spring 2024 following a sale by Marine Italia. Incredibly, the four models across the entire series look similar – and similarly good.

The exterior of the new Magellano 60 has the same straight bow, horizontal hull lines and teak inserts in the fashion plates as her bigger sisters, while the hull colour of choice remains ottanio, a dark teal that looks beautiful on the water.

The aft cockpit has a glass parapet and facing sofas

Swedish naval architectural studio Profjord AB and Azimut’s own R&D Department designed an efficient new semi-planing Dual Mode hull shape for a boat that, fuel wise, has been designed for the future.

As well as traditional fuel, the Magellano 60 can run on HVOlution developed by Eni Sustainable Mobility, as first shown when hull one used the biofuel made of HVO (hydrogenated vegetable oil) on its trip from Savona to Taormina for the model’s private showing at Azimut’s annual Yachting Gala event.

The table can be lowered or raised and folded out for alfresco dining

At its ideal cruising speed of 18 knots, the Magellano 60 runs solidly in the water with a comfortable top speed of about 24 knots with twin 730hp MAN engines and shaft drive.

FROM OUT TO IN

The beach platform can be used both for swimming and for launching the tender or toys depending on the position it’s set at. And who would guess that what looks like a storage unit in the aft cockpit leads to a crew cabin, another essential feature for owners who want to charter or like to be able to kick back and relax after enjoying their day on the water.

The aft galley is set a step below the saloon

The extra-large cockpit sets the tone for the rest of the yacht, where outdoor life and views to the water are given top priority. Longitudinal couches face each other and the water around the boat and a teak-capped glass aft closure leaves views free and clear. The cockpit table between the sofas can be set low for use as a coffee table or raised and folded out to offer covered, alfresco dining.

Forward to port are two bar stools that connect the cockpit to the interior, with the galley set at the aft end of the saloon. Just open the door between the cockpit and the saloon, and drop a sliding window into the bar and serving area, and the galley becomes part of the cockpit area, an ideal setup that makes cooking for friends part of the fun.

The saloon has a C-shaped sofa to port and facing sofas to starboard

Set one step up from the cockpit and galley, the saloon is like a glasshouse with views straight through and side-to-side that are so free and open that you could forget you’re indoors.

A C-shaped sofa frames the port side of the saloon, while to starboard are two-seat sofas either side of a table that – like in the cockpit – can transform from a coffee table to a dining table. The floor-to- ceiling window on the starboard side is truly a sight to behold.

Aft view of the saloon shows the huge, full-height window on the starboard side

The yacht’s colour theme is played to its best advantage, with the teal hull colour picked up and repeated.

Soft, curved furnishings in shades of white are set off by black accents that are as chic as the piping on a Chanel suit, an effect carried over to the three bright and spacious cabins on the lower deck, comprising a VIP fore, a twin to starboard and an owner’s cabin midships.

The beautifully decorated full-beam owner’s suite

The full-beam owner’s suite is a picture of studied elegance, with a round mirror set in the centre of an aft bulkhead covered in light, fluted panelling. There’s a sofa to starboard and a long storage counter to port, hanging cupboards on both sides and an en-suite bathroom.

THE LONG GAME

As the name implies, Azimut’s Magellano series is all about enjoying navigation and exploration. The indoor helm station, just one step up from the cockpit and galley, is an integral part of the boat’s social setup and everyone aboard can enjoy observing the boat at work.

The flybridge includes a C-shaped dinette to port and a sunbathing area beside the helm

However, there’s no better spot to helm than on the flybridge. The helming position fore is imminently social, flanked by a portside sun pad whose headrest slides back to become part of the C-shaped seating around the dining table when needed.

Owners can select an outdoor kitchen with a grill, while the aft area can feature two facing sofas – like in the cockpit – or a C-shaped settee-cum-sun lounger. Owners can choose to mount a carbon-fibre hard top or include a bimini, or even just leave the space entirely open.

The foredeck is shown with the triple sunpad folded up to create an aft-facing sofa

The same smart seating with convertible backrests is used on the foredeck. The social area in the bow starts with a fixed forward-facing sofa, while a section of the forward triple sunpad can be folded up to offer an aft-facing sofa, helping create four sides of seating around the flexible table.

The clever design of the foredeck makes it another outdoor space that can be enjoyed all day, whether you’re cruising along in the sunshine watching the scenery go by or enjoying a drink at anchor, with shade provided by a canopy mounted on four carbon poles.

The Azimut Magellano 60 packs all the series’ key features of seaworthiness, flexibility of use, efficiency and range into a tidy package that looks just as good and lives just as well as her larger sisterships, proving that when it comes to Magellano in the Azimut sense, it’s an outlook on life at sea that counts more than anything else.

www.azimutyachts.com

www.marineitalia.asia

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A world premiere at this year’s Cannes Yachting Festival, the new F4 is the French shipyard’s bid to reinvent its popular F-Line of flybridge yachts with a 50ft model that stays true to the brand’s roots while updating its form and substance.

The F4 was a world premiere at the Cannes Yachting Festival

For its latest flybridge yacht, Prestige turned to a tried and true team: Michael Peters Yacht Design, the US-based naval architectural studio, and Camillo Garroni of Italy’s Garroni Design for the layout and interiors. Does that sound international?

Add that the F4 is built in sturdy GRP infused into an opening mould and is constructed at the Prestige shipyard in Vendée on France’s west coast and you have the complete picture for a yacht built by a shipyard with a global outlook.

A signature fashion plate is a marker of new F-Line models

With an LOA of 49ft 10in and a near-15ft beam, the new Prestige F4 is neat and compact. Dark and curved glazed surfaces contrast with the white hull to break up the exterior lines, bringing dynamism and a sense of movement even when the boat is still.

OUTDOOR OFFERINGS

The F4 has a handy up-down swim platform with stairs that deploy when the platform is lowered, as well as locker storage for toys, while no flybridge yacht would be complete without a little something extra on top.

The flybridge has an L-shaped dinette aft and large sunbathing area forward

The flybridge is large and very enjoyable, with an L-shaped couch around an aft table and plenty of sunbathing space fore. Owners can choose between a hard top and a bimini cover for a space they may find themselves using from dawn to dusk – and even later, seeing that it has an outdoor kitchen complete with a sink, a mini fridge and a barbecue grill concealed in a cabinet.

The upper helm is surrounded by seating, so everyone can enjoy the boat when it’s running at its top speed of 28 knots or cruising along comfortably at 22 knots, powered by twin 480hp Volvo Penta D6- IPS650 inboard engines.

The foredeck features thick-cushion sunpads and can be covered by a foldaway bimini

Back on the main deck, the aft cockpit is set up with the option of facing sofas either side of a foldable table on the centreline, a layout that enhances the feeling of connection with the sea because guests look out over the water instead of into the boat.

Prestige also offers the two sofas in an L-shape formation, again along with a folding table, while it’s also easy to keep the chilled drinks flowing thanks to an icemaker tucked under the port stairs to the flybridge.

The aft cockpit shown with two facing sofas either side of a foldable table

Garroni Design’s input included an ‘ocean view’ galley adjacent to the cockpit that blends interior spaces with the exterior.

Just open the home-style door to the saloon, fold up the galley window and hook it to its ceiling anchor and you have an indoor/outdoor space that makes entertaining while you cook simple and natural.

The galley and aft cockpit can be connected by opening the door and lifting the window

Furthermore, the option of synthetic teak flooring in the cockpit, as selected for hull one, signals the shipyard’s desire to shift towards innovative building materials to enhance environmental friendliness and ease of use.

QUIET LUXURY

Enter the saloon and you find a comfortable J-shaped couch to port and an opening table in a light, bright and contemporary space where every detail has been carefully planned. The ceiling, lined with suede-like Alcantara and accented by curved rope LED lighting, and focus point details like carved walnut cabinetry enhance a feeling of quiet luxury.

Forward view of the saloon, with décor inspired by the French Riviera

The helm position to starboard has wraparound views, 12-inch Garmin touchscreens and joystick commands. It’s a user-friendly arrangement that’s ideal for owner/drivers and family use.

From here, it’s just a couple of steps down to the master suite, set fore on a deck level that the shipyard calls ‘semi-main’. To create this private level, Peters widened the deep-V hull at the nose, creating enough volume for a king-size bed placed centrally in a full-beam cabin that boasts 2m of headroom.

The well-lit master suite is in the bow and located on a ‘semi-main’ deck

The materials are classic, like the bed’s rattan headboard, and the cabin gets plenty of natural light through three skylights. Owners can enjoy the views coming in through long hull windows with opening portholes for natural air circulation. The en-suite bathroom to port has luxury touches like twin sinks and there’s plenty of storage space.

There’s a handy washer/dryer tucked into a cabinet in the lobby between the two guest cabins, which each have forward-facing beds. To starboard, the VIP has a convertible double bed while the slightly narrower port cabin has twin beds, a suitably flexible configuration for a family or group of friends.

The starboard guest cabin has a convertible double bed

Special attention was paid to vibration and soundproofing the engine room, even though the IPS engines are well known for their smooth and quiet ride. The end result? At top speed in the master suite, you hear water rushing by more than you hear the engines. That may well be the largest luxury aboard a boat where living well is always a top consideration.

With a set-up created to accommodate how people want to enjoy time on the water today combined with an added touch of refinement and the best and most efficient technology available, the Prestige F4 opens a new chapter in this shipyard’s book of successful flybridge yachts. More than just a tweak or an update, the F4 is a rethink that’s bound to find some eager takers.

www.prestige-yachts.com

www.asiayachting.net

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Among several high-profile Ferretti Group models to arrive in Asia this year – including the region’s first wallywhy200, wallypower58 and Riva 76’ Perseo Super – the Ferretti Yachts 860 was a true head turner at the four-day event.

However, it was just a first stop in Southeast Asia for the 88ft flybridge motor yacht, as it then moved on to its new home in Phuket, having been sold before its arrival by dealer V Yachts Asia, which last year hosted the Thailand premiere of the Ferretti Yachts 500 in Pattaya.

Like Ferretti Yachts’ flagship 1000, the 860 features an infinity cockpit with a glass parapet

Built alongside the brand’s biggest yachts from the 780 upwards in Ferretti Group’s Cattolica shipyard on Italy’s east coast, the 860 is Ferretti Yachts’ third-biggest model behind the 920 and the flagship1000, a model that has been delivered to Taiwan and mainland China over the past year or so.

A world premiere at last year’s Cannes Yachting Festival and successor to the 850, the Ferretti Yachts 860 is also among the brand’s new wave of models featuring the option of Classic or Contemporary interiors by IdeaeItalia, also seen on the 500, 1000, upgraded 780 and new 580 that debuted this year.

The Ferretti Yachts 860 offers a high-low swim platform

The 860 also features a sleek, powerful silhouette by architect Filippo Salvetti, who has worked on the exterior of these recent models as well as earlier designs like the 670 and 720, all in collaboration with Ferretti Group’s Strategic Product Committee led by Piero Ferrari and its Engineering Department.

As such, apart from the 920, the Italian has drawn all of Ferretti Yachts’ current Flybridge models and also collaborated with IdeaeItalia on the brand’s new Infynito 90.

With an overall length of 88ft 5in and a beam of 20ft 5in, the Ferretti Yachts 860 is just an inch shorter than the Infynito 90 but is 3ft 8in slimmer, following the Flybridge series’ classic lines and impressive performance while also remaining a CE-certified recreational craft due to a sub-24m load-line length.

The huge garage can fit a jet-ski and a 3.95m tender

Its standard engines are twin 1,800mph MAN V12 engines, which give a cruising speed of 24 knots and a top speed of 28. However, the first 860 in Asia features the upgraded option of 2,000mph MAN V12s, for a cruising speed of 27 knots and a top speed of 32, impressive for an 80-tonne yacht.

INFINITY OUTLOOK

While the yacht’s smooth lines are inviting, the aft cockpit and beach club are even more so. Like the flagship 1000, the 860 features an infinity cockpit with a glass parapet for greater views. The yacht also has a remarkably large garage with space for both a Williams SportJet 395 tender and a two-seat jetski, which can be launched directly into the water by lowering the swim platform.

The starboard side deck leads past an opening door by the dining area

Reached by two symmetrical stairways either side of the garage door, the cockpit is set up with two long sofas facing each other and ensuring all guests enjoy sea views. The sofas flank a huge, almost square central table that can seat eight people for alfresco dining with the addition of foldable director chairs, plus there’s a bar to port, another way of keeping guests entertained in this sheltered area.

Side decks lead to the foredeck, an attractive zone featuring an oversize, forward-facing sofa incorporating a central armrest and built-in  glass holders. Forward is a teak coffee table and a C-shaped sofa bed featuring reclining backrests and headrests, while a sunshade supported by carbon posts can be erected when needed.

The foredeck offers a four-sided seating area

The cockpit’s starboard stairs lead to a vast flybridge offering 44sqm (474sqft) of social space, starting with a clear aft area that can be furnished with freestanding furniture such as sunbeds or even a jacuzzi, made available for the first time on a Ferretti Yachts model.

Forward to port is an L-shaped dinette that can seat up to eight people, while further forward is a large double sunpad sheltered by the low windscreen. To starboard is the twin-seat helm station, while behind it is a large, two-piece multi-functional outdoor galley that can be accompanied by bar stools.

The flybridge features a dinette and sunbeds to port, a huge bar and helm to starboard, plus a clear area aft (not pictured)

The forward part of the flybridge is covered by a black-and-white hard top, which is available with fixed glass, an opening glass sunroof or with shading blades.

INTERIOR SOPHISTICATION

Back in the cockpit, the door to the saloon can be fully opened, either electrically or manually, and leads guests to an interior featuring Art Deco-inspired curves and a sophisticated decor – or choice of decors.

Interior photos show IdeaeItalia’s Classic mood, as selected for the first hull in Asia

The hull in Thailand features IdeaeItalia’s Classic mood, characterised by darker, warmer colours and striking contrasts, as evident in the throw pillows seen everywhere from the outdoor areas to the saloon and cabins. The Contemporary option presents paler, cooler colours characterised by tone-on tone shades through to total white.

The saloon is immediately notable for its magnificent floor-to-ceiling windows and features adjoining sofas to starboard that combine to offer an L-shaped seating area, while there’s plenty more space for loose chairs. To port is a low-set counter and a 75-inch TV.

The saloon features full-height windows and a sliding door by the dining area

Forward, a large dining table can seat eight people, while to starboard a sliding door offers great views and ventilation for guests, as well as direct access to the side deck.

The hallway leads past the lower-deck staircase to a day head on the port side. To starboard is a comprehensive galley, which can be enclosed or open and includes a ceramic hob, microwave/oven, 302-litre fridge and 117-litre freezer, as well as a side deck door.

Ferretti Yachts’ first helical staircase leads to four en-suite guest cabins

The hallway leads further forward and up a couple of steps to an elegantly finished, semi-raised pilothouse featuring Poltrona Frau pilot chairs. Onboard technology includes a Seakeeper stabiliser on the Thailand hull, while fin stabilisers and Xenta’s X-AID joystick docking system are among options.

Deliberately set apart from the guest areas by a sliding door, the pilothouse has a dinette to port that can be used as a chart table or for crew dining, while forward is private access to a pair of twin-bunk crew cabins with private bathrooms.

Port view of the full-beam master suite

Owners and guests reach their rooms by another Ferretti Yachts first, a helical staircase, which is port side of the dining table and presents a beautifully crafted passage down to the four en-suite guest cabins.

The full-beam owner’s cabin is midships and features a large, twin-sink bathroom and ample storage including a walk-in wardrobe, while it also benefits from innovative acoustic insulation solutions. To port is a twin cabin with forward-facing beds, while to starboard are two double cabins with inward-facing beds including a full-beam VIP suite forward.

The twin-sink bathroom in the master suite, one of four guest cabins

Salvetti and IdeaeItalia have found their groove with Ferretti Yachts and the 860 is another fine example of a classic yet contemporary flybridge motor yacht, highlighted by novel features that show a brand always looking ahead.

www.ferretti-yachts.com

www.ferrettigroupasiapacific.com

The post Ferretti Yachts finds its groove appeared first on Yacht Style.

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

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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

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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

The post Riva’s super Sportfly shines in Hong Kong appeared first on Yacht Style.

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.

The post Gold Vision, Green Soul: Sol, the stunning 80 Sunreef Power Eco appeared first on Yacht Style.

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

The post Gulf Craft’s fresh start with Majesty 72 appeared first on Yacht Style.

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

The post Shining Light: Azimut Grande 36M appeared first on Yacht Style.

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

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