A flurry of eye-popping yachts from the European shows

A trip to the European boat shows almost guarantees to be an eye-opening experience. Some of the models below made their debuts at the Cannes, Monaco and Genoa shows. Production or custom, these yachts made an impression with their bold designs and innovative features.

Riva couture or Riva art?
Aquariva bridges worlds

This year, Riva, arguably one of boating’s most recognizable luxury brand names, has reached out to partners in the world of couture and industrial design for two limited releases of its Aquariva model, initially designed by Officina Italiana Design in 2000. The Aquariva, built in composite, was created as homage to the iconic mahogany Aquarama that was all the rage on the Riviera into the 1960s. In Cannes, we discovered an Aquariva reinterpreted by Gucci’s creative director Frida Giannini, painted Gucci white with mahogany accents and sporting a green windscreen. Gucci aficionados will recognize other touches of this other iconic Italian brand (celebrating its 90th Annniversary) throughout. It debuts in the United Sates at the Yacht & Brokerage Show in Miami Beach, Feb. 17-21.
In Monaco, Riva also unveiled the Aquariva by Marc Newson in a well-orchestrated event that had the stylish company’s creative imprimatur. The boat, however, made its world debut in New York at the Gagosian Gallery (gagosian.com) as part of an exhibition titled “Transport”.

Newson, an Australian-born industrial designer who has created everything from airplanes to jewelry pieces for Boucheron, reinterpreted the Aquariva while respecting its spirit. He gave it a masculine and sporty feel (enhanced by the boat’s state-of-the-art electronics package) with innovative materials (phenolic textile composite, anodized aluminum, glass-reinforced plastic, multilayered tempered glass and Vipla) that recall the original but add a subtle industrial-age edge. Dual seats allow a passenger to enjoy the ride alongside whoever is lucky enough to slip behind the wheel. Only 22 will be built.

For more information, visit riva-yachts.com

LOA: 33′
Beam: 9’2″
Draft: 3’2″ (under propellers)
Engines: 2 x Yanmar 6 LY3, 380 hp @ 3,300 rpm
Speed (max/cruising): 41/36 knots
Construction: composite

Wood you believe it?
Artofkenetik’s Hedonist is cold-molded construction

It’s not your father’s cold-molded boat. This futuristic-looking machine is built to impress. And it did—particularly when it blew past our boat at speeds that had to be close to the stated 40-knot top speed. Three 800-hp MAN engines coupled to Rolls-Royce Kamewa waterjets move Hedonist, the 63′ mahogany-planked boat with an interior (on this hull two cabins, including an open master and lounge area) that is a cross between a bachelor’s pad and a nightclub. The yacht carries its own 50-knot custom tender, housed neatly in a garage with a cover that contours the shape of the small boat within. The custom-built seats at the helm are incredibly comfortable and ideally positioned to view a range of screens, gauges and knobs, chosen as much for their ability to drive the boat as to look utterly cool. Art of Kinetic, based in Serbia and Germany, conceived and built this boat, which has to be an irresistible toy for a well-to-do playboy. While design is the primordial aim here, this boat features some very practical solutions to hide unsightly steps and turn the anchor into an object of beauty. The hinges in stainless steel are engineered and tooled to work smoothly and look great. Needless to say, the design emphasizes sleek, clean and flush lines. The one regret is that you do have to sacrifice the sun pad forward, but you can lounge comfortably aft within easy reach of a small fireplace/ice bucket.

For more information, visit artofkinetik.com

LOA: 62’4″ (19m)
Beam: 17’4″ (5.28m)
Draft: 3′ (0.95)
Engines: 3 x 800 hp MAN R6-800
Speed (max/cruising): 40/33 knots
Range: 370 nm @ cruising
Construction: cold-molded
Design: Art of Kinetik
Naval architecture: Art of Kinetik

Predatory beauty
Galeon Raptor Skydeck leaves us enraptured

A sea trial on the newest iteration of the Galeon 700—now available with a small fly—convinced us that Polish builder Galeon knows just how to thrill. This stylish 71′ yacht, with a design by Tony Castro, gets to 33 knots with little effort with the largest engine package. It is as pleasant at mooring with all windows and doors open (they completely disappear into the sole), as it is at full speed. The console is attractive, with crisp displays by Raymarine, and comfortable dual Treben seats. Creative design solutions include an automated outdoor stepladder, which tucks away under the skydeck overhang to free up space on the flexible aft deck, equally suited for an afternoon lunch or a lazy afternoon in the sun. The skydeck takes nothing away from the sporty profile and adds an upper helm station for a thrilling ride in the open air. A garage contains a small tender or PWC, which is easily unloaded and lowered automatically into the water using a Bar system that includes remote-control operation of the cradle and swim platform. Inside, LED lighting highlights and softens the contemporary décor that combines dark veneers and tiles with white paneling. Très chic.

For more information, visit galeon.pl

LOA: 71’2″ (21.74m)
Beam: 17’2″ (5.22m)
Draft: 3’9″ (1.16m)
Engines: 2 x MTU 1,550 hp max
Alternative engine package: 2 x 1,100 hp

Charmed
Vicem 78’s cruiser is all but wooden

This new model is a bit of departure for Vicem Yachts in terms of interior décor. Just as previous examples we’ve seen, the new cruiser showcases attractive joinery. But the wood selection and finish (anigre) give the interior a slightly more contemporary feel than the shipyard had accustomed us to. It’s no coincidence. In Cannes, CEO Alberto Perrone da Zara and his team said the builder intended to grow its European market, without of course losing its traditionally strong US-based clientele. No worries. This gifted and responsive cruiser (built in wood encapsulated in resins, which appears as a decorative element in the master stateroom) still features the classic exterior styling that has made Vicem Yachts a popular choice from Palm Beach to Newport, and the nautical décor is perfectly at home in Florida and the Bahamas. Range is up to 1,050 nm, and appropriately there is plenty of storage aboard for multiple-day cruises. Still, if need be, you can rally homeport quickly, as top speed is a dynamic 17 knots. This well-balanced hull comes equipped with Trac stabilizers for extra stability and bow and stern thrusters for maneuverability.

For more information, visit vicemyacht.com

LOA: 82’6″ (25.15m)
Beam: 21′ (6.4m)
Draft: 5’9″ (1.75m)
Engines: 2 x MAN V8 900 hp Common Rail
Speed (max/cruising): 17/14 knots
Range: 1,050 nm @ 10 knots Construction: cold-molded West System epoxy
Design: Vicem Yachts

Numarine 78
Dynamic design reaches for global market

A new CEO, Patrik von Sydow, has recently joined founder and chairman Ömer Malaz at the helm of Istanbul-based Numarine with plans to help expand the brand globally. Already, some of the stylish yachts the shipyard has built have found buyers in the United States, and a fly version and hardtop version of the 78 presented in Cannes will make it to the US in a few months. The 78HT, designed by Can Yalman and Tommaso Spadolini, has good looks and great angular shapes. Hard to miss with its high-vitamin orange paint (it’s also available in purple), it is innovative. Performance-wise, it also makes a bold statement with a 37-knot top speed and a stable ride even in a chop. Great areas to enjoy the ride include the very well-equipped foredeck area with comfortable sun pads. Numarine is working on its flagship 130 WB, which will make another bold and styling statement.

For more information, see numarine.com

LOA: 78’8″ (23.98m)
Beam: 18’10” (5.75m)
Draft: 5’5″ (1,64m)
Engines: 2 x MAN V12 1,550 hp
Speed (max/cruising): 36/28.5 knots
Range: 400 nm @ 28 knots
Construction: composite
Design: Can Yalman/Tommaso Spadolini
Naval architecture: Numarine

Big boats also come in smaller sizes
Benetti Delfino 93

The new Delfino 93 left the Cannes boat show for a lovely Med cruise. Perfect weather and calm seas were no challenge for this gifted new mid-range cruiser from Benetti. This is a displacement vessel (105 tons lightship) designed for such pleasure cruising. At 10 knots, its (very) economical speed, seemingly the Delfino 93 can go on forever. But all good things must come to an end, and the yacht must return to the fuel dock before reaching 1,500 nm, its maximum range. The small ship, equipped with Twin Disc zero-speed stabilizers, is utterly comfortable at any speed. Onboard comfort also comes in the form of generously proportioned rooms (even with five cabins), big windows and plenty of outdoor room from the foredeck area to the spacious sun deck (tender and toys have been moved to the garage). Two different interior schemes by Galeazzi Studio are available—contemporary or classic, available in several variations. Our boat had an approachable modern interior with honey-toned woods, thick carpets and electric shades (operated by a multifunctional and pleasantly designed remote). The Delfino 93 is a lot of boat, and Benetti made room for three crewmembers, including the captain.

For more information, see benettiyachts.it

LOA: 93’6″ (28.50m) Beam: 23’1″ (7.03m) Draft: 5’11” (1.81m)
Engines: CAT C18 ACERT 747kW @ 2,300 rpm or MTU 8V2000 M72 720 kW @ 2,250 rpm (optiona)l
Speed: 14/13 knots (max/cruising)
Range:1,500 nm @ 10 knots
Construction: composite
Exterior design: Stefano Righini
Interior design: Carlo Galeazzi

Revisiting a classic
Mochi Craft Dolphin 74

Mochi Craft with help from Ferretti’s engineering division (AYT) rejuvenated this popular model with a few important touches that make a big difference in terms of everyday use. Among these changes are larger windows and an extended flybridge deck with a huge sunbathing area, a nice grill and dining area. The engine room was also redesigned as a more practical walkaround space, and the garage, equipped with a PWC launch system, was enlarged. At mooring, the crew can use the garage-door entrance to walk through the boat without entering the guest areas. The charming classic interior uses plenty of wood and incorporates some of Ferretti’s signature design features—large portholes and a breakfast nook in the master stateroom, for instance. This four-cabin boat has tons of charm, but the Dolphin 74 really expresses its personality underway. You’d never know it by looking at its seemingly quaint exterior, but this is a sporty boat. A comfortable and fuel-efficient cruising speed is 26 to 27 knots, and we easily reached the official top speed with the twin MTU M94s. This boat makes neat, tight turns in a riding style that is nothing short of exhilarating.

For more information, visit mochicraft-yacht.com

LOA: 74′ (22.58m)
Beam: 22’5″ (6.85m)
Engines: 2 x MTU 10V 2000 M94 1,550 hp or MTU 10 V 2000 M92
Speed (max/cruising): about 31.5/29 knots or 28.5/25 knots
Construction: composite
Design: Victory Design/Centro Stile Ferretti/AYT

Higher goals
Navetta 26 Crescendo

Crescendo in music refers to a gradual increase in volume and intensity. The Navetta 26 Crescendo is based on the Custom Line model, reaching a higher plane in terms of comfort and technology. The word Crescendo has nothing to do in this case with louder sound. In fact, the Navetta 26 proved to be pleasantly quiet and ideally suited for a cruise at 12 to 13 knots with standard MAN V8 engines. This very attractive semi-displacement boat is beamy (about 23′), which results in generous interior space. Larger windows also help open up the space visually. Our test boat featured a light elm veneer and oak soles but other woods are available, as are additional layouts. The lower deck can be set with two large VIPS and identical twin-bedded cabins (like the one we tested), or two guest cabins and one full-beam VIP, nearly identical in size to the on-deck master stateroom. On the technical side, Custom Line has adopted a few big-boat features. Vulkan couplings help minimize vibrations throughout the propulsion system. ARGs, which the Ferretti group uses in many of its models, help minimize rolling motion for a comfortable ride at low speeds. A new flybridge adds to this already very well-endowed tri-deck.

For more information, visit customline-yacht.com

LOA: 86′ (26.22m)
Beam: 22’9″ (6.93m)
Draft: 7’1″ (2.16m)
Engines: 2 x MAN V8 900 mph (2 x MAN V10, 1,100 nm optional)
Speed (max/cruising): 14/12 knots (standard engines)
Range: 1,500 nm @ 10 knots
Construction: composite

Steely resolve, Italian style
Sanlorenzo 46 Steel Lammouche

No one could peg Sanlorenzo’s boss, Massimo Perotti, as a timid man. He invested in Sanlorenzo before the financial downturn, determined to make this Italian shipyard a big-time player. A party at the 2010 Monaco Yacht Show turned the Yacht Club into Sanlorenzo land, with flowing curtains and Champagne, a light show, sushi, and elaborate PowerPoint presentations and videos. There was much to celebrate. In early 2010, the shipyard launched its flagship, the 46m Lammouche, built in steel. With an interior by Francesco Paszkowski, who also worked on the stunning Sanlorenzo 40 Alloy, this 499-GT vessel officially ushers in Sanlorenzo’s superyacht era. In fact, the shipyard recently became a member of the Superyacht Builders Association (SYBAss). The 150′ Lammouche is all big boat. A 4,000-nm range at economical speed, bulbous bow, five decks, including a service tunnel running through the length of the boat, a professional, integrated bridge, a large garage, and of course a multi-function owners’ suite, beach club, sun deck with Jacuzzi and crew quarters for nine.

For more information, visit sanlorenzoyacht.com

LOA: 150’11” (46m)
Beam: 30’6″ (9.3m)
Draft: 8’6″ (2.6m)
Engines: 2 x CAT 3512B 2,040 mph
Speed (max/cruising): 17/15 knots
Range: 4,000 nm @ 12 knots
Construction: steel hull/aluminum superstructure
Exterior design: Sanlorenzo
Interior design: Francesco Paszkowski
Naval architecture: Sanlorenzo

American-style minimalism
Heesen 50m SKY aims high

This fully custom steel-and-aluminum 50m yacht is the largest displacement yacht (650 GT) built at Heesen to date. Formerly known as Rapture, SKY offers plenty of wow moments. In contrast to many of Heesen’s yachts, this big yacht features vertical pilot windows, yet the bow shape and fluid lines remain familiar. That’s because the bold and elegant exterior is styled by Heesen’s former in-house designer Frank Laupman, who has frequently collaborated with the Dutch builder since he opened his own firm, Omega Architects. The tuxedo-style smoky-gray-and-white exterior envelops a modern Makassar-steel-and-glass interior by New York-based Mojo Stumer Associates. SKY is this high-end residential and commercial interior design and architecture firm’s first yacht project. The yacht is very much in the now, with carbon elements and natural fibers, up to and including the stylish, panoramic gym. Our guide encouraged us to plunge our arm into a tall container filled with small beans, an organic (and difficult) way to build muscle. Powerful MTU diesels provide a top speed of about 23 knots.

For more information, visit heesenyachts.nl

LOA: 165’8″ (50.5m)
Beam: 31’6″ (9.6m)
Draft: 10’2″ (3.10m)
Engines: 2 x MTU V8 4000 M70, 1,570 hp
Speed: Range: 6,000 nm @ 10 knots
Construction: steel hull/aluminum superstructure
Exterior design: Omega Architects
Interior design: Mojo Stumer
Naval architecture: Heesen Yachts – Van Oossanen Associates

Gastronomy at sea
CRN’s 72m Azteca enjoys the good life

This is by far the largest vessel built to date at CRN, although it won’t be so for long. After a trying period, CRN, Ferretti’s big-boat yard, is building an 80m and possibly a second yacht based on Azteca’s 72m platform. This steel-hulled beauty entered the top 100 last year, under its previous name Clarena II. The original owner, who commissioned the yacht designed by Nuvolari-Lenard (who delivered elegant, slender but surprisingly conservative lines as compared to some of their previous designs) is described as a bon vivant. In a way, the yacht was designed around the party life, with a galley of gargantuan proportions plus a second one where the staff can cure ham and cater parties gathering on the upper deck. This airy deck was central to the design, a fresh approach paying homage to the pleasures of the open sea. CRN pioneered balconies and terraces in the owner’s suite on the 43m Emerald Star and 50m Ability five years ago. So of course, here they are again on Azteca. The owner’s suite is utterly comfortable from the Tai Ping silk and wool carpets—this must be how it feels to walk on air—to the exquisite his-and-hers marble bathrooms (she: mother-of-pearl, he: tiger’s-eye) and cinema with 65″ wide screen. The yacht is meant for long-distance cruising and top speed is a restrained 16.5 knots, while cruising speed is about 15 knots.

For more information, visit crn-yacht.com

LOA: 236’3″ (72m)
Beam: 44’3″ (13.5m)
Draft: 11’6″ (3.5m)
Engines: 2 x Caterpillar 3516B, 5,364 hp
Speed (max/cruising): 16.5 knots/15 knots
Range: about 6,000 nm
Construction: steel hull/aluminum superstructure
Exterior design: Nuvolari-Lenard
Interior design: Nuvolari-Lenard/owner
Naval architecture: CRN