When Sanlorenzo announced that Tilli Antonelli, founder of the Pershing brand of fast planing yachts, was heading up a new project, it was pretty obvious that raw speed would figure in the equation. That project‚ the SP110, does not disappoint.
Sanlorenzo’s first open coupé design is also the yard’s quickest yacht to date, with triple 2,000-horsepower MAN V12 engines coupled to MJP waterjets that reportedly provide a top speed of 40 knots—ideal for a weekend run from downtown Miami to the Cat Cays in the Bahamas.
But her performance is only part of the SP110’s story.
“The Sanlorenzo SP line is really the expression of a shipyard that wants to do something different,” Antonelli says. “Different not just because she’s very sleek, elegant and powerful, but because her performance is also matched by impressive efficiency, which is the key behind the propulsion system.”
In fact, SP in the model name stands for Smart Performance. There’s no getting away from the fact that those combined 6,000 horsepower are going to burn through some fuel, but the “fractional” waterjet installation means the boat can run on one, two or all three engines to optimize performance and efficiency in various conditions. At 40 knots on three engines, the yacht burns nearly 300 gallons per hour, but at a cruising speed of 31 or 32 knots in flat conditions, consumption drops by 70 to 80 gallons an hour. And if owners are in no hurry at all, they can run only the fixed center engine with Humphree Interceptors at 7 knots.
The GRP hull form is by naval architect Marco Arnaboldi, who made his name designing waterjet-powered boats at AB Yachts. The SP110’s deep-V deadrise narrows to a fine bow entry, and there are two hard chines for less drag and better stability when turning at high speed. Portions of the superstructure are built with carbon fiber, to add stiffness while reducing weight. A glass laminate means windows are up to 10 percent lighter than usual; a Selective Catalytic Reduction control system reduces emissions of nitrogen oxides to near-zero levels; and the roof has a photovoltaic system that can produce up to 6 kilowatts to help power the hotel loads.
No one is calling the SP110 a “green” boat, but it does merge high-speed thrills with a degree of eco-responsibility. Even Massimo Perotti, Sanlorenzo’s president and CEO, and owner of the first SP110, Almax, calls the yacht a niche product that’s far removed from the brand’s SL, SD and SX flybridge ranges.
“Developing a new yacht project without keeping sustainability in mind is no longer possible or practical,” he says. “We understood there’s not a huge market for the SP110, but it’s an interesting niche because even though SUV cars are the biggest sellers, people will always want to drive Porsches and Ferraris.”
And that brings us to what is arguably the SP110’s biggest draw: spectacular looks. Just as people buy a sports car as much for form as for function, some yacht owners will invest in the SP110 because of her chiseled proportions.
Yacht designer Bernardo Zuccon of Zuccon International Project was inspired by the great white shark when creating the aggressive, yet graceful exterior profile. Copper-colored accents along the flybridge borders add a typical touch of Sanlorenzo flair. The vertical windscreen is a brave choice for an open coupé, but offers
considerably more interior volume in the wheelhouse and better visibility compared with a more conventional raked windscreen. Zuccon describes the overall design as “sleek and sporty, but at the same time simple and refined.”
The design and layout by Lissoni & Partners is also different. The broad, flush deck aft (a Williams tender sits inside the transom) recalls that of Sanlorenzo’s Bluegame models, but the split-level interior is unique. On the lower level is a private lounge, and above is the raised main salon. Both look out through glass sliding doors over the open deck aft.
The raised salon, in particular, feels like a seaside terrace, with the added advantage of keeping guests within voice contact, whether they are inside or outside.
Apart from the main salon, the raised main deck comprises a dining area, day head, galley and separate wheelhouse. On Almax, the lower deck has a pair of VIP staterooms amidships on each side of a central corridor, and another two guest staterooms forward. There is also the option of a full-beam master.
The simple, yet elegant décor is signature Sanlorenzo. It’s based on teak, resin and lava stone. Piero Lissoni is from the less-is-more school of architecture. As Sanlorenzo’s art director, his urban style is reflected in freestanding pieces that include contemporary designer labels, mixed with vintage collectables and custom-made items. The yacht also is equipped with advanced communications, entertainment and home automation systems from Videoworks.
With the SP110, Sanlorenzo brings its distinctly Italian sense of style and grace to the open sports boat market, although the term “sports boat” doesn’t really do justice to this new category of yacht. And there is more to come. The SP110 is the first of a series that includes a 90-footer (27-meter) scheduled to be launched next year, and a 130-foot (40-meter) flagship on the drawing board for a couple years later.
For more information: sanlorenzoyacht.com
Sanlorenzo SP110
LOA 108’5″ (33.04m)
Beam 26’11” (8.2m)
Draft (full load) 4’3″ (1.3m)
Construction GRP
Engines 3x 2,000-hp MAN V12
Naval architectureStudio Arnaboldi
Exterior design Zuccon International Project
Interior design Lissoni & Partners
Builder Sanlorenzo Yachts
This article was originally published in the Summer 2023 issue.
