Powerboat GPS - Yalta Powerpole

After much difficulties the 2010 Powerboat P1 season is finally in it's start in Ukraine. It was a first day of testing and later on it was for the usual timed Powerpole. Seas where flat calm in Yalta with what is the fastest time which give the right of line for the winning team.

EVOLUTION

The ever imposing Belgium team of Furnibo took first in the top P1 Class who follow the winning manners they ended the 2009 year. Italian Metamarine who placed second seems to want to continue and do another nice run this year similar to what they did in 2008. Third for the 2009 Champion SNAV - Kiton OSG Outerlimits boat. Only five seconds divided the first three boats which should wish well for high competition tomorrow. Fifth place for very anticipated Lucas Oil Ilmor powered Vector boat. German Cranefields placed sixth and news run that they blew up an engine in the final part of the timed run. Hope they fix this in time for tomorrow's race. Negative first result for the much awaited home team of Ukrainian Spirit who placed last of the boats finishing the pole, although the over 48 seconds from the first shows an engine problem here. Silverline and the new Fountain 43 V8 powered boat did not manage to start its first Powerpole. Let see if they can copy what Cigarette Smash Poker did in Malta for its first race in the past season, when not competing in the pole it did blew up the competition on race one.

SUPERSPORT

Similar theme to Evolution in the 90 mph speed limited open canopy production category with Belgian and Italian teams succeeding and taking the first places. First place for the 2009 Championship runner-up Baia Attolini, second was the Spirit of Belgium with there new very good looking Nor-Tech 423 boat, and third was Big Sergio Al and Al now driving a new Outerlimits SV40 boat which replaces the Italian Naples built Al and Al Marine 38 Blu Shaft.

Evolution Results:
1. 33 Furnibo = 03:30,86

2. 60 Metamarine = 03:33,54

3. 88 SNAV-Kiton = 03:35,05

4. 01 Carconnex = 03:42,26

5. 77 Lucas Oil Scandinavian Offshore Challenge = 03:45,92

6. 66 Cranefields Wine = 03:53,83

7. 55 Ukrainian Spirit = 04:18,77

- 47 Silverline = DNS

Super Sport Results:
1. 38 Baia Attolini = 04:04,29
2. 17 Spirit of Belgium = 04:04,24
3. 22 Big Sergio = 04:04,73

4. 26 Team 26 = 04:05,82

5. 81 Karelpiu = 04:09,96

- 43 Seagull Chaudron = DNS

- 06 Jolly Drive = DNS

www.grandprixofthesea.com

New Model: Cayman 70 Fly

Launched during the end of 2009, Cayman presents its 70 Fly model. This new Cayman is the second largest build from the La Spezia located boat builder, and represents the flagship of the flybridge motor yacht range. The 70 Fly was designed by renowned Venice firm of Nuvolari Lenard and follows similar modern style to the smaller 62 Fly, which was recently revamped as 620 Bridge. Inside the 70 Fly presents a standard four cabin three heads guest layout below, a two person crew quarters aft, and a split level saloon main deck. The layout of the four cabins is the usual design with full beam mid ship owners suite having a spacious aft looking shower head and walk in wardrobe, VIP to fore, third two berth guest cabin, and fourth double bunk cabin to port side. Customization is an important part of the buying and building of any Cayman and the 70 Fly will follow this process, with the yard also offering other versions to the standard plan during construction in order to suite each owners personal needs. Hull one for example was fitted with a mid tone lacquered cherry wood, and also featured a galley which could become from enclosed to open thanks to movable partitions. Powered by twin 1360hp MAN the 70 Fly reached 32 knots of max, and a cruise of 29 knots during its first sea trials.

Technical Data:

LOA - 22.20 m (72.83ft)

Beam - 5.45 m

Displacement - 36000 kg

Fuel Capacity - 4200 l

Water Capacity - 750 l

Accommodation - 8 berths in 4 cabins, 2 crew

Engines - 2 x MAN 1360hp

Propulsion - line shaft

Speed - 32 knots max, 29 knots cruise

Hull - vee shape

Project - Nuvolari Lenard

Certification - CE A

www.caymanyachts.it

Project: Island Pilot 535

Island Pilot, builder of the 435 and the award winning DSe Hybrid 12m, is adding a new 53 foot model to its performance yacht series, the 535. The concept for the 535 began percolating almost as soon as the original Island Pilots were hitting the waterways in 2005 and the design has evolved over the years, incorporating both customer feedback and the latest available technology. The 535 was designed by the company’s president, Reuben Trane, and naval architect, George Petrie. Their driving goal is to maintain equivalent performance and efficiency to that of the 435 while offering more luxury and roomier accommodations. New molds for the 535 have been built at the company’s yard in Zhuhai City, China. At this time, Island Pilot has two firm orders for the 535, one of which is from a current Island Pilot owner moving up. The 535 gets her performance capabilities from the latest drive train from Volvo Penta, the IPS II 900. In addition to three Joystick docking stations, the 535 will be fitted with Volvo Penta’s new “Dynamic Positioning System” (DPS), which holds heading and position automatically using a GPS array mounted on the radar arch. Extensive tank testing plus computer simulations predict a top speed of 33 knots with economical fast-cruising speeds between 18 and 28 knots. At slower speeds, the 535 will have similar economy to single screw displacement trawlers and mid-speed, semi-displacement cruisers. The pair of 700hp, D11 diesels is aft in a walk-in, stand up, uncluttered engine room accessed through a weather tight door in the cockpit. The spacious engine room allows easy access to all sides of the engines and generator with room left over for a work bench and tool storage. Other systems normally crowded around the motors are located in an easily-accessed “basement” under the galley sole. The 535 high-end performance is complimented by her inviting and accommodating cockpit layout, spacious flybridge arrangement, and interior appointments. A nine foot U-shaped settee is the focal point of the cockpit and with its own canopy the space is perfectly laid out for outdoor entertaining. Owners can select to have a full summer kitchen including grill and wet bar either in the cockpit, on the flybridge, or in both locations. The flybridge has space for three helm chairs or a pair of twins and is outfitted with a pair 15-inch Garmin touchscreens, the same found at the lower helm. A signature feature of all Island Pilot yachts is the bright, open feeling of the deck house, with plenty of glass and 360-degree vistas. The 535 continues this tradition with even more space, the U-shaped settee is 11x6 feet, and room remains for a pair of barrel easy chairs and the raised helm chairs. At 12x14 feet, the deck house is highly customizable. Forward of the deck house, under the great expanse of windscreen, is the fully equipped galley overlooking the dinette. Forward is an island-queen VIP stateroom and aft, under the deck house, is the full width, mid-ship, master stateroom. Measuring 11x16 feet, this space can be configured to an owner’s preference and be fitted with an island queen, either angled or squared off, or a pair of twin berths. With her unique layout, the 535 affords the privacy found in an aft-cabin yacht with the advantages of the sedan-styling. The Island Pilot 535 will debut at the 2011 Miami Boat Show.

www.islandpilot.com

Powerboat GPS - 2010 Season Preview

Only a couple days away from the start of the 2010 UIM Poweboat P1 Championship, and we go again with a new revised calendar which is still not in its official form. As it was hinted in a previous article the Malta Grand Prix has been moved to September, and more Grand Prix of the seas settings should be added. A Belgium race is being hinted a lot, as is one in Sweden, and in North Italy. None the less a minimum five Grand Prix races should be made for 2010 and considering that a month ago the season was actually cancelled this is good news.

The list of teams is the positive starting news for the 2010 year seeing again an upgrade versus the 2009 season which had a seven boats line up in each of the two classes. This year we are back again to good numbers which are closer to the record participants seen in 2008 with nine in Evolution, and seven in Super Super Class so far confirmed in the first race. Some teams are missing from the first Grand Prix line up so we should see more racers gathering in both the Super Sport and Evolution classes in the upcoming races. Considering a month ago we had no races at all, this is all but a very positive feedback.

EVOLUTION CLASS
The top performing no limit Evolution Class will see old and new competitors, and for the 43 foot Outerlimits 88 OSG Racing Team to hold its title will be a very hard task. My favorites for this year title starts with the very promising new boat / power package 77 Lucas Oil Scandinavian Offshore Challenge, followed by title holders 88 Outerlimits which has a drivers line up which looks more like a Real Madrid football team, and the Belgian 33 Furnibo 2B1 Fountain race boat which showed promising qualities towards the end of last year season. The wildcards are the diesel powered 60 Metamarine Foresti Sguardi, 53 Pignolo Team Lamborghini Racing, and the new 55 Ukranian Spirit team which are the 2009 Supersport Champions. Ukrainian Spirit choose again a new Chaudron design and will be interesting to see how the three time Supersport Champion builder will handle the pressure of the more demanding Evolution class. Other challenger would have been the Italian Cigarette Team which so far looks missing in the first race.

SUPERSPORT CLASS
Giving a preview for this class looks easy but actually is more difficult then ever. On first thoughts the 38 feet Chief powered Donzi 26 Team 26 should be the favorite showing how well they performed in 2009, and only reliability issues in five races actually stopped them from taking the championship. Team 26 also re-rigged their boat during the autumn winter break. Other favorites are the 2009 title winner 41 feet Chaudron 43 Ukrainian Spirit, and the other 38 Donzi second placed in 2009 38 Baia Attolini. The wild cards in my book are the 17 Spirit of Belgium with the new Nor-Tech 423 who shown promising results with the old boat towards the end of the 2009 season. In this class there is also two new teams both from Italy; 06 Jolly Drive Racing Team, and 81 RG87 Racing Team. More teams should join and the new Pantera 41 for 8 Phoenix TV which changes from a Formula 38, and the two times 2007-2008 Super Sport Class Racing Project Chaudron 41 which has been re-rigged for 2010 should complete the circle in this class. Both these teams should also not be taken lightly.

www.grandprixofthesea.com

News: Menorquin May 2010

SLOW YACHTING MOMENTS
With the aim of familiarizing people with the Slow Yachting philosophy the shipyard has produced a series of audiovisual accounts of the Club Menorquin sailor’s personal experiences, some of which can already be seen online. How do the Club Menorquin sailors feel when they are living out their passion for the sea on board their Menorquin vessels? This was the question that has fuelled the Menorquin team to develop this initiative, Slow Yachting Moments, with the purpose of familiarizing people with the sailing philosophy of these boats. Because who better than the sailors of the boats themselves to transmit through their own personal experiences what Slow Yachting is all about? The format consists of a recorded interview with the Club Menorquin yacht owner, characterized with image capsules depicting some of this sailor’s Slow Yachting Moments. “Arrival time”,“Siesta time” and “Walk time” are some of the titles which make up the different audiovisual pieces of the first Slow Yachting Moments. The videos are being made of Menorquin customers from various different countries where the shipyard has a presence.

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SLOW YACHTING MOMENTS FROM LLEVANT D’ES GRAU
Llevant d’Es Grau is the name Ramón Galopa, a businessman from Barcelona and Club Menorquin sailor, chose for his Menorquin Yacht 100 Open, the same name as the village where he retires to enjoy his free time and sail whenever his agenda allows it. He is to be the first Slow Yachting Moments protagonist. Ramón Galopa has visited the coast of Menorca, whose beauty he praises highly, since he was fifteen. Since then he has maintained a strong link with this peaceful island which he now visits every month. This Club Menorquin sailor used to own a speed boat before acquiring his MY 100 Open and becoming a Menorquin sailor, over the years he decided to start enjoying the sea at his own pace in the Slow Yachting style. In his video, Galopa admits he is very confident in his boat because the Llevant d’Es Grau’s performance is secure and safe in any sea conditions. Sailing on board his Menorquin is precisely what breaks the pace of the whole week, or the pace of the whole year. These escapes are like a spa, they fill you with happiness comments Ramón Galopa. Slow Yachting Moments is also a Menorquin project with which the shipyard wishes to pay tribute to the loyalty of its customers, and transmit how much the company values the hard work and dedication invested in strengthening day by day the relationship with them.

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www.menorquin.com

New Model: Tiara 4300 Open

Renowned quality US boat builder Tiara presents the new flagship for its Open Series, the 4300 Open. This new model launched during the February Miami show reflects Tiara traditional style, craftsmanship, and rugged elegance and follows on the footsteps of the 2008 launched 3900 Open. As the flagship of the Open range the 4300 is combined with outstanding features and equipment that make her capable of handling deep water fishing and, or sea cruising, breaking a perfect balance between the two environments which is hard to find. A 98 square-foot upper cockpit features Tiara hinged helm console with full flush mount electronics capability, Stidd Captain’s Seat, curved companion lounge with swivel seat, engine access hatch, wet bar, and abundant storage. The lower cockpit which is the fisherman's ring offers 95 square-foot of space. This area is built to accommodate a fighting chair if desired, and features an aft-facing mezzanine seating, low free board, flush floor storage boxes/hatches, and molded in transom door and gate. Accommodation for the 4300 is for six berths in a four plus two environment in a private European style which goes away from the usual US open plan system. The layout is a owners room to fore, two bunk berths cabin to port, shower head to starboard, convertible C-shaped settee, and an L-shaped galley. The 4300 Open is powered by twin Cummins QSM11 715hp Diesels, which give a top speed of 35 knots, and a cruise of 32 knots.

Technical Data:

LOA - 13.99 m (45.9ft)

Beam - 4.67 m

Draft - 1.30 m

Displacement - 13607 kg dry

Fuel Capacity - 2271 l

Water Capacity - 492 l

Accommodation - 4 + 2 berths

Engines - 2 x Cummins QSM11 715hp

Propulsion - line shaft with four bladed props

Speed - 35 knots max, 32 knots cruise, 23 knots efficient fast cruise

Range - 385 nm at 23 knots

Hull Shape - planning vee with 17.5 degrees dead rise aft

Construction - hand laid fiberglass with vinylester resin and balsa cored sides

Certification - NMMA, ABYC Standard

www.tiarayachts.com

Projects: Rio 42 Air, Rio 42 Art

Rio continue with the revamp as started in 2004 with the launch of the successful 44 Art for all its range presenting always more innovative and modern looking models. Just as promised in the 2009 Genoa show the North Italian builder presents the renderings for a complete new 42 model which as usual to Rio will feature the Air for hardtop, and the Art open style version. This 42 is a complete new model and features many changes not only in the looks and layout plan department but in all parts of this medium to large sized sport cruiser. It is also in fact 25 cm wider, and a foot longer to the old model. The size changes show a complete different internal plan with a larger full beam owners cabin, stern drive propulsion versus shaft of the old model, high low bathing platform, and a complete revamp to the cockpit layout with large L-shaped settee which adds a lot of free space against the sun pad plan of the old 42. The 42 Air will also offer a major difference as unlike the previous model will have a real integrated hardtop design. The 42 Art will also offer big changes and follows the looks and feel of the 2008 launched 35 Art model with a forward looking radar arch. The 42 Art is all similar to the hard top Air model, but goes on with full open hands in the air cockpit. Standard power is from twin Volvo D6 330hp. This model made its debut at the recent Naples boat show and should prove to be another winning design from Rio.

www.rioyachts.net

News: Galeon May 2010

NEW REPRESENTATION IN CHINA

Polish boat builder Galeon is thrilled to announce another important addition to its World wide expansion strategy adding a new representation in the Peoples Republic of China, Honk Kong, and Macau. This new Asian representation addition follows that of Galeon of North America in Texas. The first and new Galeon representative in this Asian continent area is Hongkong Performance Yacht Co.. Limited located in Xiamen, China. Galeon's new Chinese partners are well establish on these markets and will work closely with the Polish builder central office in Strazyn to ensure a highest quality service.

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www.galeon.pl

Project: Azimut Grande 126

Azimut presents its second of the Grande hundred feet plus line project with an exterior rendering of the 126. The 126 will take Azimut top spot as its greatest ever build, renewing the top position from the first Grande model to be launched by the end of this year which is the 120 SL. Designed as all the Azimut's since early nineties by Stefano Righini, the Italian firm and designers present a nice three deck Super Yacht with a sport looking raised pilot house. The raised pilot house seems to be the big innovation so far for the 126, although I would wait to say this is the only one, as this builder has the fame for being a trend setter in everything it does. This is also thanks to its fully dedicated Research and Design centre located in Varazze. As usual to Azimut and Righini integrated view windows abound in all the 126 feet of the flagship project. Launching is scheduled to be in 2012.

www.azimutyachts.com

Powerboat P1

The past month was a difficult one for those like me who count the days for the Powerboat P1 championship to start. After six months of waiting for the 2010 season, we had the bad news that racing for both the Evolution and Supersport Classes was cancelled. Thankfully after some meetings between the parties, UIM and the teams we had the good news that the P1 Season was still on schedule for a full 2010 run.

Started in 2003 Powerboat P1 has been a fabulous series in mono hull offshore racing. P1 took what was left of the early nineties Class One mono hulls and expanded on this since 2003. The season has seen many important boating brands compete and win. Credit should also be given for Powerboat P1 Management who created a fabulous level playing field in both classes, with a precise power to weight ratio system which made sure of fierce and fair competition. Many P1 titles have been decided in the last Grand Prix of the Sea of a Season, with the only exception being the dominant Racing Project Chaudron 41 Supersport 2008 title run, which they took with a Grand Prix in advance. P1 is also pure endurance not only for speed and the spectacle they give, but most of all for pure rough weather racing. A superb memory I have is the 2008 Malta Grand Prix with seas having ten footers and winds peaking force seven in both the classes and the Saturday Endurance, and Sunday Sprint races. The 2008 Season featured many rough water races other to Malta, as in Marseilles and Tunisia.

Some renowned boat builders who won in the past of the P1 series have been Rizzardi winners of Evolution in 2003 with a Buzzi designed boat, legendary Donzi with driver Cangiano in 2006, the double Fountain Evolution title in 2007 and 2008, and the 2009 Outerlimits SV43 win again with Cangiano. Sunseeker has also competed in three seasons with the Buzzi design XS2000 in 2006 not officially, and 2007 and 2008 in a semi official dress. Speeds have also increased a lot since the limit was removed in the Evolution Class from 2008 onwards. Before this Evolution Class had a 90 mph limit. This was a very important turn around with today's fastest boats in this class being close to the 120 mph mark, and some of them also going over this limit. Rumour has it that the Sweden totaled Outerlimits Lucas Oil boat could peak 126 mph. But if you think renowned brands are the only part of the P1 story you better see some facts, as the series has also seen the revolution created by Chaudron who competed in the SuperSport production class since 2004, but it was their 41 launched in 07 which marked the turn around making a dominant three year title run from 2007 till 2009. Not bad for a family boat builder located in a small central Mediterranean island which builds sport boats from 12 to 41 feet. After this fantastic run Chaudron Chiantar family takes the challenge to the more challenging Evolution Class this year.

For all the above and more PowerYacht says long live Powerboat P1 and hoping that the difficulties encountered this season will bring a better championship in the years to come.