September 10, 2021

Flybridge Cruiser Ends Aground in Les Ecrehous Jersey

A nine meter Beneteau flybridge cruiser titled m/y Orianna ended aground and atop of the Ecrehous reef in Les Ecrehous, Jersey Island, to the South of the English Channel before 11:00 hours of the morning of Friday tenth September 2021.  RNLI Jersey Coast Guard safety vessels from St. Catherine and St. Helier sped to the scene, picking the crew who in the meantime where rescued by Seafaris, who was doing its daily patrol in the area.  The crew suffered minor injuries from the impact and where taken to the Jersey main land for assessment.  Later in the day with the tide going down the Beneteau flybridge cruiser became a social media sensation, as it set at about four meters above sea water level, even though the boat was never in danger of falling over as the below photo might make you think.  With high tide coming in the following day, the Beneteau motor cruiser was recovered and taken to Gorey Harbour for repairs.
The Beneteau flybridge cruiser in this grounding is an Antares 9 model.  Designed by Andre Beneteau, the Antares 9 offered a forward double berth cabin, with a galley living area which adds an extra double berth.  The Antares 9 was produced from 2003 to 2008 coming as a replacement to the 9.05, and replaced by the Sarazin designed 30 Antares in 2009.

Project: ISA Yachts 80 Continental

ISA Yachts, a brand of Palumbo Superyachts, leader in the construction and sale of custom and semi custom superyachts, confirms that the construction of the steel hulled Continental 80 is progressing smoothly on schedule.  The interior fitting is expected to start in January 2022 with a potential delivery to the Owner in early 2024.  Enrico Gobbi of Team for Design penned the exterior lines, while the naval architecture is by Palumbo Superyachts.  The construction is an ‘on spec’ project started and financed by ISA Yachts to reduce delivery times and offer a well-established naval platform adjustable between 70 and 80 meters of length.  The ISA brand has always been synonym for excellence and quality and the 35 superyachts, between 30 and 66 metres delivered from 2002 to date, actually prove it. Project ISA Continental 80 is a very architectural yacht with well balanced volumes and ‘streamlined’ lines. Its exterior design is highlighted by squared and rigorous windows for incredible panoramic views from all the main indoor areas.  A distinctive detail is given by the terraces in the central section of the boat; in particular, the one on the Upper Deck looks like a real balcony and lets more light flood the salon.  Other strategic areas are just as brightly lit, like the gym in the Sky-lounge and the salons on the Upper and Main Deck. Another emblematic feature of this yacht is the stern infinity pool. Its rectangular shape spans the beam of the deck and stands out for its aft wall formed by 2 glass sheets with water cascading between them.  So arranged, the swimming pool leaves ample room for large sunpads and lounging, transforming this portion of the Main Deck into an extension of the actual beach area to which is connected by a flight of stairs. The Upper Deck can be considered a proper owner’s deck with lounge and living areas astern and the master suite forward. Equipped also with touch-and-go landing, the yacht ensures direct access to the owner’s quarters for maximum privacy.  The interiors will be designed by Luca Dini will have seven cabins accommodating up to twelve passengers assisted by nineteen crew members housed in ten cabins. 80 Continental is to be powered by twin MTU 3003hp engines reaching a seventeen knots maximum speed and a twelve knot cruise speed with a range of 6200 nautical miles.

September 9, 2021

Flybridge Cruiser Partially Sinks Near Venice

A flybridge cruiser of about fourteen meters in length was found partially sank in the morning of nine September in Coarle, Darsena dell' Orologio which translated to English means the Quay of the Watch.  The flybridge cruiser was floated again on the morning of September 11, and according to unconfirmed reports the boat sank for a failure to a raw water tube, which takes water to the engine sea-water pump. Darsena dell'Orologio is located further North East from Venice, and is a marina which offers just short of five hundred berths.
The flybridge motor cruiser in this accident is a Solcio Biondi 44 Fly which was released in 1989 and produced till about the mid nineties.  The 44 was designed by Dall' Abaco and was also offered in Open version.  Solcio was the Italian dealer of Norway's Fjord boats in the eighties and having success with the range of Norwegian cruisers up to 39 feet in length, decided to enter production in collaboration with the Biondi boat yard for cruisers above that size.  The Solcio Biondi 44 first released as Open and then as Fly, had a good success with about thirty units being built in both Open and Fly versions, with the later being more popular to the previous.    

New Model: Beneteau Gran Turismo 41

The new Beneteau Gran Turismo 41 has been a successful evolution which first appeared with the Monte Carlo 37 in 2007, as the old saying says you do not change a winning horse. With this model helped by Italian designed Andreani the Beneteau motor boating section starting to have success in a size type market usually dominated by British and Italian production boat builders.  The Monte Carlo 37, became the Gran Turismo 38, then 40, and now fourteen years later into this new 41, with each evolution keeping on with the success of the previous.  If you look at the new Gran Turismo 41 layout one sees that very little has changed inside from the Monte Carlo 37, the Gran Turismo 41 evolving outside in looks and in the cockpit layout, here offering more space and becoming better with each new version.         
Technical Data:
LOA - 12.55 m (41.7ft)
Hull Length - 11.85 m
Beam - 3.85 m 
Draft - 0.94 m
Displacement - 7959 kg
Fuel Capacity - 2 x 325 l
Water Capacity - 200 l
Accommodation - four berths in two cabins
Engines - 2 x Volvo D4 300hp, D6 380hp
Propulsion - Volvo dual propeller stern drive
Hull Shape - modified Vee with AirStep
Construction - hull monolithic polyester resin glass fibre, sandwich balsa core in side and super structure
Project - Andreani for exterior and interior, R.L. Jeantet - P. Tableau - M. Tronquez for hull
Certification - CE B/C10

September 8, 2021

Project: Pardo GT52

Pardo present the GT52 project, a new line which stands in between the early 2021 launched Endurance, and the walk around series.  Designed by Nauta and Zuccheri, the GT52 will offer interesting spaces with two double cabins, and a third guest or crew cabin with a secluded under the stairs entrance.  An option in the Pardo GT52 will be that for a galley up or down.  If you choose galley down you get an L-shaped sofa on the main deck opposite the dinette, and the same happens below if you go for a galley up.  Another nice detail in the Pardo will be of its central aft sun-pad which transforms in one of the largest central dinette's in the category.  The Pardo GT52 will be standard powered by twin Volvo 480hp, or optional 550hp and 600hp engines with IPS pod propulsion.

September 7, 2021

Collision in Cannes Boat Show 2022

A collision between a new Ecoline Sport Cruiser of eight meters in length and a Van der Valk of sixteen meters happened at the Cannes boat show on the afternoon of seven September, thankfully with no consequences onboard to both the persons of the eight meter sport cruiser and the sixteen meter sport yacht.  Big shock onboard the smaller sport cruiser who had three persons onboard and got most of the damage, being hit astern. Apart cosmetic and structural damage, the Ecolux sport cruiser also damaged its hybrid module and had to cancel the boat show.  The Van der Valk had small cosmetic damage to its bow area.  
The boats in this accident are the new Ecoline Ecolux 850 and the Van der Valk California 52.  The first is a sport cruiser of eight meters in length available among other propulsion also with a patented diesel electric hybrid propulsion by FNM called BlueHybridSystem.  The second is the custom Van der Valk California 52, build on order of Dutch company Waterdream, to a design of Vripack.

Classic Super Yacht Collides into Rock

An Alalunga classic super yacht of 26 meters in size collided on the island of Proti at 0300 of the morning of seven September.  With only the four crew onboard, no injuries are reported to this terrific accident, beside the yacht which received extensive damage to its bow.  Some reports are claiming the yacht was cruising at about twelve knots.  The island of Proti is one of the further Southern located of the Greek Ionian islands.  The yacht was miraculously saved from sinking and taken further South to Pilos, made possible thanks to a very good water tight forward bulkhead I add.
This Alalunga is a 26 mt model, designed by Aldo Cichero build in around the early eighties.  The Alalunga 26 offered a four double cabins lower deck, and with standard engines usually reached speed in the high twenties.  The Alalunga 26 is a further development of the 24 model released in 1973, which then developed to the 25 in the mid seventies.  The 26 is recognizable by the more rounded forward windshield, and no circle shaped port-holes on the topside.  
Alalunga where build by Cantieri Navali Santa Margherita, founded by Mario Spertini in 1961, and is renowned for the seaworthiness and nice lines of its yachts, build of wood up until the mid nineties.  Eventually when the yard entered fiberglass building in the mid nineties, the fast fiberglass models where named as Spertini Alalunga, while the Santa Marina yachts which still build of wood and steel was sold to Diano.  Currently the yard is closed, but this name which has its roots in Lavagna, to the South of Genova is one of the important historical Italian marques which gave shape and school of design to the modern motor yacht.

New Model: Princess Y72

Princess present the new Y72, entry level of the Y class range which spans four models from 22 to 28 meters.  The Y72 continues the long standing since 1980s Princess collaboration with Olesinski for hull lines, and gets exterior looks by Pininfarina.  The Italian house coming to work for Princess, since the 2018 introduced R35.  While the Italian design firm might seem a blink for many, it has been doing yachts since the 1980s.  Finished to high standards throughout, the new Y72s design features are comparable to those of larger Y Class yachts. Her single spacious saloon has a sociable layout with a bar area and open plan astern galley, complemented by a multi-zone Naim audio system. Eight guests are accommodated across four well-appointed en suite cabins with the full beam master stateroom accessible via a private stairway from the saloon. There is a further aft cabin with two berths for crew or occasional guests.  The Princess Y72 is powered by standard twin Man 1400hp, and or optional 1650hp engines.
Technical Data:
LOA - 22.80 m (74.9ft)
Length - 22.31
Beam - 5.45 m 
Draft - 1.72 m
Displacement - 53300kg half load
Fuel Capacity - 4500 l
Water Capacity - 909 l
Accommodation - eight guest berths in four cabins, four crew in two cabins
Engines - 2 x Man V12 1400hp, V12 1650hp
Propulsion - line shaft
Speed - 34 knots max with Man 1650hp, 30 knots with 1400hp
Project - Pininfarina exterior, Olesenski hull and naval architecture

September 6, 2021

Super Yacht Burns then Sinks in Olbia Yacht Marina

A 35 meter super yacht m/y Siempre went ablaze and eventually sank on 0130 of the night morning of sixth September while in its berth at the Marina di Olbia, Sardinia.  The super yacht had four crew onboard at the time, which where saved and unharmed.  The fire which is reported to have started on deck spread very fast, and took two fire fighting squads about three hours to extinguish.  Siempre eventually capsized and sank, and now leaves the environmental hurdle this type of accident brings.
M/y Siempre is a Tansu 35.2 meter Tigershark Class model build in 2010 in Turkey, with a steel hull and aluminium super structure.  Designed by Riza Tansu, this super yacht features a distinctive destroyer look and offered interior for twelve guests in five cabins, with a crew of six in three cabins, and is powered by twin Cat 1825hp engines which gave top speeds up to seventeen knots and a cruise of thirteen.  Siempre was launched as Ceylan, then renamed to Obo and last refitted in 2020. 
Tansu shipyard started operating in 1998 inspired by Pacific Northwest trawler explorer yachts, it entered yacht building in 2001 with the 26 meter Seaton Class super yacht.  

Project: Vicem 65 Classic

With three hulls already under construction, Turkish yacht builder Vicem Yachts is proud to announce the project of the restyled and re-engineered 65 Classic. To guarantee owners even more flexibility, the manufacturer will offer the yacht in either their traditional cold-molded construction, or mirroring other recent successes like the 50 Classic also in fiberglass. The advantage of the latter, among other things, is a faster delivery time for owners. Currently Vicem have three 65 Classic models under construction, with two fiberglass and one cold-molded hull in build. Vicem Yachts is well-known as one of the leading cold-molded wooden yacht builders in the world, but the company is equally accomplished at composite fiberglass construction. Fiberglass builds provide Vicem quicker turnarounds as well as easier maintenance, giving the customizable 65-footer a unique combination of style, value, performance and durability. The 65 Classic is also offered with two drivetrain choices, Volvo IPS or traditional line shaft providing the yacht a proven propulsion to achieve around a 23-knot cruising speed and top speeds exceeding 28 knots. Because the engine room is set aft under the cockpit, either installation provides the builder maximum flexibility on interior accommodations. Additionally, the engine room placement allows for significantly reduced engine noise to the accommodations deck. The new 65 Classic has a completely reworked interior whose showstopper is an optional full-beam, mid-ship master stateroom located just under the saloon. In the standard three-cabin configuration, the galley and accommodations live on the lower deck, allowing spacious seating options on the salon and through to the aft deck. Vicem took the opportunity while reworking the 65 Classic’s original design a downeast express-style yacht with high freeboard and traditional lines, this to increase the size of the already large light-gathering windows and portlights, particularly off the front and sides of the saloon. The former greatly improves the visibility from the helm while the latter provides natural light to all living areas of the boat. In addition to featuring three staterooms, two with ensuite heads, and plenty of stowage for longer trips, the 65 Classic offers a solution to suit any owner’s cruising lifestyle. Like others before it, the 65 Classic can also be ordered with a flying bridge as pictured in the rendering above.