Class 1 - Fazza 3 Win One

Victory for Fazza 3 in the opening round of the UIM/WPPA Class 1 World Powerboat Championship was sealed this afternoon by Arif Al Zafeen and Nadir Bin Hendi. Second place went to home favourites Sheikh Hassan Bin Jabor Al-Thani and Steve Curtis, with Class 1 debutant Mohammad Al Mehairi and Jean-Marc Sanchez claiming third place in a sun-kissed Qatar Marine Festival Grand Prix. The reunited pairing of Al Zafeen and Bin Hendi powered through to a comfortable victory in the end, but they did not have it all their own way. A fantastic start by Qatar 95 saw the Edox Pole Position winner's storm away with the early lead, but engine troubles forced them to retire on lap nine while leading the race. This cleared the way for Fazza 3 to take the first win of the season. With the experience of two world champions in the raceboat, they never looked in doubt of getting the season of to the perfect start. Sheikh Hassan and Steve Curtis, in Qatar 96, grabbed second place in the team’s home grand prix. Having been happy to just finish on the podium in the run up to the race, the second place will be welcomed by the team although there were mixed reactions as it came at the expense of their team-mates, Qatar 95. The final podium place went to newcomer Al Mehairi and Sanchez. The new pairing were overjoyed with their first race together and the instant success they have achieved. Al Mehairi, had set his sights on a podium finish prior to the race. The early leaders Abdullah Al-Sulaiti and Matteo Nicolini had got off to a perfect start and pulled away from the chasing pack only to see all their hard work from the weekend come to a miserable end as an engine failure brought their challenge of claiming a win to a sudden halt. Aurantium, with Giovanni Carpitella and Christian Rivolta racing for the first time together in Class 1, turned their qualifying promise into an excellent performance in the race. They were delighted with their fourth place which sets them up nicely for their home grand prix in Alicante, where the rougher conditions will suit them better. Giorgioffshore also had a good start to the season finishing in fifth. The new pairing of Nicola Giorgi and Riccardo Calugi showed good speed and reliability as they look to build their partnership. Foresti & Suardi - Roscioli Hotels' Giampaolo Montavoci and Francesco Pansini came through in sixth place, despite gearing problems hampering their efforts at the start and end of the race. There was frustration for European Champion Jorn Tandberg and Christian Zaborowski in Welmax 90, the quietly confident Norwegians snapped a prop shaft on lap three and a bitterly disappointing weekend for Maritimo Australia concluded when engine trouble saw Maritimo 11 retire on lap five.
QATAR MARINE FESTIVAL GRAND PRIX - Results
1. Fazza 3 - A Al Zafeen (UAE) / N Bin Hendi (UAE) – 59.52.48
2. Qatar 96 - H Al-Thani (QAT) / S Curtis (GBR) + 01.10.27
3. Victory 1 - M Al Mehairi (UAE) / JM Sanchez (FRA) + 01.36.13
4. Aurantium 10 – C Rivolta (ITA) / G Carpitella (ITA) + 1 Lap
5. Giorgioffshore 18 – R Calugi (ITA) / N Giorgi (ITA) + 1 Lap
6. Foresti & Suardi - Roscioli Hotels 8 - F Pansini (ITA) / G Montavoci (ITA) + 3 Laps
7. Qatar 95 - A Al-Sulaiti (QAT) / M Nicolini (ITA) – 02.40.68 – DNF
8. Maritimo 11 - T Barry-Cotter (AUS) / PV Nilsen (NOR) – DNF
9. Welmax 90 - C Zaborowski (NOR) / J Tandberg (NOR) – DNF
10. Maritimo 12 - G Manuzzi (SMR) / P McGrath (NZL) – DNS

www.class-1.com

New Model: Sarnico 13.43 m Spider Perla

To round off the success of the Spider, Cantieri di Sarnico presents the new Perla version characterised by a provocative livery and exotic furnishings. The model is complete with an unprecedented white body but as with true pearls, the value is not merely measured by how bright they are, but by the shape, the lustre and the many translucent layers. In order to highlight the sporting nature of the boat the sides are finished with a dark brown line realised with a very special painting. The same dark and brilliant tones are used for the upholstery on deck and illustrate the exclusivity of the boat and the modernity of its styling. The light and the colours give the boat its lines as much as the fiberglass structure does, adding great value to the shape designed by Nuvolari and Lenard. In addition, the colour of the accessories, furniture and bridge are painted in order to give a chromatic contrast. The cockpit deck of the Perla is realized with large and impressive teak strips separated with white lines. The layout of the lower deck is the same as the original version but uses carefully selected bamboo in order to distinguish it from the standard version. Other stylistic changes include polished ebony wood in the kitchen, leather floor and white polished overhead lockers. The hull is conceived by Victory Design who make the best of their racing experience to make the Spider Perla agile and easy to trim without any need for corrections by the helmsman. With twin Volvo Penta D6 Turbodiesel Common Rail 435 hp engines fitted to IPS pods, the max speed is 39 knots.
Technical Data:
LOA - 13.43 m (44ft)
Length Hull - 13.07 m
Beam - 3.16 m
Draft - 1.10 m
Displacement - 11.5 t (dry)
Fuel Capacity - 1100 l
Water Capacity - 350 l
Max Persons - 10
Accommodation - 4 berths in 2 cabins
Engines - 2 x Volvo IPS500 370hp, IPS600 435hp
Propulsion - Volvo IPS forward looking duoprop pod drives

Speed - 39 knots max, 33 knots cruising
Project - Nuvolari Lenard, Victory Design hull
Construction - fiberglass

www.cantieridisarnico.it

Projects: BlueGame 77, BlueGame 57

BlueGame is an interesting Italian company founded in 2002, with an innovative way of proposing big Sport Fishers, with a center console feel outside and a yacht comfort inside. After launching its first 47 model BlueGame shows its next aims by proposing two bigger important projects for the future of which one already in important development phase. Pictured above is the BlueGame 77 and as the 47 it is penciled by the hands of renowned hull designer Louis T. Codega a guarantee name in Sport fishing boats but also the man behind the Destriero winner of the Ales Blue Ribbon trophy for the fastest transatlantic crossing in the nineties. The other project from BlueGame is the 57, and is already in development production phase extending its current line to two models and by 10 feet from its 47 model. The 57 will maintain hull lines by designer Louis T. Codega, and as the 47 will feature a center console influenced exterior with a yacht interior. As all BlueGame great customization is available from the hard top design, hull color, carbon fibre details up to the interior layout plan. For the interior BlueGame is offering two layouts: Dinette layout with two cabins four berths plus crew, and a Cruise Layout having three cabins six berths with aft crew cabin. In the exterior there is three available styles: Hard Top Version, Tender Version, and Marlin Version with tower. Power is from twin Man 1100hp each, with the Italian builder estimating 40 knots top speed, cruise at 36 knots, and a range up to 465 nautical miles thanks also to high volume 4000 litres fuel tank. Rated to a CE A category the new 57 BlueGame shows also attention to a well constructed hull for offshore use with the peace of mind of a solid glassed bottom, and vacuum bagged cored sides, decks and bulkhead.

www.bluegame.it

Improve-it = Magnum 60 Furia

Each new launch from status symbol Sport Yacht builder Magnum Marine is always an improvement and a further development of the previous. Magnum just launched its latest 60 Furia, number 009. This hull number nine of the Pininfarina designed 60 Furia, is outfitted with the Caterpillar C32, which gives her runs in the high 50 knots range. Having her underwater deep vee shape derived from the classic of all, that is the 53 Maltese it is easy to say that the Furia tackles rough sea water as its joy and pleasure. This newly launched 60 Furia is also special due to her incredible metallic black paint job and beautiful Italian interiors. As the new 70 Lazzarini Pickering, the new 60 will be seen cruising the Mediterranean this summer. Lucky those who can admire such a unique Sport Yacht in all senses.

www.magnummarine.com

Engine: Cummins QSD2.0 170hp

Cummins MerCruiser Diesel has extended its innovative Quantum diesel technology on the QSD2.0 platform with the release of the QSD2.0-170hp for inboard applications. This propulsion system is well suited for small, single-engine boats. The new package is EPA, RCD and IMO certified, and the QSD2.0-170hp engine, first introduced last spring, will still be offered with the Bravo One, Two and Three sterndrives. As announced last fall, the QSD2.0-170 is also available with the Alpha sterndrive with a 1.62:1 gear ratio, perfect for small runabouts. The QSD2.0 is offered in ratings from 115 to 170hp. The entire 2.0 family boasts a new turbocharger for increased power and an advanced ECM with SmartCraft compatibility to monitor various engine parameters. The QSD2.0 line also features advanced components such as the integrated heat exchanger and exhaust manifold, which help reduce overall package size and weight. Impressive acceleration and precise throttle response are the result of a proven high-pressure common-rail fuel system that includes seawater aftercooling.

www.cummins.com

New Model: Faeton 360 Fly

Since the Astondoa Group take over a year ago it was interesting to see the new models from Faeton showing the big Spanish boat builder influence. This new Faeton 360 Fly, is the first result of this take over. Presented during the fall of 2008 in the Barcelona boat show, this new Faeton 360 Fly features a modern up to date styling along with space concepts offering a family orientated motor cruiser with a 2 cabin lower deck and a private bathroom with a separate shower room. For example the concept of the flybridge space use is very interesting with a helm located aft, and the forward part reserved for a 6 person settee which transforms to 2 or 3 person sun worshipper bed. Interiors are finished in double tint with light teak, contrasting wenge wood, and beige leather upholstery all this in a modern functional design. Engine is 4 option choice from twin Yanmar or Volvo of 260hp and going to the biggest D4-300hp Volvo. Propulsion is for traditional line shafts.

Technical Data:

LOA - 11 m (36ft)

Hull Length - 9.99 m

Beam - 3.75 m

Draft - 0.74 m

Displacement - 8500 kg

Fuel Capacity - 800 l

Water Capacity - 220 l

Max Persons - 12

Engines - 2 x Volvo D4 260hp, D4 300hp, Cummins QSD 4.2i 270hp, Yanmar 6BY 260hp

www.faeton.es

Boat Review: Blu Martin 1390 Sea Top

Presentation

Blu Martin 1390 Sea Top is PowerYachtBlog April month boat review. The 1390 Sea Top was launched in 2005 and is the second model from this young builder founded in 2001, but with its owner Franco Mauri coming from an over twenty year experience in boat building in Italy and particularly in the Como area. The 1390 Sea Top is a natural evolution of the first model of Blu Martin the 1350 Sun Top, with its main differences being easily visible thanks to the integrated enclosed hard top, and the extended bathing platform aft which adds length by forty centimetres aft. Later on the 1390 Sea Top was also added with a new interior option of a 2 cabin 2 head layout along the 3 cabin 2 head, with this new version offering a full beam owners cabin.

Accommodation

Welcoming you in its aft cockpit the 1390 Sea Top has what is a normal standard layout for a Mediterranean Sport Cruiser, sun lounger aft with a tender garage underneath with space for 2.40 metre rib, c-shaped settee, complete exterior wet bar with grill washbasin, and a central positioned helm station which gives optimum all round visibility.

Below the option is for two distinctive layout choice. The later introduced 2 cabin version and the more popular by choice 3 cabin plan. The 3 cabin version offers a c-shaped settee to port side, a galley opposite to starboard, forward owner stateroom with private en suite shower head, two identical double cabins with twin berths which can transform to an inserted double VIP cabin, and a second guest shower head to port side having also its use as a day head. The 2 cabin version differs from the more popular 3 cabin layout by offering a full beam owners cabin in replacement of the two double cabins mid ship, and now offering an island queen sized berth positioned to the beam, offering also a relaxing settee to starboard. This two cabin version also gains a more spacious second head now the bigger on board, and a saloon settee which is a bit more spacious.

Performance

With a vee shaped hull monohedron with a 19.30 degrees aft, the 1390 Sea Top is just shy of the twenty plus deep dead rise which translated to more simple terms means high cruising speed wave attacking potential. An other interesting feature for the Sea Top is the various engine and propulsion choices. Engines start from the more economic and smallest option of twin D6-350hp Volvos, and goes to the big Yanmars of 480hp. Propulsion choices is from Volvo sterndrive which will give the better fast speed handling, to the do it everyone docking IPS Volvo pod drives, and goes to the more seaworthy shaft lines. Performance top speeds are 34 knots with the smaller Yanmar 440hp and IPS500 option, 36 knots with Volvo 350hp sterndrive and Yanmar 480hp, and goes to the most performing IPS600 which gives 38 knots of max.
Positive

integrated hard top

2 or 3 cabin option

all type propulsion choice

Negative

tight aft cockpit deck

Competition

Having a 2 version interior and an all propulsion choice give a wide spectrum of competitors to the Blu Martin 1390 Sea Top, but to be honest I expected much more to this. Competition criteria is made for integrated hard top, LOA in 13 metres, and a 2 cabin 2 heads full beam owners cabin or a 3 cabin 2 head. For classic three cabins interior look for the Airon Marine 4300 T-Top, and Windy 44 Chinnook.

Airon Marine 4300 T-Top - all propulsion, 3 or 2 cabins, patio sunpad or settee cockpit

Atlantis 425 SC HT - pioneer of full beam cabin in 13 mts size, sterndrive

Cranchi 43 Mediterranee HT - spacious exterior deck, IPS

Prestige 42S - options outside patio door, sunbed or c-shaped settee, IPS

Rio 44 Air - similar exterior with garage, shafts only

Sessa C43 - IPS pod, full beam cabin with big view windows

Windy 44 Chinook - 3 cabins, c-shaped smaller outside, shaft or IPS pod

Zenit 45 Hardtop - shafts or IPS pod, full beam owners two heads

WILD CARD: Mochi 44 Dolphin - lobster tradition looks with modern solutions

Conclusion

Blu Martin 1390 Sea Top was a very well minded evolution of the 1350 Sun Top, and the well made design improvement of an integrated hard top similar to that found on bigger boats, was sure a turning point for the success of this model. The hard top along with a very comfortable interior, and added with a two interior plan option shows also that Blu Martin is very attentive to the clients request and suggestions. This also is shown by the wide variety of propulsion and engine choices, showing in facts that the North Italian builder tries to minimize the compromises made from choosing a boat, and suiting it to the clients needs in all aspects of the 1390 Sea Top being it the interior, or the technical point like engine and propulsion choice.

Technical Data

LOA. 13.90 metres (45.6 ft)

Length Waterline. 10.31 metres

Beam. 4.05 metres

Draft. 0.70 metres

Displacement. 13.000 kg

Fuel Capacity. 912 litres

Water Capacity. 411 litres

Max Persons. 12

Accommodation. 4 + 2 berths, 6 + 2 berth

Engines. 2 x Volvo D6TD 350hp, Yanmar 480hp, IPS500 370hp, IPS 600 435hp

Propulsion. duoprop Volvo sterndrive, shafts line, Volvo IPS Pod drive

Speed. max 38 knots with IPS600

Hull Shape. medium modified mono hedron Vee closing at 19.30 degrees dead rise aft

Project. Blu Martin

Construction. vinylester resin, multi axial glass, balsa cored topsides and sides

Certification. RINA CE B

www.blumartinyachts.com

Picture Copyright Blu Martin. Data Blu Martin.

Class 1 - 2009 Season Preview

Teams and competitors in the UIM-WPPA Class 1 World Powerboat Championship are poised to renew rivalries in the Qatar Marine Festival Grand Prix on Saturday, 25 April the first race of the season and the eleventh race to be held in the Qatari Capital City of Doha in eight years.

Victory want a first Grand Slam, Qatar want a first World title and all their rivals want a piece of the action. Class 1 looks set for a captivating and possibly unpredictable season.

Ten boats will line up for the 21-lap, 96.45Nm Qatar Marine Festival Grand Prix; but with the introduction of new rules governing the use of electronics, limited propeller choice, new teams and a handful of untried driver-pairings, the outcome of the season-opener is hard to predict.

Dubai’s Victory Team, the defending World, Middle East and Edox Pole Position Champions, will start amongst the favourites for race honours and have rolled out three World Champions as they launch their bid to retain their crowns and hunt down a fourth win in Qatari waters as they aim for that elusive grand slam of all four titles in a season only ever achieved by Spirit of Norway in 2003, and described by Victory’s General Manager, Gianfranco Venturelli, as ‘mission impossible’. Defending Champion, Nadir Bin Hendi, is joined in last year’s winning boat now named Fazza 3 by the 2007 World and European Champion, Arif Al Zafeen, and will be looking to repeat their 2008 win in Doha, whilst his former partner, Jean-Marc Sanchez, is once again called on by the team’s hierarchy to draw on all his experience and steer another rookie Mohammad Al Mehairi through his first season, running in Victory 1.

The Qatar Team pose the greatest threat to Victory’s aspirations and Sheikh Hassan Bin Jabor Al-Thani is in absolutely no doubt that his team can win the World title and can kick-start their season-long campaign with a win on home waters. Sheikh Hassan, still looking for his first win in Doha, again lines up with former World Champion Steve Curtis a five-times winner in Qatar and will more than likely run the repaired and modified Qatar 96 with Skema V12s, whilst team-mates Matteo Nicolini and Abdullah Al-Sulaiti, who still hold the in-house bragging rights after taking the team’s only win in 2008 and fancy their chances of title glory this season, line up in the Sterling V8-powered Qatar 95, with Al-Sulaiti looking for his second win in front of a partisan crowd.

The bid to oust the sport’s two titans and upset the form book, is headed by the defending European Champion, Jorn Tandberg, who reforms his winning partnership with fellow Norwegian, Christian Zaborowski, running the Mercury-Class 1, V8-powered scarlet MTI, Welmax.

Maritimo Australia is the third team fielding a two-boat line-up and will be hoping to repeat the success that team owner, Bill Barry-Cotter and Peter McGrath enjoyed in Doha, when they took their maiden Class 1 win at the first Grand Prix held in Qatar in 2002. Twenty-one-year-old, Tom Barry-Cotter and Pal Virik Nilsen form the youngest partnership in Class 1, but can boast the most races and cockpit time together of any driver-throttleman combination in the Championship, and will run their new hull, Maritimo 11, with the straight-talking New Zealander, Peter McGrath, joined by Italian, Giorgio Manuzzi, in Maritimo 12, the boat the team debuted in Dubai last season both outfits opting to run Maritimo Performance V8 power-plants.

Throughout the fleet, new driver-combinations dominate, adding to the unpredictability of the race outcome; throttleman, Giampaolo Montavoci and Francesco Pansini, back racing in Class 1 after a 13-year absence, team up for the first time in Foresti & Suardi- Roscioli Hotels.

Nicola Giorgi, who grabbed his first Class 1 podium in the penultimate race in Dubai last year, will be looking to build on that success and is joined in the Giorgi V12-powered Giorgioffshore by the team’s test-driver Riccardo Calugi, making his Class 1 debut, with the experienced Giovanni Carpitella partnering relative newcomer, Mohammed Abdelkader Ahmed, in Spirit of Spain in which Carpitella raced last year, taking an impressive fourth in the final race of the season.

The Qatar Marine Festival Grand Prix weekend kicks off with a two-hour official practice session on Thursday afternoon (23 April), followed by a second practice session on Friday morning ahead of the Edox Pole Position official qualifying session in the afternoon. A final practice session on Saturday morning precedes the 96.45Nm Qatar Marine Festival Grand Prix, run on the notoriously tricky Doha Bay circuit which has seen some spectacular racing and incidents over the years consisting of one 5.15Nm start lap, 18 race laps of 4.5Nm and two compulsory 5.15Nm long laps.

www.class-1.com

New Model: Riviera 51 Enclosed Flybridge Series II

The Riviera 51 Enclosed Flybridge gets upgraded throughout in the newly launched Series II model. The new series II gets upgraded all with changes in the aft, stairs which lead to the flybridge, cabins, heads galley and improved finishing throughout. For example both the master and forward guest staterooms queen double beds are larger for greater comfort and all the lockers have a new freshness with cedar timber lining. The bathrooms have also undergone a transformation with the use of Amtico timber veneer flooring, solid surface benchtops with a porcelain basins and satin chrome shower poles. All the joinery in the saloon has a fresh new look and there is even a gloss timber surround to the recessed grabrail in the headliner. Speakers for the Bose entertainment system are now recessed in a pelmet on either side of the saloon. The lounge now has also a double bed hidden away underneath with electric controls. In the galley, you will notice the new induction cooktop and flush benchtops while access to the storage space below has been improved. The most striking and visible feature of the new 51 Series II is sure the awning window and stainless steel door aft of the saloon leading to the cockpit, with this opening up to connect the saloon with the cockpit. Even the stairs to the flybridge have been improved with non-skid treads and even better hand rails.
Technical Data:
LOA - 17.7 m (58.2ft)
Hull Length - 16.6 m
Beam - 4.93 m
Draft - 1.38 m
Weight - 21,800 kg
Fuel Capacity - 2700 l
Water Capacity - 860 l
Accommodation - 6 + 2 berths
Engines - 2 x Cat 715hp

www.riviera.com.au

Improve-it = Benetti 85 Legend

Benetti, in collaboration with the Research and Development Centre of the Azimut-Benetti Group, based in Varazze, founded in order to give scientific support and boost the know how level of the single brands, developed its first hybrid electrical diesel propulsion. The study of the diesel-electrical propulsion, within the group, started ten years ago with the planning and designing of the M/Y FB231 Ambrosia, launched in 2005, and equipped with the azimuth propulsion. These particularly encouraging results drove the Group to extend its research and the consequent applications onto the smaller boats of the range, choosing however to privilege the displacing yacht segment which, due to the technical characteristics, combines well with this type of propulsion. The pioneer this time is the smallest line of the fleet, the Benetti 85, which, compared to Ambrosia, requires an alternative due to its technical characteristics. Indeed in this case the electrical diesel propulsion is not suggested as a sole solution, but it is placed together with the traditional one in a hybrid system. The primary intention is that of equipping the yacht with an additional and alternative propulsion system compared to the main one which increases the comfort on board as regards to the traditional propulsion. The speed range obtainable with the electrical propulsion varies from 5 to 10 knots, based on the electrical power of the diesel generators available on board. The Hybrid electrical diesel system includes the use of the same components of the traditional propulsion to which we have added electrical motors with permanent magnets and relative "inverters" frequency converters, which, connected to a controlling system, govern the shafting with the main diesel motors being disconnected. The numerous advantages that have been obtained are measurable: reduction in noise, less vibrations on board, and an important percentage in the saving of consumption equal to 40%. A positive environmental impact due to the reduction of emissions into the atmosphere. The commitment undertaken about ten years ago today has led to the creation of a product that can be applied to the entire Benetti range with the possibility of integrating other innovations that the Group is developing for the future, such as the replacement of one of the two electrical generators with a fuel cell generator in order to increase comfort further and reduce the environmental impact. It is currently possible to temporarily install batteries in order to obtain the same effect as the Fuel Cell yet obviously with considerably reduced endurance. The new hybrid electrical diesel propulsion system which is applied onto the Benetti 85 does not only enable to offer concrete advantages in the direction of a Green Yacht but paves the way towards continuous and future developments.

www.benettiyachts.it