Classic Wellcraft Beaches in Haulover Beach

A classic seven meter Wellcraft cabin cruiser with three persons onboard ended Beached at Haulover Beach, Florida on Sunday fourteen April.  The whole event was filmed by Wavy Boats, from the boat going out of Haulover Inlet into moderate to rough seas with winds of fifteen knots and wave height of about one meter, to it having engine problems, the beaching, and subsequent arrival of the Police and then towing by Fast Response.  The Wellcraft cabin cruiser took over half an hour for it to end up beached, enough time for a proper anchor deployment, and although this was made to aft port side, this was too short and deployed late.  Thanks to the boat beaching in sand, this classic Wellcraft should live another day as the towing back to safe harbor showed.

The classic Wellcraft in this beaching is a 250 Coastal as produced from 1986 till 89.  Part of Wellcraft fishing line the 250 Coastal, was a soft evolution of the 248 Sportsman, recognizable by the larger window, with the model replaced by the 2600 Coastal in 1991.

Project: Hatteras Chub Cay 77

Since the buy out by White River Marine Group of Johnny Morris in May 2021, Hatteras has been rather flat, with the company not presenting any new models and major moves for over two years, with it's latest model being the 105 Raised Pilothouse which debuted in that year.  Finally though at the Miami 2024 boat show, Hatteras finally announced not one but three new projects from 48 to 77 feet set to debut in the coming two years.  This Chub Cay 77 is the largest of these upcoming projects from Hatteras with the other two being an outboard powered cabin walk-around and a twenty meter sportfish yacht.  The Chub Cay 77 is the one which was provided with the most details of the three projects, with Hatteras advising for a four double cabins layout with a full beam midships located owners stateroom.  The rendering of the Chub Cay 77 shows a sportfish yacht immersed more then ever in Carolina sportfishing roots from the dramatic curved reverse shear line to an importantly flared bow.  Engine and performance information has not been announced with launching of the first unit planned for 2026.

www.hatterasyachts.com

Improve-it = Sunreef Power 80

Sunreef Yachts Power 80 is offered in the environmentally-friendly Eco version, what is a fully-autonomous power catamaran using revolutionary green tech for fuel-free cruising in total silence and luxury.  Designed and built to navigate in complete harmony with the elements, the Sunreef Power 80 Eco version is a pioneer in the world of responsible yachting, and unique in the industry, with its solar power system panels constructed from ultralight composite-integrated within the hull sides, mast, superstructure and bimini roof. Using an industry-first technology, the photovoltaic system can deliver up to 36 kWp. The yacht’s wind-free propulsion comes from twin 180kW electric engines providing top energy efficiency and performance. While under power, the Sunreef 80 Eco recovers energy from the passive motion of the two propellers thanks to an advanced hydro generation system. The energy obtained will be used to power both the propulsion and house appliances. The Sunreef Power 80 Eco system is also able to generate over 15 kWh while sailing above seven knots.

www.sunreef-yachts.com

Prestige Yacht Ends Aground in Cayman Brac

 

A nineteen meter Prestige yacht ended beached on the West end of Cayman Brac, Cayman Islands on the night between Friday to Saturday thirteen April.  A night of strong winds broke the swing mooring with the Prestige Yacht ending up beached. According to the photos and reports the yacht did try to deploy the anchor, but probably no time as the swing mooring was only located about two hundred meters away from the beach.  The Prestige yacht was rescued a week later, with reports of shafts and P-brackets hull puncturing damage coming from the beaching. 

The Prestige in this beaching is a 620 Flybridge model as produced from 2012 to 2015.  Coming from a design of ever standing Prestige designer Garroni, the 620 was Prestige flagship at launch.  The Prestige came out as replacement to the 60 model, and was replaced by the 630 in 2016.  Prestige also offered the 620 S, similar in many things but with a smaller sportier sport bridge up top.

Classic Chris Craft Ends Beached in Ocean Park

A classic ten meter Chris Craft cabin cruiser with one person and a dog ended aground and beached in Ocean Park, Long Beach, Washington state after a mechanical problem and rough seas disabled it on Friday twelfth April.  Michael Bonome the lone navigator in this story also ended in the water to rescue his dog, while trying to deploy his anchor.  The locals brought an ambulance to the lone navigator, and also opened a GoFundMe account to help him return his boat back in the water.  After navigating in the lakes and rivers, Bonome was trying his ocean navigation skills for the first time, when a mechanical problem put him in this situation.  Bonome is waiting for high tide to return his boat in the water.

The Chris Craft in this grounding is a 33 Offshore model as produced in the seventies.  The 33 Offshore was also offered in the 33 Sport Sedan variant, with a totally different convertible sportfish super structure and cabin layout.  The Chris Craft 33 Offshore came out as a replacement to the Catalina 33 Sedan in around the mid seventies.

Project: Azimut Grande 44M

Once upon a time Azimut-Benetti Group never felt the confidence to push Azimut Yachts beyond 35 meters, this was particularly shown in 2012 when the Grande 140 and 125 projects were eventually rebadged as Benetti Fast Line during project stages.  Things change with times and after 2021 and the launch of the Trideck 38 meter and its success of 21 hulls sold to date, Azimut is now going further into bigger dimensions, with the project for this new sleek looking and innovative Grande 44M project presented during the Palm Beach 2024 boat show.  Azimut’s new flagship is as all the recent offers a Low Emission Yacht with concept and exterior styling by Alberto Mancini and interiors by M²atelier, who are working with the Shipyard for the first time.  The Grande 44M as is the usual course of Azimut brings the future to the present, an expression of its mission to marry technological innovation, visionary design and a focus on environmental sustainability. Grande 44M amazes by offering something that doesn’t exist today: a superyacht with reduced CO2 emissions that brings bold, flowing lines to a design with four decks rather than the traditional three, embracing and sculpting significant volumes. Grande 44M is a super yacht that offers a unique and unexpected onboard lifestyle for this segment, with a stand-out Upper Deck, which can be converted into an Owner’s Deck with uninterrupted sea views both forward and astern. The concept underpinning the innovative styling created by Azimut in partnership with Alberto Mancini, is the decision to move the helm station to the fourth deck, freeing up the Upper Deck so that it can be transformed into an Owner’s Deck featuring the master suite and a private terrace offering spectacular views. to aft, the Grande 44M reoffers the Mezzanine Deck with Sea View Terrace that was central to the success of Grande Trideck theme. On the Grande 44M, this stage overlooking the sea is made even more unique by the See Through Pool, with its plays on transparency that establish continuous contact with the water and generate reflections that give the beach club an even more magical feel. The new layout means that architecture firm M²atelier, who are working with Azimut for the first time, could create an interior design that balances functionality and aesthetics, making the owners’ experience central and offering versatile settings to configure according to how they like to spend their time with family and friends. The forward section of Grande 44M’s Upper Deck can be fitted out as a media room for guests or reserved for the owner, or alternatively as a dining area with veranda accommodating twelve people. In both cases, almost two-meter-long windows on either side provide open views outside, where a lounge area in the bow with a small firepit offers a cozy space from which to watch the sun set over the water. It’s a lifestyle aspired to by everyone who loves the sea. Water is the key element in the narrative told by m²atelier, capturing its essence and giving back fluidity, dynamism and reflections. m²atelier, a firm with an international reputation for creative projects in multiple sectors, from residences and hotels to retail and product design brings as a distinctive signature for Azimut a clear message, accented by refined, subtle, whispered details that seduce with a discreet simplicity completely free of affectation or overemphasis. Grande 44M is not only a design and lifestyle masterpiece, but also a highly advanced naval architecture project and a new milestone in the green course charted by Azimut. The yacht is also the flagship of the Shipyard’s family of Low Emission Yachts, models that offer a reduction  between 20 and 30% in emissions compared to more traditional naval architectures of the same size. The innovative naval platform of Grande 44M is based on a Dual Mode hull, the introduction of the Hull Vane® foil technology and the Mild Hybrid Plus Zero Emission Hotel Mode system. The Dual Mode hull, developed in partnership by P.L. Ausonio Naval Architecture and the Azimut Research and Design department, represents the union of two types of conventional hull: the bow section is typical for fast displacement boats, while the part from midships to the stern has a chine commonly found on planning hulls. This results in a hull that allows a considerable reduction in fuel consumption and emissions at every speed range. The foil technology is installed for the first time on an Azimut yacht thanks to the collaboration between Hull Vane, Dutch company global leader in the design of advanced hydrodynamic solutions, and the Azimut|Benetti Group Research and Design Department which has gained a great experience in the design and production of carbon components. The Hull Vane® carbon wing fitted to the stern of Grande 44M is able to suppress the stern wave and generate forward thrust, providing further reduction in overall drag as well as damping of pitch, sway, and roll in navigation. The ability to combine onboard comfort with a focus on environmental sustainability is a stand-out feature of the designs developed by Azimut, which now already offers six models that can be fitted with a Zero Emission Hotel Mode system, making it possible to stay at anchor from up to eight hours with the generators turned off. On the Azimut Grande 44M this technology achieves maximum efficiency in combination with the Mild Hybrid Plus system, a new level of electrification developed by Azimut|Benetti Group in partnership with Asea Nautica. The Mild Hybrid Plus Zero Emission Hotel Mode system is the only solution today that makes it possible to cruise with the generators off and all loads connected, as well as producing a surplus of energy used to recharge the battery pack. Grande 44M is scheduled to be presented to the public at the Cannes 2026 boat show, with Azimut already announcing five units sold at the unveiling of the project during the Palm Beach boat show.

www.azimutyachts.com

New Launch: Baglietto Superfast 41m hull #10242

Baglietto has launched an aluminum custom build 41m Superfast super yacht hull number 10242, titled m/y Francesca II. This Baglietto 41m custom Superfast is characterized by a strong personality and comes from a design by Francesco Paszkowski who also signed also the interior in collaboration with Margherita Casprini, and naval architecture by Bacigalupo.  Paszkowski designed a flybridge yacht of important size, yet with a stream lined profile that even though she is a flybridge yacht, makes her one of the most sleekest yachts in size.  Fully custom this 41m Superfast bears a personal layout, with all guests cabins located on the lower deck: master stateroom at amidships, VIP suite forward, and two guest cabins with twin single beds that can slide convert into double beds. On the same deck, closer to the stern, are the crew quarters and lobby located beside the engine room and conveniently accessible directly from the main deck, they include accommodation for five with a captain’s cabin and two double cabins for the crew, and a galley with dinette. The aft garage, which opens on one side, is used to store a tender. The main deck has been devised in such a way as to ensure a harmonious continuum between interior and exterior areas. Two sliding doors, one located aft and the other on a side, provide access to the dining area and to the conversation area of the main salon. The latter is brightened by the natural light flowing through two ceiling-high windows, which also ensure a wonderfully close contact with the sea even when living indoors. The pilot station can be found forward of the main salon. The outdoor aft cockpit hosts a lounge area, while the sunbathing area on the aft swimming platform is perfect to relax by the sea. Another sunbathing area and a second conversation area have been set up at the extreme bow of this modern, impressively functional yacht. A second pilot station, with a pleasant relaxation area just behind it, can be found on the fly bridge. Baglietto's custom Superfast hull number 10242 is fitted with triple MTU 1920hp with jet propulsion system, delivering a top speed up to 33 knots and a cruise 28 knots. 

Technical Data:

LOA - 41 m (134.5ft)

Beam - 8 m

Draft - 1.40 m

Displacement - 165 t half load

Fuel Capacity - 15,000 l

Water Capacity - 2500 l

Accommodation - eight guests in four cabins, five crew in three cabins

Engines - 3 x MTU 12v2000 M96L 1920hp

Propulsion - jet drives

Speed - 33 knots max 28 cruise

Construction - aluminum

Project - Francesco Paszkowski exterior interior, Margherita Casprini interior, Bacigalupo naval architect

Certification - ABS

www.baglietto.com

Maritimo Yacht Sinks in Baja Mexico

 

A sixteen meter Maritimo yacht titled m/y Sea Horse ended aground and partially sank in Baja, Mexico on the tenth April.  The video of the yacht aground and partly sank was shown on the YouTube channel Cruising Mexico with Jimni, the day after the accident was reported on happening, who showed both outside and inside of Sea Horse.  The yacht had its stern fully destroyed with the collision to the rocks, and was stripped of anything of value.  A hundred meters away to the yacht grounded on a beach was also the yacht's tender, which was also stripped of everything of value.  The causes of the sinking of this Maritimo yacht are not reported.

The Maritimo in this grounding is a M54 Flybridge Motor Yacht model, which debuted in 2016 and was produced till 21.  Featuring a signature down under enclosed bridge design the Maritimo M54 offers a three double cabins, and is powered by twin Volvo 725hp up to 900hp engines with line shaft propulsion.  The M54 was introduced as a replacement to the M53 and was replaced by the M55 which launched in 2021.

New Model: Sessa F48

Sessa presents the new F48 a further evolution of the Fly47, a hull which was actually born as the 45 Fly in 2011. A model which has its roots to a design by Christian Grande the new Sessa F48 is further enhanced to aft and for its external spaces while maintaining the comfort and privacy of the original design.  This increase in length of 66 centimeters has benefitted the F48 with the following upgrades; more aft cockpit deck space which now features seven square meters of space making the largest in its size, larger bathing platform with galley, and standard twin Volo 550hp engines power with IPS pods drives which give speeds up to 35 knots. Standard power for the Fly 47 was twin Volvo 480hp. For the remaining the Sessa F48 keeps the virtues which has made this model quite a popular choice in its previous two versions, with a three double cabins accommodation plan, and a choice of a central or aft galley layout on the main deck.

Technical Data:

LOA - 14.90 m (48.9ft)

Beam - 4.38 m

Draft - 1.10 m 

Displacement - 17499 kg

Fuel Capacity - 1391 l

Water Capacity - 559 l

Max Persons - sixteen

Accommodation - six berths in three cabins

Engines - 2 x Volvo D8 550hp

Propulsion - Volvo forward looking IPS dual propeller pod drives

Speed - 35 knots max

Project - Christian Grande

Certification - CE B

www.sessamarine.com

Paolo Pininfarina 1958 - 2024

Renowned designer and chairman of the Pininfarina Group, Paolo Pininfarina left for the better World on ninth April 2024 at the age of 65, surrounded by his family and loved ones in Turin.  Following the death of his brother Andrea in 2008, Paolo took chairman duties of the Pininfarina Group, the design firm which was founded by his grand father Battista "Pinin" Farina in 1930 after leaving his brothers coach building Stabilmenti Farina firm in 1928.  Pininfarina is recognized as one of the most influential automotive designers, designing endless iconic cars for Alfa Romeo, Ferrari, Fiat, Maserati, Lancia, in Italy and Daewoo, Hyundai, and Peugeot beyond the shoe shaped peninsula.  At the height of its business in 2006 which also included automotive production, Pininfarina employed 2,768 employees in its Turin head quarters and its other offices in Europe, USA, and Morocco.  Pininfarina entered yacht design in the end 1970's first with Magnum, then the designing of both the two Italian Blue Ribbon Challengers; Azimut Atlantic Challenger and Destriero, Beneteau in both sailing and motor boats, some works for Azimut in the early nineties, to then join Bruno Abate in redesigning all the Primatist G and B series sport cruisers and yachts in between 2006 to 2012.  In 2017 Pininfarina joined forces with Princess Yachts first with the R35, a collaboration which then extended to all the newer and larger models which followed from Plymouth.  Pininfarina also designed one off super yachts for Abeking and Rasmussen, Oceanco, and Rossinavi, with collaborations also made with renowned yacht designer Fulvio de Simoni.