Projects: Raffaelli 25 Thaityan, Raffaelli 60 Meltemi, Raffaelli Calima

Raffaelli presents a project of what should be the new flagship at 25 mtr of the Pesaro Italian boat builder. Little information have been presented so far but imagine a standard 4 cabin layout plus crew, superb sea keeping qualities and the usual perfect weight distribution the yard is renowned for, that usually gets a CE Category A certification also on the smaller models like the 12 metre Shamal.

The Raffaelli 60 Meltemi named after the famous Greek wind, will fit nicely between the successful 52 Maestrale and the current top of the range 66 Ontera motor yachts. Standard layout is a spacious 3 cabin affair with a full width master cabin mid ship and 2 spacious identical guest cabins forward. Speed estimation is for 30 knots with 2 x Caterpillar 850 hp engines.

Raffaelli Calima is the novelty at the medium competitive 14 metre flybridge motor cruiser category, fitting between the other Raffaelli family models 12.96 mtr Levante Fly and the 15 mtr Compass Rose. The interior layout is a classic 3 cabin affair with master cabin forward with en-suite head, 2 identical guest cabins with 2 in-line single berths and guest shower head. Performance estimation is for a 30 knot top speed with 2 x 400 HP Iveco Aifo engines. As all Raffaelli boats also this new project will be built and constructed to a CE Category A standard, something not very common in most of the offers in this size range.

www.raffaelliyacht.com

New Model: Sessa C46

Presented to the press and dealers, the new C 46 from Sessa, confirms the desire for the Radice family to compete more in the medium/high end of the market. Designed by Christian Grande and continuing the design theme with the other Sessa models the new 46 shows a character of luxury, beauty, harmony and comfort. The hull design for this sports cruiser was projected around the modern Volvo IPS propulsion, in order to get the best from this innovative driving system. An another unique innovation for the Sessa C 46 is also the PBX-System which is an innovative electrical protection and distribution system for on board electrical equipment. The interior for the fourteen metre hard top sports cruiser is a spacious 2 cabin with VIP guest cabin forward and a super spacious owner cabin mid-ship, which thanks to the aft positioning of the IPS engines really has an unequalled space offer in this size range. Luxury materials characterize the interior furnishings with oak wood for furniture and doors, chromed stainless steel, dark panelled wood and soft leather for the saloon settee complete the superb offer for this Made In Italy product.
Technical Data:
LOA - 14.50 m (47.5 ft)
Beam - 4.30 m
Fuel Capacity - 1300 l
Water Capacity - 500 l

Max Persons - 12

Accommodation - 4 berths in 2 cabins, 2 heads
Engines - Volvo Penta D6 IPS-600 2 x 435 HP
Propulsion - Volvo IPS pod drives with forward looking duoprops

Speed - Cruising 28 knots Max 36 knots
Design - Christian Grande

Certification - CE B

www.sessamarine.com

Project: Dominator 75

The Fano Yacht Builder, presents this project which is the replacement for the Dominator 78 after 10 years of production for this model. The new 24 mtr motor yacht will offer a spacious 4 cabin 4 heads layout with 2 berth crew cabin aft. The theme of this 75 feet motor yacht are the large windows in every area, in order to allow the maximum gain of natural light inside, but also impressive outside space especially on the flybridge but also the unique Jacuzzi pool on the forward deck, which to my knowledge is a unique option for this size. As usual with all Dominator yachts a huge customization offer is available for both inside and outside, making all yachts unique in a certain way to the wishes of the client. Engine option should be for a pair of MAN and MTU from 1360 up to 1550 HP.

www.dominator.it

Class 1 - Victory 77 Wins Athens Grand Prix

Victory 77 winner of the Greek Grand Prix for the Class-1 Offshore

Victory 77’s Arif Saif Al Zaffeen and Jean-Marc Sanchez led home a Victory one-two, winning today’s Greek Grand Prix ahead of team-mates Nadir bin Hendi and Mohammed Al Suwaidi in Victory 7, with Qatar 96’s Sheikh Hassan Al-Thani and Matteo Nicolini completing a clean sweep of the podium for the Middle East. Al Zafeen and Sanchez didn’t have it all their own in the early stages and were made to work hard for their win. From the start it was Victory 7 who grabbed the early lead and for the opening four laps had to fend off a strong challenge from Spirit of Norway. But on lap five, Spirit of Norway slowed and returned to the pits to replace a broken water hose. Victory 77 moved into second place and then on lap eight swept passed their team-mates, going on take a comfortable win, completing the 21-laps in 54mins 19.96secs at an average speed of 118.65mph/190.91kmh. It was a race of high attrition, and with two of the fancied boats, both running V8s suffering engine problems and going out, Negotiator on lap one and Jotun on lap 5 it was left to the Qatar team to try to mount a serious challenge. But the pace of the Victory outfits was too much, but third and fourth for Qatar 96 and 95 completed a rout of the top four positions for the Middle East teams over their European challengers. Spirit of Norway, who had rejoined the race on lap 10, were able to salvage valuable points, clawing their way back to finish fifth with Nicola Giorgi and Tomaso Polli celebrating their renewed partnership with sixth spot, in SeveneleveN. For the young Australian, Tom Barry-Cotter, his Class 1 debut was less fruitful, when he and Norwegian Pal Virik Nilsen were forced to retire Spirit of Norway 20 on lap-7 with a broken propeller.

Race results:
1. Victory 77 – Al Zafeen(UAE)/Sanchez (FR)
2. Victory 7 – Al Suwaidi (UAE)/Hendi (UAE) +00.29,40
3. Qatar 96 – Al Thani (QAT)/Nicolini (ITA) +01.29,13
4. Qatar 95 – Al Sulaiti (QAT)/L Nicolini (ITA) +01.32,96
5. Spirit of Norway 10 – Gjelsten (NOR)/Curtis (GB) 4 laps
6. SeveneleveN 18 – Polli (ITA)/Giorgi (ITA) + 6 laps Foresti & Suardi
8 – Cirilli (ESP)/ Montavoci (ITA) - dnf
Spirit of Norway 20 – Barry-Cotter (AUS)/Nilsen (NOR) - dnf
Jotun 90 – Zaborowski (NOR)/Tandberg (NOR) - dnf
Negotiator 50 – Eker (NOR)/Parsonage (GB) - dnf
Overwave 11 – Ceriali (ITA)/Ceschin (ITA) - dns
CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS – after race 1 of 8
1. Victory 77 – Al Zafeen(UAE)/Sanchez (FR) – 20pts
2. Victory 7 – Al Suwaidi (UAE)/Hendi (UAE) – 15pts
3. Qatar 96 – Al Thani (QAT)/Nicolini (ITA) – 12pts
4. Qatar 95 – Al Sulaiti (QAT)/L Nicolini (ITA) – 9pts
5. Spirit of Norway 10 – Gjelsten (NOR)/Curtis (GB) – 7pts
6. SeveneleveN 18 – Polli (ITA)/Giorgi (ITA) – 5pts
Foresti & Suardi 8 – Cirilli (ESP)/ Montavoci (ITA) - dnf
Spirit of Norway 20 – Barry-Cotter (AUS)/Nilsen (NOR) - dnf
Jotun 90 – Zaborowski (NOR)/Tandberg (NOR) - dnf
Negotiator 50 – Eker (NOR)/Parsonage (GB) - dnf
Overwave 11 – Ceriali (ITA)/Ceschin (ITA) - dns

www.class-1.com

New Model: Couach 3700 Fly

Famous French company Couach, builder of luxury motor yachts has launched it's new flagship the 3700 Fly. Contemporary styling, elegant beauty and lines that mirror the performance are the French brand invite, confirming entrance to a new area of Super Yacht building. For the development of this model Couach Yachts Design has imagined everything the business man expects from his Yacht, a resource both for work and pleasure made to measure to the taste of each individual. Couach Yachts took only one year to project and launch the new model, a record in it's own right showing the huge experience of the builder in Motor and Super Yacht construction. It is said that six 3700 Fly have been sold to date. Top speed for the 3700 Fly is 30 knots at half load and twin 2735 HP engines power. Range is at 700 nautical miles at a comfortable 20 knots cruising speed. A more economic range of 2000 nautical miles is possible at a displacement speed of 12 knots.
Technical Data:
Length - 36.8 m (120.7 ft)
Beam - 7.30 m
Draught - 1.85 m
Accomadation - 5 cabins + 3 crew cabins
Fuel Capacity - 24000 l
Water Capacity - 2000 l
Engines - 2 x 2400hp, 2775hp

www.couach.com

32nd Americas Cup - Emirates Team New Zealand Win Louis Vuitton Cup

Emirates Team New Zealand NZL92 won the Louis Vuitton Cup with a convincing 5-0 over Luna Rossa Prada Challenge ITA94. The Kiwis surprised everyone in this Final and very few would have ever imagined a so much one sided contest. Much more was in doubt after race one resulted in a close 8 second win for the Kiwis and everyone thought this would take the whole 9 races of the contest to be finished, but the Kiwis showed better speed, great crew work and superb match racing tactics and the more the score went up in there favour the more they where looking unbeatable for the Italian Challenger. 

Now Emirates Team New Zealand will face Swiss Defender Alinghi winner of the 31st Edition in Auckland, just what is a rematch of the 2003 final. Now we just have to wait for Saturday 23rd June 1500 hours CET Time for the much awaited match to start.

www.americascup.com

Project: Sealine SC35

Following the latest design trend with the Sport Convertible range, Sealine presents the third and latest addition to this successful hard top design following the 28 and 38. The new SC35 is a modern, spacious sports convertible including a stylish interior, crisp clean lines and a new hull design created in collaboration with world championship powerboat designer Ocke Mannerfelt. Space and light are key features for the new Sealine with signature innovations like the unique translucent convertible roof system offering complete flexibility whatever the weather. The cockpit can comfortably accommodate 8 and can be transformed from completely open to closed in seconds. A new patented folding cockpit table doubles up as a base for an infill to change part of the seating into a sunbed. The new deep V hull design with its full stem and beam of 3.70 metres, has facilitated the largest internal volume for a boat of its size. The SC35 is a comfortable versatile family cruiser with an exceptional amount of space for entertaining and staying on board.

www.sealine.com

Class 1 - Season Preview before start at Athens

If the last two seasons have seen nerve-tingling, edge-of-the-seat climaxes to the Class 1 World Powerboat Championship – in 2007, Class 1 looks set for one of its strongest seasons to date; a competitive fleet with new teams and line-ups, three new venues: Athens (Greece), Constanta (Romania) and El Alamein (Egypt), plus the return of Oslo (Norway) along with Arendal (Norway), Doha (Qatar) and Dubai (UAE) making up an impressive calendar, and a raft of new marketing initiatives adding to the mix for what promises to be a year to enthral and captivate. Eleven boats will line up for the season-opener in Palaio Faliro-Athens, Greece on Sunday, 10 June; five are proven race-winners, seven have won a pole position and eight have also grabbed podium finishes. And with new technical rulings and a new format to the EDOX Pole Position, all of which are designed to make the racing and competition closer, the outcome of the Greek Grand Prix, let alone the 2007 title race, is impossible to predict. If a favourite or winner is hard to pick, the team to beat is not. Spirit of Norway has over the last five seasons made the title their own, but know that they will face a fierce onslaught from their rivals, all of whom are desperate to end their reign. Gjelsten and Curtis, who, with 30 wins from 74 starts, seem happy with their set-up, hint at having made one or two ‘adjustments’ but stay with their trusty V12 engine package, and both will look at the list of new pairings with great interest. Victory 77, who has pushed Spirit to the brink for the last two years, start with newcomer Arif Saif Al Zafeen taking over the wheel from Mohammed Al Marri to team up with Jean-Marc Sanchez. Qatar 95, who grabbed their first win and finished third in the title race last season have also made a switch, with Luca Nicolini taking over as throttleman to join Al-Sulaiti. And whilst Spirit’s arch-rivals Qatar 96 maintain their line-up of Sheikh Hassan Al-Thani alongside Matteo Nicolini, they have switched from the V8 back to the SKEMA V12.Jotun, who also grabbed their first win in 2006 and enjoyed their best season to date finishing fourth, maintain the all-Norwegian pairing of Tandberg and Zaborowski, but switch back to the MTI and stay with the Mercury Class 1 V8. Chris Parsonage takes on his fourth partner in as many seasons, with the 2005 Class 1 World Champion, Bard Eker, stepping into the drivers’ seat in Negotiator with Parsonage opting to run Sterling V8s. Montavoci and Cirilli, another outfit to go well last season taking their first Pole Position win and two podiums, remain unchanged in Foresti&Suardi, as does Victory 7, with Nadir Bin Hendi and Ahmed Al-Suwaidi lining up for their second season together; Nicola Giorgi is still to name his driver in SeveneleveN, but confirms he will start the season in the Cougar.Two new teams entered this year sees an all-Italian line-up with Maurizio Ceschin returning to racing alongside Class 1 debutant, Enrico Ceriale in Overwave and 19 year-old Tom Barry-Cotter becoming the youngest competitor in Class 1 for over a decade, teaming up with Norwegian Pal Virik Nilsen in Spirit of Norway 20 to form this season’s youngest partnership.
TEAMS
VICTORY TEAM (Dubai, United Arab Emirates)
# 7 Victory Ahmed Al Suwaidi (D) UAE / Nadir Bin Hendi (T) UAE
# 77 Victory Arif Saif Al Zafeen (D) UAE / Jean-Marc Sanchez (T) France
VENETA MARINA – DUEMME BROKER (Italy)
# 8 Foresti & Suardi Domenico Cirilli (D) Spain / Giampaolo Montavoci (T) Italy
SPIRIT OF NORWAY RACING (Norway)
# 10 Spirit of Norway Bjorn Rune Gjelsten (D) Norway / Steve Curtis MBE (T) England
# 20 Spirit of Norway Tom Barry-Cotter (D) Australia / Pal Virik Nilsen (T) Norway
OVERWAVE RACING (Italy)
# 11 Overwave Enrico Ceriale (D) Italy / Maurizio Ceschin (T) Italy
GIORGIOFFSHORE (Italy)
# 18 SeveneleveN TBC (D) / Nicola Giorgi (T) Italy
CHRIS PARSONAGE RACING (England)
# 50 Negotiator Bard Eker (D) Norway / Chris Parsonage (T) England
UGLAND OFFSHORE RACING (Norway)
# 90 Jotun Christian Zaborowski (D) Norway / Jorn Tandberg (T) Norway
QATAR TEAM (Qatar)
# 95 Qatar Abdulla Al-Sulaiti (D) Qatar / Luca Nicolini (T) Italy
# 96 QatarHE Sheikh Hassan bin Jabor Al-Thani (D) Qatar / Matteo Nicolini (T) Italy

www.class-1.com

Project: Rodman 74 Muse

Second sister in the Rodman Muse family, the 74 Muse is a distinctive, thoroughbred, performance motor yacht. She will be Rodman's flagship till a bigger Muse is presented as the new line from Rodman should eventually stretch up to 108 feet. An estimated 33 knot top speed will ensure swift passage making, even through the most testing conditions and her Fulvio de Simoni-designed interior accommodates eight guests in luxurious surroundings, with two optional crew cabins, and a superb flybridge for entertaining al fresco. With a bespoke range of options available to each owner the 74 will be a big challenge to other builders in this size and range.

www.rodman.es

Project: ISA Yachts 480

A very energetic beginning for the first hull of the first ISA 480, the motor yacht which develops from the well known 470 which gave and will give ISA Yachts a lot of approval has been delivered to the yard. The big steel build was immediately assembled to the aluminium superstructure, built inside the ISA facilities, showing the huge construction overall. The delivery is scheduled in July 2008. The ISA 480.1 is a highly innovative project, in fact systems of the latest generation will be installed onboard thus making the ISA 480 the prototype of the so-called clever boat, the remarkable project that ISA is pioneering.

www.isayachts.com