Project: Viking 55 Convertible

Viking shows up the project for a new 55 Convertible, what I imagine to be a replacement of the not so much selling 54.  The new 55 is scheduled for launch coming Summer and will boast an interior designed by William Bales and Company.  The interior is never the less traditional sport fish yacht with a comfortable single floor main deck, and three cabins below.  The 55 Convertible offers one single options in both the deck from an island bar, or worktop up to the side bulk head by the galley on top, or a fore cabin with three berths, or an island more luxury double below.  The owners room in the 55 is located to midships, starboard side, and features an en-suite bathroom.  Another two single berths guest cabin is located to port side.  As other small or bigger Vikings the 55 is all but a fishing machine from the big aft deck, to the center console helm station on the flybridge.  Fish boxes, freezer, tackle space, live bait storage are all found at aft, and this includes the much appreciated mezzanine aft looking settee.  Power is from standard 1400hp MAN to optional 1550 again from the German engine manufacturer, or more powerful Cats 1625.  Viking is predicting a wide open throttle 39 knots with MAN 1550hp engines.

www.vikingyachts.com

New Model: Tiara 3600 Coronet

Tiara Yachts 3600 Coronet reflects the design, engineering and construction heritage of this quality known North American builder, with outstanding standard luxury features and optional equipment that make it a performing day boat and overnighter for four persons. The over sized split level cockpit provides great entertaining and socializing, with ample seating for ten, including a double-wide helm seat, curved companion lounge with Teak table, twin port and starboard aft-facing mezzanine seats, and a large aft transom lounge. An entertainment center with sink and drawer refrigerator, which can be equipped with optional electric grill and LCD TV  is aft of the helm seat.  Other optional equipment includes: Hardtop with sunroof, or canvas soft top, Teak table with sun pad filler for the transom lounge, and a beautiful exterior Teak accent package.  This package includes Teak steering wheel, and inlay for the standard swim platform, Teak cockpit drink holders, toe rails, taffrails, companion L-lounge step treads, and deck wing handrails. Below deck, the 3600 Coronet offers a large comfortable retreat, featuring a Teak interior, with an optional Maple wood choice also available.  The master stateroom includes a double pedestal berth, Teak tri-fold entry door, port/starboard hanging lockers and upper hull side cabinets, and wall-mounted flat screen LCD TV. The galley features a Corian countertop, stainless steel under mount sink, microwave, one-burner electric cook top, refrigerator, and  cabinet storage. At the foot of the settee lounge is a floor mattress which when not in use, folds to give settee foot space.  The head includes a counter top with integrated sink, mirror, storage, shower with glass door, Vacuflush toilet, and full frame wood door. The 3600 Coronet is powered with standard Mercury 375hp gas engines, or Cummins 380hp diesel choices.  The Cummins apart standard shaft line propulsion can also be equipped with the ZF pod drives system.
Technical Data:

LOA - 13 m (42.8ft) with bathing platform and pulpit
LOA - 11.9 m without bathing platform
Hull Length - 11 m
Beam - 4.04 m
Draft - 0.91 m
Displacement - 8663 kg dry
Fuel Capacity - 1324 l
Water Capacity - 264 l
Accommodation - 2 + 2 berths
Engines - 2 x Mercruiser 8.2 DTS 375hp gas, Cummins QSB 380hp

Propulsion - line shaft, ZF pods aft looking dual propeller pod drives
Hull Shape - Vee type with medium 17 degrees dead rise aft
Construction - hand laid fiberglass, gel coat exterior, balsa cored sides and deck, solid bottom
Certification - NMMA, UCSG, ABYC, CE standards

www.tiarayachts.com

PowerYachtBlog Best of 2012 Nominated

Jongert New Web Site

One of the most World famous Dutch yacht builder Jongert presents its new global web showroom.  This new update follows an acquisition by the VeKa Group in 2009.  Jongert is known for its classic lines sailing boat built in the eighties and nineties but founded in 1953, the yard actually started its career building small motor boats.  In 1960 Jongert build its first luxury motor yacht, and a year later to this launched two important sailing yachts; the Zwalkers and Trewes, designed by Van der Meer, and Willem de Vries Lentsch.  Jongert has in time also partnered with other architects from Doug Peterson, Tony Castro, and Andre Hoek.  Today Jongert has a custom line up which spans from 22 up to 52 meters and a total of eighteen models. The power Motor Yacht line up offers three models; 3900 MY, 4100 MY, and under construction 500 LE. Jongert new web site takes you around with the following buttons; Home, News, Yachts, Yard, Services, and Contacts/

www.jongert.com

Project: Sunseeker 155 Yacht

Of the well known British production builders, Sunseeker has since 1991 with the 60 Renegade always been the one pushing the envelope of always larger sizes.  Sunseeker new flagship tri-deck 155 Yacht is now in build, and the first is due to launch in 2014. With a 4500 nautical mile range, this is the first ever semi-displacement, round bilge and long keel hull from the South England, Poole located Sunseeker. The 155 Yacht takes the concept of series building with personal customisation a step further than others, the modular composite build methodology virtually allowing owners a free hand, not just in the interior but also in the design of the actual superstructure. With a top speed of up to 26 knots the 155 Yacht will accommodate up to twelve guests and ten crew members.

www.sunseeker.com

Improve-it = Elan Power 42

Elan presents a new option to its successful 42 model, and now gets added with a new IPS pod propulsion option, along with the easy to use joystick control feature.  The 42 can now be equipped with the Volvo IPS500 370hp D6 engines, options.  This version is also distinct and recognized also by its Black metallic hull feature, stainless steel port holes, and larger hydraulic moving up down bathing platform.  For the remaining the 42 keeps the same element that has characterized its success of two or three cabins choices, and the good performing Tony Castro designed hull, who created the much appreciated super structure and interior of this renowned model.

www.elan-yachts.com

Project: VZ 58

VZ shipyard from Venice, Italy is one of the small respected builders which grew its name in the nineties with the 18 model.  An 18 meter motor yacht presented in 1993 and designed by Nuvolari Lenard, which was one of the design firm first and most successful jobs.  Story is the 18 stayed in production for thirteen years replaced by the 64 in 2006.  The VZ 58 is a development and replacement of the 2003 launched 16 later renamed 56 model.  So far we can only show rendering for this model.  New upper structure window present a more modern line, while the view windows in the middle suggest that the 58 might have a full beam cabin. Still though I want be so sure of that, as VZ has always been a yard which first looks at the bottom of its boats and then on accommodation.  Semi customization has also been a selling point to VZ, and considering they build only about five yachts a year they are a tailor made yacht.  I have boarded a few 18 models and most had different layouts from three large cabins, to four or five room versions.  The 16 was less a custom model, with differences mostly concerning the wood finish choices.

www.vzyachts.com

New Model: Faeton F-36 Formentera

The Formentera series is a new range from Faeton, which with the F-36 presents a hybrid design of a high performance center console, and a cabin boat.  A growing trend this one which started in Italy and has seen many builders in the European peninsula jump on this style of boat.  The Faeton is one of the first of this hybrid center console cabin mash up to come out of Italy.  Faeton Astondoa Group took more a performance route with a slim beam of just over three meters and a two step deep vee hull for its F-36 Formentera.  Accommodation offers four berths in a Vee shaped convertible berth, door serpated cabin with two singles at midships, plus a galley, and shower head in between.  The exterior offers an L-shaped settee to aft, two seat center console, galley wet bar behind helm, and two step passageway to the foredeck in an all around deck.  Engine wise the Faeton F-36 Formentera is more an outboard design boat with three engine choices starting from twin Mercury 200hp up to 300hp.  In stern drive inboard choice the F-36 Formentera is offered with a single Mercruiser 320hp gas petrol choice.  Being Faeton Spanish I am still surprised of no diesel engine option.  We will see if this will happen in the near future.

Technical Data:

LOA - 10.7 m (3ft)

Hull Length - 9.55 m

Beam - 3.10 m

Draft - 0.57 m ex drives and props

Displacement - 5800 kg

Fuel Capacity - 2 x 400 l

Water Capacity - 200 l

Accommodation - 4 berths 

Max Persons - 8

Engines - 1 x Mercruiser 377 Mag 320hp

Propulsion - single stern drive dual propeller

Certification - CE B

www.faeton.es

Project: Marquis 560

Marquis shows the rendering of an upcoming new 560 model.  This project is not entirely new as it is more a fine tuning of the 56 model; with new hull window port hole shapes, modified more curved radar arch, stylish hard top choice for the flybridge, and more extended in length aft bathing platform with up down movement.  Down below is a layout of three double cabins, with full beams midships located owners stateroom, VIP suite to fore, and double cabin with two singles in between. A single person crew cabin with shower head is located to aft.  The main deck is a split level saloon, with a dining galley area on the raised part to fore.  So far no lower helm choice is shown in the official web site, but if Marquis wants to attract buyers outside the American continent, they should make this as a choice to the buyer.  Power is six engine choices from Volvo, Man and Cat, in direct line shaft propulsion.  Standard engine is a Volvo 575hp and largest option is the Cat 865hp.

www.marquisyachts.com

New Model: Salpa 40 Granturismo

After presenting the Granturismo series with 30, and 20 models in 2010, Salpa continues to extend this range with the introduction of the 40 and 24 additions.  The 40 is the latest model to be added to the Granturismo series, and is now the flagship of this range featuring as the smaller 30 an interesting mix of walk around spaces, mixed up with those of a cruiser.  Her interior offers in fact space for two cabins sleeping four, an L-shaped saloon settee which converted can sleep two more, shower head, and a small size galley.  Outside the Salpa covered to half by the hardtop is all about spaces with a large L-shaped settee, center console seating three, and a well sized galley wet bar behind the helm.  The Salpa is powered in three engine choices from Volvo 260 up to 300hp with a 265 Volkswagen in between.  The hull shape is a deep Vee, derivation of a legendary Renato Sonny Levi design.

Technical Data:

LOA - 12.25 m (40.1ft)

Hull Length - 9.98 m

Beam - 3.85 n

Draft - 0.90 m

Displacement - 7250 kg dry, 9250 kg loaded

Fuel Capacity - 2 x 350 l

Water Capacity - 250 l

Accommodation - 4 + 2 berths

Engines - 2 x Volkswagen 3.0 265hp, D4 260hp, D4 300hp

Propulsion - dual propeller stern drive

Hull Type - deep Vee

Construction - Vacuum infusion moulded resin

Project - Renato Sonny Levi hull

Certification - CE B

www.salpa.com

Class 1 - Qatar Grand Prix

RACE 1

Sheikh Hassan bin Jabor Al-Thani and Steve Curtis led home a Spirit of Qatar one-three in race 1 of the Pearl Qatar Grand Prix, ending a nine-year wait for Sheikh Hassan to break his jinx of not winning on home waters since taking his first podium in Doha back in 2004.

Teammates Ali Al Neama and Matteo Nicolini made it a double podium celebration for the Doha based team, coming home in third place behind Team Abu Dhabi’s Rashed Al Tayer and Majed Al Mansoori.

It was a day of high drama inside the Pearl Qatar that started in the morning’s interrupted practice session, with Welmax crashing out and FA.RO ACIAI bursting into flames, side-lining both outfits for today’s race.

The drama carried over into the race with Victory’s Arif Al Zafeen and Mohammed Al Marri penalised a total of four penalty laps.

The parade lap saw Poliform immediately in trouble and limping back to the pits on one engine as the six remaining boats headed out for the start to run a revised circuit after race organisers reduced the lap distance to 6.63Nm.

The Spirit of Qatar 96 duo found themselves trailing in second place after the start as Victory’s Al Zafeen and Al Marri edged ahead on the run to the first turn mark to lead at the end of lap one. Spirit of Qatar 95 came through in third ahead of Team Abu Dhabi, Fendi Racing and Relekta, both Fendi Racing and Relekta’s race ending on lap 2.

By lap 3 Victory had opened up a 12 second lead but were adjudged by race officials to have moved across on Spirit of Qatar 96 on the run to the first turn and handed a penalty lap. Team Abu Dhabi passed Spirit of Qatar 95 and up into third place.

Victory’s penalty lap proved costly dropping them to fourth and last place, with Sheikh Hassan and Steve Curtis taking full advantage and surging into the lead.

For defending World Champion Al Zafeen the day deteriorated into farce, missing a buoy on the penalty lap, only to be handed another and then missing the same buoy, ultimately collecting four penalty lap infringements and running out the race in fourth spot.

Sheikh Hassan and  Steve Curtis were able to maintain their pace out front and from lap four were never troubled, going on to complete the nine lap, 56.26Nm race in 31.53,37secs at an average speed of 198.40km/h.

Team Abu Dhabi’s Rashed Al Tayer and Majed Al Mansoori continued the impressive form they have shown throughout the weekend and once they had passed Al Neama and Nicolini were able to take their second podium together since teaming-up in Class 1 in Norway last year.

Despite a recurring electronic problem that kept cutting power to one engine, the Spirit of Qatar 95 duo were able to hang on to third spot for what Nicolini described as an ‘unexpected podium’.

Race 2 of the Pearl Qatar Grand Prix takes place on Saturday, 17 March with Sheikh Hassan looking to make it an historic win-double.

PEARL QATAR GRAND PRIX, RACE 1 - results

1. 96 Spirit of Qatar - H Al Thani (QAT) / S Curtis (ENG) 00.31.53,37

2. 5 Team Abu Dhabi - R Al Tayer (UAE) / M Al Mansoori (UAE) + 00.13,77

3. 95 Spirit of Qatar - A Al Neama (QAT) / M Nicolini (ITA) + 00.39,25

4. 3 Victory - A Al Zafeen (UAE) / M Al Marri (UAE) + 01.48,95

5. 10 Fendi Racing - L Formilli Fendi (ITA) / G Carpitella (ITA) DNF

6. 91 Relekta - U Isik (TUR) / C Zaborowski (NOR) DNF

7. 74 Poliform - G Cappellini (MON) / G M Gabbiani (ITA) DNF

8. 23 FA.RO. ACCIAI - M Roggiero (ITA) / P V Nilsen (NOR) DNS

9. 90 Welmax - P Gaiser (BRA) / B Jacobsen (NOR) DNF

RACE 2

Victory’s Arif Al Zafeen and Mohammed Al Marri came from behind to win race 2 of the Pearl Qatar Grand Prix, taking their third win together from four starts since teaming-up in Dubai at the end of last season.

Team Abu Dhabi’s Rashed Al Tayer and Majed Al Mansoori made it a one-two celebration for the United Arab Emirates taking their second podium of the Grand Prix weekend, with Thursday’s race winner’s Sheikh Hassan bin Jabor Al Thani and Steve Curtis completing the podium in Spirit of Qatar 96.

Today’s result puts Victory and Spirit of Qatar 96 joint top of the Championship standings on 32 points, with Team Abu Dhabi two points adrift in third.

But the Dubai duo did not have it all their own way and had to overturn a strong challenge after a breathtaking start to the race by Italian outfit Poliform.

The drag race from the green flag saw pole-sitters Spirit of Qatar 96, Team Abu Dhabi and Victory 3, line a breast and just feet apart as they hurtled into the first turn. But it was Guido Cappellini and Class 1 debutant Gian Maria Gabbiani in Poliform, starting on the outside of the line of eight, who showed a blistering turn of speed to get out front and come across to lead at the end of lap 1.

Cappellini and Gabbiani, who failed to make the start of race 1 and forced to sit out the next two practice sessions with a recurring engine problem, held off the challenge of Al Zafeen and Al Marri, edging out to a four second lead before a technical problem forced them to slow, conceding the lead and retiring from the race on lap 6.

With Poliform out, Al Zafeen and Al Marri were able to control the race and extended their lead, going on to complete the 11 lap, 66.54Nm race in 39mins 13.68s to win by over 15 seconds.

Behind the race leader’s, Team Abu Dhabi and the Spirit of Qatar boats raced line astern, neither making any inroads to the other, with Al Tayer and Al Mansoori able to maintain a comfortable 11 second gap over Spirit of Qatar 96.

For Sheikh Hassan and Steve Curtis any hopes of completing the Doha double evaporated at the first turn, losing the advantage of being in pole position and dropping to fourth at the end of the first lap. Following their disqualification from race 1, teammates Ali Al Neama and Matteo Nicolini faced an uphill task, starting from seventh place on the start line, and were unable to make any inroads completing a frustrating weekend finishing in fourth.

Fendi Racing’s team manager, Marco Bonomo, had said before the race that after all the hard work that the team had put in to repair the boat after Luca Fendi and Giovanni Carpitella’s brush with a sandbank earlier in the week, if they finished it would be like winning, the Italian duo coming home in fifth place to pick up seven valuable points.

There was more frustration for Norwegian outfit Relekta who ended a disappointing start to their year with a second retirement for Ugur Isik and Christian Zaborowski – stopping on lap 4.

Welmax duo of Paul Gaiser and Bjorge Jacobsen paid back their team’s efforts for repairing the boat after they crashed out in second practice by putting in a cameo role, taking to the water to complete a handful of laps.

PEARL QATAR GRAND PRIX, RACE 2 - results

1. 3 Victory - A Al Zafeen (UAE) / M Al Marri (UAE) 00.39.13,68

2. 5 Team Abu Dhabi - R Al Tayer (UAE) / M Al Mansoori (UAE) + 00.15,72

3. 96 Spirit of Qatar - H Al Thani (QAT) / S Curtis (ENG) + 00.28,53

4. 95 Spirit of Qatar - A Al Neama (QAT) / M Nicolini (ITA) + 00.49,53

5. 10 Fendi Racing - L Formilli Fendi (ITA) / G Carpitella (ITA) + 1 LAP

6. 74 Poliform - G Cappellini (MON) / G M Gabbiani (ITA) DNF

7. 91 Relekta - U Isik (TUR) / C Zaborowski (NOR) DNF

8. 90 Welmax - P Gaiser (BRA) / B Jacobsen (NOR) DNF

9. 23 FA.RO. ACCIAI - M Roggiero (ITA) / P V Nilsen (NOR) DNS

UIM CLASS 1 WORLD POWERBOAT CHAMPIONSHIP - after race 2

1= 96 Spirit of Qatar - 32pts

1= 3 Victory - 32pts

3. 5 Team Abu Dhabi - 30pts

4. 95 Spirit of Qatar - 9pts

5. 10 Fendi Racing - 7pts

6= 91 Relekta - 0pts

6= 74 Poliform - 0pts

6= 23 FA.RO. ACCIAI - 0pts

6= Welmax - 0pts

MIDDLE EAST CHAMPIONSHIP - after race 2

1= 96 Spirit of Qatar - 32pts

1= 3 Victory - 32pts

3. 5 Team Abu Dhabi - 30pts

4. 95 Spirit of Qatar - 9pts

5. 10 Fendi Racing - 7pts

6= 91 Relekta - 0pts

6= 74 Poliform - 0pts

6= 23 FA.RO. ACCIAI - 0pts

6= Welmax - 0pts

www.class-1.com