Motor Yacht Ends Aground in Lahaina Maui

A sixteen meter motor yacht titled m/y Kuuipo ended aground in the North side of the Lahaina Boat Harbor Channel to the West of Maui, Hawaii Islands on the eight March.  According to reports the yacht broke its swing mooring after strong winds on the day, with another boat also reported running loose.  A salvage operation to refloat and remove the yacht was initiated on the eighteen March, with Kuuipo ending in further trouble as it ended under three meters close to the Hauola birthing Stone, with this action leading to the Department of Land and Division of Boating and Recreation confiscating the yacht.  

Ultimately on the fifth of May the Division of Boating and Recreation ended cutting and scuttling Kuuipo in various pieces and removing it from the area.    

M/y Kuuipo is a Vitech 59 as produced in the mid to late eighties.  Vitech was a yacht builder founded in Taiwan in the mid to late eighties, with the company closing its doors in the noughties.

Project: Prestige M8

During Dusseldorf 2023 boat show Prestige presented the M8 project, designed by Garroni and Marc Lombard with interior by Valentina Militerno de Romedis this is the second model and new flagship of the M-Line, the power catamaran series which debuted with the M48 in 2022. The new M8 power catamaran yacht is a multihull of eight plus meters of beam and nineteen meters of beam, and will give the space and comfort equivalent to that of a 25 meter mono-hulled super yacht, targeting customers who want more space in less length. Thanks to this size the Prestige M8 will give a living area unequalled in its size, the redefining the standards of well-being on board, offering everyone the ability to share precious moments at sea. The main deck in the Prestige M8 is offered in two versions with a galley up located to starboard forward, and or this space replaced by a lounging area and the galley located below. Down below the options abound as well for a four or five double cabins layout, and two crew cabins forward. The owners stateroom is located in between the hulls forward, and uses all the eight meter beam. If you choose four cabins you have two options that for a lower galley to starboard, and or to have a large VIP suite to port side, which in this version will also feature a small L-shaped saloon private lounging area. The Prestige M8 is to be powered by twin Volvo 600hp for top speeds up to twenty knots and a cruise of fifteen giving a range of 350 nautical miles.

www.prestige-yachts.com

Princess Yacht Fire in Fort Lauderdale

A 26 meter Princess yacht titled m/y Hot Pursuit went in flames while berthed in her berth at Las Olas Isles, in Fort Lauderdale on 10:30 morning time of Wednesday March eight.  No one was aboard the yacht when Hot Pursuit's flybridge started to burn, with Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue responding to the fire and managing to control the flames, limiting the damage to the flybridge.  The causes of the fire are unknown with the first indications showing that it was an electrical fault which started the flames.

M/y Hot Pursuit is a 2018 Princess 88 MY as designed by Bernard Olesinski and produced from 2013 till 2019 in 27 units.  The Princess 88 MY was a replacement to the 85, and was replaced by the Pininfarina styled Y85.

New Model: Focus Forza 37

Focus who some years ago took over the moulds of the Elan Power range presents its first totally new model, with the sport cruiser walk around Forza 37.  Also designed like other Focus by Tony Castro, the Forza 37 is a semi walk around centre console, what the Americans usually call dual console.  The exterior accommodation offers three seat central helm station covered in hard top, followed by a dinette and an aft sun-pad, with the three steps up to both sides taking you up to a fore-deck sun-pad.  Down below the Focus Forza offers accommodation for two in open layout with a central double berth, galley to port side and well sized shower head opposite.  The Focus Forza 37 can be powered by a variety of engines from twin Mercury diesel 270hp, to Yanmar 370hp, and or optional twin Merucy outboards 600hp in petrol gas.  Focus has not been very detailed on top speed quoting a fifty knots top speeds, possibly reachable with the bigger twin Merucy 600hp outboards.

Technical Data:

LOA - 11.40 m (36.1ft)

Beam - 3.60 m

Draft - 0.90 m

Displacement - 6500 kg

Fuel Capacity - 600 l

Water Capacity - 300 l

Max Persons - ten

Accommodation - two berths

Engines - 2 x Mercury Diesel 3.0 TDI 270hp, 4.2 TDI 320hp, Volvo D4 270hp, D4 320hp, Yanmar 370hp, petrol gas outboard Mercury Verado 600hp

Propulsion - Mercury Bravo III or Volvo DPI dual propeller stern drive, Mercury outboard

Speed - up to fifty knots max

Project - Tony Castro

Certification - CE B, IMCI

www.focus-motoryachts.com

Project: Azimut Magellano 60

The 2023 Dusseldorf boat show set the stage for the preview of Azimut's new Magellano 60 that will be presented in September. The 60 will complete the explorer with a Mediterrean vision Magellano series, which includes the larger 66, 25M and the 30M.  Designed by Ken Freivokh the same designer of the first 74 which represented a new direction not only for Azimut but yachting in general, and today is the designer of the two larger models.  In the Magellano 60 Freivokh integrates the refined world of sailing with the more complex world of the motor yacht, creating a crossover for true connoisseurs, owners who love long voyages full of adventure and charm. The Magellano 60 is a further step along the sustainable path that Azimut has planned, and with the second-generation Dual Mode hull, she takes her rightful place as a Low Emission Yacht.  Characterized by a timeless aesthetic, she balances a design full of details, generous volumes and architectural solutions that guarantee not only a unique lifestyle but also freedom and intimate contact with nature. Among her outstanding features, the Magellano 60 offers an Infinity Terrace aft and an internal dining with an exclusive sea view.  The Magellano 60 will feature a three double cabins layout with a single crew cabin berth aft.  Power will come from twin Man 730hp with line shafts propulsion giving a top speed up to 26 knots and a cruise of eighteen.

www.azimutyachts.com

Nordhavn SuperYacht Powerless in Arafuru Sea

A 29 meter Nordhavn super yacht titled m/y VivieRae II ended powerless and adrift while navigating in the Arafaru Sea, between North Australia and Papua New Guinea on Tuesday second March. In navigation from the Marshall Islands leaving on 26 February going to Sorong, Indonesia, VivieRae II had a towing line which broke free from an eleven meter tender in tow after it severed off due to very rough conditions and unfortunately got tangled in the prop, which seized the engines.  A search and rescue operation call was initiated on third March, with operations to tow the yacht not being successful on five March, due to bad weather and five meter waves rough seas.  The crew was rescued off the yacht on the sixth at 10:00 morning time by an Australian ship.  The eleven meter tender support chase boat got lost in the rope tangling.  Viverae II also sustained some cosmetic damage to its upper port side when it collided with a 190 meter tanker ship who was trying to tow the yacht but failed due to the rough seas.  On Sunday March 12 a rescue operation with owner Bob Giles and previous captain Gareth Schwegman reached ViveRae II and dived to clear the propellers from the ropes, with port side tangled with the tender line and starboard in a fishing net to port side.  The yachts eleven meter tender was also found near Thursday Island, about 240 nautical miles from the yacht position.  

All ends well with Viverae II arriving on Thursday Island on Monday thirteen March where the yacht will stop for repairs, recover its tender and then continue its around the World journey to the West.

M/y VivieRae II is a 2017 Nordhavn 96 hull #3, as designed by Nordhavn chief designer Jeff Leishman and produced since 2016 in nine units.  The Nordhavn 96 is an extended in length 86, the second in size after the 120 which the Taiwan builder so far sold in only one unit in 2013.  A one off Nordhavn 100 based on the hull on the 96 but with extended fisherman cockpit was also delivered in 2018.

New Model: Princess S72

During the 2023 Dusseldorf boat show Princess debuted its new S72 model.  Presented as a project in 2022 the S72 mark. II is the second in size model of the S range, Princess sport bridge yacht four model range which starts at 62 and ends at 78 feet.  The S72 offers similar spaces to the bigger sister in one meter smaller size, with a similar four double cabins lower deck, and an astern galley main deck layout.  The main difference is that the S72 offers three heads, with a third shower head serving the third and fourth cabin.  The Princess S72 is standard powered by Man 1650hp and or optional 1800hp engines with top speeds up to 36 knots with the bigger engines. 

Technical Data:

LOA - 23.09 m (75.9ft) inc pulpit

Length - 22.30 m

Beam - 5.22 m

Draft - 1.72 m full load

Displacement - 55461 kg half load medium load

Fuel Capacity - 4500 l

Water Capacity - 835 l

Accommodation - eight berths in four cabins, two crew in one cabin

Engines - 2 x Man V12 1650hp, V12 1800hp 

Propulsion - line shaft

Speed - 36 knots max

Hull Shape - modified Vee

Project - Olesinski, Pininfarina exterior styling

Construction - resin infusion

www.princessyachts.com

Zeelander New Web Site

Zeelander from the Netherlands presents its new World wide web virtual showroom. Zeelander was founded in 2002 by passionate yachtsman Sietse Koopmans in Zeeland, a province located in the South West of the Netherlands.  In 2008 Zeelander launched its first model the Z44 designed by renowned Dutch designer Cor D.Rover, who presented a traditional down East inspired cruiser full of luxury of comfort.  Zeelander first started to build its models at the S2 Tiara factory in Holland Michigan, United States of America, but in 2017 it transferred to its own premises in Groot-Ammers on the river La Lek in Holland.  Currently Zeelander offers three from fourteen to 21 meter starting with the 5, 6, and 7 models. Zeelander new web showroom takes you around with the following buttons; Models, About, Brochure, and Contact. Zeelander also features its social media pages; Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and Linkedin with link buttons located at the right bottom of the page. 

www.zeelander.com

Production History;

Z44 2008-21

Z68 2014-17

Z55 2016-21

Z72/7 2019/23

6 2022-

5 2023-

8 2024-

Project: Lazzara UHV 100

Currently being build in Turkey for completion at the end of this year is the Lazzara UHV 100 model.  With the first UHV 87 presented in 2022, the UHV 100 is the second of a three model range with the other project being Lazzara current largest 125 flagship.  The Lazzara UHV 100 builds on the Ultra High Volume concept of these yachts, offering a semi-wide body design, with a large owners stateroom on the forward part of the main deck.  The extra four meters of the Lazzara UHV 100 will give an extra cabin in the lower deck, offering four guests suite versus the three of the UHV 87.   Another incredible space in the Lazzara UHV 100 is the third deck which apart having the pilot bridge forward has a spacious living dining area which uses best possible space also thanks to the wide body feature.  The Lazzara UHV 100 is standard powered by Volvo 1000hp or optional Man 1550hp and MTU 1600hp with line shafts.

www.lazzarayachts.com

New Model: Pershing GTX116

2023 is an important year for the Mondolfo-based yard as it launches the first Pershing GTX116. This innovative, exciting, disruptive, and ground-breaking Pershing entered the water last February 7 in Fano and in doing so welcomed a new era for one of the most sportier yachting brands, with the GTX presenting a second line to that of the standard high performance modern looking sport and super sport yachts. Designed for the US market the GTX116 come from the usual always Pershing hands of  Fulvio de Simoni collaborating with Ferretti Group’s Strategic Product Committee led by Piero Ferrari and the Group’s noteworthy Engineering Department.  The first Pershing GTX116 confirms the sporty DNA of the brand and enhances the concept of comfort by providing plenty of open-air space, areas designed to be in direct contact with the water, and outstanding liveability guaranteed by the new five-cabin layout. The GTX116 infuses something new, while keeping the Pershing sport yacht DNA, reinventing it but keeping it recognizable to the rest.  With a hull of 35 meters in length and over seven meters in beam the Pershing GTX116 has a remarkable 150 square meters of outdoor areas seamlessly connected to the water, amplifying onboard liveability. The sleek and streamlined profile is emblematic of the brand’s sporty personality, which is pointed up in the bow area by a signature style feature referencing luxury SUV automotive imagery and identifying the new Pershing GTX116 as an SUY or Sport Utility Yacht. This yacht in the new range is painted a new shade of grey, with a special shade of blue for the deckhouse, while the generous glazed surfaces flood the interiors with natural light. The garage can contain a tender over 5 meters long, a jet ski and other water toys, while the exclusive 39-square-meter beach club has a teak deck protected by an electro-hydraulic taffrail that opens up to connect the beach area with the swim platform, creating a huge space at the water’s edge. The 40-square-meter sundeck, reached from the stern area via two outdoor stairways on either side of the yacht, contains the second helm station and is designed with generous spaces for socialising and to enjoy the onboard lifestyle, not least thanks to the shelter provided by the carbon hard top. This area also contains the generously sized and comfortable lounge area, complete with a large wet bar. The first Pershing GTX116 is equipped with the optional triple water jet propulsion Man 2000hp for a top speed up to 35 knots and a cruising speed of 29 knots. The standard engines are three Man 1800hp.  Announced as a secret TO project in 2020 and then fully announced a year ago during the 2022 Miami boat show as the GTX116, Pershing has two further units of its current second sized model in construction, with a smaller GTX80 scheduled to launch in 2024.

Technical Data:

LOA - 35.24 M (115.7ft)

Hull Length - 35.2 m

Waterline Length - 29.9 m

Beam - 7.72 m

Draft - 1.45 m

Displacement - 130,000 kg unloaded, 150,000 kg loaded

Fuel Capacity - 14500 l

Water Capacity - 2000 l

Max Persons - twenty

Accommodation - ten guests in five cabins, six crew in three cabins

Engines - 3 x Man V12 1800hp, V12 2000hp

Propulsion - triple water jets

Speed - 32 knots max 26 cruise with Man 1800s, 35 max 29 cruise with Man 2000s

Project - Fulvio de Simoni, Ferretti Engineering for naval architecture

www.pershing-yacht.com

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