May 30, 2024

No Injuries as Aft Cabin Cruiser is Destroyed by Fire Near Isla Mujeres

A twelve meter aft cabin flybridge cruiser titled m/y La Chica went ablaze and later succumbed to the fire near the coast of Isla Mujeres with a blaze which started around 17:00 of Wednesday 29 May.  A tourist boat came to the aid of La Chica first, rescuing the boaters, as an Ultramar ferry arrived second and started to fight the blaze, with its fire fighting equipment.  Semar and Civil Protection followed later to the scene as the aft cabin flybridge cruiser went fully ablaze and was destroyed.  No one was injured in the fire, with the number of persons onboard La Chica not being reported.
M/y La Chica the aft cabin flybridge cruiser in this fire is a Meridian 408 Motor Yacht as produced from 2003 to 2008.  Part of the Brunswick Group, Meridian was launched in 2003 replacing Bayliner Yacht line, with the company ceasing operation in 2018.

New Model: Alen Yacht 77 Fly

Alen Yacht from Tuzla Turkey has in the end of 2023 launched its biggest build to date with this new 77 Fly model. The Alen 77 Fly is a walk-around sport yacht with a sport bridge up top, all delivered into sleek lines, impressive performance, and the easy handling which comes from the IPS pod drives. This Alen 77 Fly is designed to provide the ultimate in comfort and style, with ample living areas and state-of-the-art technology. One of the standout features of the Alen 77 is its walk-around deck, which provides bow to stern enjoyment and allows for seamless access to all areas of the yacht. The deck is equipped with comfortable seating and various lounging areas, making it the perfect spot for entertaining guests or simply enjoying the sea breeze. Inside, the Alen 77 Fly boasts spacious and elegant living areas, with luxurious finishes and meticulous attention to detail. The main salon features a comfortable seating area, a dining table, and large windows that offer breathtaking views of the surrounding water. The yacht also has a fully equipped galley and three luxurious staterooms, each with its own private bathroom, with an owners stateroom at midships.  A crew cabin is located in between the cabins and engine-room.  The Alen 77 Fly is powered by twin Volvo 1000hp with IPS pod drives, delivering impressive up to thirty knots top speed and a cruise of 22 knots. 
Technical Data:
LOA - 23.40 m (77ft)
Beam - 6.05 m
Draft - 1 m excluding drives and propellers
Displacement - 45 t dry
Fuel Capacity - 4000 l
Water Capacity - 1080 l
Max Persons - twelve
Accommodation - six berths in three cabins, one crew cabin berth
Engines - 2 x Volvo D13 1000hp
Propulsion - Volvo IPS 1350 pod drives
Speed - thirty knots max, 22 cruise
Range - 400 nautical miles at cruise
Construction - full sandwich with Airex core
Project - Alen
Certification - module B + F

May 29, 2024

Project: Greenline 58 Coupe

As is usual from Greenline, the Slovenian yacht builder is offering a new version of the 58 Fly platform it presented in 2023, with this project for a new 58 Coupe.  Based on all minus the flybridge, the Greenline 58 Coupe will feature a full extended hard-top which does not open and is covered by solar panels.  So far according to the data on the Greenline website the solar power from this power is identical to the 58 Fly model.  This new Greenline 58 Coupe seems targeted for customers who cruise inland waterways and require the least minimum air draft.  The  Greenline 58 Coupe with offer the same cabin layout as the 58 Fly with an astern galley layout main deck, and three cabins with all en-suited cabins or the choice to replace the shower head in the forward VIP suite to a walk-in wardrobe.  The Greenline 58 Coupe is powered by twin Volvo 715hp up to 1000hp engines for top speeds from 25 to thirty knots.

May 28, 2024

New Model: Airon Marine AmX 35 Sport Top

Airon Marine is always very mindful of market trends and this Spring 2024 it debuted the new AmX 35 Sport Top.  The AmX 35 Sport Top adds a protective T-Top covering over half of the cockpit to the standard AmX 35.  The Airon Marine AmX 35 debuted in 2023, an evolution of the AmX 34 which launched in 2017, with a complete redesign of the cockpit deck, improvement to the lower deck, and addition of an extended bathing platform.  The Airon Marine AmX 35 Sport Top offers sleeping accommodation for five in a convertible V-berth forward, and a midships cabin with three berths.  Power options start from twin 230hp diesel and go up to 300hp again in diesel, and or 380hp petrol gas units.
Technical Data:
LOA - 10.67 m (35ft)
Hull Length - 9.96 m
Beam - 3.30 m
Displacement - 6000 kg unloaded
Fuel Capacity - 410 l
Water Capacity - 154 l
Max Persons - twelve
Accommodation - five berths
Engines - 2 x 230hp up to 300hp diesel, 2 x 250hp up 380hp petrol gas
Propulsion - stern drives standard or duo propellers
Certification - CE B

May 27, 2024

Project: Santasevera 52

Santasevera is a new brand coming from Italy, currently offering three projects with this 52 set to debut during the Cannes boat show 2024.  The Santasevera 52 is designed by Francesca Guida, who presents a very original design.  If you ask me, she looks like a lobster boat coming from the future, also thanks to the hard-top structure located further forward, and the going lower to the stern shear line, giving the Santasevera 52 a unique look.  Accommodation wise the Santasevera is mostly about outside and conceived as an open, with a cockpit which spans stern to about two-thirds of length forward; offering a central aft sun-pad, aft looking sun-lounger to starboard, C-shaped dinette with wet-bar galley opposite, and dual seat helm station to starboard.  The lower deck accommodation offers two cabins, with a forward master cabin central double berth, and twin berths at midships served by a spacious shower head to starboard, with an L-shaped lounger opposite.  The Santasevera 52 is to be powered by twin modestly powered Volvo 480hp with direct line shaft propulsion for top speeds up to thirty knots. 

May 26, 2024

Sunseeker Yacht Loses Power Off Torquay

A fifteen meter Sunseeker sport yacht with five passengers onboard went black out and lost power when located over twenty nautical miles East of Berry Head off Torquay, United Kingdom on 12:42 hours of Sunday 26 May.  Crew from Devon responded to the call with the Exmouth all-weather lifeboat for an operation which took five hours to complete, including the tow of the sport yacht to Torquay.  Upon arriving on the scene the RNLI crew assisted the five passengers aboard the sport yacht who were all suffering sea sickness and then found out that the vessel went black out because of the automatic fire suppression system which was preventing the engines from operating.  Following this the Sunseeker yacht was eventually towed to Torquay in rather challenging three meter waves rough sea conditions. 
The Sunseeker in this unlucky endeavour is a Predator 50 as produced from 2018 till 2020.  The Sunseeker Predator 50 came out as a replacement to the 485 San Remo, although in reality she was a different bigger yacht with more comfort and powered by shaft drives. In 2020 Sunseeker evolved the model into the Predator 55 Evo.

Sport Cruiser Jumps Off Trailer

An eight meter sport cruiser ended on top its Ford towing truck during its journey in Colchester, Vermont on the morning of Sunday 26 May.  The causes of the incident are that this sport cruiser was not strapped to its trailer, with speed and a hard break leading us to this scene.  An open canopy during road transport also does not help much during road transportation.  No one was injured in this collision with the damage not looking too serious considering all with an exception to the stern drive.  Such incidents seem to be very common in North America recently, although usually it involves smaller boats.
The sport cruiser in this accident is a Glastron GS 279 as produced between 2002 and 2008.  The GS 279 was Glastron's flagship at launch, replaced by the GS 289 in 2009.  
Glastron was founded in 1956 at Austin Texas, with the company changing ownership in 1987 to Genmar and then relocated to Minnesota, and since 2014 is owned by Beneteau Groupe.  Glastron is also famous for building the Batboat for the 1966 Batman movie and then used in the TV series, and then for its boats appearing in the James Bond films Live and Let Die, and Moonraker.

Whitehaven New Web Site

Down-under company Whitehaven presents its new virtual web show room.  Whitehaven is a new company founded in 2014 by Keith Hanson and son Ryan, who are partnered by entrepreneur Bruce Scott.  Whitehaven are built in Taiwan, at the New Ocean Yachts shipyard, with the design of the product dedicated to the down under market.  The company debuted in 2014 with the release of the 6000 Flybridge, followed soon after by the 6000 Coupe in early 2015.  The current Whitehaven range offers a total of seventeen models, divided into the six series; Sports Yacht, Flybridge, Sports Flybridge, Coupe, Sunbridge, and Harbour Classic.  Whitehaven entry level model is the Harbour Classic 40 and goes up to the 8300 Sports Yacht.  At some point Whitehaven also offered a 950 Super Yacht project but this was never build.  Whitehaven new website takes you around with the following buttons; About Whitehaven, Our Range, Our Family, News and Events, and Contact Us.  Whitehaven is also on social media with bottom page buttons taking you to its Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram pages.
Production History;
6000 Flybridge 2014-
6000 Coupe 2015-18
6000 Sunbridge 2015-
7000 Flybridge 2016-
7500 Sports Yacht 2017-
6100 Coupe 2019-
Harbour Classic 40 2020- (10
7000 Sport Yacht 2022- *6800 Sport Yacht project

May 25, 2024

Two People Rescued from Sinking Sunseeker 80 Predator

Two people where rescued when a 24 meter Sunseeker sport yacht tilted m/y Atlantis started to take on water three nautical miles off St Augustine Beach, Jacksonville, Florida on 11:37 morning of Saturday 25 May.  US Coast Guard sector Jacksonville responded to the distress call from Atlantis on channel sixteen, with assistance also coming from St. Johns Sherriff Office, St. Augustine Police Department, and St. Johns County Fire and Rescue who also transported one of the persons onboard to the Vilano Boat Ramp and then to a local hospital for minor injuries treatment. The causes of the sinking are under investigation though it is reported that the yacht struck a dredge pipe piling when under way, breaching its hull in the lower bow area with the collision and started to sink.  A navigational warning has been issued as the yacht is apparently still floating submerged, and currently a hazard with the owner instructed to organize a salvage.
M/y Atlantis is a 1999 Sunseeker 80 Predator as designed by Don Shead and John Braithwaite and produced from 1996 to 1999 in 21 units.  When released and for a year the 80 Predator was the Sunseeker flagship, and the largest production yacht build in the United Kingdom.  The 80 Predator with replaced by the bit smaller Predator 75.

Project: ISA Yachts Viper 120

ISA Yachts presents the new Viper line that renews the Ancona super yacht yard’s over twenty years of experience in the production of fiber glass build super sport yachts, which made the brand famous worldwide, and perfects it through new stylistic elements, excellent performance and flexible solutions to optimize the interior spaces. A new concept that once again accentuates the innate identity of ISA models by creating even sleeker and more defined lines though maintaining a fresh and contemporary style.  The ISA Yachts Viper line debuts the first collaboration with Fulvio De Simoni entrusted in the development of both the exterior and interior design, with naval engineering  carried out by ISA Yachts. The Viper line is to offer three models of 100, 120 and 140 feet, all made of composite with carbon reinforcements.  The first project presented here and just starting construction for a delivery n 2026, is the 38-metre 120 Viper.  The ISA Yachts 120 Viper will feature a reduced draft of under two meters suitable for shallow waters like the Caribbean Sea, and is to be fitted with triple MAN or MTU engines, for maximum speeds up to 33 knots and cruising at 26.  Laid out into three distinct zones, the cockpit is certainly the most representative area of 120 Viper, where at sea level, the stern beach club is equipped with a multifunctional ‘transformer’ bathing step ladder and gangway; climbing two side steps a large sun pad faces towards the aft and a lounge furnished with sofas and a coffee table. The two opening side balconies lend an extraordinary livability to this area. The third zone is dominated by an outdoor table which can seat up to eight people. The combined aft galley and bar is unmissable and the up/down tinted glass partition makes it suitable for both formal and informal occasions like show cooking and cocktail parties, as well as enclosed kitchen guaranteeing maximum screening from guests. To the left of the bar there is a staircase leading to the sun deck.  To maximize interior space, just one port-side walkway to the bow is provided on the port side, and amidships, close to the salon, another opening balcony allows to marvel at the view even from the indoor sofas.  At the bow there is a circular pool with sun loungers and sofas.  Entering, we are welcomed by a second combined bar-galley unit before reaching the bright salon, with opening floor-to-ceiling windows to fully enjoy the scenic views and furnished with semi-circular sofas and armchairs. A second ten-seater circular table completes the set-up.  The wheelhouse is located on the main deck forward, and to its left we find the staircase leading to the lower deck housing four double cabins with private bathroom and the owner’s cabin with double bathroom. The later comes with two different options: amidships to make the most of the full beam or in the bow with a large walk-in closet.  The sun deck, with carbon hard top, includes the second helm station as well as providing a private and versatile space for guests. Its layout features two large sun pads at the stern, a lounge area with sofas, an L-shaped bar and a twelve seater table.  The entrance to the crew quarters, which include three cabins with private bathrooms for four crew members and the captain, has been positioned near the galley to ensure maximum privacy and separation from guests.  The garage for the 5-metre tender is placed on the starboard side.