New Model: Viking 82 Convertible

Announced on Viking’s sixtieth anniversary on first April the new 82 Convertible represents the Gretna New Jersey production sportfish specialist unyielding commitment to building a better boat every day.  Hull No. 1 of the Viking 82 Convertible is just completed and has been fitted with her custom Palm Beach Towers, hardtop and tuna tower installed and her freshly applied faux teak adorning the transom, salon bulkhead, mezzanine and raised toe rail.  The first hull of the Viking 82 Convertible is powered by twin 2635hp MTU engines and features the Advanced Viking Propulsion System, which utilizes struts and rudders with modified or “twisted” shapes that minimize hydrodynamic resistance, improving performance.  The first 82 Convertible is to debut in Viking's sea trial event, and after that will serve as a test yacht in the Demo program.

Technical Data:

LOA - 25.27 m (82.9ft)

Beam - 6.53 m

Draft - 1.75 m

Displacement - 70,147 kg

Fuel Capacity - 10,111 l

Water Capacity - 1609 l

Accommodation - ten berths in five cabins

Engines - 2 x Cat C32A 1925hp, C32B 2025hp, C32B 2433hp, MTU 12V2000 M96X 2002hp, 16V2000 M96L 2635hp

Propulsion - line shaft Advanced Viking Propulsion System with twisted struts and rudders

Speed - 42 knots max 36 cruise with MTU 2635hp

Construction - fiberglass, carbon fiber/e-glass hybrid, resin infusion with light Transfer Molding and variety of core materials

www.vikingyachts.com

Super Yacht Australia Runs Aground Again

The 56 meter Benetti super yacht Australia ran aground for the second time in less to eight months, ending on a sand bank in Wave Break Island, Gold Coast Broadwater, Australia at about 18:00 hours of sixth June.  Australia was assisted by a tug boat and freed at about 2000 hours of the same evening returning to the Southport Yacht Club marina from where it departed.  According to undisclosed reports Australia ran aground when it's captain was doing a channel route exercise in order to be able to do the same route pilot free.  After the grounding Australia is reported to have damaged one of its fin stabilizers.  M/y Australia ran aground just over seven months ago in Sentosa, Singapore on the afternoon of sixteen October 2023.

Australia is the last of four semi-custom Stefano Natucci designed Benetti 56M, delivered in 2012.  The current owner is Australian mining magnate Clive Palmer who has owned her since 2021.

Project: Patrone 45

The best is about to get better as Patrone present the project for the 45, as designed by Tommaso Spadolini, the same designer who designed the really nice 100 which debuted in 2022. The Patrone 45 follows on the same footsteps of the 100 combining the sporting soul of the open with cabin comfort, in a unique traditional Ligurian Gozzo look. A mix created according to the excellent artisan quality that has defined Patrone for more than a century. Patrone new 45 is a fourteen-meter flagship, traditional in looks open cruiser designed for those who want to spend the whole day outdoors without sacrificing absolute comfort in the interiors. When designing the project of the 45, Patrone and Spadolini started from the concept of conviviality on board to re-interpret the classic charm of the Ligurian gozzo in modern key. The result is traditional cruiser  that is not affected by the short-lived trends of fashion and that can offer an absolute sense of space, inside and out, with a wide range of customization options. Three cockpit solutions and five interior layouts confirms Patrone tradition of “tailoring” each boat to the needs of its owner. At the same time, great attention was also paid to ensure it is seaworthy: the hull is an evolution form and is to be powered by twin Yanmar 440hp engines in a V-drive transmission.

www.patroneboat.com

New Model: Nimbus 495 Flybridge

Nimbus has launched its largest build to date with the new 495 Flybridge model.  Announced as a 465 Coupe project in 2022, the Nimbus 495 Flybridge is a flybridge cruiser with a modern explorer look to it, and some interesting unique innovative features which makes liveaboard easier and confortable.  The stand out feature of the 495 Flybridge is definitely the large side door to starboard located behind the helm station, which opens for over a meter in size.  This door coupled with the stern entry door fully open, and sunroof give a unique open feel to a flybridge boat of just over fourteen meters in length.  The Nimbus 495 Flybridge is also an asymmetric design with the starboard side deck being a bit wider to the starboard, beside offering the difference from the large side door.  The 495 Flybridge also features a drop down window serving and closing the aft deck from cold or wind, and coupled with side cover will fully enclose the area in cold climates.  Accommodation in the Nimbus 495 Flybridge offers three double cabins, including of which is a full beam owners stateroom, a guest cabin forward, and third cabin with two bunk berths to starboard.  This third cabin can be replaced by an office, or a single berth utility room option.  The Nimbus 495 Flybridge is powered by twin Volvo 480hp with IPS pod drives for top speeds up to 27 knots and a cruise of 24.  Nimbus says the 495 Flybridge is also hybrid ready for the upcoming new Volvo option to come in the future, with options for both a Parallel and same propulsion set up with similar speeds, and or a slower long range Serial option this giving displacement up to fourteen knots max.  

Technical Data:

LOA - 15 m (49.7ft)

Hull Length - 13.7 m

Beam - 4.60 m

Draft - 1.20 m

Displacement - 14,600 kg light, 17,600 kg medium, 20,260 kg loaded

Fuel Capacity - 1700 l

Water Capacity - 520 l

Max Persons - twelve

Accommodation - six guests in three cabins

Engines - 2 x Volvo D6 480hp

Propulsion - Volvo forward looking dual propeller pod drives

Speed - 27 knots max 24 cruise

Project - Joacim Gustavsson Nimbus Group

Certification - CE B10/C12

www.nimbus.se

Project: Sessa F6X

Sessa is expected to present a new F6X project for the 2024 Cannes boat show.  The Sessa F6X comes from a design of Davide Cipriani Centro Stile and fills the gap or most probably replaces the Fly 54 model which debuted in 2009.  Sessa has in 2019 announced an FX5 project, and this new F6X seems a soft evolution of that design with a name change and more hull glazing.  At seventeen meters the Sessa F6X will offer a three double cabins lower deck with three heads layout, with a main deck offering an astern galley layout, with the central area offering a hybrid dinette saloon settee.   The Sessa F6X is to be powered by twin Volvo 725hp with IPS pod drives for an estimated top speed up to 32 knots.  The Sessa F6X enters into the very competitive seventeen meter flybridge yacht segment of the market. 

www.sessamarine.com

Sanlorenzo Yacht Ends Aground in Pinedo Beach Valencia

A 25 meter Sanlorenzo yacht titled m/y Nordic Lily under British flag and with three crew onboard ended aground in Pinedo Beach, just less to one nautical outside Valencia yacht marina on 12:00 hours of Monday third June.  The cause of the grounding are unknown though the captain had to be airlifted to Valencia LaFe Hospital feeling unwell.  The two other crew are still onboard with a recovery operation to tow the Sanlorenzo yacht to a boat yard currently ongoing with the yacht needing some spot repairs before this can be done as the hull is reportedly punctured and allowing some water ingress.

The Sanlorenzo yacht in this grounding is an SL86 model as designed by Mauro Micheli and produced since 2015, so far in fifty units.  The SL86 came out as a replacement to the long standing Sanlorenzo SL82.

New Model: Riviera 6800 Sport Yacht

For the 2024 Sanctuary Cove boat show Riviera debuted its new 6800 Sport Yacht model.  The 6800 is the largest Sport Yacht model to date for a range which debuted in 2005 with the 3600, and has nineteen years later and after eleven models arrived to this 22 meter length over-all size.  The 6800 Sport Yacht is designed by Spanish designer Luca Vallebona in collaboration with Riviera's design department, and also forms part of the Platinum Edition of models with superior appointments and amenity; greater refinement and luxury, gleaming color palettes and aesthetics guaranteed to stand out from the crowd.  The 6800 Sport Yacht comes with a choice of three or four staterooms and three bathrooms layouts, with a crew cabin or utility laundry, a full-height walk-through engine room and an impressive tender garage devoted to water sports.  Riviera’s 6800 Sport Yacht has two separate exterior entertaining areas to aft and bow, with another area in the main deck saloon inside.  Enjoy the sunshine on the forward deck, or entertain on the all-weather aft deck with a sunroof to invite the sunshine or stars. Relax on one of three lounges in the saloon, also with the luxury of a sunroof.  Slide open the saloon door. Then lower the electric galley window with the push of a button. Now the aft deck flows into the saloon creating one grand living and entertaining space with two designer dining areas.  The Riviera 6800 Sport Yacht is powered by twin Volvo 1000hp with IPS pod drives propulsion for top speeds up to thirty knots.

Technical Data:

LOA - 22.18 m (72.9ft)

Hull Length - 19.7 m

Beam - 5.56 m

Draft - 1.65 m including propellers

Displacement - 35,000 kg dry

Fuel Capacity - 4500 l

Water Capacity - 800 l

Accommodation - eight guests in 4 cabins, or 6 berths in 3 cabins, optional 1 berth crew cabin
Engines - 2 x Volvo D13 1000hp

Propulsion - Volvo IPS1350 forward looking dual propeller pod drives

Speed - thirty knots max

Project - Luca Vallebona

Certification - ISO8666 for dimensions

www.rivieraaustralia.com

Pershing Yacht Saved from Fire in Sunrise Key, Fort Lauderdale

A 27 meter Pershing yacht had an onboard fire in Fourth Key Drive, Sunrise Key, Fort Lauderdale just after 14:00 hours of Saturday first June.  The Pershing yacht was docked in the canal by a home berth, when a fire started to develop from the stern.  Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue and SeaTow responded quick to the blaze and isolated the fire, which was in the tender garage located in the stern of the vessel.  Following further investigations it was also reported that the tender was the cause and starting point of the fire, which ultimately ended in total loss.  For this the Pershing yacht also sustained some fire damage in the stern and tender garage area.

The Pershing yacht in this fire is a 9X model as designed by Fulvio de Simoni and produced since 2017 so far in 25 units.  The 9X came out as a replacement to the Pershing 92.

Project: CRN 67m Project 146

Ferretti Group bespoke brand CRN announces the contract signing for a new steel and aluminium vessel with a length overall of 67 metres. Assigned hull number 146, the yacht’s design, naval architecture, engineering and construction are all fully customised. The client is represented by brokers Moran Yacht and Ship who are also the Owner’s representative and project management team. The New Construction Team negotiated the building contract, drew up the technical specifications, and will supervise the entire build. CRN Project 146 blends the shipyard’s design and build quality with the expertise and creativity of Italian architects Nuvolari Lenard, who developed the concept for the exterior styling and interiors. Sleek, streamlined exterior lines imbue this super yacht with an elegant aesthetic, reflecting the owner’s vision and requirements. Standout features include spacious outdoor entertainment spaces, a dive center and an extensive beach club with plenty of water toys for guests. The upper deck will host a touch-and-go helipad. CRN Project 146 has a state-of-the-art hybrid propulsion system for greater energy efficiency and significantly reduced fuel consumption. The shipyard continues to work towards conscious and sustainable yacht design, entailing first and foremost the development of energy recovery solutions and proper sizing of the ship’s equipment. The yacht is fitted with a heat recovery system that uses the thermal energy from the generators to heat the water in the pools, the water boilers and the deck washing system, helping reduce fuel consumption. A perfect combination of innovation and the finest craftsmanship, this is the 10th creation in CRN’s partnership with Nuvolari Lenard, the design studio that has worked on iconic, history-making superyachts since 2001, designing and styling both interior and exterior spaces. Another three full-custom CRN superyachts are currently being built at the Ferretti Group Superyacht Yard, the multi-brand hub in Ancona: 67m CRN Project Maranello, 85m CRN project 144, and 70m CRN Project Thunderball, along with two 50m Ferretti Custom Line, two Pershing 140, two Riva 54 metri, and 26 other fiberglass Ferretti Custom Line super yachts from thirty to 45 meters.

www.crn-yacht.com

Baia Is Back!

One of the iconic sport and performance cruisers and yachts builders Baia is back.  For those that know, Baia is one of the most iconic builders from Italy, which wrote history for its innovation onwards from the seventies, but also for competing and winning some important races in its glorious past, including the 1990 Venezia to Monte Carlo with a production B50.  

Baia wrote history many times, from being the first to build a traditional gozzo cruiser with a planning hull, offering surface drives propulsion on a production boat with the B33, to its innovative removable hard-top system as presented first on the 48 Flash in 1998, and being the first to offer an invisible patio door on the 78 Atlantica in 2003. 

This Baia return is a bit different to the original.  The first difference is that of moving construction away from Baia in Naples to which the previously named Mericraft gave its name in the late seventies, with the new yachts being build further up North the Tyrrhenian sea in Viareggio, Tuscany.  The second difference needs a bit more time to understand, with this new version of Baia so far seeming to focus into large sized super sport yachts upwards of 24 meters.  The first yacht currently under construction is actually an 84 Altantica, with a Magnifica 112 being presented as project.  It will be interesting if Baia will focus solely on this size or if its previous bread and butter thirteen to eighteen meter sport yacht size offer will return.

Baia was an important part of the classic open sport yacht and cruiser success in the Mediterranean and beyond in the eighties and nineties, part of the triumvirate of classic open looking open boats and yachts along with Itama and Magnum, shaping the genre to its iconic status which still has a lot of fans today.  The duel of the classics trio still exists today between a Baia B40, Itama 38, and Magnum 40.  

Up until the Great Recession of 2008, Baia was actually the top seller of the genre of traditional inspired sport cruisers and yachts, with models like the 48 Flash, 54 Aqua, and 63 Azzurra being huge hits for the Naples boat and yacht builder in the noughties.