New Model: Albatro Ordigno 70

The season for speed is back as some Italian boat builders are really going into offering sport yachts which go sixty knots plus.  Speed equals efficiency which also means less consumption at cruise and sustainability in its raw form.  The Italian Albatro who is located in Milan, Italy is one of those builders which has always made high speeds its main identity, and for its new 21 meter flagship it presents a 75 knots monster.  Called the Ordigno 70, with its model name translating to device, Albatro new flagship is a super speed device slash sport yacht which with its top engine configuration titled Race of four Scania 900hp engines and Jolly Drive surface drives reaches maximum speed up to 75 knots.  It is mostly about this but not only as the first Ordigno 70 also featured a lithium battery pack which allows domestic load and usage without the use of generator.  Accommodation wise the first Albatro Oridigno 70 featured a three cabins configuration which is not bad considering that is has a beam of less to five meters, which is something a fifteen meter yacht usually has.

Technical Data:

LOA - 21.30 m (69.88ft)

Hull Length - 20.4 m

Beam - 4.78 m

Draft - 1 m

Displacement - 

Fuel Capacity - 3600 l

Water Capacity - 120 l

Max Persons - fourteen

Accommodation - six berths in three cabins

Engines - 4 x Scania 900hp, smaller engine options available

Propulsion - Jolly Drive Special surface drives

Speed - seventy knots max with quadruple Scania 900hp and Jolly Drive surface drives

Project - Simone Cesati

Certification - CE A

www.albatro.eu

Viking Sportfish Destroyed by Fire in Playa Flamingo Costa Rica

A fifteen meter Viking sportfish yacht was destroyed by a fire in Playa Flamingo, Guanacaste, Costa Rica with the blaze starting just after 13:00 hours local time of Monday third February.  The cause of the fire is not reported and how many people were onboard the sportfish yacht, with the Bomberos de Cruz Roja attending to the blaze and turning it off.  The news of the Viking yacht fire was reported by Noticias Repretel de Costa Rica, who posted a short video clip on its Facebook page.

The Viking in this fire is a 50 Convertible as produced from 1991 to 2000 in about 120 units.  The Viking 50 Convertible came out as a replacement to the 48 Convertible Sport Fisher and was replaced by the 52 Convertible. 

Miami 2025 Boat Show Preview

The 2025 Miami International Boat Show is to be held between Wednesday twelve and Sunday sixteen February.  Considered as one of the largest boat and yacht show in the world, the Miami boat show offers everything water related, from kayaks to superyachts to the latest aquatic innovations. The on-land portion of the event will take place at the newly reimagined Miami Beach Convention Centre and Pride Park. The in-water components of the show will take place at Venetian Marina, Herald Plaza, Museum Park Marina, and Yacht Haven Grande Miami. Historically, the Miami International Boat Show and Miami Yacht Show have attracted hundreds of thousands of attendees to South Florida and generated an estimated combined annual economic impact of $1.34 billion. The Miami boat show is located in six locations. Miami Beach Convention Center: Find boats up to 49 feet, engine manufacturers, marine accessories, electronics, and retail pavilions. The Progressive Boat Show Experience at Pride Park: Discover a collection of experiential boating lifestyle activations, entertainment, innovative cuisine, and educational seminars. Herald Plaza: Explore powerboats, motor yachts 30' to 125', yacht tenders, engines, marine accessories, and retail pavilions. Venetian Marina: Test drive over 150 sea trial vessels and find additional new and brokerage boats and engine manufacturers. Museum Park Marina: Check out the latest sailboats, catamarans, and sailing accessories. SuperYacht Miami at Yacht Haven Grande Miami: Experience an enclave for superyachts. This exclusive marina will feature the world's largest and most spectacular yachts. As World firsts go the 2024 Miami boat show will see the following debuts; Aquila 42 Coupe and 46 Coupe, Ocean Alexander 37L, and Viking 82 Skybridge.  The largest yacht of the show will be the brokerage offer of m/y Laurel a 2006 73 meters Delta Marina 236-01 as designed by Donald Starkey.  

www.miamiboatshow.com

The Miami boat show is the longest ongoing boat show in the World, an exhibition which has survived a World War, several recessions, and the luxury tax on boating of the nineties.  The show debuted in 1941 with the Biscayne Boat Show name as organized by the Miami Junior Chamber of Commerce and Marine Industries Association.  The 1947 edition saw the show move to the Municipal Auditorium at Bayfront Park. In 1950 the show had 92 exhibitors, with these becoming 143 by 1951, while 1953 saw the show reach a record breaking 50,000 of attendants.  The 26th edition of 1967 set the still unbeaten attendants record of 171,495 even though the show was asked to move its date to January so as not to collide with the New York boat show.  In 1968 the show gets named the Miami International Boat Show, returns to it's February calendar dates and debuts at the Miami Beach Convention Centre venue, which it will keep up till 2015. In 2016 the Miami Boat Show returned to where it started in Biscayne Bay.  During the seventies, eighties, and nineties the show expanded its size many times till we arrive to the six locations of today. 

Miami Boat Show circa 1950's

Projects: Aquila 42 Coupe, Aquila 46 Coupe

Aquila is excited to announce that at the 2025 Miami Boat Show which opens its doors on twelfth February 2025, it will debut the new 42 Coupe and 46 Coupe power catamarans. Building on the success of the recently launched 50 Yacht, the new Coupe series combines all the fun of an open-air sport boat with the cabin comforts of a hard-top sport cruiser, offering unprecedented usable space rarely found in vessels of this size range. The Aquila 42 Coupe and 46 Coupe are similar vessels with both offering sleeping accommodation for four persons, couple with two en-suite heads. The difference here is that the larger 46 Coupe offers two separate cabins, for the four berths, with a larger cabin on the starboard hull having the double berth positioned to the beam. Both Aquila 42 Coupe and 46 Coupe are to be available with both inboard and outboard propulsion and standard Aquila Hydro Glide Foil System. Inboard power of twin Volvo 440hp with stern drive propulsion is the same for both 42 Coupe and 46 Coupe, while the outboard choice is different as the Aquila 42 Coupe is powered by twin Mercury 400hp against the 600s of the 46 Coupe.

www.aquilaboats.com

Margaret Whittaker OBE 1949 - 2025

It is with deep sadness that Pearl Yachts announces the passing of its esteemed owner, Margaret Whittaker OBE, who passed away on second February in Palma de Mallorca at the age of 76.  A remarkable entrepreneur, Margaret founded Slimming World in 1969 and became the owner of Pearl Yachts in 2003. Since 2007, she owned and revitalised Son Amar, one of Mallorca’s most iconic cultural venues. Her visionary leadership shaped each of these ventures, leaving a lasting legacy of success and innovation.  Margaret’s journey with Pearl Yachts began when she and her husband, Tony Whittaker, invested in the company, bringing their vast experience and passion for motor cruising. Margaret’s values and pioneering spirit were a great source of inspiration in the growth and success of Pearl. Under her influence, the company evolved into a renowned boutique yacht builder, producing a range of high-quality yachts admired worldwide.  In 2022, Margaret was honoured with The Norns Award for Business Woman in the Yachting Industry of the year, recognising her unwavering belief, vision, and passion.  Margaret leaves Pearl in an enviable position as one of the most respected brands in the industry, her legacy will endure in every yacht bearing the Pearl name, and her example and values will continue to inspire the Pearl Yachts family.  Pearl Yachts Managing Director Iain Smallridge, together with the Board of Directors and all employees, extends the company’s deepest sympathies to her family and loved ones during this difficult time.

Prestige Yacht Crashes Into Haulover Inlet Bridge

An eighteen meter Prestige flybridge yacht collided with one of the Haulover Bridge arms, at Haulover Inlet, Miami on the afternoon of Sunday second February.  The scene was filmed by Wavy Boats, as he showed the yacht already collided with the bridge, and then as it left the scene and zooming to show its not so big damage to its midship starboard ship-side.  The reason of the collision is not reported.  This is the second collision in less to a year with Haulover Bridge, as a 32 meter Azimut super yacht collided in the same spot on 31 March 2024.

The Prestige in this accident is a 590 F as designed by Garroni and produced since 2018.  The Prestige 590 F came out as a replacement to the 560 Flybridge.

New Model: Princess F58

The new Princess F58 debuted at the 2025 Dusseldorf boat show, a design by long standing collaborators Pininfarina for styling and Bernard Olesinski who is also responsible for naval architecture.  The Princess F58 was one of the most awaited new models at the World's largest indoor show which starts the boating year, not because she is revolutionary, flybridge yachts in this size from the Plymouth base builder rarely are, but mostly because it replaces the top segment selling F55 which sold 180 units in a seven year production run.  The first unit as pictured above featured the optional hard-top, which takes something away from the Pininfarina styling which went for a lower looking profile super structure with a wrap around glazing, unlike the usual split window style associated with Princess since ever.  While the size difference is all about length, the Princess F58 gains new features also in beam.  Two important new features show how important the 98 centimetres are in the F58 to the F55; the master stateroom features a walk-in wardrobe and en-suite bathroom located to aft, and the L-shaped dinette opposite the astern galley on the main deck.  Both of these features are not found in a flybridge of this size, usually found in yachts to at least a meter larger.  The extra length also presents a bit larger flybridge, with the wet-bar located aft.  With the extra length size and weight the Princess F58 get also a power upgrade, now powered by standard Man 1000hp which are good for a respecting 32 knots, and or larger 1200hp which gives a fast 35 knots top speed.  As competitors go, the Princess F58 hits a few sweet spots, which are not found in it's size and dimensions.  Its closest rival, similar in both price and size is the Ferretti 580 which arrived two years ago at the same German show, with a few differences which might make you choose one versus the other, with the Italian having its own merits in the lower deck.

Technical Data:

LOA - 18.20 m (59.8ft) including pulpit

Length - 17.7 m 

Beam - 4.90 m

Draft - 1.53 m

Displacement - 32318 kg medium load

Fuel Capacity - 3300 l

Water Capacity - 630 l

Accommodation - six berths in three cabins, optional one or two berths crew cabin aft

Engines - 2 x Man V8 1000hp, V8 1200hp

Propulsion - line shaft in tunnels

Speed - 32 knots max with Man 1000hp, 35 knots max with Man 1200hp

Project - Pininfarina styling, Bernard Olesinski naval architecture and design

www.princessyachts.com

Project: Admiral Project Spyder 88 m

The Italian Sea Group and Admiral announce the 88 metres Project Spyder, a collaboration with the international architects Espen Oeino International and FM Architettura. Noteworthy features of Project Spyder are a one hundred squared meters beach club with four openable hatches for terrace use, beauty massage and spa, a swimming pool on the main deck measuring 10.3m x 3.5m including 3 skylights above the beach club, nine guest staterooms with a full-beam master suite and a private terrace. The garage of Project Spyder houses two tenders up to ten meters with a generous selection of water toys. A convertible pickleball court at the bow that can turn into a basketball court and a helipad if needed. The sundeck is a true wellness area with a gym, jacuzzi, and ample spaces dedicated to relaxation. The interiors of Project Spyder as envisioned by Fabrizio Muzio of FM Architettura are characterized by spacious and bright areas thanks to large windows and sliding doors. Consistent with The Italian Sea Group and Admiral sustainability-oriented strategy, the super yacht will be equipped with an innovative “diesel-electric” propulsion system, with two Azimuth pod Thrusters of 1980kW each. Ensuring maximum manoeuvrability and onboard comfort with extremely low noise and vibration levels. Admiral Project Spyder keel laying ceremony was made on the end of February 2024 with the delivery of the new Admiral 88 meters super yacht scheduled for 2027.

www.admiral-yachts.com

One Man Injured as Flybridge Cruiser Goes Ablaze in Adelaide Australia

One man was injured as a thirteen meter flybridge cruiser went ablaze at North Haven Marina in Adelaide, Australia before mid day of Saturday first February.  The man aged in his sixties, who is reported to also be the owner of the vessel suffered fire burns and smoke inhalation and was after treatment on the scene, transported to a hospital.  South Australian Metropolitan Service tended to the fire from land and water with a fireboat, which they controlled in about forty minutes.  The fire also minor damaged nearby boats, mostly to soft furnishings, as the cause of the blaze is under investigation.

The boat in this fire looks to be a Riviera 46 Passagemaker as produced from 1985 to 1994 in 41 units.  The 46 Passagemaker came out as a replacement to the 44 Open Flybridge, and was replaced by the Riviera 48 Open Flybridge.

Volvo Remanufacturer

In the fall of 2024 Volvo announced a clever and interesting Reman remanufactured program.  With all talk of sustainability getting louder in the last five years, probably this is one of the most sensible and sustainable proposals from an engine maker of recent decades.  While research and design into new technology should never stop, this is actually environmentally sensible, but also owner respecting, considering that making an engine change is never easy to do for a boat or a yacht.  

The principle is easy and simple, you give your Volvo engine to the Swedish maker, and they give the exact same engine remade not only to zero hours but as good as new as all parts are originally replaced, and with a two year warranty.  Your engine then will be remanufactured and serve the same purpose for another next customer.  The offer is valid for Volvo engines introduced new after 2006 from the D4 260hp up to the D13 1000hp, and is also extended to the IPS pod propulsion.  According to current information till today Volvo Reman is not offered for stern drives, not even the new DPI which arrived in 2020.

The good thing is if this works, and I have no doubt it should, this puts Volvo in an edge to the competition.  Getting an engine swap there and then, is much less a headache then giving it to your local marine mechanic, which has a lot of things to do, especially in high Summer season, which many times means lost boating time. It will be interesting if anyone from the competing brands will offer a similar scheme.  My only question would be why they should not.

The catch in all this, which at this stage very few know is the cost, but I hope for it to be competitive as this is a win situation for all.