New Model: AvA Yachts Kando 85

AvA Yachts is proud to announce the successful launch of M/Y V, the first hull in the new Kando 85 series, at its shipyard in Antalya Free Zone, Türkey. The launch marks another important milestone for AvA Yachts and its growing portfolio of long-range explorer yachts. Designed for owners seeking the perfect balance of capability, comfort, and style, the Kando 85 combines robust engineering with exceptional interior volume and long-range cruising performance. Built in steel and aluminium, the Kando 85 offers spacious living areas, generous storage capacity, and the reliability required for extended voyages. Staying true to the philosophy of the Kando series, she has been designed to take her owners further while providing the comfort and luxury expected from a modern explorer yacht. Following the launch, this first Kando 85 will undergo commissioning and sea trials before delivery to her Owners. The first Ava Yachts Kando 85 will then make its World debut at the Cannes Yachting Festival, where visitors will be able to experience first-hand the exceptional volume, long-range capability, and explorer spirit that define the Kando 85. With the Kando 85, AvA Yachts continues to expand the Kando line which debuted with the 110 model in 2019 and shows its commitment in building pocket exploring super yachts that combine long-range capability, exceptional interior space, and bespoke craftsmanship for owners who dream beyond the horizon.

Technical Data:

LOA - 25.70 m (84.9ft)

Beam - 7.50 m

Draft - 2.30 m

Displacement - 200 gt *volume

Fuel Capacity - 25,000 l

Water Capacity - 5700 l

Accommodation - eight guests in four cabins, four crew in two cabins

Engines - 2 x Volvo D11 510hp

Propulsion - line shaft

Speed - twelve knots max, eight knots cruise

Range - six thousand nautical miles at best cruise

Construction - hull in AH36 steel, deck in Alloy Almg 5083 H321

Certification - CE A

www.avayachts.com

competition = Bering B88

Beneteau Trawler Ends Aground at Ile Rousse, Corsica

A ten meter Beneteau Explorer Cruiser ended aground at Ile Rouse island located to the North of Corsica on Friday third July.  The story was shared on Facebook by NicebySea6, as the boat was being towed back into the deep water on the same later afternoon.  After the towing it was reported that the explorer cruiser tried to return to port with it's power, but could not move as he had no gear engaging, and was towed to his port of call.

The boat in this accident is a Beneteau Swift Trawler 34 S as designed by M.Joubert and B.Nivelt and produced from 2010 to 2016.  A total of 411 Swift Trawler were build, this number also including the flybridge version.

Four Saved as Maxi-RIb Goes Ablaze in Vouliagmeni, Greece

A maxi rib of thirteen meters in length with four persons onboard went ablaze off the coast of Vouliagmeni, to the South of Athens on the morning of Friday third July.  The burning rib was assisted by the Hellenic Coast Guard who first rescued the four persons; a 63 year old and three 22 years old, and then fought the fire.  The four boaters were transferred to the Coast Guard station in Palaia Fokaia.  Ultimatelty the maxi-rib was wrecked by the fire and sunk.  The cause of the fire are not reported, with the four boaters reported to be uninjured and in good health.

Sportfish Boat Goes Ablaze at Anchorage Resort, Key Largo, Florida

A not attended thirteen meter sportfish cruiser named Mama Seata went ablaze in Anchorage Resort and Yacht Club, Key Largo, Florida at around 23:00 of Thursday second July.  US Coast Guard and Florida Fish and Wildlife responded to the blaze. Eventually the boat received important damage but did not fully sink, and listed partly to its starboard side.  Monroe County Sheriff Office is investigating the blaze, with this looking accidental.  No injuries are reported from the accident.  

The boat in this accident is an Ocean Yachts 44 Super Sport as designed by David P Martin and produced from 1985 to 1991 in 111 units.  The 44 Super Sport was a replacement to the 42 Super Sport and was replaced by the second generation Ocean Yachts 42 Super Sport. 

The vessel was disposed and scrapped with Fast Response Marine Towing and Salvage organizing the towing to the scrap yard on the eleven July.

Prestige Cruiser Strikes North Jetty at Barnegat, New Jersey

A twelve meter Prestige hard-top cruiser collided into the North Jetty at Barnegat inlet, New Jersey on the afternoon of Tuesday second July.  The hard-top cruiser was assisted by SeaTow Central New Jersey who shared the story on its Facebook page.  Sea-Tow then towed the boat for an emergency haul out.  During haul out the vessel showed damage to its bow.  No reported injuries are reported from the accident.

The boat in this accident is a second generation Prestige 420 S as designed by Garroni and produced since 2020.  The 420 S was a replacement to the first generation Prestige 420 S.

Project: Sanlorenzo SL80A

Sanlorenzo present the SL80A project, a replacement to the SL78 as entry level to the SL range and now introducing the asymmetric architecture in its smallest size to date and in all the range.  Designed by Zuccon who is responsible for both exterior and interior, Sanlorenzo is calling the SL80A the ‘First Icon’ meaning as the smallest of the SL range.  The SL range is the expression and evolution of the original Sanlorenzo DNA and Mediterranean yacht style heritage, which today the Italian builders offers in seven models from 24 to 36 meters.  Throughout this fifty years plus of evolution Sanlorenzo became the conservative Mediterranean yacht in a consistent stylistic signature, which was started by Paolo Caliari then evolved by Della Rolle, and then in the last decade by Zuccon as each new model was built on the lessons learned of its predecessor, refining a recognisable language that balances elegance, proportion and functionality.  This heritage and lineage next step is now distilled into the SL80A, a yacht shaped by the defining traits of Sanlorenzo’s signature interpreted in a pocket 24 meters super yacht side.  Thanks to the Asymmetric layout the SL80A will bring twenty per cent more volume inside, this translated in a living, dining, galley on the main deck, and four double cabins lower deck layout.  Two crew cabins for three or four persons with direct connection from the galley located forward on the main deck complete the accommodation spaces.  Other unique details of the SL80 are a mezzanine located between the main and flybridge deck helm station, and a stylistic part hidden internal stair case which connects the saloon to the fly deck.   The Sanlorenzo SL80A is to be powered by twin MAN 1800hp engines for top speeds up to 29 knots, and a cruise 0f 25.  The first unit of nine sold is set to launch in mid-Summer and is to be finished in Thai walnut, selected for its soft tone and natural dialogue with the exterior teak surfaces, and is added with the “Azteca” parquet as designed by Cadorin.

www.sanlorenzoyacht.com

Carver Boat Ends Aground at Hereford Inlet, New Jersey

A ten meter Carver motor cruiser ended aground at Hereford Inlet in North Wildwood, New Jersey on the afternoon of Wednesday first July.  Sea Tow Cape May who shared the story on its Facebook page assisted the boat, by putting it back in deep water, and then towing in safe waters for inspection.  The boat was reported to have ended aground due to a very low tide, and challenging rough conditions.

The boat in this accident is a Carver 36 Mariner as produced from 2004 to 2012.  The 36 Marine was a soft improvement to the 350 Mariner.

New Model: Freeman Signature 56

Freeman continue to rewrite the rules in the offshore center console power catamaran segment and present the new Signature 56 flagship.  An expansion of three meters to the previous 47 flagship which arrived in 2020, the Signature 56 is a big challenge to all sportfish center-console in this size.  Freeman is the name which put the catamaran center console in that new level of desirability, after it debuted with a 33 in 2007, it has been in an unstoppable spiral of success.  From that 33 its just been an expansion, and today Freeman is the leader of the offshore sportfish center console power catamaran segment, offering nine models from 28 to this new Signature 56 flagship.  All this confirms the Carolina boat builder leadership, but also puts into a new outlook as the Signature 56 unlike it's smaller sisters also brings cabin space, offering a lower deck sleeping four, in two single berths and a master stateroom forward in the port-side hull, while the starboard hull features a galley with day head/shower forward.  The Freeman Signature 56 is powered by quadruple Mercury 600hp for speeds up to sixty knots, and a cruise of 34 knots, with a six hundred nautical miles range being possible. 

Technical Data:

LOA - 17.06 m (56ft)

Beam - 5.02 m

Draft - 0.76 m

Displacement - 15875 kg dry, 19958 kg medium load

Fuel Capacity - 5413 l

Water Capacity - 454 l

Accommodation - four berths in two cabins

Engines - 4 x Mercury V12 Verado 400hp outboards

Propulsion - quadruple duo-prop outboards

Speed - sixty knots max, 34 cruise

Range - up to six hundred nautical miles

www.freemanboatworks.com

competition = Frontrunner 55 Catamaran

Some Important Boating Moves in 2026

2026 has seen some important movements and company ownership changes, as some of the USA big boat groups extended their arm to big purchases.  The most important purchase was that of Malibu Boats Inc who purchased always growing Helsinki Finish boat builder Saxdor.  On the other hand Beneteau Group decided to close the Cadillac plant in Michigan and stop production for the Four Winns, Scarab Jet and Glastron brands, while Whisper Marine purchased Fountain Powerboats and NauticStar.  

The Saxdor sale to USA Malibu Boats Inc was the most unexpected, as the 2019 Finish boat builder has been a record grower since its founding.  Founded by Sakari Mattila, this highly respected figure in the boating industry has established a track record of creating successful nautical brands. Before launching Saxdor he founded Aquador in 1994, Paragon in 2004, Axopar in 2012, and co-founded XO Boats in 2008.  Saxdor was probably his fastest growing success, definitely helped by the Covid-19 boom to boating, but also for being in the good place in the right time.   With the success of Axopar in the twenty-tens, what an idea to create its biggest competitor.  

Sold to Malibu Group Inc past March, Saxdor is in good hands, considering the track record the American company has shown in recent years with brands like Cobia and Pursuit. I really like how Pursuit has been moving forward since Malibu bought it in March 2018. The Pursuit success also happened for not changing the staff inside and leaving the people of the brand do the managing, but also thanks to current President Christopher Gratz who has been with Pursuit since 2006, and climbed the ladder to Presidency step by step. If they keep the same philosophy at Saxdor, success is guaranteed.

The sale of Fountain is important for the speed record breaking famous brand, who has gone down as the powerboat genre declined in the past years.  Fountain has since then renewed itself offering center-console and dual-console bow rider but the brand is still not were it should be.  For example I think it never targeted the performance center console market, as dominated by Midnight Express as it should.  Considering the pedigree of Fountain, success might be guaranteed.

Beneteau Group selling some of its US portfolio is no surprise, today the French Group main brands; Beneteau and Jeanneau are well known in the USA.  Four Winns has potential, but the genre it used to dominate of sport cruisers is much smaller today, while Glastron heritage is not something today boaters really know of.  Do you remember the Glastron GT-150 speed boat in the 1973 James Bond Live and Let Die.  It will be interesting what the new owners will do with both these famous American names.

23 Meter Yacht Partly Sinks in Greek Island of Salamina

A 23 meter yacht with Polish flag and five persons onboard partly sank at Vourkari Marina in Salamina Island, the largest of the Saronic Gulf islands of Greece on the morning of Tuesday thirtieth June.  Hellenic Coast Guard launched a rescue operation, as it saved the five persons onboard, and then deployed an anti-containment pollution boon around the part sank yacht.  The yacht is reported to have sunk, sinking stern first following a sea-trial and as it was manoeuvring to its berth.  No injuries are reported from the accident.  

The yacht in this accident is a Cantieri Navali Liguri Ghibli 23 as produced in the nineties.  The Ghibli 23 was a replacement to the Ghibli 22, and was replaced by the Cantieri Navali Liguri Ghibli 24.