New Model: ISA Yachts 49.95 m

On Saturday, March 19 International Shipyards Ancona launched the 50m motor yacht Liberty, the first in a series of three new fifty meters currently under construction at the Italian yard. The three yachts in the 50m series share the same technical platform but differ in their superstructure and transom design. Architect Andrea Vallicelli, in collaboration with ISA's in-house naval architects, designed Liberty to be a sophisticated displacement yacht. Huge volumes, great performance and low consumption are the main features of this excellent platform. Liberty's elegant exterior lines are magnified by the contrast between her metallic dark grey hull and the white superstructure.  Twelve guests are accommodated between a master suite on the main deck, four guest cabins on the lower deck and a VIP cabin on the upper deck. The yacht accommodates 10 crew.  The yacht is powered by two MTU with a max power of 2479hp. She can reach 16.8 knot at maximum speed. A pair of Quantum Zero Speed stabilizers guarantees a smooth navigation in the most severe conditions and a comfortable stay at anchor.  Liberty is scheduled for delivery in May 2011.

Technical Data:

LOA - 49.95 M (163.8ft)

Waterline Length - 42.7 m

Beam - 9.00 m

Draft - 2.50 m draft

Displacement - 493 t full load, 460 t half load

Fuel Capacity - 83000 l

Water Capacity - 15000 l

Accommodation - 12 guest berths, 10 crew

Engines - 2 x MTU 12v4000 M71 2479hp

Propulsion - line shaft

Speed - 16 knots max, 15 knots cruise, 14 knots economic

Range - 2200 nm at 14 knots

Project - Andrea Vallicelli exterior, Stefano Biondo della Casapiccola BDC Interior, concept ISA Technical Department 

Construction - steel hull, aluminium upper structure

Certification - Lloyd's 100 A1 SSC Yacht Mono G6, LMC. UMS, MCA Code. LY2 unrestricted

www.isayachts.com

Class 1 - Abu Dhadi Grand Prix 2011

Race 1

Arif Al Zafeen and Nadir bin Hendi made the perfect start to the defence of their World title, winning race 1 of a dramatic Abu Dhabi Grand Prix which saw Relekta crash out on lap 4 and the race red-flagged.

Sheikh Hassan bin Jabor Al-Thani and Steve Curtis marked their return to Class 1 bringing Spirit of Qatar 96 home in second place, with Fendi Racing's Luca Fendi and Giovanni Carpitella completing the podium.

Al Zafeen and Bin Hendi made a strong start passing pole-sitters Team Abu Dhabi to lead at the end of lap 1, with Spirit of Qatar 95 in third ahead of their teammates, Fendi Racing and Relekta.

By the end of lap 3 the Dubai pairing had opened up a comfortable 15-second lead over their country rivals. Spirit of Qatar 96 moved into third and Relekta's Ugur Isik and Christian Zaborowski were up to fourth place.

But their race ended in spectacular fashion half-a-lap later when they rolled Relekta to bring out the red flag, ending what had been an impressive race weekend debut for the new pairing.

From the restart Al Zafeen and Bin Hendi made no mistake, immediately opening up a lead and going on to take a 22nd career victory and win a reduced nine lap, race 1 of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix by 16 seconds.

Team Abu Dhabi's hopes of adding a podium to their win in the morning's qualifying ended when they took their long lap and were passed by both Spirit of Qatar 96 and Fendi Racing, both oufits taking their long laps before the red flag was raised.

After the frustration of qualifying down in seventh place, Sheikh Hassan was more than satisfied with second place.
For Luca Fendi and Giovanni Carpitella it was a repeat podium success of their Class 1 debut together in Abu Dhabi last year.

Spirit of Qatar 95 were unable to reproduce the pace that put them third quickest in qualifying, finishing in fifth place ahead of Poliform and Parsonage Racing.

There was frustration for MITI's Nicola Giorgi and Tomaso Polli, stopping on lap 6, with Welmax enduring what wheel-man Selmer described as a 'crankshaft nightmare', failing to make the start but getting out for the restart just to test the boat.

ABU DHABI GRAND PRIX, RACE 1 - results

1. 3 Victory Team - A Al Zafeen (UAE) / N Bin Hendi (UAE) 00.47.20,67

2. 96 Spirit of Qatar - H Al Thani (QAT) / S Curtis (ENG) + 00.16,18

3. 10 Fendi Racing - L Formilli Fendi (ITA) / G Carpitella (ITA) + 00.21,15

4. 5 Team Abu Dhabi - R Al Tayer (UAE) / J Tomlinson (USA) + 00.26,56

5. 95 Spirit of Qatar - A Al Neama (QAT) / M Nicolini (ITA) + 00.37,23

6. 74 Poliform - G Cappellini (MON) / G Montavoci (ITA) + 01.44,43

7. 50 Parsonage Racing - G Manuzzi (SMR) / P Virik Nilsen (NOR) + 2 laps

8. 18 MITI - N Giorgi (ITA) / T Polli (ITA) + 3 laps

90 Welmax - K Selmer (NOR) / J Tandberg (NOR) dnf

91 Relekta - U Isik (TUR) / C Zaborowski (NOR) dnf

Race 2

Arif Al Zafeen and Nadir bin Hendi produced an emphatic performance to make it two wins out of two, storming to victory in race 2 of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Second and third places on the podium went to Spirit of Qatar 96 and 95, with Sheikh Hassan and Steve Curtis taking their second race-podium of the weekend, leading home Ali Al Neama and Matteo Nicolini.

It was a clinical demonstration by the World Champions, but they were made to work hard and had to come from behind to take their 23rd race win.

The long start-run on the outside of Lulu Island strung the boats out as they battled the rough conditions and it was Spirit of Qatar 96 who grabbed the advantage and edged ahead of Victory to lead at the first turn, with Fendi Racing in third.

The lead trio held position for four laps when Victory went on their long lap. A lap later Spirit of Qatar took theirs and Victory moved ahead, overturning a 17- second deficit to lead the race.

The Emirati duo then eased away, going on to win by over 43 seconds and will leave Abu Dhabi with a ten-point lead in the championship standings.

This afternoon's double podium finish completed a highly successful weekend for the Spirit of Qatar Team. Spirit of Qatar 95 produced one of the best performances of the afternoon, moving up from fifth place at the start to give Ali Al Neama a first race-podium on his Grand Prix debut.

A steering problem during the race put paid to any hopes of a second podium finish for Fendi Racing's Luca Fendi and Giovanni Capitella, who slipped to fifth after running in third place for four laps, before being overhauled by both Spirit of Qatar 95 and Team Abu Dhabi.

Guido Cappellini and Giampaolo Montavoci managed a second sixth place finish of the weekend in Poliform, ahead of Parsonage Racing and Welmax, with Relekta completing the race to pick up points after yesterday's crash, ahead of Nicola Giorgi and Tomaso Polli in MITI.

ABU DHABI GRAND PRIX, RACE 2 - results

1. 3 Victory Team - A Al Zafeen (UAE) / N Bin Hendi (UAE) 00.37.57,89

2. 96 Spirit of Qatar - H Al Thani (QAT) / S Curtis (ENG) + 00.43,48

3. 95 Spirit of Qatar - A Al Neama (QAT) / M Nicolini (ITA) + 00.50,89

4. 5 Team Abu Dhabi - R Al Tayer (UAE) / J Tomlinson (USA) + 01.05,07

5. 10 Fendi Racing - L Formilli Fendi (ITA) / G Carpitella (ITA) + 01.37,89

6. 74 Poliform - G Cappellini (MON) / G Montavoci (ITA) + 02.34,73

7. 50 Parsonage Racing - G Manuzzi (SMR) / P Virik Nilsen (NOR) + 1 lap

8. 90 Welmax - K Selmer (NOR) / J Tandberg (NOR) + 1 lap

9. 91 Relekta - U Isik (TUR) / C Zaborowski (NOR) + 1 lap

10. 18 MITI - N Giorgi (ITA) / T Polli (ITA) + 3 laps

UIM CLASS 1 WORLD POWERBOAT CHAMPIONSHIP - after race 2

1. 3 Victory Team - 40pts

2. 96 Spirit of Qatar - 30pts

3= 10 Fendi Racing - 19pts

3= 95 Spirit of Qatar - 19pts

5. 5 Team Abu Dhabi - 18pts

6. 74 Poliform - 10pts

7. 50 Parsonage Racing - 8pts

8. 18 MITI - 4pts

9. 90 Welmax - 3pts

10. 91 Relekta - 2pts

MIDDLE EAST CHAMPIONSHIP - after race 2

1. 3 Victory Team - 40pts

2. 96 Spirit of Qatar - 30pts

3= 10 Fendi Racing - 19pts

3= 95 Spirit of Qatar - 19pts

5. 5 Team Abu Dhabi - 18pts

6. 74 Poliform - 10pts

7. 50 Parsonage Racing - 8pts

8. 18 MITI - 4pts

9. 90 Welmax - 3pts

10. 91 Relekta - 2pts

www.class-1.com

Project: Metamarine TNT48 Montecarlo

Metamarine presents the project of the TNT48 Montecarlo, a further evolution of the recently launched Replica, and racing prototype Corsa model.  The TNT 48 Montecarlo uses the same underwater shape as the Replica with a more agressive looking super structure, notice the large engine air intakes.  Power will also be from bigger engines to the Replica with big twin 940hp Seateak engines being the only choice so far to power this made in Italy powerboat.  As is accepted Metamarine surface drives will be propelling the 48 Montecarlo to top speeds of 82 knots.  The interior of this model seems similar to the 48 Replica with a double berth to fore peak, two vertical sofa lounges, galley, and shower head.  But the rendering do show a more natural whitish with wood inserts interior.

www.metamarine.it

Powerboat OGP - 2011 Calendar

Ocean Grand Prix will be the new entity responsible for the Powerboat World Championship endurance series, in both the Evolution and Supersport classes taking over from the provisional UIM promotion as done for the 2010, and 2002 season, and the P1 management from 2003 till 2009.  Ocean Grand Prix has so far listed a provisional calendar for the 2011 season with a five to six grand prix locations possible, and a total of ten to twelve races.  This calendar should be updated later on, with the second Grand Prix in Turkey awaiting confirmation.  Grand Prix five which is a reserve date, and six being the last still need confirmation.  Participants should be of a similar number to those of the 2010 season.  More news to come about this later on as soon as we have the details.  PowerYacht will again follow the season with all its virtue giving the latest news of this series as this is available.

Ocean Grand Prix 2011 Provisional Calender:

1 June 10-12 Valletta Malta

2 July 7-10 Istanbul (tbc) Turkey

3 August 4-7 Den Helder Netherlands

4 September 2-4 Siracusa (tbc) Italy

5 September 16-18 reserve date

6 October 6-9 (tbc)

www.oceangrandprix.org

News: Menorquin April 2011

PALMA BOAT SHOW

The 28th edition of the Palma International Boat Show will be the first national nautical meeting where Menorquin will be intensely promoting its innovative new Efficient Line range, the first model, the MY e43, will be available this summer and will be followed by the MY e56 a year later.  Menorquin also shows two models which will be exhibited on the water, the MY c100 and the MY c160, from the Yachts Classic Line, the range has taken on a new name since the repositioning of the classic cruising yachts.  All those who are fond of classic design in motor yachts and of peaceful navigation have their next appointment with Menorquin at the Palma International Boat Show, which will be the stage for presenting some important innovations from the shipyard, between the coming 28^th of April and the 8^th of May.  Without a doubt the launch of the Menorquin Yachts Efficient Line will have centre stage at the Palma Boat Show, where visitors will be able to discover firsthand the advantages of ecological propulsion and the efficient technology which this range incorporates: a more rational fuel consumption, increased range, a silent navigation mode, and possible near zero emission levels. All you need to enjoy the sea responsibly, in the exclusive Menorquin style, by Slow Yachting, and with the traditional Balearic nautical flavour which is at the heart of this firm.  The Palma Boat Show will be the prelude to the launch of the first model of the range Menorquin Yachts Efficient Line, the MY e43, will also be Menorquin’s first craft to offer the option of incorporating eco-friendly technology; and in which the brand’s innate qualities have been intensified; its superb liveability is even more appreciable, renewed designs with increased space, functionality and ergonomics; and the exceptional luminosity which fills the interiors with warmth.  Menorquin at the Palma International Boat Show; Stand D8, Moorings: 801 and 802, Moll Vell.

**********

www.menorquin.com

Project: Mustang 32 Sports Cruiser

Mustang presents its relaunch model, which signal the first release to be made under the eye of boat builder Bill Barry-Cotter, owner of Maritimo today, and founder of Riviera in the past.  The Mustang 32 Sports Cruiser will feature a two cabin interior plan which sleep a total of four.  The three-side enclosed hard top presents a big part of the aft cockpit.  Here the entertaining area features a large L-shape lounge that runs along the port side and curves around the transom. A dinette table can convert this lounge into a great sun pad.  The cockpit includes a forward helm on the starboard side with helm and companion seats. A well-equipped galley is opposite on the port side.  Forward, a companionway leads to the accommodation of a master cabin forward with an island double bed and hanging lockers. A second two-bunk cabin is on the starboard side and the bathroom is on the port side.  The new design builds on the great tradition of the Mustang brand.  Standard power is for a single 380hp Mercruiser gas engine aimed to make a very intersting entry level price.

www.mustangmarine.com.au

New Model: Absolute 43 Fly

Absolute present its second in the new line of flybridge boats with the presentation of the 43 Fly in the fall of 2010.  For the smaller of its two flybridge models, the Absolute Research and Development Lab followed a similar line to that of the bigger 50 on the 43 Fly, and again used the Volvo IPS pods for propulsion.  The Absolute 43 Fly is the ninth yacht out of ten models using the 2005 presented propulsion system from Volvo.  The 43 Fly offers a three double cabins interior with owners room to fore, but a more luxury two cabin version is on the works for the near future.  In the the three cabins version the living is all located on the main deck.  Power is from twin Volvo 370 standard or 435hp optional.  With the optional choice giving a top speed of 34 knots.

Technical Data:

LOA - 13.65 m (44.8ft)

Beam - 4.15 m

Draft - 1.21 m

Displacement - 17000 kg

Fuel Capacity - 1100 l

Water Capacity - 400 l

Accommodation - 6, or 4 berths

Max Persons - 10

Engines - 2 x Volvo IPS500 D6 370hp, IPS600 D6 435hp

Propulsion - Volvo IPS forward looking dual propeller pod drives

Speed - 34 knots max, 28 knots cruise with Volvo 435hp

Project - Absolute Research and Development Lab

Certification - CE B

www.absoluteyachts.com

Class 1 - Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2011 Preview

Ten boats will line up off Lulu Island for next week's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, 13-15 April, round 1 of the UIM Class 1 World Powerboat Championship, for what promises to be an intriguing season-opener.

A raft of new technical rulings, a promise of strict enforcement of regulations, new teams and driver line-ups and the return of Spirit of Qatar all add spice to a season where the form book of previous years may have little bearing.

The season-opener sees the Class 1 Championship fielding one of its most competitive fleets in recent years; three Middle East teams take on six from Europe, seven of the ten outfits opting to run V12 power-plants over V8, with four World Champions lining-up in Abu Dhabi.

Reverting to running in the more familiar blue colours of Victory Team, Arif Al Zafeen and Nadir bin Hendi shoulder full responsibility as the Dubai team's sole entry.

The Champions have dominated the last two seasons and set-out in defence of their World, European and Middle East titles looking to add to their 21 career-wins apiece as they start their campaign to try to lift an eleventh world title for the team.

Team Abu Dhabi will be hoping to benefit from home advantage, with Emirati Rashed Al Tayer and American race-ace, John Tomlinson, who won the World and European titles in 1997, looking to kick-start their season with a repeat of last year's win on home waters.

Lining up in Class 1 for the first time in 18 months, Spirit of Qatar fields a two-boat attack; Sheikh Hassan bin Jabor Al-Thani and eight-times World Champion Steve Curtis lead the team's assault as the Qatari outfit bids for its first World crown, and they in turn look for their first win in Class 1 since teaming-up in 2008. Matteo Nicolini, who won the European title alongside Sheikh Hassan in 2005 and grabbed the team's last win in the championship in Dubai in 2008, partners Class 1 rookie, Ali Al Neama. Spirit of Qatar 95 and 96 will both run Skema-Lamborghini V12s.

Norwegian hopes for success hang with Welmax and Relekta - both running Mercury-Class 1 V8s.

Welmax's all-Norwegian partnership of Kolbjorn Selmer and Jorn Tandberg will be aiming for the perfect start to the defence of their Edox Pole Position crown, and intent on taking their first outright race-win together to add to their ten podium finishes and five pole position wins since joining forces in 2009.

A revised driver line-up sees Zabo Racing, who made their championship debut in Norway last season, taking their first podium in Abu Dhabi, bring in Turkish driver Ugur Isik, back racing in Class 1 for the first time in over a decade, to partner race and pole position winner Christian Zaborowski in Relekta.

Of the three all-Italian pairings, two are new team entries but all three are experienced partnerships.

Fendi Racing's Luca Formilli Fendi and Giovanni Carpitella - a double race winner in 2010 - have put their plans to run their new Outerlimits boat-engine package on hold for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and will unveil it in Norway, and run a Michael Peters-designed Victory built hull with Victory V12 engines.

GiorgiOffshore stay with the same boat-engine package and driver line-up that ended 2010, but with Nicola Giorgi, set to start his 75th Grand Prix, behind the wheel and Tomaso Polli taking the throttles in the Victory built, SCAM-Lamborghini powered MITI Tech Power.

DAC Racing's Guido Cappellini and Giampaolo Montavoci maintain their partnership that began in Brazil last year with a podium and ended the year with a podium, running a Michael Peters-designed Tencara powered by Mercury-Class 1 V8s.

Plymouth based Chris Parsonage Racing also run a new driver line-up with Italian Giorgio Manuzzi starting a fifth term in Class 1 alongside his former teammate at Maritimo Racing, Norway's Pål Virik Nilsen.

The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix gets underway with first practice on Wednesday afternoon. A second practice on Thursday morning is immediately followed by qualifying in the Edox Pole Position with race 1 in the afternoon. A final practice session on Friday morning is followed by race 2.

Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Abu Dhabi - UAE

Wednesday, 13 April

12.30 drivers course viewing on Class 1 rib

14.00-16.00 official practice

Thursday, 14 April

09.30-10.00 official practice

10.15-11.30 Edox Pole Position

15.30 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - race 1

Friday, 15 April

09.30-11.00 official practice

15.30 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - race 2

www.class-1.com

Projects: Benetti Sail Division 98 Logica, Benetti Sail Division 105 Logica, Benetti Sail Division 105 Logica Evolution

Benetti Sail Divsion continues to present projects of its innovative Logica range as designed by architect Luca Brenta.  The 98 Logica pictured above is the smallest model of this range, measuring just short of the one hundred feet mark.  Presented first as a 96 Logica project before being renamed as the 98 this Luca Brenta project follows other traits of the larger models of this range, as contemporary design which fuses early twentieth century looks with a modern minimal super structure filled with glass surfaces, and a two and half decks.  Interior guest accommodation is for four double guest cabins with owners stateroom located on the main deck.  Crew accommodation is four persons located to bow in two cabins and a seperate quaters which features a dinette and a second galley.  Power is for twin 1000hp MAN engines which give a 14 knots max, and a 13 knots cruise, and a 10 knots economic this last giving a 3200 nautical miles range. 

The Benetti Sail Division 105 Logica is the most classic looking of the models of this range mostly for its more standard traditional glass surfaces.  Altough just a couple of feet larger to the smallest 98, the 105 Logica adds an extra guest cabin in the seven plus feet of more lenght.  Power is for identical twin 1000hp MAN engines which give a similar 14 knots top speed, 13 knots of cruise, and a 10 knots of economic run which gives a 3700 nautical miles of range.

For the 105 Logica Evolution, Luca Brenta shows a similar looks to the rest of the range with the contemporary looks outlining a modern feel thanks to the large glass surfaces as used on the main, and the flybridge deck.  Accommodation is again to a similar layout with a plan which has five double guest cabins, with the owners state room located on the main deck in the forward part.  Power is again entrusted to twin MAN 1000hp engines which give identical estimated speeds as the standard more classic looking 105 Logica. 

www.benettisaildivision-ss.com

New Model: Heesen 49.80m YN 15250

Heesen Yachts is proud to announce that on Friday, February 25, YN 15250 was launched at the shipyard facilities in Oss, the Netherlands. The owner christened YN 15250 as Satori, a name that in the Zen Buddhist tradition refers to a sudden enlightenment that is considered the first step toward Nirvana.  With a Gross Tonnage of 499GT and a top speed of 24 knots she is among the world’s fastest 50 metre yachts. Built on the experience of launching seventeen 44 and 47 metre custom yachts, the hull of this new 50 metre is currently the most efficient on the market. In consultation with Van Oossanen Associates, Heesen’s in-house naval architects created a sophisticated and highly efficient hard-chine hull. When combined with Heesen’s acknowledged weight reduction expertise and a pair of high power-to-weight ratio MTU 2.720kW engines, Satori is able to deliver her excellent top speed as well as a very economical fuel burn and a particularly long range of 3.200Nm at 12 knots. Frank Laupman, from Omega Architects, designed the clean lines of this new 50 metre semi displacement.  The owner appointed the award-winning French designer, Rémi Tessier to create the elegant interior of his yacht. As a result the interior of MY Satori looks extremely simple at the first glance, but as soon as the eye dwells upon the detail the extreme refinement of every single element clearly stands out. Ten guests are accommodated between a master suite on the main deck and four guest cabins on the lower deck (two VIP full width and two twins). On the main deck the saloon is divided into three distinct areas and features a notable round dining table, which can be lowered to create a more informal dining style. Following this simple operation the atmosphere of the saloon is completely changed, transforming it into a magnificent open space ideal for lounging and relaxation. Guests are able to enjoy their life at sea in four different exterior social areas. These comprise a 20 metre long, split-level sun deck with a large custom Jacuzzi, sunbathing terrace and bar; the forward cockpit with U-shaped enclosed sofas facing a large sunbathing area; the al fresco dining area on the upper deck aft; and the aft cockpit.  Full delivery of Satori is scheduled by this month, after intensive sea trials in the North Sea.  Heesen Yachts has currently sixteen yachts under construction with a total length of 773m which will be delivered to their owners by 2014. In 2010 the Dutch shipyard signed seven contracts and has added a further order in early 2011.

Technical Data:

LOA -  49.8 m (163.3ft)

Beam - 9.00 m

Draft - 2.65 m

Displacement - 300 t half load

Fuel Capacity - 68800 l

Water Capacity - 16200 l

Accommodation - 10 guest berthins in 5 cabins, 10 crew berths

Engines - 2 x 16v4000M90 3646hp

Propulsion - Schaffran five blade fixed pitch propellers with line shaft

Speeds - 24 knots max, 12 knots economic cruise

Range - 3200 nm at 12 knots

Project - Heesen Yachts, Van Oossanen and Associates hull, Omega architects exterior, Remi Tessier interior

Certificiation - ABS, A1 Commercial Yachting service, AMS, MCA, LY2

www.heesenyachts.com