Improve-it = Outer Reef 63

Outer Reef Yachts from USA have appointed Ken Freivokh to design custom interior for some of its models. This very high profile design collaboration for Outer Reef will surely increase brand awareness to the US company. After following the first designs for the 70 Motoryacht, Ken Freivokh does a similar modification to the 63 Motoryacht main deck interior decoration and fittings, which is now more modern looking and contemporary as the above rendering shows. The Outer Reef 63 Motoryacht weighs at about 33 tons, and sleeps six in a three cabins layout available in two different versions.  Power is from twin Cat engines of 503hp each.

www.outerreefyachts.com

Project: Bertram 64

Bertram presents the project for a new 64 model, which is set to launch in Fort Lauderdale 2011 end of October and in my understanding should replace the 630 constructed in about fifty units since 2004.  Again designed by Zuccon, with the Ferretti Group team the 64 continues the touches of new president Alton Herndon who puts his experience to good use to make this new Bertram one of the best sport fishing yachts in this size.  These touches are already visible as the recent improvements shown in the 540, and will be seen in other models of the range. For the new 64 a curved smooth reverse shear line is shown again, but the designers also opted for a massive aft deck fish battling area which measures just short of two hundred square feet. The 64 will also involve options as large view windows in the center or a clean hull as the above rendering shows.  Accommodation details have not yet been announced.  Power is from standard twin Cats 1676hp or optional 1925 or 2001hp MTU.  With twin Cats 1925hp top speed is 40 knots.     

www.bertram.com

Powerboat OGP - Siracusa, Sicily Grand Prix

RACE ONE

Furnibo, piloted by Pierre Colpin and Frank Hemelaer, triumphed during an exhilarating opening race of the UIM Siracusa Ocean Grand Prix, leading home Swedish-American team Lucas Oil. In the Supersport class, Federico Montanari, Alfredo Zanardo and Giambattista Gabriele in Jolly Drive took the chequered flag in commanding fashion.

As the green flag dropped on the first of this weekend’s shorter sprint races, high temperatures made for an exhausting ride. As the boats powered across the Ionian Sea throwing up spectacular rooster tails, it was the Belgian 2B1 Racing Team in Furnibo that stole a march on the field, pulling away to lead comfortably into the first buoy.

However, the Stirling-powered Lucas Oil boat of Michael Silfverberg and Nigel Hook was quickly on their tail and launched a challenge for the lead but could do nothing to catch the current Evo class leaders.

The German Searex team, in third, had made a good start but engine problems later forced them to retire. As the race moved into the closing stages, Furnibo had firmly secured their place on the top step of the podium with Lucas Oil having to settle for second.

Meanwhile, in SuperSport, Italian’s Jolly Drive showed the early pace, gaining good speed from the start and building a significant lead by the end of the first lap, with Karelpiu’ tucked in second place ahead of SIF. It wasn’t long though before the experienced Renato Guidi, Stefano Acanfora and Vittorio Foglia Manzillo reeled in and then passed the Mercury-powered Fountain, before settling into second place for the remainder of the race. Despite one last charge by Karelpiu’ in the closing stages, the father and son pairing of Guieseppe and Antonio Schiano di Cola, alongside Francesco Calo, finished in third.

UIM Siracusa Ocean Grand Prix (Round 03) PROVISIONAL

Sprint Race Results – Evo Class

Pos. — No. — Boat Name — Nat. — Time — Pts.

1 — 33 — Furnibo — BEL — 20

2 — 77 — Lucas Oil — SWE — 16

66 — Hercules Sagemann — DEU – DNF

Sprint Race Results – SuperSport Class

1 — 06 — Jolly Drive — ITA — 20

2 — 38 — SIF — ITA — 16

3 — 81 – Karelpiu’ — ITA — 12

RACE TWO

Jolly Drive, the Yanmar-powered Italian powerboat took its second consecutive victory in the SuperSport class of the UIM Siracusa Ocean Grand Prix to make a decisive move in the quest for the world title; an achievement they last accomplished in 2005. On a glass-like surface, Federico Montanari, Alfredo Zanardo and Giambattista Gabriele demonstrated the boat’s preference for flat waters, leading from start to finish. Behind them SIF and Karelpiu looked evenly matched and an intriguing battle for second place developed. That was, until on lap three the Mercury-powered Donzi of SIF took control when their rival missed a buoy. Despite making a swift course-correction, the gap was just too great for the Fountain boat despite making up significant ground over the 46 nautical mile Sprint course. All three Italian boats crossed the line within a few lengths of each other, suggesting that the fight for the season’s spoils will continue right down to the wire. In Evo, the tables were turned upside-down as the Lucas Oil Scandinavian Offshore Challenge of Michael Silfverberg and Nigel Hook took a first win of the season from the German Searex team, with Belgian boat, Furnibo failing to complete the required 70 percent race distance. The race had looked to be firmly in the grasp of Siegfried Greve and Douglas Verbanck in Hercules Sagemann, who had taken the lead from Lucas Oil on lap two, only for the German team to relinquish first place in the closing stages. Before today’s race, Furnibo, piloted by Pierre Colpin and Frank Hemelaer had dominated the championship with three consecutive wins. That lead is now fragile; the performance of Searex and the win for Lucas Oil, now under the supervision of the US powerboating legend Jerry Gilbreath, suggests that this won’t be the last win for the team.
PROVISIONAL Sprint Race Results

Evo Class

Pos. -- No. -- Boat Name -- Nat. -- Time -- Pts

1 -- 77 -- Lucas Oil -- SWE -- 00:37:50:87 -- 20

2 -- 66 -- Hercules Sagemann -- DEU – 00:38:10:44 -- 16 

- --  33 -- Furnibo -- BEL -- DNF -- 0 UIM Siracusa Ocean Grand Prix (Round 04)

SuperSport Class

1 -- 06 -- Jolly Drive -- ITA -- 00:36:54:27 -- 20

2 -- 38 -- SIF -- ITA -- 00:36:58:04 -- 16

3 -- 81 – Karelpiu’ -- ITA -- 00:37:00:86 -- 12

RACE THREE

The disappointment of yesterday’s engine problems were short lived for the Belgian 2B1 Racing Team as Furnibo, the Mercury-powered Fountain returned to form, taking the third and final race and the UIM Siracusa Ocean Grand Prix Evo title ahead of Lucas Oil.
The race had looked to be a foregone conclusion, with Furnibo building a substantial lead on the opening lap, but Michael Silfverberg and Nigel Hook in Lucas Oil began to unleash the potential of the Silverhook boat and close the gap. With their Stirling engines at full-chat, it looked like the pair could take the lead.
For eight laps the boats were a rooster tail apart, the defining moment coming with an opportunistic manouvre by the Belgians as four boats arrived at a buoy together. The Fountain dived ahead of two slower SuperSport boats with Lucas Oil forced to hold off, losing momentum and eventually the race. The German Searex Racing Team eventually retired with an alternator problem but not before posting five fastest laps. It was one of those days!
In SuperSport, another intriguing and compelling race unfolded with a three-way battle for the lead. Federico Montanari, Alfredo Zanardo and Giambattista Gabriele had started the race in dominant fashion and were on course to make it a weekend hat-trick for Jolly Drive but the Mercury-powered Fountain of Karelpiu and Donzi of SIF were definitely ‘at the races’.
The three Italian crews battled hard from start to finish providing close-fought action throughout. For most of the race only seven seconds separated the three Italian boats until SIF was forced to retire. The leading two boats continued to battle nose-to-rooster tail right up to the chequered flag, Karelpiu having stolen the lead with just three laps remaining. Today’s win brings the RG87 Racing Team within eight points of Jolly Drive at the seasons half way point and despite losing the race won the SuperSport class of the UIM Siracusa Ocean Grand Prix.
With both Championship titles still in contention, it is all to play for as the teams head to Milazzo in two weeks time. This inaugural Ocean Grand Prix season promises to go down to the wire, providing a nail-biting spectacle and world class racing action.
UIM Siracusa Ocean Grand Prix
Evo Class – PROVISIONAL Results
Pos. — No. — Boat Name — Nat. — Pts.
1 — 33 — Furnibo — BEL — 40
2 — 77 — Lucas Oil — SWE — 32
3 — 66 — Hercules Sagemann — DEU — 20
SuperSport Class – PROVISIONAL Results
1 — 06 — Jolly Drive — ITA — 56
2 — 81 – Karelpiu’ — ITA — 44
3 — 38 — SIF — ITA — 32
UIM Ocean Grand Prix Powerboat World Championship
Evo Class Standings
Pos. — No. — Boat Name — Nat. — Pts.
1 — 33 — Furnibo — BEL — 85
2 — 77 — Lucas Oil — SWE — 65
3 — 66 — Hercules Sagemann — DEU — 43
4 — 47 — Silverline — GBR – 12
SuperSport Class Standings
1 — 06 — Jolly Drive — ITA — 98
2 — 81 – Karelpiu’ — ITA — 90
3 — 38 — SIF — ITA — 48

www.oceangrandprix.org

Project: Princess 98 Motor Yacht

Princess presents the project of the new 98 Motor Yacht what will be the new flagship of the Flybridge range, and second third in size of all the fleet behind the 40 and 32M.  The 98 Motor Yacht in my understanding should also be a replacement to the well received 95 launched in 2007.  The 98 Motor Yacht is based on the old model but will offer some important modifications.  For example inside will be the choice to  have a designer made interior with furnishing and fitting from Fendi Casa.  But exterior differences are also to be found from a more extended in length larger bathing platform, to two extra bigger vertical port holes in the full beam owners cabin.  The lower decks in the 98 Motor Yacht should offer just as the 95 a choice of a four of five cabin interior.  Power options for the 98 Motor Yacht are not announced but I do imagine them to be again similar to the 95 with the largest twin MTU 2434hp choice give a top speed of about 29 knots.  

www.princessyachts.com

New Model: Picchiotti 55 M Vitruvius Ice Class

Picchiotti part of the Perini Navi Group launch the second of the Vitruvius Ice Class series, with the 55 M named M/Y Galileo G.  The new Picchiotti 55m is again a design to Philippe Briand and features the BOS hull shape and a hard to find even with Super Yacht of these dimensions an ABS Class IB which makes her able to navigate on ice and in the North West Passage between the North Atlantic and Pacific oceans.  Her construction is also unique featuring a protective ice belt around the water line with extra reinforcement in the bow and to stern.  The 55 M Vitruvius also features a 3D monitor system which can detect submerged or semi merged items up to a distance of 1 km.

Technical Data:

LOA - 55 m (183ft)

Waterline Length - 54.33 m

Beam - 10.39 m

Draft -  3.20 m

Displacement - 753  full load

Fuel Capacity - 152000 l

Water Capacity - 20000 l

Accommodation - 10 guest berths in 5 cabins, 12 crew in 7 cabins

Engines - 2 x Cats 3512C 1573hp

Propulsion - line shaft

Speed - 16 knots max, 11 knots economic cruise

Range - 9000 nm at 11 knots

Hull Shape - BOS Briand Optimized Stretched

Construction - steel hull, alumimium super structure 

Project - Phillipe Briand

Certification - ABS: Malta Cross A1 Yachting Comm.Service, AMS+MCA,LY2 Ice Class IB

www.picchiottiyachts.com

New Model: Pantera 41

Pantera presents it's largest ever launched model, what is the 41.  The hull number one was actually a race only dedicated version for the Endurance Powerboat series of the UIM.  Hull two is a pleasure version as shown above and features the same deep Vee hull with 24 degrees dead rise aft and two steps. Accommodation is for the usual powerboat layout with a forward berth and a saloon, sleeping a total of four.  A separate shower head, and a  galley are to be found on the entrance.  Performance is dependant on engines but the above version with the smallest and standard twin Mercury petrol gas of 525hp each reaches 73 knots, 85 mph of top speed. 

Technical Data:

LOA - 12.39 m (40.8ft)

Beam - 2.54 m

Draft - 0.81 m to keel

Displacement - 4762 kg

Fuel Capacity - 870 l

Accommodation - 4 berths
Engines - 2 x Mercury Racing EFI 525hp 

Propulsion - Mercury Bravo 1XR Stern drive with five blade propellers

Speed - 73 knots  with Mercury 525hp

Hull - deep Vee 24 degrees dead rise with two steps

www.panteraboats.com

Project: Beneteau 49 Flyer Gran Turismo Fly

Beneteau presents the project for the new 49 Flyer Gran Turismo Fly, a model which is an evolution of the 47 Monte Carlo Fly.  This previous Beneteau range now being replaced by the Flyer series.  The 49 Flyer Gran Turismo Fly main difference will be an extension of the bathing platform, which now also features a hydraulic up and down movement.  This modification makes it possible to carry two tenders, this including the stern garage.  Obviously a sleek profile is part of this model, along a nearly invisible but quite spacious flybridge.  Another visual difference is to be found on the large view windows for the fore VIP cabin. Accommodation is a choice of two or three cabins below, with a living located on the main deck.  Power is from twin Volvo 435hp with IPS pod drives.

www.beneteau.com

New Model: Sessa C44

Despite the slow down in the World and European economies Sessa has been relentless in the last few years presenting new models, at an impressive rate.  The C44 is in real terms a further development of the fall 2008 presented C43 with the real difference coming to stern, which now features an up and down hydraulic moving bathing platform.  As said in the Sessa press release the C44 will be produced along the C43, at least for now. The C44 will offer the two cockpit layouts as featured on the C43 of C-shaped settee with sunpad and underneath garage, or the larger more socializing E-shaped layout.  The E-shaped settee layout which was optional on the C43 becomes the standard plan of the C44.  In the E-shape plan both settees transform to two sun pads or dine twelve people with tables up in extreme comfort. Unlike the C43 with the other plan of sun pad garage the C44 gives the possibility to carry two private water toys, one on the platform and another in the garage.  Another difference of the C44 is also the propulsion set up with Sessa declaring on the web site that the C44 will only be available with IPS pods, and I think the main reason behind this is the hydraulic moving bathing platform.

Technical Data:

LOA - 14.0 m (45.9ft)

Hull Length - 12.90 m

Beam - 3.99 m

Draft - 0.73 m ex props

Displacement - 9800 kg

Fuel Capacity - 2 x 450 l

Water Capacity - 265 l

Max Persons - 12

Accommodation - 4 + 2 berths

Engines - 2 x Volvo D6 370hp, 435hp

Propulsion - Volvo IPS dual propeller forward looking pod drives

Hull - planning Vee shape with spray rails, 16 degrees dead rise aft

Project - Christian Grande

Certification - CE B

www.sessamarine.com

Project: Greenline GL40

Greenline present the project of the GL40 model, what is another explorer cruiser based on her smaller sister, the GL33. Introduced in September 2009, the Greenline 33 has found over 120 owners throughout Europe in the first year, and has been since awarded with numerous boat and environmental awards. Designed by Seaway and J and J Design from Slovenia the Greenline GL40 is a larger yacht of similar looks and the same philosophy as her smaller 33 sister: with ease of handling, safety and seaworthiness for long lasting well-being on board. The low-drag energy-saving Superdisplacement hull coupled to hybrid diesel electric engines, and solar technology brings unknown efficiency in for the use of this explorer cruiser. The GL40 will offer a six berth sleeping accommodation located in two cabins below, plus a convertible saloon on the main deck.  A single shower head located below serves the guests.  Power is from standard single 75hp which give speeds up to 9 knots.  But further options from a single 165, or 225, and twin 165hp engines give top speeds up to 18 knots.  The electronic engine is 20kw, and gives 20 minutes solo use, and a speed of 7 max, and 6 knots of cruise. 

www.greenlinehybrid.com

The Tour

It was may be Pershing which started this officially in 2007 with the 72, but now it seems to be a habit followed by other builders.  Azimut followed it with a long range trial involving half the Med sea of the 74 Magellano, and Ferretti Group did it again with Easea Show last year which involved three yachts; Pershing 64, Itama Fifty Five, and a Riva 52 Rivale.  On the other side of the Atlantic things also got moving and Hatteras and Brunswick also toured the East Coast from North Carolina to the Miami show with the Hatteras 60 Quad Zeus featuring four ZF Zeus pod propelled engines. 

For 2011 it was three builders, a British, Italian and a German who shaken up things; Fairline, Sessa, and Greenline. 

The British Fairline did a tour with a 58 Targa Gran Turismo which also featured an unedited silver colored hull.  The tour involved parts of the South of Spain, Balearic Islands and will finish in the South of France prior to the Cannes boat show. 

Sessa on the other hand did a more challenging job, which involves Italy, Balearic's, and South of France with hull one of the new 45 Fly.  The tour started up in end of July and will finish in August also in Cannes prior to the official debut of the model at one of the most important shows.
Greenline also toured the Italian West Coast with the GL33 starting from a harbour in the center near to Rome and ending in the Ligurian coast in San Remo on July.
As I said last year in another Blogger post, this to me is a very innovative concept and it is cool to see more builders follow the boat touring idea, showing it in a marina near you, and discussing with interested parties on the spot.  It is also, and here may be lies the most important note a more intimate way to show a boat, and discuss with clients, away from the hustle and bustle a show or a normal exposition brings.