October 19, 2011

Project: Sea Ray 410 Sundancer

Sea Ray presents the project for the 410 Sundancer, set to be presented World wide at the coming Fort Lauderdale boat show.  The 410 Sundancer, is a hard top sports cruiser which continues this famous US builder trade mark design, and moves it to new heights, see large view window to the sides.  The lower deck accommodation plan offers two options.  The standard layout is that for a more US open layout with two saloons, one of which an entertainment area replacing the second midships cabin in the more European optional plan.  There is also a large owners stateroom to fore with en-suite head, large guest shower head to aft, and a spacious L-shaped galley.  Power will be from twin 480hp Cummins engines, powered with in line shafts, or ZF Zeus pods. 

New Model: Broom 455

Since taking new ownership more or less a year ago, Broom has shown a relentless important project set to move its brand of very British looking motor cruisers forward.  This step could not have seen more importance at the latest Southampton, the United Kingdom's most important boat show where Broom presented two novelties an improvement and announced two further projects to launch for the coming year.  The Broom 455 is the latest development of the top selling 450 Mk,II with important modifications to this successful model.  The 455 is recognizable outside in the new large panoramic transom window, hydraulic submersible bathing platform, opening skylights in saloon, and a larger aft deck.  She is also now boasts a more spacious interior with a three cabin layout, and large owners staterooms to aft which can be mistaken for that of a bigger sized cruiser.  Power options start from Volvo 370 up to optional 500hp units, which takes speeds up to a max of 29 knots. 
Technical Data:
LOA - 14.75 m (47.9ft)
Waterline Length - 11 m
Beam - 4.6 m
Draft - 1.20 m
Accommodation - 6 berths in 3 cabins
Engines - 2 x Volvo D6 370hp, D9 500hp
Propulsion - line shafts
Speed - 29 knots max
Construction - Brushed Isophatalic gel coat, hand laid chopped strand mat and woven rovings
Project - John Benett hull
Certification - Lloyd's approved construction

October 18, 2011

Project: Sasga 16

Sasga, the new Menorcan Island cruiser and yacht builder shows its second project with the 16 model.  So far Sasga, which is founded by previous Menorquin owners Sestre and Toledo, has presented two important projects, with both having lines coming from the Menorican Llauts, with a super structure which represents the future.  The Sasga 16 will be a three guest cabin boat, with a crew cabin to fore, living on the main deck and a galley below.  She can sleep including the convertible C-shaped sofa, and forward crew cabin on the main deck up to nine persons.  She will also offer a spacious flybridge, having an L-shaped settee, helm station to starboard, and sun pad to aft.  As all Menorcan Llauts designs, the 16 and 12 will both have a walk around deck, with spacious aft cockpit having an L-shaped to port.  Power is from twin 260 up to 370hp diesel engines.  With the large engine choice Sasga is predicting top speeds of 21, a cruise in the range of 12 to 18 knots. 

New Model: Sealine C48

Sealine launched the new C48 at the Southampton boat show, what is a continuation of the 2007 minimal styling presented with the top selling SC35.  This latest Sealine is the second new model for 2011 following the SC42 presented in Cannes, and uses hull form from the SC47.  It is also Sealine first minimal design which has a patio door separating the aft cockpit with an internal saloon living area, and also features an enclosed hard top.  The C48 is in my records currently the smallest sport cruiser to be offered with this combination by a British builder, although to be fair Sealine did offer the SC39 with aft patio door and hardtop between 2004 and 07. The main deck with very natural light wrap around windscreen and  fully opening patio door aft offers a split level living area which features an L-shaped sofa, and four settee looking forward with the helm located to starboard side.  The lower deck presents itself two large cabins, third guest cabin with bunk berths, and L-shaped galley.  The owners stateroom is a full beam midships located with en-suite shower head.  A VIP suite is located to fore.  Power is from twin standard Volvo 435hp or optional Cummins 480.  Propulsion is in both cases pods, with Volvo IPS as standard, and ZF Zeus for the optional bigger Cummins option. 
Technical Data:
LOA - 15.55 m (51ft) including high low bathing platform
LOA - 14.9 m without high low bathing platform
Hull Length - 14 m
Beam - 4.48 m
Draft - 1.10 m
Displacement - 14500 kg dry
Fuel Capacity - 2 x 750 l
Water Capacity - 505 l
Accommodation - 6 berths in 3 cabins
Max Persons - 12
Engines - 2 x Volvo D6 435hp, Cummins QSB 5.9 480hp
Propulsion - Volvo IPS600 forward looking dual propeller pods, ZF Zeus aft looking dual prop pods
Speed - 35 knots max with Cummins 480hp, 34 knots max with Volvo 435hp
Certification - CE B

October 17, 2011

Project: Lazzara LSX64

Lazzara presents the project of a new entry level model the LSX64.  This model is to be launched in 2012, but I would not be surprised if a showing is made in end of October in Fort Lauderdale.  The LSX64 is a sport yacht with a lot of European influence in its looks and follows the design route as outlined by Dick Lazzara in 2006 by the well received LSX75 series.  A flybridge model using the same hull LMY64 should follow this launch.  The LSX64 will offer a dedicated living entertainment area on the main deck, with a galley and L-shaped dining settee located below in between the three cabins.  As the large windows in the above rendering suggest the LSX64 will have a full beam midships located owners stateroom.  Power choices have not yet been announced but I do imagine the LSX64 to be powered by pod drives in both of the formats currently available; Volvo IPS, or ZF versions.

New Model: Horizon PC58

Horizon presents the first of the Power Catamaran range with the PC58 model launched in the middle of this year.  This model is the fourth Horizon with twin hulled catamaran shape and follows the Solar Powered SC46 and SC23, and the 80 Aquacat. The PC58 is a luxury power catamaran, which the Taiwan builder says should rise above previous multi hull yachts with a blend of elegance, stability and efficiency. A comfortable en-suite three-stateroom layout is featured along with numerous interior and exterior entertaining areas. The owners stateroom is a spacious affair located in between the two hull, and lower and main deck. The PC58 also incorporates the ZF Joystick Maneuvering system in addition to the ZF Fly-by-wire Steering system, making operation and handling a breeze. Power is from twin 600hp Cummins, which deliver a cruise speed of 20 knots.
Technical Data:
LOA - 18.22 (59.9ft)
Waterline Length - 15.24 m
Beam - 7.47 m
Draft - 1.35 m
Displacement - 35 t
Fuel Capacity - 3800 l
Water Capacity - 1500 l
Accommodation - 6 berths in 3 cabins
Engines - 2 x Cummins QSC 600hp
Speed - 20 knots cruise
Project - Winchester Design Group USA style, Lavranos Yacht Design New Zealand hull 

Class 1 - Italy Grand Prix 2011

RACE 1
Victory’s Arif Al Zafeen and Nadir bin Hendi took a giant step towards retaining their European title after an imperious flag-to-finish win in race 1 of the Italian Grand Prix.
Leading from the start the defending Champions backed their pole position status to take their 24th career wins and their third of the season to extend their lead in the World Championship standings to 16 points over Spirit of Qatar 96, completing the 12 lap, 52,66Nm race in 34mins 5.39secs at an average speed of 171.65km/h.
But crucially, today’s flawless drive by Al Zafeen and Bin Hendi turns a five point deficit in the European Championship into a six points advantage - again over Spirit of Qatar 96, with Sheikh Hassan bin Jabor Al-Thani and Steve Curtis finishing in a disappointing fourth place.
Ali Al Neama and Matteo Nicolini gave the Qatari Team something to celebrate, taking their third podium and best result of the season, bringing Spirit of Qatar 95 home in second place, with Team Abu Dhabi’s Ahmed Al Hameli and Majed Al Mansoori producing yet another impressive performance to finish third and complete a Middle East sweep of the podium.
Nicolini’s second place was also some consolation for the Italian fans who watched as first Fendi Racing failed to appear on the start line and then saw Poliform limp out of the race after just three laps.
With the race leaders disappearing into the distance, widening the gap from 15 seconds at the end of lap 3 to 40 seconds by race finish, the Spirit of Qatar crew had to keep one eye on Team Abu Dhabi who maintained a relentless pursuit but were unable to close down their Middle East rivals finishing 10 seconds adrift, with Al Hameli taking his second podium from three starts in Class 1 and Mansoori his first.
Belgium’s Frank Hemelaer marked his Class 1 debut alongside Luca Nicolini in FA.RO. ACCIAI moving up from eighth at the end of the first lap to finish in a very credible fifth place for Team D’Alessio-Scam on their season-entry into the Championship. Relekta came out on top winning the battle of the Norwegian outfits, finishing in sixth place after Welmax retired on lap five.
ITALIAN GRAND PRIX, RACE 1 - results
1. 3 Victory - A Al Zafeen (UAE) / N Bin Hendi (UAE) 00.34.05,39
2. 95 Spirit of Qatar - A Al Neama (QAT) / M Nicolini (ITA) + 00.41,00
3. 5 Team Abu Dhabi - A Al Hameli (UAE) / M Al Mansoori (UAE) + 00.51,25
4. 96 Spirit of Qatar - H Al Thani (QAT) / S Curtis (ENG) + 01.07,87
5. 23 FA.RO. ACCIAI - F Hemelaer (BEL) / L Nicolini (ITA) + 1 LAP
6. 91 Relekta - U Isik (TUR) / C Zaborowski (NOR) + 1 LAP
7. 90 Welmax – B Jacobsen (NOR) / K Olsen (NOR) DNF
8. 74 Poliform - G Cappellini (MON) / G Montavoci (ITA) DNF
10 Fendi Racing - L Formilli Fendi (ITA) / G Carpitella (ITA) DNS
18 MITI Tech Power – S Sardelli (ITA) / N Giorgi (ITA) DNS
RACE 2
Victory’s Arif Al Zafeen and Nadir bin Hendi completed the perfect weekend winning race 2 of the Italian Grand Prix to clinch the 2011 Class 1 European Championship in an incident-filled afternoon which saw Italians Luca Formilli Fendi and Giovanni Carpitella crash out.
It was another masterful display by the Victory pairing to mark their 25th career wins and retain their title, dominating from the start and going 50 seconds clear of Team Abu Dhabi and a distant chasing pack when the race was red flagged and bringing out the pace boat after Fendi Racing’s day ended in dramatic fashion, hooking and then rolling on lap seven, both Fendi and Carpitella emerging from the escape hatch in the upturned hull unhurt.
The pace boat led the fleet round for two laps before releasing them, with Al Zafeen and bin Hendi, asked to do it all again, and they did, immediately opening up a commanding lead and going on to take their fourth win of the year by over 20 seconds, completing the 16-lap, 70.92Nm race in 54mins 38.70secs.
The laps under the pace boat took their toll on Team Abu Dhabi, with yesterday’s third placed finishers Ahmed Al Hameli and Majed Al Mansoori pulling to the inside of the circuit and retiring from the race with technical problems.
For the tens-of-thousands of Italian powerboat fans who crammed into Cernobbio and lined the shores of Lake Como, the disappointment of seeing Fendi Racing’s exit soon changed when Poliform’s Guido Cappellini – who considers the lake to be his! – and Giampaolo Montavoci emerged after the restart in second place followed by Spirit of Qatar 96, Welmax and Spirit of Qatar 95 – both the Qatar outfits seeing their European title hopes fading fast.
After the frustrations of yesterday’s retirement it was an impressive turnaround by the all-Italian outfit, whose second place was never under pressure, taking their best result of the year and moving into fourth place in the overall Championship standings.
For the Spirit of Qatar Team it was an afternoon of mixed emotions, with Ali Al Neama and Matteo Nicolini enjoying an eventful afternoon, running in second spot for the opening three laps but were down in sixth place when the race was red flagged, then eventually clawing their way back up to third, passing their teammates Sheikh Hassan bin Jabor Al Thani and Steve Curtis on lap 11 - Welmax passed by both a lap earlier.
Whilst a good result for Al Neama and Nicolini, their second race podium of the weekend enough to move them into the runners-up spot in the European Championship, but at the expense of Sheikh Hassan and Curtis, who described it as ‘just one of those weekends when nothing went their way’ again missing out on the podium finishing in fourth place.
FA.RO. ACCIAI completed a more than satisfactory weekend on the team’s entry into the Championship, with the new partnership of Frank Hemelaer and Luca Nicolini again finishing well up in the points in fifth place. Welmax’s Bjorge Jacobsen and Kurt Olsen turned the tables on their Norwegian rivals to finish in sixth, ahead of Relekta’s Ugur Isik and Christian Zaborowski.
Today’s win for Al Zafeen and bin Hendi moves them into a commanding position in the World Championship standings and puts them 29-points clear of Spirit of Qatar 96 with the final Grand Prix of the season in Dubai on 8-10 December.
With 44 points on offer in Dubai the defending World Champions need just 15 as they bid to become the first Victory pairing to win the Grand slam of all four titles in a single season, the feat only ever achieved by Spirit Of Norway’s Bjorn Rune Gjelsten and Steve Curtis in 2003 and 2006.
ITALIAN GRAND PRIX, RACE 2 - results
1. 3 Victory - A Al Zafeen (UAE) / N Bin Hendi (UAE) 00.54.38,70
2. 74 Poliform - G Cappellini (MON) / G Montavoci (ITA) + 00.20,25
3. 95 Spirit of Qatar - A Al Neama (QAT) / M Nicolini (ITA) + 00.39,34
4. 96 Spirit of Qatar - H Al Thani (QAT) / S Curtis (ENG) + 00.48,76
5. 23 FA.RO. ACCIAI - F Hemelaer (BEL) / L Nicolini (ITA) + 02.13,28
6. 90 Welmax – B Jacobsen (NOR) / K Olsen (NOR) + 05.57,59
7. 91 Relekta - U Isik (TUR) / C Zaborowski (NOR) + 1 LAP
8. 5 Team Abu Dhabi - A Al Hameli (UAE) / M Al Mansoori (UAE) DNF
9. 10 Fendi Racing - L Formilli Fendi (ITA) / G Carpitella (ITA) DNF
18 MITI Tech Power - S Sardelli (ITA) / N Giorgi (ITA) DNS
UIM CLASS 1 WORLD POWERBOAT CHAMPIONSHIP - after race 5
1. 3 Victory - 103pts
2. 96 Spirit of Qatar - 74pts
3. 95 Spirit of Qatar - 66pts
4. 74 Poliform - 40pts
5. 5 Team Abu Dhabi - 38pts
6. 91 Relekta - 23pts
7= 10 Fendi Racing - 19pts
7= 90 Welmax - 19pts
9. 23 FA.RO. ACCIAI - 14pts
10. 50 Parsonage Racing - 8pts
11. 69 ferskfisken.no - 5 pts
12. 18 MITI Tech Power - 4pts
EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP - after race 3
1. 3 Victory - 55pts
2. 95 Spirit of Qatar - 39pts
3. 96 Spirit of Qatar - 38pts
4. 74 Poliform - 24pts
5. FA.RO. ACCIAI - 14pts
6. 91 Relekta - 13pts
7= 5 Team Abu Dhabi - 12pts
7= 90 Welmax - 12pts
9. 69 ferskfisken.no - 5 pts
10= 10 Fendi Racing - 0pts
10= 50 Parsonage Racing - 0pts
10= 18 MITI Tech Power - 0pts

October 16, 2011

New Model: Queens Yachts 86

Queens Yachts presents its new flagship model, the 86.  This model takes over from the Queens 72 as the biggest model of a six model line up which starts at 47 feet, and put the Italian builder on the plus eighty feet Super Yacht size map.  Designed by architects Vienna and Locarno from the Milan TDF Studio, the new Queens flagship offers a modern line with latest technical innovation, and well laid out interior.  The innovative technical features abound in this model starting from the propulsion of four by Volvo IPS pods, to Seakeeper gyro stabilizers, and Humphree trim tabs.  The design innovation is the sports bridge, now becoming quite a must to have on sport yachts over a certain size.  The interior of the Queens 86 offers a four double guest cabins layout, with all cabins having a private en-suite shower head.  The owners staterooms located to midships is a full beam layout and apart being spacious has also a walk in wardrobe.  There is also a fifth day head located by the stairway which brings you from the living saloon main deck.  To midships behind the owners room is a separate technical area featuring the spacious L-shaped galley, and a crew lobby with small saloon, and cabin with a well sized bathroom.  The main deck which is the living offers a three seat central helm station, eight person dining area, and two sofas, the larger of which is an L-shaped. The stern tender garage can sit two tenders; a rib, and a jet bike.  Power is from two choices; traditional shaft propulsion from twin MTU 1920hp, or quadruple 700hp Volvo with IPS pods.   
Technical Data:
LOA - 26.01 m (85.3ft)
Hull Length - 23.94 m
Beam - 6.27 m
Draft - 1.40 m, 1.70 m with IPS
Displacement - 63 t
Fuel Capacity - 6000 l
Water Capacity - 1500 l
Accommodation - 8/9 guest berths in 4 cabins, 2 crew berths in 1 cabins
Engines - 2 x MTU 12v2000 M92 1920hp, 4 x Volvo D9 700hp
Propulsion - line shafts, or Volvo IPS900 dual propeller forward looking pods
Speed - 27 knots cruise, 34 knots max with 4 x Volvo 700hp IPS
Project - Vienna and Locarno Studio TDF

October 15, 2011

Project: Castagnola 24 Storica

Giovanni Castagnola with his Costruzioni Navali Tigullio, presents a project for a new 24 Storica model.  This new pocket sized super yacht, designed by architect Michele Cadore, with engineering by Giovanni Castagnola will be a fusion of traditional styles concentrated in a one and a half deck.  You can look at the 24 Storica for looking very traditional up top, with its raised saloon half deck area, looking very Nordic or representing the old fast commuter yachts of the early twentieth century which come from New York, USA.  Her interior will offer three spacious double cabins, with an owners stateroom located to fore.  Construction of the 24 Storica continues the virtues of the yard with wood, used along the more modern aluminum material.  Power will be from twin 1100hp MAN engines which should give a top speed of 28 knots, and a cruise of 26.

Web: Mustang New Web Site

Down under Mustang Marine presents its new virtual web show room, from April 2010 being owned by Bill Barry-Cotter Maritimo current owner and founder, and also in the past founded Riviera. Mustang was founded 1974 in Queensland on Australia's Gold Coast, and previously to Bill Barry-Cotter buy out was regarded as the third builder coming from the down under country.  The Mustang current line up features a revamp and has currently two models in production; a 32 launched in April, and the 50 presented in July. Mustang new virtual showroom takes you around with the following buttons: Home, A New Mustang, Build Integrity, Mustang 32, and Mustang 50.