Project: Princess 82 Motor Yacht

Princess present the new 82 Motor Yacht project, it's new entry level pocket super yacht offer.  Extended window lines characterize the exterior of the 82 Motor Yacht project with a choice for a hard top covered flybridge with forward looking radar arch also being available.  Exterior spaces about in the 82 from the large flybridge which can all be used for entairtianment to the forward part deck with its forward settee and sunpand.  Inside a very light colored and conservative interior characterizes the layout with four double cabins below, and main deck seperating saloon dining with galley and helm areas. At aft is a twin berth crew cabin with lobby and direct engine room access.  Power is Cat 1622 or 1723hp, and MTU 1624hp engines with top speeds of 34 being estimated with the larger choice.

www.princessyachts.com

New Model: CNM 43 Continental

CNM acronym for Cantieri Navali Mediterraneo from Rome Italy is a young builder who has been on my radar ever since they launched the innovative 50 Continental model with its opening sides in 2009.  Now four years after this debut CNM presents the 43 Continental its current entry level model, soon to be replaced by a smaller 33.  The CNM 43 Continental as the bigger 50 shows its attention to large all deck use spaces with big sun loungers; two aft and one to fore being a huge part of its wow factor along with the side opening bulk heads.  The forward sun pad also converts to a large U-shade table and as the picture above shows can be also covered in its special tent for nice al fresco dining.  A central console which can also be covered by a hard top offers a three person settee helm station, and a back mezzanine bench completing the exterior layout.  Down below is a twin cabin with well sized bathroom, and a small galley to starboard.  Power options are three engine choices from Cummins 380 up MAN 800hp, with shafts or surface drives propulsion. 

Technical Data:

LOA - 13.2 m (43.3ft)

Hull Length - 13.2 m

Beam - 4.2 m

Draft - 1.05 m

Displacement - 11.5 t

Fuel Capacity - 1200 l

Water Capacity - 300 l

Accommodation - 2 berths

Engines - 2 x Cummins 480hp, 600hp, MAN 800hp only with surface

Propulsion - V-Drives line shafts, Arneson surface drives

Speed - 38 knots max with Cummins 480hp and shafts, 51 knots with MAN 800hp and surface drives

Certification - CE A

www.cnmspa.com

Project: Ritchie Howell 54 Convertible

Ritchie Howell presents the project for a 54 Convertible, to be built as usual to this Carolinas US builder in the cold molding jig method and to a design of Mathews Yachts.  An innovative project from a sportfisher point of view featuring a lower helm, and ZF pod drives propulsion.  The bridge helm will also be located to forward, something unusual for a sportfish which for the most past feature a central console in the aft part of the flybridge in order to be in touch with fishing operations on the aft deck.  Below accommodation will be a three cabins with two shower heads layout.  Power will be from Cat 1200hp with ZF pods with top end speed being of 40 knots and cruise in the mid high thirties.  Splash for this custom build is slated for the end of this year.

www.ritchiehowell.com

New Model: Sunseeker 40 Portofino

It's been one of the most waited new models from Sunseeker in recent times, and finally it has arrived. This is the 40 Portofino hull one launching in mid Summer and making its World premier in Cannes, France.  A return from the British Poole based boat builder to a forty feet entry level sport cruiser.  It is very interesting how the British have in recent times attacked this 35 to forty feet sport cruiser bracket.  Sunseeker has in previous years performed below expectations with its latest entry level models, 375 and 35 Portofino respectively so it will be interesting to see what the 40 will do. The new 40 Portofino follows a family feeling on the looks emulating the larger 48, and Predator 54 and 60 models, with the integrated hard top and huge side view glass surfaces being an important part of its design.  Sunseeker with the 40 Portofino go a different route to most offers in this segment for the cockpit layout, going for a small aft sun pad which can convert to double in size, C-shaped settee, wet bar to port side, and two forward looking settees the one to starboard being for the helm.  There is also the option for an extended up and down bathing platform which increases tender capacity and makes lifting and lowering easier. Down below design by renowned Ken Freivokh is a standard layout of two cabins, C-shaped saloon, galley and one guest head.  The midships guest cabin has also option to be a three berth cabin, with bed three replacing the unit on the entrance.  Standard engine power is twin Volvo 330hp give a 35 knots top speed.  A faster 40 knots max is being estimated with the larger 400hp units.   

Technical Data:

LOA - 12.9 m (42.4ft) including extended bathing plaform

LOA - 12.5 m

Hull Length - 11.97 m

Beam - 9.87 m

Draft - 1.06 m drives down

Displacement - 11,600 kg

Fuel Capacity - 750 l

Water Capacity - 295 l

Accommodation - 4 + 2 berths, or 5 + 2

Engines - 2 x Volvo D6 330hp, D6 400hp

Propulsion - Volvo Dual propeller stern drives

Speed - 35 knots with 330hp, 40 knots with 400hp

Construction - Vinilester resin skin coat with Powerder bound mat, balsa cored hull sides, PVC cored deck
Project - Ken Freivokh interior

Certification - CE

www.sunseeker.com

Project: Couach 2300 Fly

Since a long time I have been a big fan of Couach the French builder, and seeing them coming with some important projects is always good news.  The new 2300 Fly, is one of seven Couach projects which should be launched in the coming years which start from a thirteen meter sport cruiser, up to a 45 meter super yacht.  The 2300 Fly will be Couach entry level flybridge yacht, and will feature a four double cabins interior, plus two crew cabins.  Interesting in the 2300 Fly is the very sports sleek line, with a very aggressive profile.  Other details of the sports nature of this project are also to be found in the aft sun pad, and radar arch with hard top.  Tender space will be located in the garage, with the flybridge fully dedicated for entertainment on standard specification.  Power will be from twin MAN 1200hp with line shaft propulsion, giving a top speed of 32 knots and a cruise of 22.

www.couach.com  

New Model: Viking 66 Enclosed Bridge Convertible

As with any Viking over sixty feet, it only a matter of short time that when the Open Bridge Convertible model is presented, Enclosed version is launched. Like the Open version, the 66 Enclsoed Brige Convertible has four staterooms and four private heads in its standard accommodation plan. The island galley, dinette, and salon also are similar, with the significant addition of an internal spiral staircase that leads to the enclosed bridge. The climate-controlled enclosed bridge is inviting and spacious with the main helm forward on centerline for good visibility. The raised ultra-leather dash handles a bank of navigation and communication electronics, and overhead, an accessory panel is easily read and reached. An adjustable Stidd helm seat provides plenty of comfort and support on long jaunts, and a large companion seat to starboard features drawer stowage and good visibility for crew and guests. Abaft the companion seat, a row of teak joinery houses bottle and general stowage. A flat screen television is mounted above the built-in refrigerator. A raised lounge with a teak cocktail table on the port side creates the atmosphere of a second salon for added privacy and convenience. A weatherproof lockable door leads to the aft deck and the second helm station, a pod design that has single lever controls, a stainless-steel wheel and stop start switches. Safety railing on the aft deck, as well as the exterior flying bridge access ladder is powder-coated aluminum. Power for the Viking 66 Enclosed Bridge Convertible starts from base MAN 1550hp, with other four options available up to twin MTU 2030hp.
Technical Data:
LOA - 20.3 m (66.7ft)
Beam - 5.8 m
Draft - 1.7 m
Displacement - 46663 kg
Fuel Capacity - 7628 l
Water Capacity - 1287 l
Accommodation - 8 berths in 4 cabins
Engines - 2 x MAN V12 CRM 1550hp, V12 CRM 1800hp, Cat C32A 1825hp, C32A 1925hp, MTU 2000 V16 M91 2030hp
Propulsion - line shaft with S class propellers
Speed - 40 knots max with MTU 2030hp
Construction - vacuum bagged grain balsa core, knitted fiberglass
www.vikingyachts.com 

Class 1 - Cernobbio Grand Prix

RACE 1

Victory’s Arif Al Zafeen and Mohammed Al Marri cruised to their third win of the year on an afternoon of drama during race 1 of the Italian Grand Prix.
Team Abu Dhabi’s Rashed Al Tayer and Majed Al Mansoori made it a UAE one-two finishing ahead of Ali Al Neama and Matteo Nicolini in Spirit of Qatar 95 to complete a podium lock-out for the Middle East teams.
The Championship leaders’ led from the start and were clear of pole-sitters Spirit of Qatar 96 when the red flag was shown and the race immediately stopped when FA.RO ACCIAI turned over at the first turn. Thankfully both crew members emerged unhurt through the escape hatch in the upturned hull and were taken back to the pits by the rescue team.
At the restart the Dubai pairing produced more of the same to once again steal the advantage of pole position from their rivals Sheikh Hassan and Steve Curtis in Spirit of Qatar 96 to lead at the end of lap one, with Team Abu Dhabi also stealing a march on the Qatari boat to move up into second place.
For the remainder of the shortened eight lap race Al Zafeen and Al Marri were untroubled, moving out to an eight second lead by the end of lap 3 and going on to win comfortably by 27 seconds in 20:13.36secs.

Behind the runaway leaders Team Abu Dhabi’s Rashed Al Tayer and Majed Al Mansoori further staked their claim as the main challenge to their Dubai neighbours, taking their fourth podium of the year, and were able to keep Spirit of Qatar 96 at bay for five laps who lost ground trying to make a move on the Abu Dhabi duo, eventually finishing in sixth.
Spirit of Qatar 95’s Ali Al Neama and Matteo Nicolini had trailed their teammates from the start but grabbed the opportunity to move up into third spot when they saw them trip up, going on to take their best result of the year and complete the podium.
And whilst Nicolini can claim the bragging rights as the first Italian home, the battle for ‘Italian team honours’ was being fought out over fourth and fifth place between Luca Formilli Fendi and Giovanni Carpitella in LFF10 and Guido Cappellini and Giampaolo Montavoci in Poliform, with Formilli Fendi and Carpitella holding off the challenge after passing Poliform on lap 2 to finish ahead of them by just two seconds.
Ugur Isik and Christian Zaborowski endured a rather solitary race in seventh spot in Zabo-Isiklar, but team boss Jan Zaborowski was satisfied that with the set-up available to them after losing a propeller yesterday, to get round without any technical problems was a positive outcome.
Today’s win for Al Zafeen and Al Marri, their fifth from six starts together, puts them 15 points clear of Team Abu Dhabi in the Championship table with Spirit of Qatar losing ground but still in third place.
ITALIAN GRAND PRIX, RACE 1 – Results
1. 3 Victory - A Al Zafeen (UAE) / M Al Marri (UAE) - 00.20.13,36
2. 5 Team Abu Dhabi - R Al Tayer (UAE) / M Al Mansoori (UAE) + 00.26,89
3. 95 Spirit of Qatar - A Al Neama (QAT) / M Nicolini (ITA) + 00.37,55
4. 10 Fendi Racing - L Formilli Fendi (ITA) / G Carpitella (ITA) + 00.57,49
5. 74 Poliform - G Cappellini (MON) / G Montavoci (ITA) + 00.59,88
6. 96 Spirit of Qatar - H Al Thani (QAT) / S Curtis (ENG) + 01.03,00
7. 91 Zabo Isiklar - U Isik (TUR) / C Zaborowski (NOR) + 01.41,00
8. 23 FA.RO. ACCIAI - G M Gabbiani (ITA) / L Nicolini (ITA) - dns
RACE 2
Spirit of Qatar’s Ali Al Neama and Matteo Nicolini produced a simply stunning performance in this afternoon’s thriller on Lake Como to win race 2 of the Italian Grand Prix.
Victory’s Arif Al Zafeen and Mohammed Al Marri just failed to pull off what would have been a remarkable win-double finishing second, with Sheikh Hassan bin Jabor Al-Thani and Steve Curtis making it a double podium celebration for the Qatari Team finishing third in Spirit of Qatar 96.
Al Neama and Nicolini laid the foundation for their first win of the season, in arguably their best drive since they first raced together in Class 1 in Abu Dhabi in 2011, by doing to Victory what they did to Spirit of Qatar 96 yesterday and stealing away the advantage of pole position by winning the drag race from the green flag to lead into the first turn.
LFF10’s Luca Formilli Fendi and Giovanni Carpitella also produced a blistering start to come from fourth place on the start line to follow the Qatari-Italian duo across the line at the end of the start lap ahead of pole-sitters Victory and Poliform’s Guido Cappellini and Giampaolo Montavoci.
But in spite of Poliform’s storming start, fourth spot was short lived, suddenly slowing on lap 2 and retiring from the race elevating Spirit of Qatar 96 to fourth place ahead of Team Abu Dhabi and Zabo-Isiklar.
With Al Neama and Nicolini edging out to an 11 second lead by lap 3, a titanic battle was developing behind them with just two seconds splitting LFF10 and Victory, with Spirit of Qatar 96 hanging on but a further seven seconds adrift.
Fendi and Carpitella looked to be capable of holding of the Victory attack, but their hopes of a podium evaporated on lap six when they took an imposed penalty lap for missing a buoy, dropping them to fifth place.
With six laps remaining Al Zafeen and Al Marri set about trying to haul in Al Neama and Nicolini and overturn their 15 second advantage.
By the end of lap 7 the gap was down to 10 seconds and by lap 10 the margin was just three, but Al Neama and Nicolini looked to have done enough and controlled the final two laps to run out well-deserved winners.
Today’s second place moves Al Zafeen and Al Marri 21-points clear in the Championship standings, with Al Zafeen conceding that the start cost them the race.
With Victory pushing hard to catch their teammates, Spirit of Qatar 96 were unable to match their pace but a race podium to add to their pole position win on Friday completed a good weekend for Sheikh Hassan and Steve Curtis, with Curtis satisfied that they had done all they could from where they started.
ITALIAN GRAND PRIX, RACE 2 – Results
1. 95 Spirit of Qatar - A Al Neama (QAT) / M Nicolini (ITA) 00.30.36,71
2. 3 Victory - A Al Zafeen (UAE) / M Al Marri (UAE) + 00.03,08
3. 96 Spirit of Qatar - H Al Thani (QAT) / S Curtis (ENG) + 00.18,69
4. 5 Team Abu Dhabi - R Al Tayer (UAE) / M Al Mansoori (UAE) + 00.34,85
5. 10 Fendi Racing - L Formilli Fendi (ITA) / G Carpitella (ITA) + 00.50,49
6. 91 Zabo Isiklar - U Isik (TUR) / C Zaborowski (NOR) + 01.05,00
7. 74 Poliform - G Cappellini (MON) / G Montavoci (ITA) - dnf
8. 23 FA.RO. ACCIAI - G M Gabbiani (ITA) / L Nicolini (ITA) - dns
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP - after round 3
1. 3 Victory Team - 89pts

2. 5 Team Abu Dhabi - 68pts

3. 96 Spirit of Qatar - 49pts

4. 95 Spirit of Qatar - 41pts

5. 10 Fendi Racing - 38pts

6. 91 Zabo Isiklar - 18pts

7= 23 FA.RO ACCIAI - 7pts

7= 74 Spirit of Gabon - Poliform - 7pts

9. 90 Welmax - 5pts

10. 9 Welmax - 0pts

www.class-1.com

Project: Azimut 84 Flybridge

Azimut 84 project seems to be so far an interior redesign of the 82 model, which was also a further improvement of the 80.  The renderings and design show changes which will change the interior with a new layout for the main deck and the master cabin.  The main most evident changes will affect the saloon, and new circular dining table. Azimut has so far shown no renderings for the exterior so we see what the presentation at the Genoa boat show in few weeks time will bring in this regard. 

www.azimutyachts.com 

Improve-it = Bertram 64

Bertram shows rendering for the enclosed bridge option of its recently presented 64 model, introduced last year following the eight years production run of the 630.  Designed as its predessor by Zuccon, the Bertram 63 with enclosed bridge option, wants to offer more versatile and comfortable cruising all year to the owner and his guests.  The enclosed bridge of the 64 will feature a full internal curved stair case passage from the main deck saloon.  The layout of the bridge will offer an L-shaped settee to port, central helm station settee, and two companion way seats.  The Bertram 64 reaches a top speed of 40 knots with twin Cats 1925hp engines.

www.bertram.com

Project: Monte Carlo MC5

The MC 5 Monte Carlo project announced by Beneteau at the eve of the Cannes show surprised me, in an intriguing aspect.  This was the return of the Monte Carlo signature used within the Beneteau sphere, something which I thought the brand wanted to separate three years ago when the first top end MCY line was launched and the sport cruiser range with this name then renamed to Flyer.  Designed as the innovative and luxurious Monte Carlo Yachts by Nuvolari Lenard, the looks of the MC 5 surprises for its mix, of ultra modern with classic futures as the bow or its flash deck. The MC5 Monte Carlo being a flybridge motor yacht still does look very sports, as an enclosed hard top sport cruiser.  Interior the MC 5 Monte Carlo designed by Andreani impresses for its abundant space thanks to the use of Volvo IPS pods; here offering a three double guest cabins lower deck, and a main deck with astern galley. Owners cabin is a full beam owners suite, VIP to fore, and a third cabin with bunk berths.  A single berth crew cabin is available aft.  Another area which surprises for spaces on layout seems to be the flybridge, offering a large C-shaped settee, and a settee plus sun pad to port side.  Power is twin Volvo 370 or 435hp with IPS pods units with an estimated top speed of 30 knots coming from the larger choice.   

www.beneteau.com