New Model: Focus Forza 37

Focus who some years ago took over the moulds of the Elan Power range presents its first totally new model, with the sport cruiser walk around Forza 37.  Also designed like other Focus by Tony Castro, the Forza 37 is a semi walk around centre console, what the Americans usually call dual console.  The exterior accommodation offers three seat central helm station covered in hard top, followed by a dinette and an aft sun-pad, with the three steps up to both sides taking you up to a fore-deck sun-pad.  Down below the Focus Forza offers accommodation for two in open layout with a central double berth, galley to port side and well sized shower head opposite.  The Focus Forza 37 can be powered by a variety of engines from twin Mercury diesel 270hp, to Yanmar 370hp, and or optional twin Merucy outboards 600hp in petrol gas.  Focus has not been very detailed on top speed quoting a fifty knots top speeds, possibly reachable with the bigger twin Merucy 600hp outboards.

Technical Data:

LOA - 11.40 m (36.1ft)

Beam - 3.60 m

Draft - 0.90 m

Displacement - 6500 kg

Fuel Capacity - 600 l

Water Capacity - 300 l

Max Persons - ten

Accommodation - two berths

Engines - 2 x Mercury Diesel 3.0 TDI 270hp, 4.2 TDI 320hp, Volvo D4 270hp, D4 320hp, Yanmar 370hp, petrol gas outboard Mercury Verado 600hp

Propulsion - Mercury Bravo III or Volvo DPI dual propeller stern drive, Mercury outboard

Speed - up to fifty knots max

Project - Tony Castro

Certification - CE B, IMCI

www.focus-motoryachts.com

Project: Azimut Magellano 60

The 2023 Dusseldorf boat show set the stage for the preview of Azimut's new Magellano 60 that will be presented in September. The 60 will complete the explorer with a Mediterrean vision Magellano series, which includes the larger 66, 25M and the 30M.  Designed by Ken Freivokh the same designer of the first 74 which represented a new direction not only for Azimut but yachting in general, and today is the designer of the two larger models.  In the Magellano 60 Freivokh integrates the refined world of sailing with the more complex world of the motor yacht, creating a crossover for true connoisseurs, owners who love long voyages full of adventure and charm. The Magellano 60 is a further step along the sustainable path that Azimut has planned, and with the second-generation Dual Mode hull, she takes her rightful place as a Low Emission Yacht.  Characterized by a timeless aesthetic, she balances a design full of details, generous volumes and architectural solutions that guarantee not only a unique lifestyle but also freedom and intimate contact with nature. Among her outstanding features, the Magellano 60 offers an Infinity Terrace aft and an internal dining with an exclusive sea view.  The Magellano 60 will feature a three double cabins layout with a single crew cabin berth aft.  Power will come from twin Man 730hp with line shafts propulsion giving a top speed up to 26 knots and a cruise of eighteen.

www.azimutyachts.com

Nordhavn SuperYacht Powerless in Arafuru Sea

A 29 meter Nordhavn super yacht titled m/y VivieRae II ended powerless and adrift while navigating in the Arafaru Sea, between North Australia and Papua New Guinea on Tuesday second March. In navigation from the Marshall Islands leaving on 26 February going to Sorong, Indonesia, VivieRae II had a towing line which broke free from an eleven meter tender in tow after it severed off due to very rough conditions and unfortunately got tangled in the prop, which seized the engines.  A search and rescue operation call was initiated on third March, with operations to tow the yacht not being successful on five March, due to bad weather and five meter waves rough seas.  The crew was rescued off the yacht on the sixth at 10:00 morning time by an Australian ship.  The eleven meter tender support chase boat got lost in the rope tangling.  Viverae II also sustained some cosmetic damage to its upper port side when it collided with a 190 meter tanker ship who was trying to tow the yacht but failed due to the rough seas.  On Sunday March 12 a rescue operation with owner Bob Giles and previous captain Gareth Schwegman reached ViveRae II and dived to clear the propellers from the ropes, with port side tangled with the tender line and starboard in a fishing net to port side.  The yachts eleven meter tender was also found near Thursday Island, about 240 nautical miles from the yacht position.  

All ends well with Viverae II arriving on Thursday Island on Monday thirteen March where the yacht will stop for repairs, recover its tender and then continue its around the World journey to the West.

VivieRae II is a Nordhavn 96, hull #3 from 2017 with twin Cat 1000hp engines and accommodation for eight guests in four cabins, and six crew in three cabins.  Designed by Nordhavn chief designer Jeff Leishman, the 96 is based on the 86 extended in length, and has been delivered in nine units since its debut in 2016.  The 96 is the second in size Nordhavn after the 120 model which the Taiwan builder so far sold in only one unit in 2013.  A one off Nordhavn 100 based on the hull on the 96 but with extended low fisherman cockpit was also delivered in 2018.

New Model: Princess S72

During the 2023 Dusseldorf boat show Princess debuted its new S72 model.  Presented as a project in 2022 the S72 mark. II is the second in size model of the S range, Princess sport bridge yacht four model range which starts at 62 and ends at 78 feet.  The S72 offers similar spaces to the bigger sister in one meter smaller size, with a similar four double cabins lower deck, and an astern galley main deck layout.  The main difference is that the S72 offers three heads, with a third shower head serving the third and fourth cabin.  The Princess S72 is standard powered by Man 1650hp and or optional 1800hp engines with top speeds up to 36 knots with the bigger engines. 

Technical Data:

LOA - 23.09 m (75.9ft) inc pulpit

Length - 22.30 m

Beam - 5.22 m

Draft - 1.72 m full load

Displacement - 55461 kg half load medium load

Fuel Capacity - 4500 l

Water Capacity - 835 l

Accommodation - eight berths in four cabins, two crew in one cabin

Engines - 2 x Man V12 1650hp, V12 1800hp 

Propulsion - line shaft

Speed - 36 knots max

Hull Shape - modified Vee

Project - Olesinski, Pininfarina exterior styling

Construction - resin infusion

www.princessyachts.com

Zeelander New Web Site

Zeelander from the Netherlands presents its new World wide web virtual showroom. Zeelander was founded in 2002 by passionate yachtsman Sietse Koopmans in Zeeland, a province located in the South West of the Netherlands.  In 2008 Zeelander launched its first model the Z44 designed by renowned Dutch designer Cor D.Rover, who presented a traditional down East inspired cruiser full of luxury of comfort.  Zeelander first started to build its models at the S2 Tiara factory in Holland Michigan, United States of America, but in 2017 it transferred to its own premises in Groot-Ammers on the river La Lek in Holland.  Currently Zeelander offers three from fourteen to 21 meter starting with the 5, 6, and 7 models. Zeelander new web showroom takes you around with the following buttons; Models, About, Brochure, and Contact. Zeelander also features its social media pages; Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and Linkedin with link buttons located at the right bottom of the page. 

www.zeelander.com

Production History;

Z44 2008-21

Z68 2014-17

Z55 2016-21

Z72/7 2019/23

6 2022-

5 2023-

8 2024-

Project: Lazzara UHV 100

Currently being build in Turkey for completion at the end of this year is the Lazzara UHV 100 model.  With the first UHV 87 presented in 2022, the UHV 100 is the second of a three model range with the other project being Lazzara current largest 125 flagship.  The Lazzara UHV 100 builds on the Ultra High Volume concept of these yachts, offering a semi-wide body design, with a large owners stateroom on the forward part of the main deck.  The extra four meters of the Lazzara UHV 100 will give an extra cabin in the lower deck, offering four guests suite versus the three of the UHV 87.   Another incredible space in the Lazzara UHV 100 is the third deck which apart having the pilot bridge forward has a spacious living dining area which uses best possible space also thanks to the wide body feature.  The Lazzara UHV 100 is standard powered by Volvo 1000hp or optional Man 1550hp and MTU 1600hp with line shafts.

www.lazzarayachts.com

New Model: Pershing GTX116

2023 is an important year for the Mondolfo-based yard as it launches the first Pershing GTX116. This innovative, exciting, disruptive, and ground-breaking Pershing entered the water last February 7 in Fano and in doing so welcomed a new era for one of the most sportier yachting brands, with the GTX presenting a second line to that of the standard high performance modern looking sport and super sport yachts. Designed for the US market the GTX116 come from the usual always Pershing hands of  Fulvio de Simoni collaborating with Ferretti Group’s Strategic Product Committee led by Piero Ferrari and the Group’s noteworthy Engineering Department.  The first Pershing GTX116 confirms the sporty DNA of the brand and enhances the concept of comfort by providing plenty of open-air space, areas designed to be in direct contact with the water, and outstanding liveability guaranteed by the new five-cabin layout. The GTX116 infuses something new, while keeping the Pershing sport yacht DNA, reinventing it but keeping it recognizable to the rest.  With a hull of 35 meters in length and over seven meters in beam the Pershing GTX116 has a remarkable 150 square meters of outdoor areas seamlessly connected to the water, amplifying onboard liveability. The sleek and streamlined profile is emblematic of the brand’s sporty personality, which is pointed up in the bow area by a signature style feature referencing luxury SUV automotive imagery and identifying the new Pershing GTX116 as an SUY or Sport Utility Yacht. This yacht in the new range is painted a new shade of grey, with a special shade of blue for the deckhouse, while the generous glazed surfaces flood the interiors with natural light. The garage can contain a tender over 5 meters long, a jet ski and other water toys, while the exclusive 39-square-meter beach club has a teak deck protected by an electro-hydraulic taffrail that opens up to connect the beach area with the swim platform, creating a huge space at the water’s edge. The 40-square-meter sundeck, reached from the stern area via two outdoor stairways on either side of the yacht, contains the second helm station and is designed with generous spaces for socialising and to enjoy the onboard lifestyle, not least thanks to the shelter provided by the carbon hard top. This area also contains the generously sized and comfortable lounge area, complete with a large wet bar. The first Pershing GTX116 is equipped with the optional triple water jet propulsion Man 2000hp for a top speed up to 35 knots and a cruising speed of 29 knots. The standard engines are three Man 1800hp.  Announced as a secret TO project in 2020 and then fully announced a year ago during the 2022 Miami boat show as the GTX116, Pershing has two further units of its current second sized model in construction, with a smaller GTX80 scheduled to launch in 2024.

Technical Data:

LOA - 35.24 M (115.7ft)

Hull Length - 35.2 m

Waterline Length - 29.9 m

Beam - 7.72 m

Draft - 1.45 m

Displacement - 130,000 kg unloaded, 150,000 kg loaded

Fuel Capacity - 14500 l

Water Capacity - 2000 l

Max Persons - twenty

Accommodation - ten guests in five cabins, six crew in three cabins

Engines - 3 x Man V12 1800hp, V12 2000hp

Propulsion - triple water jets

Speed - 32 knots max 26 cruise with Man 1800s, 35 max 29 cruise with Man 2000s

Project - Fulvio de Simoni, Ferretti Engineering for naval architecture

www.pershing-yacht.com

Project: Wider WiLder 60

Wider has always prided itself on being a convention-challenger. From its visionary cruiser and superyacht designs, industry-leading serial Hybrid Propulsion System and eco-conscious WiderCat offering, since foundation the Italian brand has set out to deliver unparalleled experiences for equally visionary owners. This summer, Wider is set to launch a new project conceived and designed by the in-house Centro Stile Wider, that borrows from visionary and adds provocateur: WiLder, the shipyard’s alter-ego conceived to indulge the wilder side of lovers of superyachts and the sea. A sign of Wider’s urge to create and will to conquer new territories, WiLder’s first creation will be a daring 18.6-metre, all-aluminium thrill machine that serves as its own hybrid between chase boat and performance cruiser. Built in line with superyacht-derived processes and finished with the attention to detail of the finest Italian craftsmanship, the WiLder 60 combines sharp aesthetics with rigorous engineering to offer a fully customisable forty-knot platform for fun, with bespoke build options available according to individual wants and desires. This tailored superyacht approach elevates the WiLder 60 from a just-one-of-many model to a lust-for-life series of one-offs, each as unique and as special as the individuals who order them. The design is infused with Wider creativity from stem to stern, with angular styling and signature Wider space. The aluminium hull ensures seaworthiness in all conditions, while the shallow 1.05-metre draft means the fun can be carried all the way to the beach. The arrival of the WiLder 60 marks not just a product in itself, but the launch of a new and independent brand within the Wider family with its own philosophy, its own identity and its own sense of how life on the water can be enjoyed. The first WiLder 60 is currently in build and is scheduled for launch in the summer of 2023.

www.wider-yachts.com

Giuseppe Taranto 1969 - 2023

Giuseppe Taranto, Vice President of The Italian Sea Group, has died after a long illness, and left for the better World on Tuesday 28 February at 53 years of age.  Giovianni Costantino CEO of the Italian Sea Group in a press release remembered Giuseppe Taranto with great affection having collaborated and worked with him for the last thirty years. Giuseppe Taranto who is from the Italian region of Apulia, was resident in Lido di Camaiore in Tuscany.  He joined Tecnomar in 2009 as a general manager, and in 2016 was appointed as Vice Chairman and a board director member of the Italian Sea Group. Giuseppe Taranto is remembered with great affection by his wife Lucia, and his two children Ludovica and Valentino, family and friends.

Massive Center Consoles

Massive centre consoles over eighteen meters are the latest style and type of boat to push into larger sizes.  At the start of 2023 Scout presented details of a new 670 LX flagship powered by five huge Mercury 600hp outboards to be launched in 2024, the largest production centre console yacht.  With this new flagship Scout expands its size fourteen feet, and will offer the largest production centre console to the market and a competitor to the HCB 65ft Estrella and Midnight Express 60 Pied-A-Mer.

A genre invented by Boston Whaler and Dick Fisher in 1961, who among other things also invented the reputable unsinkable hull the brand is known for.  It was fairly basic for centre consoles at first, with Boston Whaler being a bit on its own, and others possibly modifying there boats to take a cut from this nice market when it started to slowly grow in the seventies.  We are speaking small sizes here, and in that time the first boat used to be a trailable speed boat about four meters in length with an outboard at the back.  In around the nineties centre consoles just as ribs started to become more common in the six to ten meter range.  But it was the return to success of the outboard in the past ten to fifteen years which has expanded CC to an unheard level of domination in the sub fifteen meter market.

Today centre consoles seem unable to stop growing, a growth shared to that of the outboard.  Although I still do think that centre console above fifteen meters should be offered with inboard diesels.  Just as it may look cool I cannot understand the reasoning of fitting endless outboards to the stern versus two diesel engines.  The market though is all for the outboards with the Midnight Express 60 Pied-A-Mer diesel engines and surface drives propulsion version never materializing.