Project: Evo Yachts R+ 18m

Just two years after Evo Yachts launched its V8 flagship and revolutionised the concept of cruising, the Italian Naples boat and yacht builder is getting ready to delight fans again with a new model, Evo R+, an innovative eighteen meter sport yacht designed again by Valerio Rivellini and to World premiere at the Cannes boat show 2023 from twelve to seventeen September. The Evo R+ looks based on the R6 series, this is indeed the third version of the eighteen meter model, showing the Campania-based shipyard desire to amaze and appeal to an even wider audience, by designing a sport yacht with eye-catching styling that is also ideal for long stays on board, thanks to outstanding levels of comfort and reliability ensured by the closed deck and generous headroom in the interiors. The Evo R+ presents an aluminium top in black and angular design with a special stern platform that makes it easy to enter the water and to launch and haul up a tender or jet ski. The Evo R+ will feature interiors decorated with sophisticated materials and feature the R line’s signature pared-down, sporty style and dynamism. Evo Yachts has not given much technical details for the R+, but the R6 is offered in two or three cabins layout and is powered by twin Volvo 600hp or optional 725hp units with IPS pod drives.

www.evoyachts.com

Two Killed Three Injured in Long Beach Boat Fire

A fire involving a ten metre sport cruiser at 200 Block of Marina Drive in Long Beach, Alamitos Bay in California on Saturday sixth August at around 17:00 hours local time killed two woman, and injured three persons.  The boat was reported as just finishing to refuel when it exploded.  Long Beach fire fighters with help from Orange County fire Authority extinguished the blaze. The case of the fire and explosion is under investigation by Long Beach Fire Department.

The sport cruiser in this fire is a Regal 3760 Commodore produced from 2007 to 2009.  The 3760 Commodore is an evolution of the 3560, recognizable by the radar arch with hard-top and offered an open plan accommodation for four to six persons, and is standard powered by twin 320hp Mercruiser petrol gas engines on shafts.  The 3760 was replaced by the Regal 35 Sports Coupe in 2011.

Azimut Yacht Burns and Sinks in Otok Zut Croatia

A seventeen meter Azimut 55 with no persons onboard went ablaze near the island of Otok Zut, in the Kornati archipelago, Croatia on the early evening of Sunday sixth August.  No one was onboard the Azimut yacht at the moment of the fire, although the owners where reported to be nearby the yacht.  Local fire fighters rushed to the scene and towed the yacht outside the bay and then let it sink in the depths of the sea.  Nearby boaters reported as seeing the fire starting from the main deck of the yacht.

The yacht in this fire is the popular Azimut 55 Evo, released in 2005 and produced till 2009 to a design of Stefano Righini and interiors by Carlo Galeazzi.  A soft evolution of the standard 55 presented the fall of 2000 main differences in interior woods, and midships cabin windows.  The Azimut 55 was a top seller in its class, selling in over three hundred units in an eight year production run, the success coming for its unique at the time full beam midships stateroom layout.  The 55 was a replacement to the 58 Full and was replaced by the Azimut 58 in 2009.

New Model: Sea Ray Sundancer 370

Even though the demand of the North American market is asking a different product, Sea Ray still tries to build, even though in a small part what has been its success story, that for a medium sized sport cruiser.  Here comes the Sea Ray Sundancer 370 which debuted in 2022 first in outboard version, and now offered in the more pure to the eye inboard stern drive variant.  The Sundancer 370 is the pure evolution of the Sea Ray brand, with an innovative asymmetric main deck layout, which offers walk around features from bow to stern.  Down below the Sundancer 370 offers an open plan layout sleeping four in a forward Vee shaped berth, L-shaped lounger, and a double berth at midships with a galley and shower head to starboard.  A traditional American sport cruiser layout.  The Sea Ray Sundancer 370 is powered by twin Mercruiser gas engines 430hp with stern drives, the only available option which gives a nice 38 knots top speed and a limited 135 nautical mile range at 33 knots cruising.  Diesel does not look an option which is a poor way to put an eleven meter sport cruiser in the market today.  Decisions by upper management are not always understood, sometimes looking more made to kill a product rather then revive it.  

Technical Data:

LOA - 11.48 m (37.8ft)

Hull Length - 11.3 m

Beam - 3.66 m

Draft - 0.79 m without drives, 1.07 m with drives down

Displacement - 9435 kg dry, 10739 kg loaded with full options

Fuel Capacity - 966 l

Water Capacity - 174 l

Accommodation - four berths berths

Engines - 2 x Mercruiser 8.2L Mag Ho ECT 430hp

Propulsion - Mercruiser Bravo ThreeX

Speed - 38 knots max 33 cruise

Range - 135 nm at cruise

Hull Shape - modified Deep Vee with twenty degrees deadrise

Certification - CE 

www.searay.com

Two Boats Catch Fire in Portsmouth Virginia Marina

On 07:55 morning of Sunday sixth August Portsmouth Emergency received a call for a boat fire at Tidewater Yacht Marina.  Fire fighters came to the marina finding two boats tied to the dock ablaze, an unattended twelve meters in size aft-cabin cruiser which started the fire, and a house boat of eleven meter which is a liveaboard for a family of five persons including of which is three kids.  It will take about two hours to control the fire, and a hero foster rescue dog to save the family of five and out of harms way, who alerted the liveaboards before it was to late.  Thanks to the dog alert no injuries where sustained, and thanks to the quick action of Portsmouth fire crew, only the two boats where damaged in the fire.

The boat which started this fire looks to be a Trojan 12 Meter Motor Yacht which was produced in the mid to early nineties to a design of Harry Schoell.  The 12 Meter Motor Yacht offered a two double cabin interior and powered by twin Detroit 450hp diesels offered speeds till the mid twenties.  Trojan never replaced the 12 Meter Motor Yacht with the model evolving and becoming the Silverton 392 Motor Yacht in the late nineties.

Bayliner Cabin Cruiser Destroyed by Fire in Cardiff

An eight meter Bayliner cabin cruiser titled m/y Snow White with three persons onboard was destroyed by a fire which developed on 12:22 hours of Saturday fifth August at Pont Y Werin, Cardiff, Wales.  South Wales Fire and Rescue Service from Penarth and Cardiff Central stations responded to the fire.  CCTV of the marina shows the fire develop, with the boat exploding and developing a smoke, at this stage a man is seen jumping out and securing the boat to the pontoon.  Thirty seconds later two woman jump out of the boat and run down the quay, some half-a-minute later to this the flames are seen coming out of the deck with the boat totally destroyed at 14:03 hours.  No one was injured from the fire, with the cases of the blaze not being reported.  

The Bayliner in this fire is a late nineties produced 2855 Ciera Sunbridge.  Produced from 1991 to 2000 the 2855 Ciera Sunbridge came out as a replacement to the 2850, and was replaced by the 285 SB Cruiser in 2000.  A long production model, the 2850 featured modification to its cabin layout and soft styling update to its radar arch and windshield in 1993.

Improve-it = Horizon FD80

Horizon has launched a new FD80 motor yacht. Specified with numerous innovative features for a down under Australian customer, this is the first FD80 model to feature a galley-aft layout, a convertible VIP and a helipad on the hardtop. The aft galley arrangement is a popular configuration for Australia’s active boating market, as it seamlessly integrates indoor and outdoor entertaining. This increases the living area afforded by the high-volume, four-stateroom FD80 exponentially. This latest FD80 will be named m/y Sweet Caroline in honour of the owner’s partner, and she is a fitting example of a perfectly curated yacht for a growing market.

www.horizonyacht.com

Amalfi Coast Collision Leaves One Woman Dead

A collision in the Gulf of Furore, to North of the Amalfi Coast between a seven meter traditional cruiser with five persons onboard and the 45 meter touristic sailing vessel Tortuga with eighty persons onboard, on the afternoon about 17:45 hours of Thursday third August left one US American 45 year old woman dead.  The dynamics of the accident are still under investigation with video on social media and Italian press showing the small cruiser colliding with the bow of the large sailing vessel, and the former having extensive damage to its starboard side and partly sinking.  The deceased woman, entrepreneur Adrienne Vaughan was onboard the small cruiser, when with the impact of the collision fell in the water and ended between the propellers. Also injured her husband and the thirty year old skipper of the small cruiser, and miraculously uninjured the two twelve and eight year old kids of the couple. The woman was immediately transported to Amalfi and taken to Castiglione di Ravello intensive care unit with helicopter to save her life, unfortunately with no success.  The thirty year old skipper of the seven meter cruiser was found to be on the effects of alcohol and drugs.  Both boats, the partly sank seven meter cruiser and 45 meter sailing vessel were detained and arrested by the Italian Guardia Costiera. 

The traditional cruiser in this collision is an Apreamare 750 Semicabinato.  Produced from 2000 to 2006 the Apreamare 750 was available in three versions; Open, Semicabinato, and Cabinato, and is powered by twin VM 160hp on direct line shaft propulsion for speeds up to 28 knots.  The 750 was a replacement to the nineties produced Smeraldo 7, and was replaced by the Apreamare 28 in 2006.

Tortuga the other sailing vessel in this collision is a two masted 40 meter steel build by Cantieri Ortona in 1993 and powered by twin Aifo 460hp. Tortuga is used for coastal cruises, weddings, private parties, and company events around the Naples sea area with a maximum capacity of to eighty persons.

New Model: Mimi Libeccio 11 Cabin

Cantieri Mimi, the yard owned and run by Domenico Senese continues on the one hand to launch new models and on the other to renew its existing range. Indeed, working with designer Valerio Rivellini, the Campania-based brand has just launched the new version of the 11 Cabin, which targets owners who love weekend getaways on the water in total comfort, both indoors and outdoors, offering an impressive cruising speed and a design that balances tradition and modernity. Mimi Libeccio 11 Cabin, one of the brand’s most storied models and the first gozzo in the series with a hard top, has been redesigned to offer a family or a group of friends the option of enjoying the boat’s outdoor spaces at any time of day: the stern cockpit has been extended to offer a generous central sun pad that is as unexpected and unusual as it is welcome on a boat this size. This completely redesigned setting joins the exterior galley and the relaxation area in the bow, which is fitted out with sun pads that can be converted into sofas. The interior of Libeccio 11 Cabin New Version 2023 offers a galley or sofa area and two cabins sleeping two: the double cabin has a separate bathroom and two entrances, while the second cabin with twin beds can be converted into a double thanks to a system of concealed partitions. The deck is made of solid seasoned teak, while the fibreglass hull is produced by infusion moulding. In the standard configuration, the boat mounts two Yanmar engines rated 250hp each, delivering a top speed up to thirty knots.

Technical Data:

LOA - 11 m (36ft)

Hull Length - 9.4 m

Beam - 3.5 m

Displacement - 7000 kg

Fuel Capacity - 600 l

Water Capacity - 200 l

Max Persons - twelve

Accommodation - four berths in two cabins

Engines - 2 x Yanmar 250hp

Propulsion - line shaft

Speed - thirty knots max

Project - Valerio Rivellini

Certification - CE B

www.gozzimimi.it

Venice to Monte Carlo Race is Back

As a test to the full race scheduled for 2024, the Venice to Monte Carlo organisation organized a Prologue race, in reduced format from Venice to Rodi Garcanico. This reduced format event of three hundred nautical miles, with departure from Venice Cervia to Pescara and then final leg at Rodi Garganico saw ten participants. 

In this ninth Venice Monte Carlo race it was interesting to see boat builders coming with production units at the races.  Tornado came with the 50S a production model released in 2010, while Grady White also participated with a full production 36 unit powered by triple Yamaha outboard motors.  Albatro and Outerlimits also competed with modified production units, while Vittoria Shipyard competed with its fast patrol Interceptor 43 unit. Ten teams participated in total, with the British team on the Outerlimits SV52 N25 winning the race, followed by NS95 an Albatro 32, and SeaRex Baltec number N66 in third.  

This Venice Monte Carlo race made me think, that it would be nice for the UIM to create a full production cruiser class with the likes of Tornado 50 at around 15 meters and possibly even a smaller one around twelve meters powered by twin diesel and three to five endurance long range races in Europe and possibly USA.  To be honest I never understood how it never happened but the potential for production sport cruisers to compete have always been there.  I think it can be a good marketing tool for some boat builders.  We have to remember that Ferrari never made adverts but used race as its advertising, today the horse badge is the most valued auto marker in the World.

The old Venice - Monte Carlo was always a test base for testing production boats in it, and its good to see the same story continuing.  Baia, Magnum, Mig, Itama, Ferretti, and Pershing are previous competitors with the first three being winners of a leg and or all the Venice-Monte Carlo in the respective class.  So is there a potential for some serious boat rally endurance races? I definitely think so, though a serious set or rules which go inline with the current production market needs to be drawn.  In the eighties and nineties automotive Rally racing was as much popular as Formula One racing for example.