December 10, 2023

Tornado Capsizes Boats in North Shannon Ireland

A tornado which dropped down in Leitrim Marina, North Shannon, Ireland on the after noon time of Sunday tenth December, capsized three boats and damaged others.  Beside the damaged boats the tornado is reported to have also swept some roofs, and flattened some trees in Leitrim County.  After all calmed down the Civil Defence went down to the area, and surrounded the capsized boats with oil protection boons, to control any fuel spillage that might happen.
One of the capsized boats is reported to be an Aquafibre 12 meter, although the one in the picture above looks more to be a Broom Monarch of 40ft.

VanDutch New Web Site

VanDutch presents its new web site.  VanDutch was founded in 2008 by a partnership between Ruud Koekkoek and Henk Erenstein in Heerenveen, Netherlands, with the company debuting its first Frank Mulder designed 40 model the following year.  The VanDutch 40 is still in production and is its best seller as at today.  In 2012 Van Dutch introduced its second 30 model, which is followed by the larger 55 flagship the following year.  In 2013 VanDutch enters and starts to market its sport cruisers and yachts in the North American market.  Van Dutch has also distinct itself for other brands and famous personalities collaborations from Dior, McLaren, Red Bull, Hublot, and Luna Rossa Prada Team brands, and famous people like Cristiano Ronaldo, David Beckham, Dwyane Wade, Leonardo DiCaprio, Mark Cuban, Ryan Phillippe, Simon Cowell, Samantha Hoopes, and Samuel Hübinette all spotted and marketed onboard a VanDutch sport cruiser and yacht.  This led along with the Frank Mulder distinctive retro-modern line for VanDutch to becoming recognizable by the trained and untrained eye.  VanDutch were in the first years and up till 2012 build in Heerevenveen, Netherlands to an undisclosed third party builder. In late 2012 VanDutch moves production the USA, first to S2 Tiara in Michigan and then to Marquis Carver Yachts at end of 2013.  In June 2020 VanDutch is bought by Cantieri del Pardo, who move production to Forli in Italy in 2021.  Today VanDutch offers a five model line up which start from 32 and go up to the still project upcoming 75 flagship.  VanDutch new web site takes you around with the following buttons; Models, VanDutch Centers, Shows and Events, News, Company, Collaborations, Contacts, Press Room, and Work with Us.  VanDutch is also present on socual with right bottom page buttons taking you to its Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram pages. 
Production History;
40 2009-
30 2012-20
55 2013-19
48 2019-
32 2021-
56 2022-

December 9, 2023

New Launch: Rossinavi 59.4m FR046

Italian shipyard Rossinavi has in June 2023 launched m/y Akula, the 59.4-metre hull number FR046 expedition super yacht at its Pisa facilities. FR046 was designed by Gian Paolo Nari with interiors by the Ancona-based studio FM Architettura, and naval architecture by Arrabito. Fitted with diesel-electric propulsion and dynamic positioning, FR046 is RINA Ice Classed super yacht built to fulfil the Owner's dream of world exploration. This Rossinavi was jointly developed with the Owner, who was actively involved in the entire concept and development process. The result is a luxury Expedition super yacht, the first of its kind in Rossinavi's fleet, created with the goal of navigating over long distances, structured with a sturdy hull that allows cruising in remote areas while ensuring absolute safety. Each space outsizes standard yachts, allowing for large storage areas and comfortable crew accommodation, while meeting standards of eco-sustainability, safety, and the ability to travel long distances. At the Owner’s request, the yacht was also developed to support marine research activities and philanthropic projects, with a large open area capable of stowing a variety of accessories, including two custom nine-meter-long tenders and various diving equipment. In addition, there is the possibility of loading two standard eight meters containers on board as scientific laboratories. Key custom solutions include the forward manoeuvring station being moved below deck, leaving the entire over-deck completely free as an open observation deck; in addition, the sundeck is configured as a technical area, where the emergency generator is located. The interior design has been developed to be cosy but elegant, through synergistic work between the Owner and Fabrizio Mori FM firm, with a layout offering a six double guest accommodation plan.
Technical Data:
LOA - 59.4 m (194.9ft)
Beam - 11.3 m
Draft - 3.45 m
Displacement - 1215 gt*volume
Fuel Capacity - 
Accommodation - twelve guests in six cabins
Engines - 2 x Cat C32 Acert 1115hp
Propulsion - pod drives
Hull - full displacement
Construction - steel hull, aluminium super structure
Project - Gian Paolo Nari exterior, FM Architettura interiors, Arrabito naval architecture
Certification - RINA Ice class

December 8, 2023

Project: Spencer Yachts 80 hull.231

Spencer Yachts have been very much in the news lately, because of the first custom-production boat builder collaboration with Albemarle and its new 53 model which launched this 2023 fall.  Here though is further news from Spencer, the most active of custom sportfish yacht builders, doing what it does best with this currently new eighty foot build, hull number 231.  This upcoming Spencer returns the Wanchese North Carolina custom sportfish specialist above eighty foot, its third unit to be build beyond this size. To be fitted it out with a full tower, Spencer Yachts 80 hull.231 is also luxury appointed with two large owners staterooms; a VIP suite and a crew cabin. Spencer hull.231 is to be powered by twin 2600hp MTUs for top speeds up to 42 knots. 

December 7, 2023

Lurssen Bremen Yard Damage Injures One Employee

A 130 meter plus Lurssen super yacht currently under construction has injured one employee when falling and damaging the shed doors in the Bremen shipyard, Germany on the afternoon of Thursday seventh December.  The one employee was reported slightly injured in the accident, with the super yacht fall damaging the shed doors and the bridge connecting the dock, which partly sank in the water.  The accident was assisted by rescue workers, which included a helicopter, water rescue units, and fire brigade teams.  The 150 meters floating dock was later secured by the Bremen police, and fire department.  Lurssen reported the accident with a press release on the same evening.  This is the second incident for Lurssen in 2023, following a fire on June 28 at the Lemwerder facility which involved one worker. 
According to unconfirmed reports the Lurssen super yacht in this accidental fall is the 142 meters Project Alibaba which is set to launch in 2024.

Baywood Marina Boat Fire

An unattended ten meters sports cruiser went ablaze at Baywood Marina in Brick, New Jersey at 04:46 hours of Thursday seventh December.  Jersey Shore Fire Response and Pioneer Hose Volunteer Fire Company responded to the blaze, while East Dover Fire Company came to the scene with Fire Boat 28 from the water.  It took over an hour to extinguish the fire with no damage to other boats and property being sustained thanks also to the quick response of the fire fighting crew.  The boat was later removed and towed away from the dock, with the cause of the fire being under investigation.
The sport cruiser in this fire is a Wellcraft 3200 Martinique, produced from 1994 to 2000.  The 3200 Martinique sleeps six in a typical North American express-sport cruiser open layout, and was powered by twin stern drives or V-drive line shafts for speeds up to the mid thirty knots.  The 3200 Martinique came as a replacement to the 3200 St.Tropez and was replaced by the 3300 Martinique in 2000.

New Model: Airon Marine AmX 35

Airon Marine new AmX 35 is an evolution of the AmX 34 model the Como sport cruiser and yacht builder introduced in 2017.  Recognizable from the outside with the longer extended bathing platform, the AmX 35 features a totally redesigned cockpit deck, now with the more Mediterranean layout of aft sun-pad, C-shaped dinette to port side, wet-bar exterior galley and helm station opposite.  Down below as is expected the Airon Marine AmX 35 keeps the same layout which is one of the best in this ten meter sporty boat cruiser type offering a -shaped dinette which converts to a double berth, a midships cabin with three berths, and a galley with shower head opposite.  The Airon Marine AmX 35 is powered by up to fifteen engine options in both diesel and petrol gas engines, and start from a single diesel of 400hp, and go up to twin petrol gas engines of 430hp. 
Technical Data:
LOA - 10.67 m (35ft)
Hull Length - 9.96 m
Beam - 3.30 m
Displacement - 6000 kg
Fuel Capacity - 410 l
Water Capacity - 154 l
Max Persons - twelve
Accommodation - five berths in cabin plus convertible dinette
Engines - 1 x Volvo D6 400hp, D6 440hp, 2 x Volvo D4 230hp, D4 270hp, D4 300hp, Mercruiser MD 3.0S 230hp, MD 3.0S 270hp, Yanmar 6LPA 325hp, 8LV 320hp
Propulsion - Volvo DPi or Mercruiser Bravo3 dual propeller stern drive
Certification - CE B

December 6, 2023

Project: Release Boatworks 55 Walkaround Flybridge

Release Boatworks from New Jersey have at the start of 2023 started the construction for the first 55’ Walkaround Flybridge, a versatile fishing platform, with elegance worthy of complimenting a superyacht as its game-boat. The Release Boatworks 55 Walkaround Flybridge comes from the minds of Jim Turner, Naval Architect Erwin Gerards, and production manager Scott Jastrzembski who had the design for the walkaround flybridge in mind years ago. As with any Release Boatworks, this boat is specifically designed to cater to the owner’s needs and wants. This 55’ Walkaround Flybridge will be the gameboat for an expedition yacht in the 160’ range for a multi-family operation planning to travel to Mag Bay, Costa Rica, Panama, Isla Mujeres, and The Bahamas. The superyacht will serve its purpose as a floating hotel, while on any given day there won’t be less than ten people on the 55’ for ten-hour adventures of marlin fishing, spearfishing, deep dropping, and diving. The boat owners, who have sons and daughters that love to fish and dive, originally used a centre console as their chase boat, but the range, lack of comfort, and maintenance intervals became a limiting factor to their family travels.
The 55’ Walkaround Flybridge will provide three staterooms, a tackle room, a custom dive locker, two Seakeeper 6 stabilizers for maximum comfort, an expanded fuel capacity for long range, redundancy of systems and pumps in case anything goes wrong in a remote destination, and a quick connect fuel manifold system for fuel bladders, among many other custom features. She will be powered with twin MTU 1622hp for cruising speeds in the mid thirty knots and a top end upwards of forty. The Release Boatworks 55 Walkaround Flybridge hull one home port will be Fort Lauderdale, Florida.  The Release Boatworks has already sold two more 55's which is also available as a Flybridge Dayboat, Inboard Walkaround, and Express platforms.

December 5, 2023

New Model: Solaris Power 52 Open

Solaris Power continue to upgrade its walk-around line and present this new 52 Open model. A project like all Solaris Power of Brunello Acampora, the 52 Open follows the priorities of this six model line, for full length walk-around deck exterior spaces; and lower deck fully dedicated to overnight accommodation.  The Solaris Power 52 is offered in three exterior deck plans with the choices revolving around the central dinette and galley-wet-bar layout, and comes out as standard with two opposite settees called layout B, C-shaped dinette looking aft layout A with the galley becoming an L-shaped, and layout C with a forward looking dinette.  The choices of the Solaris Power 52 do not stop, with two lower deck plan choices; two cabins version with central master room, and a three cabins layout relocating the owners suite forward, and two cabins at midships.  In both versions the lower deck is fully dedicated to the cabins, no dinette or galley option available.  An optional crew cabin is available in the two cabins version, located to port side with separate entry from the main deck.  Other options in the Solaris Power 52 are the flip down bulkheads which increase deck space by about 30%, and are located in the middle of the cockpit area adjacent with the dinette.  During the Genoa boat show Solaris was telling me that the bulkhead option is ordered in like 50% of units sold, with the metallic colour chosen in like 90% of the units.  The Solaris Power 52 Open is standard powered by rather small for twenty tons twin Volvo 480hp, and or optional 600hp with IPS pod propulsion.  Speeds are thirty knots with the standard engines, and 35 knots with the optional larger 600hp engines. 
Technical Data:
LOA - 16.2 m (53ft)
Waterline Length - 14.83 m
Beam - 4.95 m
Draft - 1.19 m
Displacement - 17,700 kg light, 21,500 kg loaded (approximate)
Fuel Capacity - 2000 l
Water Capacity - 550 l
Max Persons - twelve
Accommodation - four berths in two cabins, six berths in 3 cabins, optional 1 berth crew cabin
Engines - 2 x Volvo D6 480hp, D8 600hp
Propulsion - Volvo forward looking dual propeller IPS pod drives
Speed - 35 knots max 27 cruise with 600hp, 30 max 24 knots cruise with 480hp
Project - Brunello Acampora from Victory Design exterior and engineering, Roseo interior

December 4, 2023

Project: Windy 29 Huracan

Windy are very pleased to announce its continued collaboration together with designer Espen Øino for the exciting new 29 Huracan project, which is set to debut in 2023.  Replacing the 29 Coho after a ten year production run, the Windy 29 Huracán is being developed as a modern looking Day-Sport-Cruiser combining a spacious, safe, and social cockpit with a fantastic design language creating a unique appearance that radiates both luxury and sportiness.  The 29 Huracan will also continue Windy's collaboration with Design Unlimited who have designed the new Sports Series interiors debuting first with the Camira and now followed in this upcoming 29 Huracan. Design Unlimited are offering a traditional interior layout with double V-berth forward, spacious shower head to starboard, and a cabin galley opposite.  This Windy 29 Huracan can be powered with either Volvo Penta or Yanmar single inboard stern drive engines; from a petrol gas 430hp, up to 440hp diesel.