Record Snowfall in Juneau Alaska Sinks Eight Boats

Record snowfall in between thirteen to 25 January in Juneau, Alaska has sunk about eight boats, and damage partly sank some more.  The first heavy snow storm arrived on the thirteen January and that did over half a meter of snowfall in one night.  Since then and for twelve days the storms did not stop, with January 2024 reaching over a meter and half of snow fall, sixteen centimetres less to the record set in January 2009, when 191 centimetres of snowfall was recorded for a whole month.  Of the eight boats that sunk two are pleasure boats, with the rest being mostly commercial fisher-craft.  Some pleasure boats suffered a partial sinking, also because most of these are kept in covered slips as the above picture shows. 

Juneau is located to the South-East of Alaska, in the Gulf of Alaska, bordering to the North with the Bering Sea and to the Pacific Ocean in the South.  Juneau has a population of just over thirty thousand with temperatures that reach twenty degrees Celsius plus in Summer and going to below zero in the Winter months.

New Model: Bolide Yachts 80

The niche market of the super fast sport yacht beyond 24 meters has seen a new interesting player emerge in 2023, with Bolide Yachts first 80 model, what the Italian yacht builder calls the first Hyper Muscle Yacht.  Saying Bolide Yachts is new, is actually an understatement as the man behind the Italian yacht builder, is none other then fast planning hull specialist designer Brunello Acampora, who with his Victory design firm has designed and consulted an endless list of some of the best hulls in the last four decades.  With Bolide Yachts firsty eighty model, Brunello goes a step further creating the fastest yacht above 24 meters in size, which reaches an impressive 73 knots of top speed. For reaching this speed Acampora took four years to design and fine tune the Bolide 80 two stepped deep-Vee hull to match this performance, and going into pain staking detail for a light weight and stiff full carbon fibre construction, and a triple Man 2000hp power designed around a custom surface drives combination.  The Bolide 80 though does not stop with the performance and offers an interesting mix of luxury thrown in, with a design element which is both unique and futuristic in both the exterior and interiors, with the lower deck offering a two double cabins accommodation sleeping five.  The lower deck also offers a separate galley to port side with adjacent crew cabin, and saloon entertainment area which uses the full five meters plus of beam of the hyper muscle yacht.  Interested?  Bolide Yachts 80 is limited to ten builds of one or two hulls a year, with each build being semi-custom, and a price which starts at nine million euros.  Bolide Yachts is planned to have five models in the future with Brunello Acampora having preliminary details drawn in for both a smaller 70 and a larger 170 model nearly finalized.

Technical Data:

LOA - 24.87 m (81.8ft)

Waterline Length - 18.1 m

Beam - 5.40 m

Draft - 0.90 m without running gear, 1.50 m with running gear down 

Displacement - 32.5 t unloaded

Fuel Capacity - 6000 l

Water Capacity - 600 l

Accommodation - four/five guests in two cabins, one crew cabin berth

Engines - 3 x Man V12 2000hp

Propulsion - custom T-drive Flexitab surface drives

Speed - 73 knots max, fifty knots cruise

Range - 500 nautical miles at best cruise

Construction - Mircotex carbon fibre, and special structural Diab cores 

Project - Brunello Acampora Victory design for hull shape, naval architecture and design, Loro Piana interior decor

Certification - CE B

www.bolideyachts.com 

Sunseeker Yacht Partly Sinks in Haulover

A 22 meter Sunseeker motor yacht partly sank while berthed in a Marina at Haulover, Miami on the late morning of 24th January.  According to reports on social media, the Sunseeker yacht had a sea-cock failure in the forward part of the hull, leading to it partly sinking, with a short video snap showing as rescue operations are underway by Fast Response Marine Towing and Salvage on the Instagram channel Oldhatfishing.  A day later to the accident, on the 25th January the Sunseeker yacht is filmed again, this time by Wavy Boats YouTube channel as its being towed out of Haulover Inlet and into the Atlantic Channel again by Fast Reponse, probably taking her to a yacht yard for repair.

The Sunseeker yacht in this sinking is a 74 Manhattan, as produced from 1999 up to 2001.  Designed by Don Shead the 74 Manhattan, was a new entry into Sunseeker's line up as a filler between the 84 and upcoming 64 Manhattan.  In 2002 Sunseeker updated the 74 Manhattan with the Mk.2 version, additional side profile window, and three vertical hull side windows added to serve the midships master stateroom, with the model replaced by the first generation 75 Yacht in the fall of 2003.

Project: Swan Arrow 23.20 m

Swan's motor yacht division was launched in 2021 after a careful study of the market. Leonardo Ferragamo, Chairman of Nautor Group, had been thinking of entering Swan in the power segment for a long time, but he wanted to début with a product able to make a difference, in an already crowded segment.  Ferragamo already entered the motor boating sector with the Camper and Nicholson brand which he bought in 2001 and launched two Ray Hunt designed traditional looking down-East inspired line producing two models a 42 in 2004 and a 50 footer in 2013, with three other projects which went up to a 42 meter super yacht.  The first Swan powerboat was the Shadow which arrived in 2021, followed by the inboard OverShadow 42 in mid 2023. The passion for this adventure, together with the market request have asked for a bigger motorboat leading us to this Swan Arrow project, a 23 meters sport yacht, designed according to the Swan iconic DNA.  Swan Arrow is a sporty and elegant yacht, designed by Jarkko Jamsén, the motor division resident designer, who also penned the two smaller models. With elegant and contemporary design, refined lines and voluminous interior, Swan Arrow is a sport “open” yacht well suited to extended cruising.  To be build in resin infusion with a mix of glass and carbon fibre matrixes the Swan Arrow is a full walk around design, with a fully enclosed hard-top and a spacious walkaround deck plan. The protected cockpit characterized by an opening roof and sliding and pivoting glass door system allows a full panoramic view and an “al fresco” feeling when opened, while remaining cosy, protected and private when closed, perfectly conceived for a yacht designed to enjoy the very best while cruising and at anchor.  Another innovation of the Swan Arrow is the opening platform which becomes a beach area of about fifty squared meters, not floating directly on the water but taken to a higher level thanks to the use of the side openings, altogether creating a real terrace on the sea.  The interior of Swan Arrow displays all the typical details that made Swan yachts iconic, but also introduces new elements and materials.  The space has been maximized offering a “home like” feeling for this 23 meters sport yacht conceived with a two configuration choices of two or three guest cabins.  In the three double cabins layout Arrow accommodates six guests in a captivating space: port side is a dedicated galley, midships full beam master stateroom with a walk-in closet and en-suite; a VIP suite forward, and a twin cabin, both with their own head to create separate and private areas.  The crew quarters for two people is further forward, allowing great privacy for the owners and their guests.  The alternative layout offers two spacious double cabins with a lounge area amidships in between the owners stateroom and forward VIP suite, with a starboard side  saloon with a dedicated dining area and L-shaped sofa taking the spot of the third cabin.  The Swan Arrow is to be powered by standard twin Volvo 1000hp with IPS pod drives for a speed up to thirty knots, with an optional triple set up of the same engine and propulsion which should add an extra ten knots of top speed.

www.nautorswan.com

The Wandering Hillybilly Aquila Power Cat Ends Aground

A sixteen meter Aquila power catamaran of the YouTube vlog The Wandering Hillybilly and titled with the same name, ended beached in Mountain Trunk Bay, to the West of Virgin Gorda Island on the afternoon of 23 January.  A Vlog on the The Wandering Hillybilly documented the incident, which happened because the yacht broke from its swing mooring, while the owner, i.e. Alan and five guests just swam to shore for a meal at the Sugarcane Restaurant.  As Alan arrived to the beach, who was the last of the group to make the ten minute swim to shore, the guests advised him that the yacht was following him. Seeing this Alan jumped back to save the Aquila catamaran, which at this time was just about ten meters from the beach.  With high risk Alan managed to get onboard, and as soon as he was on his way to the flybridge to save the Power Catamaran, disaster struck as the hull hit the seabed.  Alan still tried the last hope, firing her up and with the starboard engine tried to move her away from the beach, but all was too late, as the yacht was already grounded and beached.  A great moment came after all this with Alan and his guests managing to tie The Wandering Hillybilly in order to avoid her from hitting the rocks located just a meter to aft.  The day later Alan with help from Aquila dealer MarineMax salvaged the power catamaran, taking her to a boat yard in Spanish Town, Virgin Gorda, some three nautical miles South from the beaching accident.  Unfortunately the damage to the Aquila Power cat was more extensive then anticipated, a few holes in the hull, both P-brackets punctured in the hull, severely bent rudders and propellers, and engine room filled with sand and sea-water.

The Wandering Hillybilly is a 2022 Aquila 54 Yacht power catamaran.  Designed by the Jacep and Jernei Jakopin brothers the Aquila 54 Yacht debuted in 2021, and is offered in a nine different layout options, three for each of the decks, and is powered by three engine choices from Volvo 380 up to Cummins 550hp.

New Model: Sacs Rebel 50G

In the fall of 2023 Sacs debuted its new Rebel 50G model.  Designed by Christian Grande the Rebel 50G is one of the most complete maxi-ribs ever made, which escapes the narrative of a day boat with over-night accommodation, not because it cannot do that part of use, but also because can also be used as a yacht.  A fully enclosed fifteen meter hard-top the Rebel 50G offers a main enclosed living area with dinette and galley with its lower deck offering two double cabins; master cabin forward, and a twin berth cabin at midships.  An option exists to have the forward cabin replaced by an open entertainment area with J-shaped lounge to port side.  The options on the Sacs Rebel 50G do not stop here, with four options also available for the aft cockpit deck; garage/sun-pad, stern lounge, forward lounge, and free standing.  The Sacs Rebel 50G is powered by twin Volvo 725hp engines with IPS pod drives for top speeds up to 36 knots and a cruise of 28.

Technical Data:

LOA - 15.30 m (50.2ft)

Beam - 5.05 m

Draft - 0.83 m, 1.30 m with propellers

Displacement - 23 t

Fuel Capacity - 2 x 940 l

Water Capacity - 450 l

Max Persons - eighteen

Accommodation - four berths in two cabins, one cabin with convertible open lounge

Engines - 2 x Volvo D11 725hp

Propulsion - Volvo IPS forward looking dual propeller pod drives

Speed - 36 knots max 28 cruise

Range - 260 nautical miles at cruise

Hull Shape - V-shape

Construction - fiberglass with D-shape foam filled tubes

Project - Christian Grande

Certification - CE B

www.sacsmarine.it

Project: Tornado 43 WA

Tornado present the project for the 43 WA, a walk-around sport cruiser designed by Michele Frese.  In this size the Italian builders seem have taken the bug for offering walk-around centre console sport cruiser, with Tornado being the most recent to enter this segment. A walk around centre console has the ability to use all fore to aft deck with easy usage, but also having a decent lower deck accommodation sleeping four.  The Tornado 43 WA will offer a deck with a central sun-pad layout which is followed by an L-shaped dinette, and then the helm station located central offset to starboard.  The fore deck will feature a forward V-shaped sun-pad, while another interesting feature will be the drop down bathing platform aft, which goes down in a three steps movement, making it easier and more comfortable to go down in the water.  The Tornado 43 WA will also be flexible for its power and propulsion choices, offered in four options, which start from twin Volvo 440hp on stern drives, and go to twin FPT 550hp on shafts, and then to 600hp with surface drives or same power gas power Mercury outboards.

www.tornadoyachts.it

New Model: Manda Yachts s05

Manda Yachts arrived in the scene in 2023 first with the s07 model in May at the Venice boat show, and then it followed it four months later with this new s05 which debuted during the Genoa boat show.  A project of Ceccarelli, Manda is an interesting new offer in the market, with a particular design which is difficult to categorize, feeling an explorer with a sport attitude.  Depends how you want to see it, probably Manda is both these things, although this new s05 probably is a bit more sporty, especially if spec'd with the bigger engines which give her a 32 knots top speed.  But forgetting speed aside Manda Yachts is a particular living yacht, with both the exterior and interior feeling spacious and liveable like a high end loft by the sea in just fifteen meters of length.  Manda Yachts s05 also comes as the bigger sister with the free aft deck which joins with the interior lower deck saloon, and while this is not something new; Sanlorenzo SX, BlueGame BGX, and Evo Yachts V-line have all been there before Manda, the s05 takes the credit for offering this in just fifteen meters of size.  The s05 offers a main deck covered with a T-top for the living part, this offering an L-shaped dinette to port side with wet-bar exterior galley and helm opposite to starboard, which is followed by a sun-pad aft and to fore deck and a forepeak forward looking settee.  The s05 lower deck uses about 70% of the space and is offered in three lower deck layout choices, with the standard plan featuring a two cabins two head layout with master cabin forward, and twin L-shaped bunk guest cabin to port side.  A single cabin option also exists, with the option of having a dinette area for four in replacement to the second cabin, and smaller L-shaped sofa.  The Manda s05 is offered with IPS propulsion only and powered by standard twin Volvo 480hp for up to 24 knots speeds, and larger 550 to 600hp engines option.  

Technical Data:

LOA - 15 m (49.2ft)

Beam - 4.82 m

Draft - 1.50 m

Displacement - 16,000 kg dry (approx.)

Fuel Capacity - 1800 l

Water Capacity - 550 l

Accommodation - four berths in two cabins, or two berths in one cabin

Max Passengers - fourteen

Engines - 2 x Volvo D6 480hp, D8 550hp, D8 600hp

Propulsion - Volvo forward looking dual propeller IPS pod drives

Speed - 24 knots with 480hp, 32 knots max with Volvo 600hp

Construction - fiberglass with monolithic bottom, sandwich for hull sides.  Upper structure in infusion and carbon/glass hybrid

Project - Ceccarelli

Certification - CE B-14/A

www.mandayachts.it 

Fratelli Aprea New Web Site

Fratelli Aprea presents its new website. Fratelli Aprea was founded in 1890 by master ship wright Cataldo, in the gulf of Sorrento.  Fratelli Aprea focus for a century has been that of building custom to order and repairing wooden traditional Gozzo small and medium size fishing boats.  An important turn around for Fratelli Aprea comes during World War II, when Franco Aprea decides to put used Jeep gasoline engines in a Gozzo, following the commissioning of boats by the US Army for a special mission. Fratelli Aprea enters fiberglass boat production in the nineties, with a key difference to the competition who build similar boats for using a semi-planning hull with a deep V-section forward, rather then a planning shape.  Today Frattelli Aprea offers eleven models of the Sorrento line which start from the pure gozzo looking 7,80 Tradizionale / Open and go up to the Sorrento 50 Cabinato.  In 2023 Fratelli Aprea also debuted its new Brunello Acampora designed Lancia centre console with traditional line series, which debuted with the 52 model, and is planned to feature four other models from ten to 22 meters in size.  Fratelli Aprea new web site is available in Italian and English language and takes you around with the following buttons; Home, Company, Gozzo Sorrentino, Design, Models, Charter, Service, Usato, and Contacts. Fratelli Aprea is also on social media with a button at the right bottom of the page taking you to its Facebook, and Instagram pages.

www.fratelliaprea.com

Production History;

Sorrento 7,80 Tradizionale / Open 1987- 

Faraglione 7,80 Semi Cabinato 1989-94

Sorrento 7,50 Open Cruise 1993-

Sorrento 7,50 Semi Cabinato 1995-

Sorrento 7,50 Cabinato 1997-

Sorrento 36 Semi Cabinato 2000-

Sorrento 36 Open Cruise 2001-

Sorrento 32 Semi Cabinato 2002-

Sorrento 32 Hard Top 2003-

Sorrento 32 Open Cruise 2004-

Sorrento 36 Hard Top 2005-

Sorrento 50 Cabinato 2007-

Lancia 52 2023-

Project: Alia Yachts 43m raised pilothouse

Alia Yachts in Turkey has started construction of a new 43-metre project with aggressive exterior lines by long-term design partners Omega Architects. In build for a client based in Miami, the design is styled around the relaxed, open-air lifestyle in Florida and the Bahamas. Omega has deliberately kept the profile low-rise and sleek with a menacing pelican-beak bow, helped by the raised pilothouse layout spread over two-and-a-half decks. With ample al fresco areas that include lounging and sunbathing on the aft deck, the foredeck, and the sundeck that also has a hottub, the new design takes the raised pilothouse configuration and stretches it to 42 metres and 380GT. The all-aluminium vessel has a shallow Bahamas draft and a Fast Displacement Hull Form known as FDHF by Van Oossanen, another of Alia’s Dutch design partners. The FDHF outperforms conventional displacement and semi-displacement hull forms at low, cruising and maximum speeds by providing high efficiency throughout the power curve. The interior comprises four guest suites on the lower deck, a master stateroom with walk-in wardrobe on the main deck forward. The lower deck further houses space for 7 crew as well as a very nice sized gym and side-loading tender garage. Sliding glass doors on both sides of the main saloon means there’s always a fresh breeze flowing through the interior. The interior design is by newcomers Yodezeen, a pair of designers from Kyiv with a studio in Miami. Powered by twin MTU 2600hp main engines, the yacht with have a top speed in excess of 22 knots and a range of 3,200 nautical miles at twelve knots. She is scheduled for delivery in summer 2024 and will make her debut at the autumn boat shows.

www.aliayachts.com