Monday, August 15, 2011

Thursday, July 28, 2011

MYBA Charter Yacht Show in Genoa: Day 3

Cleaning again aboard Queen of Andaman

Once again the rain gods showered Genoa’s superyacht charter show with its damp delights. Crew with determinately good candour seemed to have leathers and water blades permanently welded to their hands and fought an uphill battle to keep the yachts look sparkling.

It is Day 3 of the MYBA Charter Yacht Show and there are one or two thick heads worn by those who enjoyed last night’s parties. Never the less yacht brokers are out in force trying hard to get to see everyone of the yachts here on in display.

It is a tough job, two docks are packed full with sail and motor yachts from 28 metres up to 90 and competition to gain the attention of charter broker is hard.

Today we have chosen to board H²ome a striking 44 metre, black hulled, yacht with a sleek dark brown superstructure and huge on deck areas. Built in Italy her exterior design is by Mario Grasso while her interior design is by Marina Grasso and Federica Giovannone of A-Lab Marine. She is here at the show straight from the yard and she must return to another for a short visit before she will be ready for charter. Her arresting appearance is the result of considerable input from the yachts owners.

Without doubt, this love it or hate it craft is going to be a success during her first charter season in the Mediterranean and her first charter will in fact be for VIPs toview the Monaco Grand Prix. She is available for more Mediterranean work through Primo Yachts

Another brand new yacht, seen for the first time at the show, is the 62 metre Bistango fresh out of the Benetti box and available for charter through Burgess. Built for the same owner who previously commissioned the same yard to build him the smaller Alibella she shares many of the same interior decoration effects. High gloss lacquer work, plenty of gold leaf, the yacht is finished with heavy accents of cream. Large cats provide an accent through the boat with animal statues and skins; it tastefully could be described as Bling goes Wild. The yacht has an internal layout similar to her stable mate the stunning Xanadu and the finished details show the mastery of the shipyard

Highlights not to be missed by charter brokers included the Yamaha Piano in the sky lounge that plays automatically and deep down inside the yachts garage a sleek looking Ferrari Testarossa is finished in bright red of course!

Cloud 9 the stunning yacht built as a sister ship to Slipstream is here at the show and available though Camper & Nicholson. She is a pleasing yacht with stacks of wide open space and a light and airy interior manned by a can do crew lead by Captain Colin Boyle.

Evenings entertainment came with parties hosted by among many others All Services the agency that can fix everything a charter yacht Captain needs doing and the Antigua Charter Yacht Meeting who host the Caribbean counterpart of this essential charter yacht showpiece

The Latest Issue of SuperYacht World Magazine

Issue 14 of SuperYacht World magazine has been released and once again the editors and art direction team have done a stunning job with the words and pictures that we give them.

In this exciting edition we have written the feature Best Refits. Here we look at some of the best treatments given to a space on board a superyacht. The Master stateroom in Eric Clapton’s Va Bene for example or the stunning new sky lounge on the Feadship Inevitable.

John Stalluppi’s Quantum of Solace gets a mention for the fabulous way in which designer Evan Marshall transformed a boring helideck into a great sundeck for hedonists. Dickie Bannenberg and Simon Rowell are so talented they managed two in our selection, the beautifully restored Blue Bird from Dickie and the treatment of the dinning saloon in Illusion from Simon.

Also check out the interior revamps of Eleanor Allen by Michael Kirschstien, and Elizabeth F from Design Unlimited. Another good reason to get hold of a copy of the magazine is to see how a British warship was converted to be come Titan by the designer Peter Sampson.

Also in SuperYacht World we wrote our yacht review of the 54 metre Turkish build Sequel P and got a great deal of help do that from Burgess Yachts who hosted us aboard her in Antigua last December.

Charter News is as always chocker full of interesting facts and figure all about what is new and hot in the world of superyacht charter and our chosen superyacht captain this issue is Aaron Clarke the master of Four Wishes available for charter through Fraser Yachts.

It’s a great magazine and not just because we write in it! You really should get a subscription to receive it regularly.

SuperYacht World is published six times a year. Make sure you never miss an issue and get free home delivery by taking a subscription. Order online or call +44 (0) 845 676 7778 and quote '20B' Individual copies can be ordered by phone or email. Contact +44 (0)1202 440 830 or e-mail tracey_warner@freelance.ipcmedia.com

In the next issue we produce our helpful guide on what to see at the Monaco Yacht Show this September and that is another reason why you should order yourself a regular subscription

SuperYacht Montigne in Corfu

The Assignment

Fly to the Greek Islands, board a three masted superyacht rigged as a schooner and cruise the area as the yacht and the crew are put through their paces, then write about the experiences in SuperYacht World magazine.

The SuperYacht

At 57 metres (187 feet) the three masted staysail schooner Montigne has been built for an experienced superyacht owner who is planning to use her both for private use and as a commercial charter vessel. Built to the MCA LY2 code and the owner's demanding levels of comfort, she is one of the largest sailing yachts available for charter through Ocean Independence.

The Location

Fly to Corfu, via Athens with Olympic Air the Greek national airline. Corfu, Kerkyra, Corcyra or as it is known locally Kerkyra is the northernmost Island in the Ionian sea and the westernmost part of Greece.

This most enchanting of islands, is densely covered in Olive groves and cypresses trees. It is fringed by secluded anchorages and sandy beaches with shingle coves, the perfect spot in which to drop anchor. We hope to visit marinas fishing harbours, tavernas, restaurants, hotels and all of the other tourist facilities and will report on this blog when the Internet permits us to do so. Stay Tuned!

Playing with super yacht Montigne's toys

We left our anchorage after a splendid breakfast of fresh fruits and freshly baked breads and sailed south down the western side of Corfu. Discreet pockets of tourist development splatter this coast where the terrain permits but otherwise from the sea the island looks as it must have done for centuries, lush green slopes falling down to the shore and ending with forbidding grey rocky cliffs. The Colour of this cliffs changes from grey to white the further south we steam.

Our destination is one of the two off lying islands immediately south of Corfu. They are called Paxoi and the smaller of the two carries the diminutive name Antipaxoi. We sail the full length of Paxoi and turn to port to pass north of Antipaxoi and then to port again as we head up to the islands main town of Gaios on the islands east coast.

We anchor in Limin Paxon, a pretty cove in front of the town. The cove is divided into two by Nikolaos an island and the narrow shallow channel that connects is just crying out to be explored using kayaks carried abroad Montigne.

The island of Paxoi is five miles long by just two wide lies seven miles south of Corfu. It is famous as the island that supplied olive oil to the London store Harrods for exclusive sale under their own lable. More recently day trip boats have delivered tourists and the small Harbour has expanded to cater for an increasing fleet of island hopping cruising folk.

One mile further south is Antipaxoi whose main attraction lies in the fact that it is hard to reach except by private yacht and therefore the islands small beaches and tiny Tavernas attract an attractive crowd especially at the weekend.

Montigne carries up to 12 guests and is available to charter through Ocean Independence this summer in the Mediterranean at a rate of 140,000 euros per week .

The Syvota Islands aboard Montigne

The three islands are in fact some distance from the town of Syvota on the Greek mainland and because of their position in the Bay of Mourtu they are often given the name of the Mourtu Islands. They are popular because they offer a plethora of sheltered anchorages.

Ashore the area has grown as a tourist hotspots with all the good things that brings mixed in with all the bad. It pays to study the charts, read the sailing directions and learn what you can from the tourist information brochures.

The town of Mourtu has a newly built harbour used mostly by local craft. The town and Harbour front has been developed in a sympathetic fashion but ares of what must have been pretty beaches have become over developed. Sand Bar Bay being just one such example.

Montigne anchored in End Bay an anchorage separated from others by a golden but somewhat over crowded sand spit.

Montigne carries up to 12 guests and is available to charter through Ocean Independence this summer in the Mediterranean at a rate of 140,000 euros per week .

Our Cruising Area aboard Montigne

Montigne at anchor off Corfu

Corfu is one of seven islands in the Ionian Sea and lies just 70 miles across the Straits of Corfu from the heel of Italy

The Ionian derives it's name from Io, a one time mistress of Zeus who, to protect her from his wife Hera, turned her into a beautiful white cow. Jealous of the relationship Hera sent a gadfly to torment the cow who in a bid to rid herself from it jumped into what is now the Ionian Sea.

The islands of the Ionian do not fit the Greek stereotype of sunburned rocks dotted with whitewashed houses and multi-sailed windmills.

Instead it is a melting pot of French and Italian style mixed with a healthy dose of British interference. Believe it or not, locals on Corfu play cricket, sell current buns and drink Ginger beer.

The best time to visit are between May and October, but in July and August the area can be blighted with strong afternoon winds that do not die down until after dinner. This fact can make an evening anchorage a little uncomfortable unless chosen with care based on experience and local knowledge. Fortunately for us sailing aboard Montigne, Captain Richard Felton has both of these attributes by the hatful.

Montigne carries up to 12 guests and is available to charter through Ocean Independence this summer in the Mediterranean at a rate of 140,000 euros per week .

Pre Antigua Charter Show

The view from our apartment

Flying to Antigua with British Airways from Gatwick Airport at those times when major boat shows are taking place around the world is never an easy task.

The plane is always full, spare seats are few if not unavailable. But the up side is that on getting to the departure lounge you discover you know about 30% of the rest of the passengers. Networking begins early!

Landing in Antigua we joined the impossibly long immigration queue. It zig-zaged its way lazily towards the desk giving us the perfect opportunity to meet and greet old friends - brokers, managers and other superyacht professionals from around the world.

Yes in the usual airport mess up the international flights from USA and UK all landed at exactly the same time. The airport handling facilities were completely overwhelmed, lucky everyone was cheerful.

One hour later we were clear of the airport having collected rental car. We made our way to Horsefield Hill where we have rented an apartment with stunning views over the Falmouth Harbour and part of the Show.

We went to sleep listening to the delightful sounds of the Caribbean fauna night. We woke with the dawn light to a glorious sunrise ready to enjoy the Antigua Charter Yacht Show.

First Day at the Antigua Charter Yacht Show

On the Dock, Antigua Yacht Club Marina

The first day of the Antigua Charter Yacht Show was mainly overcast and once or twice we even had some "liquid sunshine" - rain to anyone not from the Caribbean. Still it failed to dampened the enthusiasm of the crew aboard any of the participating yachts.

We were at the Show bright and early to register and visit English Harbour. Here larger than usual motoryacht are alongside among them Soulmates from Luxury Yacht Group and Andreas L the former Amnesia.

Clearly this is an attempt to spread the charter brokers among the three Marinas hosting the 100 odd yachts here at the show.

The weather in Europe has played havoc with the arrival of yachts and indeed of brokers. Among the yacht is not attending are:
Cocktails
Mirabella III
Natita II
Odyssey
Resilience
Stop the Press
Northlander.
The list of boats we did not expect to see however is much larger and among the new entries are
Blind Date
El Jefe
Go
Islander
Lady Joy
Newvida
Ocean Emerald
Perseverance II
Sun Ark
Silver Cloud
Lunch on board the 40 metre Sweet Escape, managed by Northrop and Johnson, was delightful and the highlight of today.

Captain Paulo is young charismatic and bounding with energy. It is so easy to see why he has a staggering percentage of repeating clients. Over 80% of them return time and time again to charter with him and his very loyal well trained crew.

Fourth Day of Antigua Charter Yacht Show

From the Crow's Nest aboard Marie

The day begins well with an invitation from Fraser Yachts for breakfast aboard the 75 metre Phocea, the long skinny sailing yacht with 4 masts.

It is only when you get on board do you realise quite how wrong you have been to classify this beautiful yacht in such a nonchalant way.

Her interior is so well done it is almost timeless in design and execution. Light and airy with limed oak bulkheads she is a delight with all accommodation on the main deck.

The Master cabin is enormous and forward of it a walk in wardrobe with enough shelves for shoes to satisfy Imelda Marcus.

On deck the crew were fighting a loosing battle with those trying to sit down to a sumptuous looking breakfast. It was a case of first there stayed there leaving others to walk away somewhat enviously.

Lunch for Frances was deliciously, served by the attentive crew aboard 66 metre Natita (ex Dilbar) where she was the guest of Burgess. The 72 metre Kogo another yacht managed by the same agent was the subject of an afternoon tour. The crew of this boat really know and understand the meaning of service. They have taken it to a whole new level.

On display with Peter Insull Yacht Marketing, the 58 metre Islander became famous as a motor sailer. She is likely to become an equally famous motor yacht now that she has had her mast removed. Her Captain and crew hosted a delightful cocktail party for guests in Falmouth Marina. After leaving her we walked down to English Harbour for that marina’s Yacht Hop.

Stars of the evening included the 55 metre Feadship Illusion from Edmiston and Solemates from the Luxury Yacht Group. The upper deck of this brand new 60 metre Lurssen superyacht converts from a gymnasium by day into a disco at night and it was put to very good use. Be sure to see our feature on the beautiful yacht in the next issue of SuperYacht World

Fifth Day of the Antigua Charter Yacht Show

Silver Cloud at the Antigua Charter Yacht Show

One of the more intriguing of yachts here at the Antigua Charter Yacht Show is Silver Cloud the 41 metre SWATH yacht built by Abeking Rasmussen.

Built for world exploration. She is the complete opposite in style, looks and characteristics of Exuma the Picchiotti yacht reviewed by us in a recent edition of SuperYacht World.

Where Exuma is long lean and slippery Silver Cloud is wide and chunky. The hull of Exuma is finished to a silvered sheen in which you can see your face. The dark blue hulls of Silver Cloud are an unfared finish, reminiscent of the commercial craft she was built to mimic.

Both are however the pride and joy of their respective owners and both were here at the show with their yachts. Despite having so very much in common with each other, neither had met the other and we very, very honoured to make introductions.

Exuma is available for charter through Fraser Yachts whilst Silver Cloud can be chartered through Camper & Nicholsons International

Antigua Charter Yacht Show Sailing Day

Maltese Falcon and Necker Belle leaving Falmouth Harbour

This year the Antigua Charter Yacht Show has been extended by one day. It gives charter brokers and yachting journalists the opportunity to sample a mini or micro charter.

On Saturday morning we drove back to Falmouth. Frances joined the four masted Phocea and Michael boarded the catamaran Necker Belle. We both set sail from Falmouth Harbour onto a well behaved sea and 15 knots of wind.

Captain Chris Gartner of the three masted Perini Navi Maltese Falcon was away ahead of us, hoisting his square sails at the harbour entrance. One by one he rounded on departing yachts circling each of them in a wonderful demonstration of what a superb sailing machine she is.

Necker Belle approaching Carlisle Bay

Richard Kellett, Captain of Necker Belle lost little time in hoisting her main and headsail. She was creaming along at nearly 10 knots herself when Maltese Falcon shot past under full sail to starboard and cheekily crossed ahead.

Phocea made a slower departure, her deep draught demanding caution in the shallow waters around her berth. With consummate skill Captain Juergen Mais took us off the dock and into deeper waters to raise the sails. We might have been last to leave but we were first to arrive in Carlisle Bay .

No sooner was the anchor down than everyone was in the water for a pre-lunch swim. The diving board on Necker Belle was put to good use with guests gleefully, and at times gracefully, entering the warm blue water.

Phocea departing Carlisle Bay and raising her sails

Lunch in the sun aboard Phocea was a five course feast, splendidly presented by Chef Alexander Frey and sous Chef Rogelio Gantuangco. Aboard Necker Belle it was a more casual, but no less delicious buffet. After lunch all the yachts sailed back to Falmouth and we returned to Hermitage Bay.

Despite Superyacht Presence, has the Boat Show in London Lost its Way?

Rebecca Ferguson, X Factor finalist, performing at the Sunseeker launch at the Show

The Tullet Prebon London International Boat Show has seen, we are told, a seven per cent visitor increase over the figures for 2010 with nearly 110 thousand attendees. This figure was still two per cent below that of 2009 and begs the question have event organisers National Boat Shows (NBS) done enough to secure the show in yachting’s calendar of important events.

This year they tried a different format in an enlarged venue and tied the event together with the Outdoors Show and London Bike Show, but even then the total combined attendance only reached 140,164.

NBS says that the rejuvenation of the show helped to broaden its appeal and attract a more diverse range of visitors with the new layout including a Water Sport Action Pool, a new Boardwalk Area and a Used Boats Marina.

Regular attendees we spoke to were disappointed claiming that the show is loosing its original attraction. One said, “Sir Max Aitken originally launched the after Christmas show so that Fathers and sons went to look at boats while Mothers and daughters visited the London Department Store Sales before they all joined together as a family to see Pantomime in London’s West End.” He mourned the loss of the old setup adding, “All the attractions were together and this was spoiled when the Boat Show moved to a shed in the East End suburbs of London.”

Another told us “Earls Court was tacky yes, but with its fake seagull sounds and stylised village around a pond with boats afloat, it was a real show. When the music started and the fashion show began everyone stopped to look interested in cloths or not. That was showtime and this is nothing more than an exhibition of boats.”

One visitor who has travelled from the north of the country for every London and Southampton show told us that this was his last ever London show. Southampton is great but I think I will give Liverpool a chance next time. London has lost its way.”

Yet others heaped praise on the new idea of the used boat marina. According to NBS, more than 50 per cent of the used boats on display in the marina were sold at the show, with sea trials booked for the remaining craft.

Chris Cleverly, managing director at Princess Motor Yacht Sales, said “It’s well reported that the industry is experiencing challenging times, but this show has certainly given us a great sales and promotional platform,”

He reported having sold several boats to new, walk up, never-seen-before visitors adding “Our new 32 metre superyacht inside the hall added an extra dimension to our presence.”

Sinbad the Sailor Never Had a Superyacht

Many believe that Sinbad the Sailor was a character invented by scriptwriters for the film of the same name released in 1947 and staring Douglas Fairbanks Junior and Anthony Quinn.

Legendary he may be and even possibly fictional but it is said that he was from Sohar in Oman a once important port and even when it was known as Majan the Capital of Oman. Now it is a must-see sight on a tour of Oman that takes in the forts of:

Suwaiq
Rustaq
Nakhl.

After its destruction in the 10th century the city of Sohar never quite regained its former glory, but in the past 30 years it has developed again and is now one of the most important economic centres in Oman.

So Sinbad or not we plan to sail the coast of Oman and will write about it in forthcoming blogs beginning next week.

So as they say: Watch this space.

Yachting Where Fuel Oil is Cheaper than Water

At anchor off Kharabah Island in the Damaniyat Islands ©Frances Howorth

“Fill her up,” says Simon the yacht’s skipper. At less than 23 pence a litre for fuel oil he can be forgiven for not being to specific on the exact quantity to take on board.

He was a little more careful with bottled drinking water and counted it carefully on the quayside before loading it on the yacht. Water does after all cost a lot more than the diesel being pumped into the fuel tanks in Oman.

We were sailing aboard a catamaran that is brand new to the Oman Charter fleet. We left the somewhat flat and featureless mainland coast behind us as we motored away from the Marina at the Millennium Resort at Mussanah and raised the sails.

Sand, palm trees and mosques dominate the vista as we sailed along the coast of Oman. Leaving the mainland behind we headed offshore to cruise among the Damaniyat Islands.

Here in crystal clear waters we were the only yacht in the area and the anchorages were beautiful and breathtakingly tranquil. These islands form part of a nature reserve set aside by Oman some 20 years ago to preserve the habit of turtles and coral reefs.

Some islands are bird sanctuaries, home to kingfisher and heron others are preserved for the growth of endemic and threatened fauna. Waders, shorebirds and some species of waterfowl seek refuge here and breed in significant numbers.

Underwater the coral and fish were so rich and abundant we were astounded and we were only snorkelling in shallow water. No wonder the area is a secret haven for divers.

The Wave Muscat Marina

We sailed majestically into The Wave Marina on the coast of Oman at the end of our brief cruise to the Dimaniyat Islands. Our Oman Charter trip to the country was organised by the Ministry of Tourism for the Sultanate of Oman

Now it has to be said that the Marina is far from finished and we were privileged to be among the very few yachts that have docked there.

Following a meeting with those responsible for its development we can report that when finished this is going to be a most wonderful port in which to moor a superyacht. Kempinski and Fairmont have each signed up to build Five Star hotels and Superyacht owner Greg Norman has designed the soon to be built golf course.

The marina, like much of the development, is being opened in phased stages and will eventually have 500 berths. Currently it is a hive of activity as workers prepare The Wave for the start of the Extreme Sailing Series in Oman at the end of February.

Mourjan Marinas part of IGY have been retained to oversee the planning marketing and operation of the marina as a whole. They are work together with Oman Sail to ensure that the complex is not just for visiting yachts but also for the people of Oman. The aim is to promote sailing and encourage local people of all ages to discover the joy of water sports.

Visiting Oceanco to see Y708

It may have been cold and grey in Holland but there was great excitement in the air as we stood among the owner's VIP party watching the hull of a brand new superyacht see light of day for the very first time.

We were very privileged to be the only journalists invited to witness the occasion when the hull of the new Oceanco project Y708 was moved slowly from the builder's shed at Krimpen.

She was loaded onto a heavy lift barge using a Self Propelled Module Trailer (SPMT) itself weighing 252 tons. Onto it was the hull weighing 950 tons and it, was sitting inside shipping cradles weighing 80 tons. The weight of the entire contraption was spread over trailers possessing between them, a total of 224 wheels.

The barge moved its precious cargo to the Oceanco facility at Alblassendam. Here the aluminium superstructure sat, in two parts, on the quay waiting to be fitted to the hull.

Once done the yacht was then moved inside the covered sheds to lay alongside her sister ship Y707.

Y708 is 86.6 metres overall. Her exterior is the inspirational work of the young Russian designer Igor Lobanov while the interior will be completed by industry veteran Albert Pinto the genius behind Alfa Nero

Iconic Hotel Du Cap-Eden-Roc Reopens This Spring

Overlooking one of the worlds top superyacht anchorages, one of the world’s most iconic and luxurious hotels, in the south of France, will re-open on 15th April after a four-year restoration project.

The Hotel Du Cap-Eden-Roc in Cap d’Antibes has been the subject of a €45million refurbishment project, the first major since the 1950s. Designed to restore the hotel to its original quality, it has been authentically restored to showcase the original features first seen by guests in 1870 when the former owner of Le Figaro newspaper, Auguste de Villemessant, built it.

Dramatically positioned on the southern-most tip of the Cap d’Antibes, Hotel Du Cap-Eden-Roc has been the ultimate place to stay on the Riviera for the luxury traveller, and is the choice for royalty, celebrities and VIPs when staying in the region.

The owner, Mrs. Oetker, along with leading architect Luc Svetchine, has carried out the restoration with the focus being the utmost respect for the heritage of the property and the history of the hotel.

They have ensured that no detail has been left untouched and whilst the hotel has been totally restored and modernised, the soul and spirit of the hotel have been left unchanged.

The restoration project, initiated in 2007, includes the refurbishment of all rooms and public areas in the main building of the hotel; a new grill restaurant with sushi bar; a new swimming pool and beach area; a new restaurant and terrace; and a new kitchen area to service the famous Cabanas, where time has stood still.

New suites, with balconies, will each have a lounge, dressing room, bathroom and separate shower room.

All one-bedroom and two-bedroom have sea views, a private bar, LED TV screen with iPod player and sound proofing in all rooms facing the Cap Boulevard.

The jewel in the hotel’s crown, the Eden-Roc Suite, has also been completely renovated. With completely new décor and furnishings, the suite will now feature its own beautiful wooden pergola and an outside Jacuzzi on a 250m2 terrace offering magnificent views of the Lerins Islands.

Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc has two villas – Villa Eleana, which opened in 2010 and Villa les Cedres – which combine the first-class facilities of the hotel with the exclusivity and privacy afforded by a private villa.

Azimut 82

Azimut 82--Flybridge

Azimut 82

BOAT SPECIFICATIONS

Boat Type: Megayacht (> 80')

Base Price: $6,950,000

Standard Power: 2/1,675-mph CAT C32s

Optional Power: None

Length Overall (LOA): 84'3"

Beam: 20'4"

Draft: 5'8"

Weight: 75 tons

Fuel Capacity: 1,849 gallons

Water Capacity: 356 gallons

Standard Equipment: CAT electronic controls; hydraulic swim platform; passerelle; teak decks; side boarding gates; two watertight side access doors; chain wash; C-shape foredeck sofa and table; 42" hi-lo plasma saloon TV; wine cooler; dishwasher; leather-covered wheel; four rectangular side windows in master; 5/Tecma MSDs; bidet in master head; p&s crew quarters

Props: 2/1,675-mhp Caterpillar C32 diesel inboards, ZF 2060 gears w/ 2.567:1 reduction, 49.6x39.4 5-blade nibral props

Optional Equipment On Test Boat: flying-bridge ice maker; garbage disposal; trash compactor; master-cabin ‘fridge; second radar arch; teak bridge deck; crane on bridge for tender; flying-bridge Jacuzzi; hardtop; CCTV in cockpit and ER; 2/teak chaise lounges; whirlpool tub in master; electronics

Price As Tested: Not available

Cabins: master, VIP, 2/guest, 2/crew

Conditions: temperature: 69˚F; humidity: 55%; wind: 5 mph; seas: 1'; load: 790 gal. fuel, 350 gal. water, 125 gal., 5 people, 1,000 lbs gear. Speeds are two-way averages measured w/ Stalker radar gun. GPH taken from CAT electronic display. Range: 90% of advertised fuel capacity. Decibels measured on A scale 65 dB is the level of normal conversation.

Azimut 82

Azimut interior

If you’re a boatbuilder, one of your most difficult challenges is knowing when to replace a model. After all, designing a new boat is a costly endeavor, to say the least. Way before fiberglass meets resin, you’ll have spent at least a million dollars in design, tooling, and testing. To make sure you get that money back, plus a nice profit, you need to build and sell as many of each model as you can.

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Azimut interior

But if you keep a model in the line-up too long, sales will begin to slide, and before you know it, you and your dealers are left with a lot of boats Azimut that no one wants. On the other hand, if you pull the plug on a model too soon, you’ll leave money on the table. The secret to finding the sweet spot between these two extremes consists of one part knowing your buyers, one part knowing your competition, and one big part being a good guesser.

Azimut

Main Deck

A three-panel sliding glass door separates the cockpit from the internal part. The panels slide behind the sofas, concealing them and freeing the communicating space between Azimut interior and exterior.

An extremely original layout characterizes the Azimut 82's main deck: a long corridor with a doussie wood floor leads toward the bow, reserved for the main helm station and a large chart area alongside the helm seat.

Entering the saloon and moving along the long corridor we come to the main rooms used for the principal daytime activities: saloon/living area and TV area, lunch area and galley, completely separated from the rest of the rooms.

Azimut boats and Yachts

The three areas in the Azimut boat are lighted by large windows that run along the deckhouse for a length of about 3 meters.

The saloon is an intimate, cozy area furnished with a large elevating TV. For the first time the TV is also visible in the lowered position, since it is hidden only by a dark glass that disappears when it is switched on and makes it possible to enjoy the panorama outside at the same time thanks to the large mirrored window.

Azimut 50 Flybridge

Azimut

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Luxury Yacht

I found a lot to like about Azimut’s 50 Flybridge. Sightlines from the lower helm are excellent; there’s only a single, narrow mullion in the windshield, and the forward side windows are at eye-level from the helm. The aft side windows are a bit lower, giving guests in the saloon a great view from the plush Ultraleather settees, and affording good visibility while docking alongside a pier, and sightlines aft are great, thanks to the full-width glass panels and sliding glass door to the cockpit.

Luxury Yacht

Our test boat had the two-stateroom, two-head layout, which offers an exceptionally spacious galley on the lower deck, only three steps lower than the saloon, so the chef can still converse with guests in this luxury yacht. And directly above is the large, sloping windshield, flooding the cooking area with natural light. Two large, circular portholes alongside rich-looking, black molded countertops offer more light and air, while recessed fixtures provide task lighting for the chef’s toils in your luxury yacht.

Modern Yacht Design

But what I liked most about the galley in yachts was its roominess, with copious stowage spaces and appliances sized for real cooking, not just warming up a few snacks in the microwave, which is out of sight in a cabinet below the sink. Speaking of the sink, it’s a double-basin affair, as big as one you might find at home, with a built-in dish drain along side. I was pleased to note that each of the cooktop’s three burners was fitted with a stout pot restraint, a functional feature too seldom seen on yachts of this style.

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Luxury Yacht Interior Design

Forward of the stove is about four feet of open counter space for food prep, a full-height double-door refrigerator/freezer (in a handsome varnished cherry cabinet), and a matching full-height cabinet with five shelves, each about two feet wide and more than a foot deep in yacht. There are also five big under-counter modern cabinets for stowing bulky items; one is fitted with bottle racks, while another has a nifty pull-out shelf for spices and smaller items. Tucked behind a series of varnished wood panels that look like a decorative cornice above the counter are five more eye-level cabinets, perfect for canned goods, jars, boxes of cereal, pasta, and the like in the luxury yacht.

Luxury and Modern Yacht

In the three-stateroom layout, the galley is about half this size, yielding just enough space for another small stateroom with bunksin the luxury yacht. Personally, I’d opt for the two-stateroom layout and leave the kids at home for the weekend. But in either configuration, the layouts of the master and guest staterooms are the same; both are big and bright with three-sided access to double berths in boat.
Located beneath the raised helm, the guest stateroom offers at least 6'6" headroom and more than ample sitting headroom above the berth. Guests will appreciate the privacy of the adjoining head, which allows entry from the stateroom or (as a day head) directly from the main passageway in yacht .

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Luxury and Modern Yacht Interior Design

Teak soles in the head and the separate shower area add a classy touch, as does the polished glass countertop, complete with a household-size under-mount stainless steel modern sink. Above the sink there’s a mirrored panel that serves as a door to the medicine cabinet, and when the panel is slid to the side, it also covers a porthole, offering privacy to anyone using the facilities in luxury yacht.

Maritimo A60 Aegean Enclosed

Maritimo A60 Aegean

The eye-catching enclosed flybridge is probably the first thing you'll notice about the stunning A60 Aegean

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Whether cruising at the helm or anchored at a favourite hideaway, the elevated position offers uninhibited views of the seascape. In addition, wide sliding doors open to an aft balcony, making the enclosed flybridge a second entertainment area where guests can relax indoors and out, or simply enjoy Maritimo's legendary performance in the company of the skipper.

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But the A60 Aegean Enclosed not only goes further in style and luxury, it also goes further thanks to genuine long-range cruising capabilities. Designed with an advanced variable deadrise hull, engines and fuel tanks over the centre of buoyancy, and a miniscule shaft angle of just 9 degrees, the A60 Aegean Enclosed has effortless poise and balance - and is incredibly fuel-efficient as a result.

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interior

Named after the Aegean Sea, the A60 Enclosed would be perfectly at home in any of the glamorous European ports along the Mediterranean.

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Whether you're at sea, entertaining or relaxing in the full beam master stateroom with ensuite and walk-in wardrobe, the luxurious A60 Aegean Enclosed takes the joy of cruising to new heights.

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Decks

MaritimoYachts and Boats

Decks
Boat Details
Beam 17 ft 1 in Max Draft 4 ft 3 in
Dry Weight 74000 lb Hull Material Fiberglass
Hull Shape -Semi Displacement Engine -Inboard
Fuel Diesel Horsepower (total) 1430.00 hp
Fuel Capacity 1479 gal Holding Tank Size 80 gal
Water Capacity 211 gal