Innholdsfortegnelse for October 2020 i Yachting

The Italian shipyard Rossinavi delivered the 163-foot Lel in July, making this its first fall season afl oat. The aluminum yacht took two years to build in collaboration with Luca Dini Design & Architecture, which handled interiors and exteriors. (It’s the first time the yard and design firm have worked together.) According to Rossinavi, Lel cruises at 21 knots and has a top speed of 25 knots, with a range of 4,000 nautical miles. The master stateroom is on the main deck forward with a private balcony. A VIP stateroom is also on the main deck, with four guest staterooms belowdecks.…

The Navetta 64 is the latest addition to the Absolute Yachts Navetta line, which includes a half-dozen models from 48 to 73 feet length overall. The 64 adds new features including larger bow windows for broader views, as well as gunwales that are more open in the cockpit, creating a feeling of spaciousness aft. In the beach-club version, the Navetta 64 has a double-berth stateroom at water level, with a watertight door that can open directly onto the aft deck. Absolute calls this space a beach club by day and a VIP stateroom by night. The king-berth master stateroom is in the bow. The Absolute Navetta 64’s windshield is more than 10 feet of curved glass.…

TRUTH BE TOLD, there is no typical last leg of a Great Loop cruise. The return depends on wherever you chose to start. And as Kim Russo, executive director of the America’s Great Loop Cruisers’ Association, puts it about weather, “Usually, where you start is determined by when you want to start.” ¶ For the purposes of our three-part series, the last leg would take yachtsmen back to our starting point: Florida. After cruising from there up the Eastern Seaboard, across the Great Lakes and down the Mississippi River, the final leg turns to the east, through the Gulf of Mexico to Florida’s western shore. ¶ At its southern end, the Mississippi River runs through New Orleans, one of America’s most storied cities. From the jazz clubs to the Bourbon…

SUNSCREEN Xantrex’s Maximum Power Point Tracking Charge Controller 30 ($229) is designed to help solar-panel installations harness higher charging efficiencies and, potentially, gain longer lifespans out of lithium-ion batteries. The 30-amp MMPT Charge Controller has dual battery-bank charging ports, letting users simultaneously charge and maintain the 12-volt starter and house batteries. Xantrex, xantrex.com SAFETY FIRST Ocean Signal’s SeaSafe EPIRB1 Pro ($550) has 406 MHz satellite-communications capabilities, a 66-channel GPS receiver, a high-intensity LED strobe light, an embedded 121.5 MHz homing beacon for final-mile rescue work, and user-friendly controls. The unit has Ocean Signal’s Float Free mounting bracket, which uses an automatic, hydrostatic system to activate and release the beacon. Ocean Signal, oceansignal.com CAPTAIN COMMS Standard Horizon’s GX2400 ($449) has a 66-channel GPS receiver, an AIS receiver, and a channel for…

REPLACING THE POPULAR Viking 61 Convertible, the Viking 60 Convertible had a higher freeboard forward and a cambered foredeck. Below the surface, there was a new hull form with a finer entry, convex sections forward in the hull and flatter sections aft, enhancing overall performance. ¶ When I ran the 60—powered with optional 1,825 hp Caterpillar C32 Acert diesels—top speed was 42 knots and cruise speed was 36 knots. ¶ At press time, there were four Viking 60 Convertibles on the market ranging from $1.6 million to $2.45 million. FROM THE ARCHIVE “The wind was down a bit, from a sustained 35 knots from the northeast to a mere 25-knot easterly as we climbed aboard. As the inlet came into view, solid 8-footers breaking across its mouth had me wondering…

Heesen Yachts recently delivered the 180-foot Steel Class Solemates to its owners. The yacht has a fast-displacement hull form by Van Oossanen Naval Architects. Solemates has a steel hull and aluminum superstructure. The exterior design is by Frank Laupman of Omega Architects, with an interior design by Bannenberg & Rowell. Power is a pair of 1,341 hp MTU diesels. According to Heesen, the yacht has a range of 4,500 nautical miles at 13 knots. Top speed is reportedly 15.5 knots. Solemates is set up with six staterooms, including an 882-square-foot master. The VIP stateroom is located on the bridge deck, and four guest staterooms are belowdecks. There is room for 13 crew. Solemates will soon enter the charter market in the Eastern Mediterranean with Luxury Yacht Group. READER FEEDBACK Looking…

Evo Yachts has created an Open version of the Evo R6, which premiered this past year as the flagship of the builder’s R line. The R6 Open replaces the original T-top with a roll bar and retractable Bimini top. The XTension system for which Evo Yachts is known makes the expansion of the boat’s after section possible, increasing the onboard lounging-and-relaxation space by about 40 percent. Belowdecks are two heads along with overnight accommodations for the owner and a few guests. The yacht’s top speed, according to the builder, is 35 knots with a 280-nautical-mile range. When the Evo Yachts R6 Open is at anchor with its aft er sections deployed, the beam expands by more than 6 feet.…

Say Carbon, in Germany, has introduced a new flagship: the Say 42. It replaces a previous 42 and has styling by KET in Munich. According to the boatbuilder, the yacht’s wave-cutting bow and side wings allow for maximum stability underway, including at turning speeds. At wide-open throttle, the yacht can reportedly achieve 50 knots. An optional hardtop can protect the skipper and guests from the sun, and a Seakeeper stabilizer minimizes the boat’s motion for increased guest comfort. Owners can customize the exterior paint color as well as the interior fit-out.…

THEY REALLY COULDN’T have planned it any better. Just as the world is learning to live with the COVID-19 pandemic—including flocking to single-person watersports such as kayaking and paddleboarding—several manufacturers of fully electric, jet-powered boards are releasing new models that elevate the water-toy category for riders of all kinds. ¶ Sweden-based Radinn, which has been building boards since 2015, has three lines of boards with different shapes and features for riders of varying abilities. Explore boards (starting at $6,550) are for beginners, while Freeride models (base price $7,750) off er an intermediate combination of stability and agility. The Carve line ($8,950 to start) is for experienced riders who really want to lean into turns and more. ¶ And if none of those options sound ideal, competing companies off er yet…

The Grand Banks 54’s aesthetic retains the brand’s DNA while adding a modern, high-performing hull form under the water. SOME YACHTS PUT UP A thin veneer of seakeeping confidence, stout construction materials and quality machinery. Those yachts are the opposite of the Grand Banks 54. ¶ On this boat, where I might expect to find a facade, I instead encountered the real deal. Solid-teak mullions. Solid-teak soles. Watertight engine-room bulkheads. An air-conditioning system that doesn’t merely circulate cool air but instead creates a potent breeze. Magnetic catches so strong, they’ll never let the doors fly open in a seaway. ¶ Resins are all epoxy vinylester. Virtually all parts of the vessel, including the hull, are vacuum-infused to minimize weight while maximizing strength. The deckhouse and supe rstructure are carbon fiber,…

THE FLAX 27 is a highperformance daysailer built by the German company GreenBoats using environmentally sustainable materials. Judel/Vrolijk & Co. drew the Flax 27’s slipperylooking lines, and GreenBoats built the sloop using natural fiber (reinforced) composites, which consist of linen fibers and flax-seed-oil-based epoxy rather than glass-reinforced plastics. GreenBoats also uses a vacuum-infusion process. The Flax 27’s core materials are created using recycled plastic bottles, and its deck is built with remnant wine corks. ¶ “Oneoff projects are always difficult to calculate beforehand,” says Friedrich Deimann, GreenBoats’ CEO and founder, about the highest hurdle in creating the Flax 27. “We were very lucky with our client, who treated us like a partner. This allowed us to explore different alternatives during the build process and maximize the learning curve.” ¶ While…

WELCOME TO THE MOST UNUSUAL boat-show season in modern memory. ¶ As the COVID-19 pandemic continues and a number of traditional fall boat shows remain in flux, builders are pressing forward, releasing new concepts and launching new models. Production, semicustom and fully custom yachts with a wealth of design and construction advancements are still finding their way onto the water. Features and options continue to evolve as well, meaning there aren’t just new boats; there also are new ways to enjoy them. ¶ The following pages provide a look at a half-dozen concepts and yachts hitting the seas this fall. While the year 2020 definitely has been different, we all can still enjoy the new-boat excitement that begins each October. ¶ Let’s get this party started. The 163-foot Rossinavi Lel…

The Ocean Alexander 27 Explorer (also known as the 27E) is the first model in the builder’s Explorer series, which grew out of the Revolution series that launched in 2018. The design adds exterior amenities including a 225-square-foot aft deck that can stow a multitude of personal watercraft, gear and tenders, or be used as a broad lounging space when all the toys are launched. The yacht’s range, according to Ocean Alexander, is up to 2,100 nautical miles. Belowdecks are four en suite guest staterooms, including an amidships master with his-and-hers heads.…

Van der Valk Shipyard in the Netherlands has released concept drawings for the Explorer 30M, which designer Guido de Groot penned with a fast-displacement hull. His idea was to combine a go-anywhere exterior with the interior amenities of a superyacht. To that end, the Explorer 30M has a beach club, hydraulic transom platform and five staterooms, including a master on the main deck forward. Van der Valk is also promising “exceptionally high ceilings” inside the yacht, allowing for a feeling of relaxation and spaciousness even during long journeys at sea. The pilothouse windshield’s angle adds to the yacht’s go-anywhere vibe.…

WHEN RIVA LAUNCHED THE 66 RIBELLE about two years ago, it introduced yachting enthusiasts to its Sportfly line, which combines a performance focus with the lines of an express cruiser and the function of a flybridge. The Italian shipyard takes that idea to new lengths with its Sportfly-range flagship 88 Folgore, which means “lightning bolt” in Italian. It’s a clever design that maintains a relatively low profile. It’s a look that should appeal to cruisers and speed fans alike. Riva says the yacht’s sporty aesthetic is partially inspired by automotive designs. It is also the result of a collaboration among Officina Italiana Design, the builder’s product strategy committee led by Piero Ferrari, and the Ferretti Group engineering department. ¶ On the performance side of the equation, the 88 Folgore has…

THE PRINCESS YACHTS V78 IS INTENDED TO BE AN OWNER-OPERATOR VESSEL, AN AT-SEA ENTERTAINMENT PLATFORM AND A CAPABLE FAMILY CRUISER. A draft of 5 feet, 4 inches means it can do all these things while island hopping or cruising the Great Loop. Owners can invite guests for an evening on the water or bring the family for an extended vacation. ¶ Boarding the yacht via a centerline staircase off the hydraulic swim platform, I immediately noted the size and layout of the aft deck. There’s a sun pad on each side of the walkway, with both sun pads being separate from the dining area, which is forward and to port. By releasing several mounting pins, owners can reconfigure the modular U-shaped dining seats and starboard L-shaped settee to suit any…

WHEN APPLE UNVEILED its first-generation iPhone, people initially thought it was a cellphone. Soon, they realized that iPhones were actually pocket-size computers that also happened to make voice calls. ¶ A similar evolution has unfurled with Garmin’s wearable technology. People are realizing that Garmin’s Quatix- and Marq-series smartwatches are in fact biometrics and data-streaming platforms. ¶ The desire to take that kind of platform up yet another notch is how I knew I was in for a treat when the box arrived with a loaner Garmin Marq Captain: American Magic Edition smartwatch. Inside, I found a gray aluminum box with an engraving of an AC75-class foiling monohull that will be used to contest the 36th America’s Cup in 2021. On the other side of the box was the American Magic…