The Cannes Yachting Festival has just ended and the Monaco Yacht Show will start on September 28. These two are the most famous of Europe’s fall shows, but there are three others that are important national events, where global launches still take place.
Britain’s biggest boating festival, the Southampton International Boat Show, runs September 16-25. Last year’s successful new layout with sector-specific zones is set to return, alongside multiple boats making world debuts. Following the announcement of the state funeral of her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on September 19, the show will not open that day as a mark of respect.
The Genoa International Boat Show is Italy’s premier yachting event, with 200,000 square meters of display space for in-water boats and more than 900 exhibitors. Running from Sept. 22-27, the 62nd edition focuses on five key areas: yachts, superyachts, the sailing world, boating discovery and tech trade. As a show, Genoa has always been a source of national pride that attracts its largest yacht builders, along with scores of buyers.
Returning for its second year, Greece’s Olympic Yacht Show is set to take place at Olympic Marine’s renovated facilities in Lavrion between October 7-10. As the country’s sole superyacht event, the premium in-water show attracts more than 15,000 visitors who flock to catch the latest launches, as well as to get a taste of one of the top charter destinations in the world. Its biggest global launches are RIBs that can be used as yacht tenders or personal vessels.
Below is Robb Report’s round-up of the most exciting launches to come out of the three shows.
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Princess F65, Southampton
Image Credit: Courtesy Princess Yachts The new F65 has been purposely designed to look simple, inside and out. The exterior lines give this motoryacht a fairly aggressive look for a 65-footer, while the twin 1200hp MAN engines deliver on that promise with a top end of 33 knots. The interior, available in three different oak versions or a single walnut stain, has been left wide open to maximize light and space. Princess divided the salon into large zones. The main suite is also full-beam, with large windows on the side and a center island bed, with its large ensuite. Of course, the 16-foot beam helps with the sense of space. At the bow is a VIP suite, and between the two is a twin-berth stateroom. The boat also has a single-bed cabin for the captain. The flybridge is a serious social area, with three lounges across from the double helm seat and wetbar. A double sunpad sits on the bow.
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Fairline F//line 33 Outboard, Southampton
Image Credit: Courtesy Fairline Yachts Fairline’s new 33-footer looks more like an inboard-powered sportboat than a conventional outboard. The svelte lines, vertical bow, and full-featured cockpit (with a real dining area behind the helm) all add up to a thoughtful, forward-looking design. Even the outboards—typically making the back of most boats a wasted space—has a swim platform around them that lifts to make it simple to step onto raised docks, or lowers to access the water. The outboards are three options of Mercury Verados: the twin 300s deliver a stop speed of 37 knots, while the 350s push it to 42 knots, and the 400s give a sizzling top speed of 47 knots.
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Oyster 495, Southampton and Genoa
Image Credit: Courtesy Oyster Yachts With a three-cabin configuration and four alternative interiors, the Oyster 495, which debuts at Southampton and Genoa, offers variety in a midsized package. A collaboration between Humphreys Yacht Design and Oyster’s inhouse studio resulted in this 50-foot bluewater sailing yacht, the heritage builder’s smallest model yet. Design cues from its larger boats are echoed in the and clean hull lines. A twin rudder configuration also means easier handling. The large cockpit with protected helms and multiple automated sailing technologies make the Oyster 495 ideal for couples looking to sail without a crew.
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Azimut 26M Grande, Genoa
Image Credit: Courtesy Azimut Yachts The Azimut Grande 26M packs significant punch into its 85 feet. One of its key features is an extendable cockpit—what the Italian builder calls the Deck2Deck—that expands to form a luxurious sea terrace for greater sociability, while the opening transom rises to lie flush with the main deck. Multi-tiered levels across this area give a sense of volume. On the sundeck, a hot tub lends superyacht appeal, as does the option of al-fresco dining, while forward a bank of oversized sunpads becomes a sunbather’s haven.
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Fiart P54, Genoa
Image Credit: Courtesy Fiart Showing at Genoa this year following its Cannes debut, the Fiart P54, from expert designer Stefano Pastrovich, is defined by features that combine functionality with form. One great example among many: A submersible rear platform facilitates easy launch of the tender. When not in use, the tender neatly stores in a stern hatch under the deck. Owners can choose between an open boat or limousine hard top, as well as two- or three-cabin layouts. Its sharp looks aren’t the only bonus. The boat is fast, maxing out at 39 knots.
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Nerea NY40, Genoa
Image Credit: Courtesy Nerea Yachts Nerea is an up-and-coming Italian builder focused on elegant design. Its new 40-footer is a leap for the company, employing standout features like a lifting swim platform and huge bow windows to provide natural light to the main suite forward. The forward sleeping quarters can be reconfigured as a berth-less social area if the owner doesn’t want a stateroom. The aft area can be designed for either single or double beds. The designers also made the open cockpit topsides highly functional, with a large sunbed at the stern, two sets of lounges, a double helm and an open foredeck that is functional for handling lines, but also gives the boat a a classy look.
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Onda 321L O’Pari Limo Tender, Olympic Yacht Show
Exemplifying just what custom design is all about, Onda is showcasing its 32-foot 321L limo tender at this year’s show. Custom-built for the 311-foot superyacht O’Pari, the tender enjoys a matching paint scheme and was designed with a double-step and deep-V hull for good seakeeping. Fitted with a pair of 270hp inboards, the lightweight boat whips 10 guests from mothership to shore at 42 knots, though they might be unaware of the rapid speeds, thanks to the boat’s sound and vibration proofing. Owner requests included an espresso machine, small refrigerator, teak decks and auto-deploying fender system for a sleeker look when under way.
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Technohull 38 Grand Sport Super Fast Edition, Olympic Yacht Show
Image Credit: Courtesy Technomar With its bright red interior and sleek black exterior, the Technohull 38 Grand Sport Super Fast Edition is a rocketship sure to turn heads in Athens. Technohull’s patented Dynastream hull form—which relies on a deep-V hull shape with ventilated steps to pierce waves and deflect spray—delivers explosive speeds of over 100 knots. The composite hull is vacuum-infused and reinforced with Kevlar to deliver maximum strength with minimal weight. At the same time, comfort from shock-mitigating carbon bucket seats delivers a thrilling “Top Gun” experience on water.
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Olympic 45 SRC, Olympic Yacht Show
Strap in for the ride of your life aboard Olympic Ribs’ new 45 SRC triple-outboard boat. Equipped with a two-person cabin, the 45-foot RIB is designed as a standalone vessel, but equally well-sized as a superyacht tender. The T-top throws shade over twin open helm seats, with a second row of passenger seats behind. When at anchor, the sunbeds and seating forward invite relaxation, while the aft seating arrangement can be configured into a dining table that comfortably accommodates all 12 guests.
