Covid-19 or not, the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, which begins on Wednesday, is breaking away from the majority of yachting events that have been virtual and going live—albeit with multiple coronavirus protections in place. The world’s largest in-water show, which runs through November 1, will have multiple world premieres and even more North American debuts. Here are nine of the finest new yachts at the show.
-
Azimut Magellano 25 Metri
Image Credit: Azimut Yachts Azimut’s New Magellano 25 Metri is a breakthrough design for the Italian builder’s mini-explorer series. The 82-footer’s five-stateroom layout includes an owner’s suite, as well as four guest staterooms, including two VIPS, as well as a single and double stateroom. Artist and architect Vincenzo De Cotiis was tapped to do the interior, using fiberglass not as just the build material but as a work of art. Employing a special type of resin embellished with a bronze power, the surfaces combine a clouded effect and the look of precious stones. De Cotiis’s use of brushed Verde Alpi marble, dark walnut, carpeting, and polished brass completed the refined, artistic effect. The brass exterior by naval architect Ken Freivokh is handsome in a retro-futuristic way, with a vertical bow and glass superstructure. This just-launched Magellano also has a vibration-free “hotel mode,” unusual for a yacht this size, that allows onboard functions to work without using the generators. It reaches a top end of 25 knots, but the Dual Mode hull also cruises much more efficiently at lower speeds.
-
Sunseeker Manhattan 68
Image Credit: Sunseeker Yachts When a builder adds mood lighting to a 68-foot motoryacht, it’s clearly serious about adding superyacht features to a smaller design. The Manhattan 68’s lighting and entertainment choices include “movie,” “party” and “night” modes to transform its ambiance from intimate to full-on party. The Manhattan line has always been Sunseeker’s ode to fashion. The new 68 continues that path, with stainless-steel detailing that gives the salon a modern look, and oversized, panoramic windows for exceptional interior light. Other features include a full-beam master suite, with exceptional headroom; private entrance and breakfast table; a four-stateroom layout; and wood finish choices of wenge, oak, eucalyptus and walnut. The exterior flybridge is designed for piloting and socializing, with wetbar, BBQ and fridge, while the beach club on the stern features a rain shower, lights, stereo speakers, charging ports, seating and water toys. Like the mood lighting, the beach club shows the unusually ambitious design of this new Sunseeker.
-
Mangusta GranSport33
Image Credit: Courtesy Overmarine The GranSport 33 is making its world premiere at FLIBS, with hull number one for a US client. The Alberto Mancini design is a combination of sharp curves, large windows and open space. The open salon plan is informal, with a staircase both at the stern and inside to connect to the flybridge. Mancini worked hard to maximize space both across the interior and exterior of the 108-foot yacht, including areas like the 430-square-foot master suite, with its large windows and full-beam design. The enclosed flybridge also measures 600 square feet, making the space as much of a sky lounge as a navigation station. The owner also mandated that the foredeck have a wetbar, Jacuzzi and sunbathing area. The newest Mangusta features 4 Volvo IPS engines that give the boat a top end of 25 knots, while adding exceptional fuel efficiency to the equation. At the stern, the large garage will hold a tender and two jet skis, not to mention many smaller water toys.
-
Prestige X70
Image Credit: Courtesy Prestige Yachts The unusual exterior shape of Prestige’s new X70 gives an immediate indication of how different this “crossover” yacht is from anything else in its class. Designer Garroni’s conception of the X70 as a “villa on the water” includes breakthrough designs like replacing side-decks with inner staircases to maximize internal beam, three consecutive full-beam staterooms, open spaces on multiple levels, and highly fuel-efficient twin 900-hp Volvo Penta IPS engines. The crossover concept blurs the lines between interior and exterior, with large windows, floor-to-ceiling doors that transform the interior into an open-air salon, and a large upper deck with an opening sun panel on the hardtop. Everywhere else—including the stern beach club—has seating for small groups. The groundbreaking design should make this first yacht in Prestige’s X series a major attraction at FLIBS.
-
Ocean Alexander 36L
Image Credit: Courtesy Ocean Alexander Designed by award-winning naval architect Evan K. Marshall, this 117-ft. trideck from Ocean Alexander promises to be a category changer, with features like a full-beam master suite that has a full ocean view forward, a stern platform that reveals an unusually large beach club for direct access to the water, and a fold-down balcony that allows for private moments or a coffee over the water. Marshall’s interior is simple but elegant, with white furniture that contrasts with the dark wood floors and large windows, and a separate rear dining area beside a panel of opening glass doors. Beyond the exceptional views from the master, the space also has a large, marble-clad shower and separate Jacuzzi for the owners. Marshall created a smart design by using every inch of space in functional, but simple and refined ways.
-
Monte Carlo MCY76 Skylounge
Image Credit: Courtesy Monte Carlo Yachts The enclosed flybridge of the MCY76 Skylounge creates a large, open, and climate-controlled space that serves as both pilothouse and second salon. The bridge also has opening skylights, which allow the outdoors in when the yacht is running or at anchor. A set of internal stairs leads down to the main salon, which is even longer than the upper deck, but also defined by windows on all four sides. Besides making the interior big and bright (including the large side windows in the full-beam master) designers Nuvolari-Lenard also created nontraditional exterior spaces that include a bow lounge with sunpads and dining tables as well as the al fresco dining area on the aft cockpit. On the upper deck is an aft terrace connected to the flybridge. The interior of the four-stateroom yacht is open and contemporary, but the designer’s use of maple on the joinery and floors gives it the warmth that many other yachts in its category are missing. Monte Carlo says the yacht will reach 29 knots.
-
Riviera 72 Sports Motor Yacht
Image Credit: Courtesy Riviera Yachts The interior of the Australian builder’s new flagship takes an unusual, innovative tack, with an open salon with rear galley and wraparound lounge as well as the dining area at the front that gives an exceptional view of the water. The mezzanine also allows for al fresco dining (albeit protected) and nighttime entertainment with its large bar. The flybridge, air-conditioned and weatherproof, is yet another social area. Ditto, the open bow, which makes an exceptional sunning area. Teak-covered decks extend all the way to the aft cockpit, providing an open area for either tender storage or setting up a fighting chair for sportfishing. The lower deck has a full-beam “Presidential” master, a VIP in the bow, as well as twin and single staterooms. There is also a single stateroom for the captain at stern. The 72’s creative layout should attract multiple fans.
-
Astondoa AS8
Image Credit: Astondoa Yachts Astondoa’s AS8 employs a stark, modernist design across the spartan, open interior, while mixing crossover-yacht features like the hardtop on the flybridge and table and seating on the foredeck. The inner salon and dining area are all about combining walls of glass windows with high ceilings and loose furniture, along with slender, mirrored side panels to enhance the natural light. The full-beam master suite also has large windows, along with a marble-clad bathroom and glass-enclosed shower that would be more commonly found on yachts much larger than this 82-footer. The exterior is also consistent with the AS8’s minimalist, Mediterranean look, with a generous area for dining and socializing under the hardtop and, just aft, three sunbeds. The aft cockpit also has a table for al fresco dining, or enjoying the sea in a shaded space. The AS8 reaches an impressive 32 knots.
-
Pearl 95
Image Credit: Courtesy Pearl Yachts The UK builder’s flagship, with naval architecture by Bill Dixon and interior by Kelly Hoppen, will make its US premiere tomorrow after its earlier launch in Europe. Available in both four- and five-stateroom versions, with separate crew quarters for four, the yacht has the features of superyachts that are 20 feet longer, with open social areas across the bow and stern, a large outdoor dining area, sunpad, and flybridge bar with BBQ and icemaker. The exterior includes a hydraulically operated swim platform that allows for easy launch and retrieval of the tender and, of course, swimming. The master suite is full beam, with a large bathroom and head. Hoppen’s interior includes three color schemes to suit the owner’s preference. Despite its size and interior volume, the yacht has a top speed of 28 knots, with a range of 380 nautical miles at a friendly cruise speed.
