Princess Yachts announce the latest edition to their S Class Sportbridge range, the all-new Princess S65. Since its inception 10 years ago, the Princess S Class range has delivered a sublime combination of sports yacht styling and breathtaking performance with the sumptuous space and comfort of a flybridge yacht. The Princess S65 follows the distinct S class personality defined by its S hull graphic, strong graphical canopy features and powerful bulwark haunches.

Designed by the in-house Princess Design Studio in collaboration with naval architects Olesinski and Italian design house, Pininfarina, the S65 features a sleek, low-profile exterior that gives it a powerful, sporting stance. So much so that it almost completely hides the large sports-bridge above. Her clever design means there is still enough room to accommodate a large sunroof which, when opened, fills the saloon and lower helm with light and air for those open boating, ‘wind in the hair’ moments.

The ‘life outdoors’ theme continues into the generous and flexible cockpit which inspires relaxation and equipped with twin MAN V8 1200 or V12 1400 engines, giving a maximum speed of 36 knots she also delivers the exhilaration expected from the sporty S Class models.

The S class has opened Princess up to a thrill-seeking audience who are searching for speed, fun, and excitement but who refuse to compromise on space and flexibility. These yachts are about feeling connected to the water, bringing loved ones together and cruising in ultimate comfort and style. They exemplify all the ability, quality and design expected from a Princess and inject a unique level of performance, style and on-water attitude.

Design 

“Defined by Princess’ sweeping design language and sculpted exterior surfaces, the S65 illustrates a prominent yet sophisticated presence”, says Andy Lawrence, Director of Design at Princess Yachts. “Maintaining that low-profile, powerful stance while accommodating a spacious flybridge is a crucial element of the S Class design and I am delighted that we have created something that still looks sporty but provides more space on board than we have ever had in this size range.”

On approach to the S65, you are met with her teak laid Electro-hydraulic bathing platform and a garage to store a tender of up to 3.3m, with electro-hydraulic door and tender launch system with electric winch. The cockpit features U-shaped seating and dining area with folding teak table, and aft sunpad. The cockpit countertop to port connects to the galley countertop separated by an upswinging door which, when open, seamlessly connects the inside with the outside. There is an optional top-loading cool box, storage cupboard and to starboard there also is the option for either a servery unit, including 100l drawer fridge and bilge locker; or an L-shaped aft facing seat including bilge locker.

Leading to the flybridge is a stairway with teak step treads, opening the way for her spacious sportbridge deck on which owners can experience the S65’s immaculate handling and comfortable ride with unbroken views of the horizon. Featuring an optional table with infill cushions that can be transformed to create a large sun bed means guests can relax in comfort whilst enjoying the smooth ride that the S65 has to offer. The Sportbridge helm station features twin helm seats and dual station instrumentation and controls. On the right is a large U-shaped upholstered seating area with storage below and teak-double-fold dining table with built in drinks holders for added practicality.

S80 Main Deck

Moving inside, the sociable deck saloon offers a versatile environment to kick back and relax, featuring a U-shaped sofa with crockery drawers, coffee table, and sideboard unit with bottle and glass storage, providing sufficient places to store kitchen and home ware. Opposite the saloon seating area is a 55” UHD LED TV on rise and fall linked to Marine audio system paired with speakers to provide a state-of-the-art entertainment system. Looking forwards, the Dinette features an L-shaped sofa with folding dining table and cup holders, plus a stainless-steel framed sliding door to the cockpit with integrated hinging window aft of the galley. The well-equipped open plan galley seamlessly connects to the saloon, featuring a full height fridge/freezer and twin sinks.

The foredeck offers a truly unique cruising experience featuring a U-shaped seating area and walk through, as well as a sunbathing area with twin sun beds including cushions and storage lockers. This area welcomes a perfect environment to relax alfresco with family and friends. 

Below deck, the S65 accommodates eight guests across four cabins, with the option of an additional crew cabin towards the aft, with separate WC and shower. The full beam master stateroom makes full use of the generous beam, featuring a large double bed with drawers below, twin bedside tables, and walk-through wardrobe area for ultimate storage options.

Craftsmanship

Every element of the S65 is designed with meticulous attention to detail by the Princess Design Studio. Both Exterior and Interior elements are crafted with flowing yet functional forms to deliver the ultimate standard of luxury when at sea. The company is renowned for designing and manufacturing luxury yachts from its Plymouth headquarters for almost 60 years. The very essence of the S Class is powerful, exhilarating and precise, with stylish, contemporary, and seamlessly executed finishes. The S Class blends iconic design, exceptional engineering and unrivalled craftsmanship to create an unforgettable, emotional experience.

Discover Princess’ dynamic S Class range here: princessyachtsamerica.com

The post The Princess S65: Latest Addition to the S Class appeared first on Yachting.

Brimming with incredible natural beauty, world-renowned pristine white sand beaches with crystal clear waters, unique tropical marine life and excellent for scuba diving spots, Australia is one of the best destinations for yachting and water sports.

Home to the great barrier reef and the world’s largest collection of coral reefs, the east coast has a remarkable variety of marine life and boasts one of Australia’s beautiful and oldest cities.

Our Australian distributor, Princess Yachts Australia provide some of their best recommendations on the Australian Gold Coast of Brisbane for restaurants, local cuisine and fun activities for the whole family.

Hotel Recommendations

With beautiful beaches lining Brisbane’s stunning coastline, there are ample places to stay in the city, whether traveling to explore the sights, relax in style or voyage further afield.

Intercontinental Hotel

This five‑star resort in Sanctuary Cove is nestled in 4.2 hectares of lush, tropical landscaping and home to a stunning lagoon beach, where you often spot a kangaroo or two. The grand estate houses four restaurants and bars. Try the resort’s High Coffee, a caffeinated twist on the classic High Tea tradition.

The Intercontinental also becomes the perfect base for visitors attending the Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show, taking place from 25th – 28th May. Discover more about the event here.

W Brisbane

Perched above the Brisbane River, W Brisbane is a place where power suits and bathing suits collide. A river motif weaves its way through the hotel, with modern eclectic interiors influenced by Australia’s Indigenous culture and the playful ‘BrisVegas’ attitude. With a rooftop lounge and cocktail bars, this a place to live large in Brisbane.

The Callie Hotel

Rising above bustling James Street, and surrounded by restaurants and boutiques, this modern, ultra-glamourous hotel exudes effortless style. Enjoy hours of poolside leisure, cocktail in hand, in a chilled-out cabana.

Recommended Activities

With subtropical climates and plenty of sunshine all year round, Brisbane makes an ideal city for exploring and adventuring outdoors. Here are some incredible activities that will showcase the beauty of the city’s coastlines, lush green parks and pristine beaches.

Australia has over 8,000 islands, the majority of which are uninhabited by humans, making them a host for diverse marine life unique to Australia, creating some of the most desirable scuba diving or snorkelling spots in the world.

Snorkelling at Tangalooma

The Tangalooma wrecks otherwise known as the Morton Island wrecks are one of Australia’s best underwater locations for scuba diving and snorkelling in its crystal clear waters. The Wrecks provide diving depths from 2 to 10 metres making this a great spot for divers of all abilities. The shallow waters of the site attract an array of marine life with over 100 fish species frequenting the area. Dart around these dramatic, coral-covered local shipwrecks — you might even see a dolphin, wobbegong shark, dugong or sea turtle swim by.

Snorkelling at Flinders Reef

Flinders Reef near Moreton Island is home to the highest number of coral species of any subtropical reef system along Australia’s east coast and is the closest true coral reef to Brisbane. With more than 175 fish species, this isolated reef is brimming with hidden wildlife to discover.

Mooloolaba Beach and Harbour

The pure white sand of Mooloolaba beach is not one to be missed, with plenty of excellent cafes, restaurants and shops along the beach front to provide visitors with everything they could need for a perfect day out. Within easy walking distance of the Esplanade is Mooloolaba Harbour which has everything the cruising yachtsman would require and provides the ideal location to dock up and explore the marina.

Tamborine Mountain

The Gold Coast Hinterland, known by locals as ‘the green behind the gold’, provides a refreshing escape from the hot beaches. With its high altitude, Tamborine Mountain is cooler and less humid than the coast — the perfect environment for exploring a tropical wonderland, savour local wines and indulge in long lunches.

Noosa Beaches

With its balmy beaches and boardwalks, pristine sands and picturesque rivers, Noosa is best enjoyed at a relaxed pace. Noosa’s Main Beach offers calm waters, but Peregian Beach is the local favourite, home to independent cafes and eclectic boutiques. Granite Bay is a beautiful area to explore and a famous point break for surfers.

Best Yachting Spots

There is something very magical about being somewhere you can only get to by boat. Queensland is a boat owners paradise, with an abundance of hidden gems and stunning spots to enjoy a great sailing adventure. The Gold Coast is the perfect place to immerse yourself on a luxury floating oasis.

Tangalooma

Tangalooma is a natural paradise known for its marine life and untamed beauty. Visit the Tangalooma Island Resort where you might have a chance to hand‑feed a wild, bottlenose dolphin. Explore the reef‑covered wrecks and enjoy a Queensland sunset. From June to October, you might even spot an ocean giant, as humpback whales make their way up the coast.

Jumpinpin

Jumpinpin, or ‘the pin’ as locals call it, is a boating and fishing paradise between Brisbane and the Gold Coast. While you need to watch out for the ever‑changing sandbars and channels, the delicious bream and flathead are worth the adventure. Nearby, Couran Cove’s Island resort and marina is a luxurious option for an evening on solid ground.

Great Sandy Strait

The Great Sandy Straight lies between Fraser Coast’s mainland and Fraser Island. Spend a couple of days exploring 70km of crystal-clear waters, white beaches and meandering creeks. The sheltered strait provides conditions similar to The Whitsundays, so it’s easy to sit back and take in the serene vistas of this magnificent marine park.

Secret Spot – Slipping Sands

Aptly named, Slipping Sands is a stretch of golden sand that falls to beautiful calm water and is one of many of Brisbane’s natural wonders. This relatively unknown spot provides a gorgeous anchorage and the perfect spot to have lunch. Here you’ll find yacht owners fishing, crabbing, swimming and strolling along the sand dunes. .

Dining recommendations

When it comes to dining in Brisbane, there are ample choices of great restaurants with varied cuisines, from Asian banqueting to Italian eats. Here are some beautiful restaurants to enjoy whilst gazing out onto the gleaming skyline of Brisbane.

Omeros Bros ‑ Gold Coast

Set on the Marina Mirage boardwalk, Omeros Bros serves deceptively simple fare in a laidback setting. Take in the views over Broadwater, enjoy the sea breezes, and savour the Sydney Rock Oysters or mud crab dishes. Australian snapper, one of the most popular table fish in Australia is prepared in a number of ways — grilled with lemon butter, beer battered or lightly crumbed — but our favourite is ‘En Papillote’ cooked in tomato with fish velouté, coriander, chilli and evoo.

Stanley Restaurant ‑ Brisbane

Stanley is a luxuriously appointed restaurant housed within a former water police headquarters. The menu showcases carefully prepared Australian produce, but with a Cantonese twist. We love the opulent take on traditional favourites, from lobster fried rice to Moreton Bay Bug spring rolls. The steamed coral trout with ginger shallots, keeps us coming back, as does the 400‑bottle wine list.

Rick Shores – Burleigh Heads

Pan-Asian dishes at Rick Shores come in all sizes, but even the smaller dishes pack a walloping punch of flavour. From the small plate menu, the Fried Moreton Bay Bug Roll with Sriracha mayonnaise is a weekend staple, and from the curry list, it is impossible to go past the Sichuan roasted duck breast with a tang of lychee. Take your time on the Crispy Suckling Pig with XO Sauce, aromats and fried garlic as you watch surfers carve waves just metres from your table.

Favourite Local Dish

Linguine con cicale

Italians have long been drawn to Queensland’s warm climate and relaxed character. While there are dozens of Italian eateries up and down the coast, here’s something to whip up in your own galley.

Roast freshly caught Moreton Bay Bugs, (otherwise known as Flathead lobster or Bay Lobster) fry up some shallots, garlic and tomatoes until the tomatoes soften. Add wine and simmer. Add a dash of cream and the bug meat and then season. A drizzle of oil is a nice finishing touch. Best enjoyed with a crisp wine whilst watching a glowing sunset.

The post Brisbane Travel Guide appeared first on Yachting.

The new Y78 features the very latest in Princess exterior design and interior materials and finishes. Her flexible deck layout features a walkthrough foredeck with U-shaped seating and sunbathing area, whilst her flybridge aft has space for free standing furniture or can accommodate a crane and a tender. Natural light flows in to her main deck through extended window lines and a unique full-height window on the port side to make the free standing dining area a spectacular place to entertain. Forward on the lower deck, all three guest cabins are en suite whilst a dedicated staircase leads to the owner’s stateroom amidships via a private lobby area.

Specs:

Year: 2020
Make: Princess
Model: Y78
Class: Flybridge
Length: 78 ft.
Fuel Type: Diesel
Hull Material: Fiberglass

Visit https://www.yachtworld.com/yacht/2020-princess-y78-8748156/ for more information

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What began in spring 2012 as an intimate gathering of Princess yacht owners in Key West has expanded over the past decade into the largest semiannual event the Princess Yachts brand has seen to date. Held April 20-24 on Harbour Island, Bahamas, this year’s Princess Spring Owners Holiday welcomed nearly 50 Princess yachts, ranging from the F45 to the X95, and more than 400 owners and guests to the docks of the charming Valentines Resort & Marina for four days of fun, relaxation, and connection.

Princess Yachts America hosts two Owners Holidays per annum—the spring gathering is generally held in the Bahamas; the summer gathering is in New England. Guests tend to travel together to attend each event, and the activities on offer get better year after year. This year, the boats navigated the notorious Devil’s Backbone reef—with the assistance of expert marina pilot Lil’ Woody—in time for the welcome reception and dock party at The Rooster Tail Bar at the Valentines Marina. Music and dancing continued well into the evening, which was punctuated by a stunning fireworks display.

On Day Two, guests had their pick of multiple activities, including a morning pickleball tournament at The Dunmore or a master chef charcuterie class at Valentines. The highlight of the day was the inaugural Harbour Island “Knot So Grand Prix,” which combined a golf-cart-decorating contest, poker run, and the contestant’s choice to perform a for the crowd of onlookers. The colorful creativity was on full display as the vibrantly decorated golf carts and their costumed occupants skittered around the island, stopping at local businesses and places of interest to collect their playing cards before returning to Valentines for their creative presentation. Awards were presented based on five categories, including Best Theme/Costumes, Best Golf Cart, Best Performance, Best Poker Hand, and Overall Enthusiasm and Creativity.

Day Three’s beach day was hosted this year on the pink sands of Valentines Beach. Guests enjoyed food, libations, and tropical tunes while trying out all manner of watersports—from paddleboards to kayaks to Seabobs—as well as onshore games including four square, spike ball, yard pong and the ever-competitive egg toss. 

Breakfast was delivered to each Princess yacht on the morning of Day Four, after which guests set out on a variety of excursions, such as swimming with the pigs, feeding sea turtles, snorkeling, diving, horseback riding, fishing, and guided tours. In the evening, a complete dinner, including appetizers, proteins, salads, side dishes, plates, cutlery, napkins, and refreshing bubbly and chilled rose was delivered to every yacht and guest room, after which a special Junkanoo celebration kicked off the awards ceremony, complete with dessert stations, live entertainment, and dancing.

“At PYA, we strive to deliver the exceptional,” says PYA vice president and marketing director James Nobel. “The idea of a rendezvous isn’t something new, but the culture of our owners is remarkable, as are the friendships that have grown as a result of our events.”

PYA sends its customer-service, sales, and marketing teams to each Owners Holiday so that they can chat with customers and their guests, address any questions they have about their boats, and learn about what Princess yacht owners are looking for in future models.  In addition, representatives from Princess Yachts, as well as the PYA dealer network and various vendor partners are on hand throughout the event for technical support.

“Like most who enjoy life on the water, Princess owners are passionate about their boats and love coming together to share their stories and experiences, while greeting familiar friends and making lifelong social connections.  Princess Yachts America invests heavily encouraging our Princess family to get out on the water and explore the fantastic lifestyle that cruising offers.  The shared experiences, time spent learning more about what our customers value most about their boats, and the connections made between the people involved with helping our owners gain the most from their ownership experience is invaluable to continuing to build upon the success and following for Princess in our market.” 

The next Princess Yachts America Owners Holiday will be held in Provincetown, on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, July 20-23, 2023. For more information please contact Melissa DiMarco at mdimarco@pyamerica.com.

The post Delivering the Exceptional appeared first on Yachting.

I have worked at Princess for more than 30 years. In that time I have become the custodian of our interior and exterior living spaces in terms of design and styling. You develop an instinctive sense of what works, not just aesthetically but also with an eye on what’s achievable.

Princess builds a hugely diverse range of models, but step aboard any one of them and you will sense a coherent design integrity, from the new R35 at one end of the spectrum to our latest project, the tri deck X95, that pushes the boundaries of style.

A quiet confidence pervades. These are designs that will last. The Princess Design Studio look is simple yet sophisticated, and exquisitely executed – the aim is to create somewhere you will want to spend more and more time. As you do, you’ll notice the almost obsessive attention to detail.

We have been raising the standard spec on our boats in the last few years, not only around the outdoor living spaces, where an abundance of teak is often enhanced and complemented by metallic paint finishes, but inside too. Electric blinds on the S78, for example; sophisticated Naim audio systems, touch sensitive wall lights, Vispring mattresses, and so on. Fabrics and finishes are more robust than they used to be, but just as stylish. Our designs of today are more edgy – satin surface finishes combine beautifully with innovative treatments such as soft-touch laminates and lacquers, to create a textured, architectural vibe.

As we develop more innovative designs, we are becoming leaders rather than followers. My team gives creative direction, so a lot of thought goes into how each new model will be used, the latest trends that we believe are significant and will stand the test of time, and new finishes and effects. We scour design shows all over the world, study the catwalk trends, and keep a watching brief on the latest boutique hotels and luxury brand showrooms.

At the Princess Design Studio nothing is ever considered quite good enough, and in striving for perfection every surface finish is rigorously tested, new furniture designs are painstakingly mocked up and every stitch detail is considered. Sustainable timbers are hand selected at source. Veneers are sorted manually to ensure consistency of quality, colour and grain.

While we strive to create designs that exude confidence, beauty and craftsmanship, we never lose sight of the one crucial ingredient for on-board comfort – space. People need freedom of movement on board, and room to relax. Customers spend weeks if not months at a time on their boats and our aim is to make the environment on board so spacious and uplifting that they never want to leave.

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For a nation about the size of Oregon, Britain clearly understands luxury. The Brits produce vehicles that set a benchmark: Think Rolls-Royce and Bentley, as well as Aston Martin, Jaguar and Lotus.

So it should come as no surprise that the Princess Yachts V55 has a level of luxury beyond just layout or speed; it’s about the details. Before I get into the amidships master stateroom or the two other staterooms, the gourmet galley or the cockpit arranged for alfresco living, consider the supple, handmade leathers and suedes used for the V55’s interior upholstery. The helm seats, with armrests and headrests, have flawless stitching that stands proud of the material, just like on fine cars. The leather couch in the master made me feel cosseted with the luxe material.

This is a highly usable yacht too. Boarding from the transom platform is via twin stairways flanking a sun pad, which conceals the garage that accommodates an 11½-foot tender. The cockpit has softly curved lines, unlike the dart-like hull with its black-window slash and sweptback windscreen. An L-shaped lounge with a folding teak table is to port, a couch is aft, and there’s a Kenyon grill and a fridge for outdoor cooking. The cockpit is protected from wind with full-glass side windows.

One particular detail caught my eye here: the disappearing salon door. The stainless-steel door into the salon slides, and the neighboring window slides down into recesses, opening the cockpit to the salon. It’s an impressive display of engineering, which, combined with the 90-inch-long sunroof and opening windows on each side of the salon, makes for alfresco living on board.

The galley to starboard has a four-burner cooktop, a two-drawer Sub-Zero fridge and a microwave, along with several drawers and a pop-up pantry. A set of Princess glassware is in a fitted cabinet abaft the helm (and a Miele wine chiller is in the master stateroom). Opposite the galley is the settee with a fold-out dining table.

The Princess Yachts design team—Bernard Olesinski penned the hull—clearly looked at luxury cars when arranging the dash, which hosts a pair of 16-inch Garmin touchscreens and a separate monitor for the engines, all tucked under the wide lip to prevent reflections in the windshield. The helm is a skipper’s delight, with a row of rocker switches, throttle shifters and a wheel. The V55 I was aboard had the optional joystick, combining the twin Side-Power bow and stern thrusters with the engines to make docking easier, even when short-handed. I also applaud the detailed, eye-level electrical panel tucked inboard of the helm in the companionway.

The master stateroom spans the full 15-foot-3-inch beam with a queen-size centerline berth and stowage that includes a 5-foot-tall hanging locker for wrinkle-free clothes. A sliding door opens to the head and its 30-by-36-inch stall shower.

Forward is a guest stateroom to starboard with upper and lower bunks for the kids. The VIP stateroom is far forward with a queen berth that can split into V-berths when needed. The en suite head here has a private entry and does double duty as the day head. An optional crew cabin can be tucked aft with its own head and berth.

Standard power for the V55 is a pair of 1,000 hp Volvo Penta D13 straight-shaft diesels, which is a change from the V50 and its IPS pod drives. The straight drives have less maintenance and more horsepower, and skippers still get the joystick for combining thrusters and engines. Of note is the hidden station to starboard in the cockpit with engine and thruster controls for docking.

The V55 I was aboard had several options that consume engine-room space, such as a Seakeeper NG9 gyrostabilizer and a larger genset (21.5 kW rather than 9.5 kW), yet I still had full headroom at 5 feet, 10 inches tall. All the systems are accessible, including the fuel filters, sea strainers and Mastervolt isolation transformer. Three Dometic air-conditioning systems are neatly plumbed on bulkhead racks for service.

With the hammer down, the V55 topped 35 knots at 2,450 rpm, which leaves the engines happy and long-lasting at a 28-knot cruise speed at 75 percent engine load and 2,100 rpm.

Speed for a yacht this size is nice, but the most striking feature of the V55 underway was something missing: noise. Rolls-Royce once promised that the loudest noise in its Silver Shadow was the clock ticking, and the Princess V55 isn’t far behind. My decibel meter barely hit 70 with the boat running flat-out. Dropping back into the high-20-knot speeds, it read just over 64. That’s about the same as background music. Dockside with the air conditioning running, I couldn’t hear the genset.

Underway, the Princess V55 handles like a much smaller yacht: light on the steering and not needing the Bennett trim tabs to climb quickly onto plane. We stuck our nose far enough offshore to prove that the deep-V hull form could easily handle the bluster of the English Channel, the Catalina Channel or the Gulf Stream.

All in all, this is a delightful offering from a land that knows luxury. Britannia still rules the waves.

Interior Matters

This V55 has the optional satin-finish walnut interior, which is pleasantly serene and modern. Standard interiors in satin finish include alba oak (light) or rovere oak (medium), while darker silver oak and walnut are options.  

Dependable Diesel

Powering the V55 are twin Volvo Penta D13 diesels, a marinized version of the Volvo D13 truck engine, which has a worldwide reputation for robust and reliable operation, fuel efficiency and solid torque. At 780 cubic inches in a six-cylinder cast-iron block, it has fuel injection and electronic control systems.  

Another Living Room

The V55 salon opens to the outdoors with a disappearing door, as well as a sunroof and lowering windows. Another outdoor living space is at the bow, with a wraparound couch, a cocktail table and another sun pad.

Take the next step: princessyachtsamerica.com

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I’m one of more than 80 skilled carpenters in the bench carpentry section at Princess’s Coypool complex, and we produce just about every piece of timber aboard your Princess. From structural bulkheads to wardrobe doors, and from bunks and bathrooms to superyacht dining tables, they are all put together with the same obsessive quest for perfection.

I have always liked working with wood. I did it at home, enjoyed it at school, and studied it at college. I then spent ten years with a local manufacturer producing architectural joinery, windows, doors and staircases, during which time I served a four-year apprenticeship to earn my professional qualifications.

In the 20 years I’ve been at Princess, I have seen how our traditional woodworking and joinery skills have been augmented by high-tech machinery and computer modelling. It’s about efficiency and cost, of course, but it’s also about quality. Computer numerical control means precision, but timber is a natural element with inherent variations, so a lot of traditional skills are needed to bring even a straightforward assembly up to the level of quality we require. The smallest jobs contain only a few components, but the largest may number nearer 400. And everything has to fit and function as perfectly as possible.

Our designers are demanding more curves than they used to, in both bulkheads and furniture. So we use vacuum presses which can produce complex curves in material thicknesses which would have been impossible only a few years ago. Microwave radio frequency presses form the multi-layered veneer cappings that grace almost every bunk.

Explore More: The Princess Passport

The popular cherry finishes of a few years ago have now mostly given way to oak and walnut. But we still use cherry on many of the ebony feature pieces like coffee tables and dining tables, because its density and close grain allow it to be colour-matched perfectly.

In 2015 I was presented with the John Helmore Award for Excellence. John was a great friend of  mine. We studied at the same college in Plymouth, little imagining that years later we’d both be working at Princess Yachts. He was an absolutely fantastic craftsman, and his work was an inspiration to the whole team. Sadly, he died of cancer last year, aged 44, and it’s a great honour to be the first recipient of this new award in his memory.

In my spare time I like to raise money for St Luke’s Hospice, which looked after John, so this year I entered the Lions Club New Years’ Day fancy dress swim in Cawsand Bay. I went as a Minion. The outfit was only made of cardboard, but even if I say so myself, it was pretty good. Like John, I’m not just a carpenter, I’m a perfectionist.

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The US debuts of three of its larger models should be news enough for iconic British yacht builder Princess Yachts, but set these debuts among a grand showcase of eight—ranging from an F45 to an X95—and the news underscores how well-rounded this builder truly is.

Situated prominently on Ramp Four, front and center, Princess Yachts will showcase its F45, V55, F65 S72, Y72, X80, Y85 and X95 yachts during the 2023 Palm Beach International Boat Show, March 23-26. Among them will be the US premieres of its F65, S72 and X80 models. 

“Palm Beach is a great venue for us to have this type of lineup,” says Princess VP of marketing James Nobel. “It’s not an overwhelming show, it’s easy to get in and out, and there’s a good atmosphere for socializing and getting onto the boats.”

The original intimacy of the show lining the docks along Flagler Drive in West Palm Beach has been maintained, and, as the original exhibitors have grown, the show has accommodated. “The show has done a good job of making it easier to expand your presence,” says Nobel, who adds that Princess Yachts’ eye-catching and varied display will give attendees “a good feel for Princess in general.”

U.S. DEBUT: F65

Owner Operation in Style

Styling-wise, the new F65 hints at the flowing lines and contemporary exterior profile displayed by her larger Y Series sisters. Interior-wise, she is the full package for owner-operators. 

Princess Yachts’ F Class yachts—“F for “flybridge”—are designed with an innovative use of space within an attractive exterior package. Comfortable socializing is at the heart of this design, which features numerous exterior deck areas and an impressive four-stateroom layout.

The F65 features a galley-aft configuration that facilitates indoor/outdoor entertainment with a large dinette and a spacious raised salon and helm area forward. The large geometric-patterned windows that lend the yacht its contemporary flair welcome plentiful natural light into this space. 

The four-stateroom layout is a notable feature of this new model, and eight guests can be comfortably accommodated in a full-beam master suite amidships, a VIP in the bow, and a bunk cabin and convertible twin to port and starboard, respectively. The F65 also offers the option for transom-access crew quarters aft of the engine room.

From the aft deck, with its U-shaped settee and dinette, to the foredeck with split sun pads and the option for refrigeration, the deck areas of the F65 are a compelling feature of this compact yacht. As the name would suggest, the flybridge is the main attraction, and the F65 flybridge will not disappoint. Ideal for entertaining, this space is fitted with ergonomic dining seating, a wet bar with barbecue, refrigeration, and an aft sunbed and L-shaped settee that converts to a second sunbed when desired. 

With an overall aesthetic signed off by Pininfarina, the F65 hits the sweet spot for owner-operators who appreciate style and space.

U.S. DEBUT: S72

Motoryacht Space, Sport-Yacht Speed

Ease of use, four full-scale staterooms, a giant sunroof that opens to the sky—the new S72 takes the Princess S Class to a new level with its hardtop design and plentiful motoryacht amenities in the sport-yacht package.

Described as the “luxury sport class,” the S Class is defined by a dynamic extended profile and a deep-V hull that delivers agile performance and speeds up to 36 knots. 

Aboard the new S72, an extended cockpit features a U-shaped settee with modular seating and a folding teak table. A sun pad aft invites relaxation with a good book. A cockpit bar with a fold-up window offers a seamless transition between the aft galley and the aft deck space. Owners are offered the option of four interior styles to complete the look of their S72. Within the spacious interior, a large L-shaped dining area is situated opposite the well-equipped galley, while the main salon entertainment space and interior helm station occupy the space forward. 

The interior light afforded by the sweeping hull windows extends into the lower deck accommodations, which notably feature a full-beam master stateroom amidships, a VIP in the bow, and mirrored convertible twins. The owners will also enjoy a dedicated staircase access the owner’s suite via a private lobby area. Crew quarters are positioned aft. 

The sport bridge is the place to be aboard the S72, with a helm with twin chairs and sprawling settees and a dinette positioned beneath an opening hardtop. Here, guests can relax and take in the view with a bit of breeze as the captain demonstrates the exhilarating performance of this luxury sport cruiser.

U.S. DEBUT: X80

Interior Volume Uncompromised

The rise of high-volume yacht designs is bringing gracious interior space to the midsize-yacht market. While many high-volume designs trade speed for space, Princess X80 owners can have both superyacht-level interior space and comfortable speeds in the 26-to-28-knot range.

Princess calls this X Class the “Superfly” family, in that the X has a “super flybridge” with nearly 30 percent more interior space than traditional yachts of the same size. An elongated exterior profile with flowing lines provides a sculpted appeal, and the X80 offers incredible deck areas to complement its four-stateroom layout.

The spacious interior is further augmented by the yacht’s flowing window lines that stream natural light within the main deck salon and country kitchen forward as well as the lower deck. The standard layout sees the full-beam master stateroom amidships, a forward VIP, a double to starboard, and a twin to port. Three crew can be accommodated aft in this layout. X80 clients also have the option of adding a main-deck master stateroom that includes a private owner’s sundeck.

The X80’s interior is matched by her inviting deck areas. Walkaround side decks connect the aft deck to the foredeck, and the flybridge is nothing short of, well, super. Situated under the retractable hardtop, a built-in settee offers an entertainment space aft of the helm station, while the deck extends to the outdoors with numerous seating areas.

Of the three yachts making their grand entrances at the Palm Beach Show, Nobel says that the X80 will be by appointment only due to its highly anticipated arrival. “It’s a model that has taken off in this market already,” he says. “The living spaces are incredible.”

To learn more information about Princess Yachts and these models, visit princessyachts.com.

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Don’t miss out on the excitement! The Miami International Boat Show 2023 is right around the corner. 

Visit Miami February 15 through 19 to see some of Princess Yachts’ latest models, the X95 and the X80.

“Characterized by beautifully sculpted surfaces and long, flowing lines, the X95 defines a striking- design language for this new Class. Both her flybridge and main deck cover almost the full length of the yacht, delivering expansive spaces with flexibility that enables you to define each journey around your guests’ preferences.”—Princess Yachts

As an expansion on this new Superfly line, the X80 provides more useful space than the X95 generously did first.

“The beautifully sculpted surfaces and long flowing design lines of the X95 are carried through into her sister ship, the X80. The all-new X80 becomes the second member of the X Class ‘Superfly’ family. She has a ‘super flybridge’ providing in excess of 30% more useful interior space onboard than a traditional flybridge yacht of its length.”—Princess Yachts

For more information, visit princessyachts.com.

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Antony Sheriff, 59, has been the Chairman and CEO of Princess Yachts since January 2016. He previously spent 10 years as Managing Director of McLaren Automotive, during which he established McLaren’s core range of luxury sports cars.

Why did you want to take the role as head of Princess Yachts?

After a decade launching and growing the road-car arm for McLaren, I was looking to join another business where luxury and technicity were key and that had a great deal of potential for development. Princess was it.

But why Princess? What makes it different from other luxury yacht manufacturers?

I could see one very important difference – the enormous depth of substance in the company. Princess has a long history of supplying great boats, made by people who go boating, for boaters. What it didn’t have was the confidence to flourish in the way it could, but I think we are now making that happen.

What particular changes have you seen in the company?

The one clear difference is that, while Princess Yachts continues to make technically exceptional products, it is now very firmly established in the luxury arena.

How have the events of the past two years, notably Covid and Brexit, affected the company in terms of what is built, released and marketed?

As far as Brexit is concerned, I would say that it has been a non-event for Princess. Covid, on the other hand, has made life very complicated indeed from an industrial point of view. The principal problems have been in the supply chain, where our suppliers have not been able to deliver components as a result of their own suppliers not being able to deliver materials, and so on. Our approach to the situation from the very start was not to slow down but to continue going hot and heavy both in terms of fulfilling existing orders and developing new models. It required a great deal of fancy footwork, but forging ahead despite the problems enabled us to introduce great new yachts such as the Y72 and Y95 motor yacht, the X80 super-flybridge yacht, and V50 sports yacht, all of which have been really well received. And, strangely, I would say that Covid had some positive effects on our business because it helped many people to discover that a yacht provides an opportunity to spend true quality time on the water with one’s family in a safe and controlled environment.

Sustainability is currently a major issue. How is this reflected in the superyacht business?

I think it’s fair to say that there is an awful lot of noise in the superyacht industry about sustainability, but very little happening that’s of real substance. Our style at Princess is to go our own way and do what we can to help, but only if it means doing things that make rational sense. Comparisons are often made between superyachts and the development of electrification in the car industry, but it is completely unrealistic to think a large yacht can rely purely on electric power – a car only has to be pushed through the air, but water is a whole lot more viscous and, therefore, a great deal more energy is required to achieve the propulsion needed. We did a back-of-an envelope calculation and concluded that if an X95 was to run purely on electric motors it would require a battery pack that weighs twice as much as the boat itself in order to achieve similar range and performance. Instead of going down that route, we have been focusing on our hulls and now have the most advanced designs in the industry. They are up to 20 per cent more efficient, meaning that the yachts consume less fuel and are, therefore, kinder to the environment.

We have also worked very hard on the packaging of our yachts, so the X95, for example, has the same floor area as our old 35-metre, despite being almost eight metres shorter. The smaller size means less resistance and the boat, therefore, delivers a huge improvement in efficiency. The yard is also working on ways of building boats more efficiently, using more bioresins and eco-materials, reducing waste and so on.

What are the rules and regulations surrounding building cleaner boats and creating less pollution?

The rules, such as they are, are very much in flux. We’re pushing the authorities not to mandate specific technical solutions, but rather to set performance goals so as to encourage creative technical solutions. One problem is that, once built, boats tend to stay on the water for a long time. That means there are a lot of old, inefficient yachts out there, so we should be
thinking of what we can do to improve them and make them better for the environment. The impact made by new yachts, which are more efficiently built and more eco-friendly in use, is relatively small by comparison. We are, however, working very closely with powertrain suppliers and looking at alternative fuels, most likely hydrogen or biofuels, but they bring their own challenges in terms of infrastructure. Large yachts are intended to explore in out-of-the-way places – most of which won’t be equipped to supply alternative fuels for years to come.

Yachting is reliant on the state of the seas – what is Princess Yachts doing to ensure they are protected?

We’re adding to our efforts all the time. In 2016, Princess became the first luxury yacht manufacturer to officially partner with the Marine Conservation Society. We’ve worked together to support marine environments, preserve reefs and sea life, with the company becoming the custodian of the Eddystone Reef, an offshore ecosystem outside of Plymouth.

What does it mean to be a UK-based business?

I think it is important that we are a UK company, but what is even more important is where we are based – which is why our logo says ‘Princess Yachts, crafted in Plymouth’. This city has a huge maritime heritage both in terms of the place and its people, and I really believe that lends an added authenticity and credibility to what we do. Princess has been here since its founding in 1965 and all of our manufacturing happens in Plymouth, where we employ more than 3,000 staff across our five sites. We also try to source as much material as possible from local businesses, and items we can’t find locally are largely acquired from other UK suppliers. Our supply chain helps to support around 13,500
additional jobs up and down the country.

What can we expect to see from Princess in the next few years?

Wonderful things! We are certainly not content to sit on our laurels, and one of the things I like to do is to show people images of our previous generations of boats beside our new ones. From one year to another the improvements seem incremental, but when looked at across a five-year time span, it’s easy to see that huge leaps are being taken. We were understandably uncertain how the X-Class super flybridge yachts would be received, but they have proved to be an enormous commercial success – and, most importantly, they have been accepted as being ‘real’ Princess Yachts, even by our most loyal customers. Currently overall production is running in the low 200s of boats per year. Our plan is to get to an optimum output of around 300 yachts – and we’ll have many exciting new designs along the way.

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