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 Italian shipyard Rossinavi delivered the 163-foot Lel in July, making this its first fall season afloat. 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
