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The 8 Best New British Yachts on the Water, From Sunseeker to Fairline

Quality among the top u.k. builders is always a given. it's the range of yacht designs that may surprise you..

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As an island, boats have always been the lifeblood of Great Britain. And many British yacht builders continue to uphold the country’s proud naval and maritime traditions. While there are a handful of superyacht builders, the UK isn’t known for eye-wateringly huge megayachts or avant-garde design—though that has changed as its largest international brands compete with the style-obsessed Ferretti Group and Azimut brands.

But what you do find with the Brits is well engineered vessels with a high level of attention to detail in both the interior and exterior design. From semi-custom motoryacht builders like Princess and Sunseeker to the rarefied realm of a highly sought-after Pascoe limousine, there’s something here for nearly every yachtsman.

And thanks to enduring popularity, there is nearly always a British-built sailboat from the Oyster yard, somewhere just over the horizon. In fact, whether you’re cruising the waters of the Caribbean, New England, or the South of France, you’ll find U.K. brands along with the highest luxury offerings from Italy and Northern Europe.

Here are seven of Britain’s finest, newest, and most noteworthy vessels on the water.

Project Fox, Pendennis Shipyard

This 114-foot explorer yacht, overseen by project manager Burgess and in build at the Pendennis shipyard in Falmouth, was designed around the owner’s wishes. It has a rugged exterior that will be paired with a bright, contemporary interior by QLondon Design. The owner told Robb Report that he plans to cruise off-grid to remote areas like Norway for heli-skiing with his family and friends (thus necessitating five large staterooms). But he also wanted family-friendly features like a sun terrace, wine lobby, open-air barbecue, and DJ station. Of course, the real breakthrough here: The open stern, measuring more than 1,100 square feet can carry a large complement of toys and tenders, but also scientific equipment (the interior has space for a modular lab) for when the yacht is hosting research scientists. “Flexible cabins and connectivity are key,” said the owner.

The ubiquitous model of the Pearl lineup, the 72 received a creative new interior design earlier this year with the addition of a stateroom that gives it two master suites. The U.K. yard has always been high on haute design, offering different palettes by British interior designer Kelly Hoppen, but this double-master suite idea is a first for this size of motoryacht. The yard has recently won awards for the naval architecture of its 95, which approaches superyacht status, and it will be launching a new 85-foot flybridge next year.

Fairline Targa 40

Fairline is also among England’s internationally renowned yacht brands, famous for seaworthy hulls and top-tier creature comforts. It hasn’t built yachts as large as competitors Princess and Sunseeker but has been equally creative with the design. The new Targa 40’s cockpit is a case in point. It has an enticing exterior layout, with the cockpit featuring a foldout terrace to starboard and a U-shaped dining settee to port facing the rest of the deck, not to mention the two sun lounges on the stern. The 40 is effectively a dayboat, but with two staterooms, it also works as a family weekender. There’s a master in the forepeak and guest cabin amidships which is best suited for children. The galley below decks is also very functional. Top speed for the Targa is 36 knots with the optional Volvo Penta D6-380 upgrades.

Princess Y80

Along with Sunseeker, Princess Yachts is the other heavyweight of British yacht building. These cruisers and motoryachts have proven to be perennial favorites on both sides of the Atlantic. The Y80 debuting at this year’s Cannes Yachting Festival looks to continue the tradition. The Y80 brings to the table an “infinity cockpit” with a glass transom and modular furniture for multiple setups. It also has a flybridge that spans about two-thirds of the yacht’s nearly 84-foot length, effectively creating a legitimate third deck. The Y80’s owner’s stateroom is amidships and full beam, while it has a VIP in the forepeak. Two other guest cabins are to port and starboard. The Y80 has an impressive top speed of 30 knots, but at 10 knots the range is an even more impressive 1,000 nautical miles.

Cockwells Duchy Sport

The 37-foot Duchy Sport from the Cockwells’ yard in Cornwall, famous internationally for its custom tenders, is designed for watersports enthusiasts. This Sport offers multiple towing points for waterskiing, wakeboarding, wakesurfing and tubing, with interior space for nine guests. Bow and cockpit sunpads will be popular spots for tanning, while a Bimini covers the amidships. Standout features include a wetbar, retractable swim ladder, bowthruster with joystick control, and of course ample water-toy stowage. The Duchy Sport comes with twin 370 hp Yanmar 8LVs which can get it up to a top speed of 42 knots—a speed befitting of this model’s name. Cockwells is also building a new Duchy 60, a stylized motoryacht that should rival Downeast offerings from U.S. builders Hinckley and Malaysian builder Grand Banks.

The Oyster 495 is a 52-foot, 8-inch sailing yacht that entered the U.S. market earlier this year. A new design from the keel up, the U.K. builder was thinking global circumnavigation, or at least serious offshore cruising, from the onset. The yacht is also meant to be able to be singlehanded by a capable sailor. The plumb bow and teak decks imbue the 495 with a definite saltiness with performance and aesthetics. The cabin is noteworthy for being both ergonomic and well-lit. Reported top speeds for the 495 crest the 10-knot mark under sail, while a 100 hp Yanmar diesel pushes it along happily at 9.5 knots.

Sunseeker Superhawk 55

Sunseeker is one of England’s brands that has a global following. For good reason. The Poole builder has a range of vessels that extend from 38 to 161 feet. Sunseeker is known for good oceangoing performance and creative design. The Superhawk 55 is a reimagining of the Superhawks that enjoyed popularity with performance enthusiasts in the 1990s and Aughts before being discontinued in 2009. Sunseeker introduced the Superhawk 38 in 2020, which had echoes of its go-fast past. This 55, however, is more of a performance cruiser than a day boat. With twin Volvo Penta IPS950s the new Superhawk has a very respectable top end of 38 knots and a feature even Miami Vice hot-boat aficionados will appreciate—slow-speed maneuverability offered by pod propulsion. An aggressively raked profile complemented by stiletto-sharp hullside windows augment the Superhawk’s sporty vibe.

Pascoe E-Limousine Electric Tender

Pascoe tenders reside in the garages of some of the world’s biggest and most glamorous superyachts, thanks to the yard’s dedication to customization. The E-Limousine is the builder’s first fully electric vessel, the result of six years of R&D. Top speed is reported to be an impressive 40 knots, with a range of 60 nautical miles at a fast cruise of 20 knots. The builder says not only is this boat greener than a traditional tender but will also offer a smoother, quieter ride thanks to the construction used to mitigate vibration.

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The Sunseeker story began in 1969 when entrepreneurial brothers Robert and John Braithwaite pursued their boat-building passion.

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Based in Suffolk on the east coast of the UK, Spirit Yachts has a portfolio of custom, wooden sail and power yachts ranging from day sailers to superyachts.

From humble beginnings in the Suffolk countryside, Spirit Yachts now operates from a large waterside facility with a team of highly skilled designers, naval architects, boat builders, cabinet makers, electricians and engineers.

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Using hand-selected timber sustainably sourced from responsibly managed forests, Spirit Yachts incorporate the beauty of wood with the latest modern technology for sailing performance and a luxury guest experience.

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Established in 1964, Princess Motor Yacht Sales is globally recognised as the largest and most experienced Princess Yachts dealer and distributor. In partnership with Princess Yachts Limited, we currently offer the most highly developed, sophisticated range of world class luxury yachts for sale in the UK and across our European locations including Southampton, Plymouth, Germany, Spain and Mallorca. At Princess Motor Yacht Sales, we pride ourselves on providing an unparalleled range of new and used boats for sale, with friendly professional advice available from our industry experienced teams.

This includes the breath-taking Princess F Class with spacious cockpits, exceptionally luxurious saloons and outstanding spacious cabin designs. These beautiful Princess yachts for sale provide phenomenal pleasure, both at sea and in port. The Princess X Class series of ‘Superfly’ yachts present a new way of yachting with adventure in mind with the flagship Princess X95 and her sister the X80, whilst the Y Class provides luxury and sublime speed and handling combined.

Our S Class range of motor yachts provides everything needed for thrilling watersports along with truly luxurious, spacious interiors, ideal for entertaining. And our V Class Yachts offer an uncommon combination of phenomenal luxury with astonishing performance.

Our clients love being able to relax in the knowledge and confidence that their vessel is supported by unrivalled aftersales service around the globe. We are totally committed to providing the best possible level of service and support to Princess yachts owners, wherever they may be. Our technicians are both trained and directly employed by us which makes them reliable experts who can quickly resolve any issues or enquiries. And our many years of experience mean that we understand how important it is for you to be able to contact help whenever and wherever you need it, which is why we provide an out of hours helpline staffed by experienced Princess engineers. No matter what time of day, what day of the year or where you might be, a Princess trained engineer is ready to answer your call and provide you with complete peace of mind.

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T h e   n e w   t a r g a   4 0  , t h e   n e w   s q u a d r o n   5 8 :   a   f r e s h   l o o k .   s a m e   b e a t i n g   h e a r t .  , w h e r e   l u x u r y   &   e x h i l a r a t i o n   c o - e x i s t  , t h e   w o r l d   a t   y o u r   f i n g e r t i p s  , a n   e x c i t i n g   n e w   o u t l o o k   o n   l i f e  , t h e   s t r i k i n g   f / / l i n e   3 3  , f i n d   y o u r   p e r f e c t   f a i r l i n e  , f / / l i n e  .

The F//LINE has set the industry alight and hearts racing. Sleek, sporty and with searing performance, this is a modern weekender made for exhilarating, wind-in-the-hair adventure.

Designed in collaboration with celebrated Italian yacht designer, Alberto Mancini, the F//LINE delivers the full package – head-turning lines, an exceptional ride, sharp handling and breath-taking performance.

T a r g a  

Sophisticated styling meets the ultimate in power and performance. A Targa delivers an engaging driving experience alongside svelte exterior lines, generous living spaces and outstanding flexibility on and below deck.

Designed for life on the water, this iconic motor yacht range has been elevated by the designs of Alberto Mancini and our own in-house team, resulting in the perfect marriage of elegant Italian refinement and British craftsmanship.

Open-plan living provides Targa owners with spacious socialising and sunbathing areas and a seamless connection to the water. With deft use of glass above and below decks and versatile layouts, this class-leading range pushes the boundaries of modern sports cruiser design.

Targa has year-round appeal thanks to the standard fit sunroof across the range and the option to have an open or fully enclosed main deck.

P h a n t o m  

The iconic Phantom name is reimagined in Fairline’s first sportsbridge yacht, the stunning Phantom 65.

An exciting blend of flybridge accommodation with sportscruiser handling and style, the Phantom delivers triple-deck living spaces and razor-sharp looks with the on-water dynamics to match.

The Phantom offers motor yacht owners a game changing combination of Targa and Squadron attributes thanks to its beautifully proportioned upper deck and the addition of a glass sunroof above the main saloon.

A masterstroke in modern yacht design, the Phantom offers a huge array of al-fresco dining, entertaining and lounging spaces to soak up the sun alongside captivating, streamlined looks and thrilling performance.

S q u a d r o n  

Uncover a world of new possibilities. With numerous layout options and expansive flybridges, a Squadron is designed for the adventure-seeking family. Renowned for its alluring mix of luxurious accommodation and intelligent design, this iconic marque is light, spacious and open with beautifully integrated practical design features.

With expansive cockpits, luxurious saloons and sumptuous cabins with full-standing headroom, a Squadron affords owners exquisite open-plan living for life on the water. Enjoy sundowners on the sociable flybridge, relax on the foredeck sunpads or catch the morning sun on the submersible bathing platform.

The Squadron design maximises owner’s connection to the water thanks to light-filled interiors, huge windows, and generous deck spaces.

Sophisticated and elegant, a Squadron offers supreme comfort matched with contemporary style.

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Fairline has one of the most extensive dealer networks in the industry with over 50 customer-focused dealerships worldwide. Our knowledgeable partners offer outstanding customer service and experience.

Become part of the Fairline family today.

A pre-owned Fairline is ready to create new memories. Explore our listings of pre-owned Fairlines and find your perfect match. With boats located around the world and a wide selection of models available, your Fairline could be right around the corner. In your hands, the adventure will continue.

O u r   S t o r y  

Fairline has been at the beating heart of boatbuilding for more than half a century and has built a reputation for enduring designs, expert craftsmanship, superior luxury and unrivalled performance. 

From humble beginnings in Oundle, England, Fairline has become an iconic name in yachting worldwide with a range of boats spanning four model lines from 33-68ft (10-21m). 

The spirit of adventure drives everything we do.  With a team who are dedicated to their craft, we continue to bring fresh ideas, push boundaries and produce industry-leading marques, which marry the latest technical innovations with exceptional British craftsmanship, style and refinement.  

Our collaboration with celebrated Italian yacht designer Alberto Mancini combines contemporary style with a long-standing heritage and our award-winning range of designs have become synonymous with outstanding seakeeping, performance and luxury.  

Always remaining true to the Fairline DNA, we produce award-winning models that pair space with sophistication. Fairline’s brand legacy is one of carefree adventure for all who step aboard.

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27th February 2024

Come and start your career with Fairline

Our Recruitment Open Day is set to take place on 2nd March. We're gearing up to fill positions at our Oundle manufacturing facility, promising exciting opportunities for job seekers in the marine industry.

5th February 2024

Miami line-up announced

Fairline has announced its line-up for Miami International Boat Show (14-18 February 2024) which includes the Squadron 68, Squadron 50, Targa 45 OPEN and the F//LINE 33.

25th January 2024

Squadron 58 wins at the Motorboat of the Year awards

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Exclusive: On board the Princess S80 debuting at the Cannes Yachting Festival

A sports yacht with a cruising soul, the S80 ’s DNA is born out of a hull that might end up being the best 25-metre platform to grace the seas, says Carl Richardson. He steps on board the new S Class flagship before its world debut at the 2024 Cannes Yachting Festival.

First, an admission. Despite plenty of effort on all sides, this isn’t a full test. Time, tides and the demands of the boat show calendar meant we could not get out to sea. Instead, we were given a backstage-style tour with the design and technical teams.

The Princess S80 is the latest sportsbridge chapter in a story that can be traced back over a decade to the Princess V85-S, an impossibly powerful and daring yacht at the time. Since then, the British yacht builder has been a leader in sportsbridge design, leading us to this 70-tonne model, hitting around 32 knots with twin 2,000hp MANs. These figures are important because the boat the S80 replaces is the 50-tonne S78 that can hit 38 knots with 1,900hp MANs.

Performance and speed are key for any genuine sportsbridge model, and so we start with a new boat that is heavier and slower than its predecessor, but it is also bigger in every key area. The S80 uses the same hull as the flybridge Y80 and the Tardis-like X80. The modified V planing design from naval architect Olesinski runs on shafts (as nature intended) and can push each yacht to around 30 knots while delivering the same, class-leading four-ensuite-cabin lower deck.

Speaking to Princess design director Andy Lawrence, a lot of thought went into not only making a different kind of S flagship but also into the hull itself. “It was always going to be a three-boat 25-metre platform running on shafts, we aren’t looking at pods for larger boats. The challenge was creating a hull that would perform as well on the S as it does on the X, two very different boats.”

The X80 does work – according to BOATPro it is one of the best-selling yachts in its class. But it is a much bigger boat than the S80 above the deckline, meaning it is not just about managing extra weight but where that weight is.

Andy Lawrence explains: “The X80 has a much higher CG (Centre of Gravity), but working with our partners Olesinski, over many iterations, we found the right balance.” These iterations included increasing the beam for greater volume, while extending the waterline to hit the speeds expected of an S Class yacht.

Ultimately, Princess delivered three different 25-metre models that all run fast, with the expected option of a MAN 2,200hp engine option delivering the possibility of 36 knots for the S80.

R&D & then some

Princess is a global powerhouse, but its success is anchored by the people at its yard in Plymouth, England. Alex Cleverly was part of the technical team showing us over the boat, but until very recently he was a Princess delivery skipper. He made his first trip at age 16 and regularly clocked up 16,000 nautical miles a year – “I was the person who started work when everyone else was leaving for home, collecting a yacht for delivery to Scandinavia or the Mediterranean,” he explains.

Alex made detailed reports from a skipper’s point of view, on things like visibility, spray, where water might pool on deck, the lumber of the helm seat or access to engineering points. In short, the kind of research and development (R&D) that money can’t buy – and all that knowledge is now on the inside.

Princess ideology has long been about balance, that sweet spot between space, style and performance. Immediate impressions are good. The S80 looks low, sleek and powerful in the water, its extra length allowing its lines to stretch out, the upper sportsbridge barely visible within the rake of the roofline. Where some sportsbridge models might have more than a little flybridge height and bulk to help increase interior space, the S80 is pure performance yacht.

Given that so much conversation about any modern yacht is about volume and accommodation, it was refreshing to hear Andy talk about the importance of style. “The key was the sportsbridge. On a yacht like this, profile is everything, we wanted a big sportsbridge deck, but one you couldn’t actually see!”

Before I get too idealistic on sports style, there will be a hard top option for the S80 which makes perfect sense for a good number of boating reasons, but will change the yacht’s low-down, growling profile (I'm hoping a few emotionally led buyers stick with the standard awning so the rest of us can enjoy the original lines).

Moving up the easy aft deck steps, the sportsbridge is a vast social expanse of yacht style with the driving position rightly set at its heart. It’s a noticeably and provably bigger and better deck than the S78. The extra foot (0.3 metres) of beam works wonders. There is so much deck space but also vast and separate areas of seating plus a massive barbecue and bar, a central island of cold storage and room for a pop-up TV.

It’s the same story back on the aft deck. A familiar Princess layout sees two massive asymmetric pads flank your journey up from the hydraulic platform and garage. But things are different here and it’s another key part of the S80 design. With more room to use, the deck now has three separate social areas, dining, sunbathing and lounging, without the need to convert or move anything. Better still, it’s all done with space to spare and masses of stowage space worked in.

Again, there are no happy accidents here. The initial design saw the staircase and dining table in different positions, but the full-scale mock-ups Princess employs for every new model changed that. We now have a walkaround dining table to port with superb views out over the deck and sea beyond.

Glass-panelled flanks extend aft from the superstructure to ensure that, with the view, privacy and protection are also ensured. The sportsbridge overhang keeps everything feeling intimate and beautifully lit at night - there’s even air-conditioning overhead and the option to enclose the dining area with awnings.

The rest of the decks are just as good. The side decks sit within waist-high bulwarks with gates each side and deep storage lockers forward. Even with the superstructure pushing forward, Princess has found a good deal of space for the foredeck lounge, where eight guests can gather in circular conviviality.

Power of 3 + 5

The S80 is the first Princess to have three lower helm seats. That may not immediately look like a headline moment for a 25-metre performance boat, but it points to something else. Everywhere you go on this boat, from the sportsbridge to the main dining table, its eight guests are able to gather and be together. Whether it’s enjoying the ride or lunch, on the S80, no one gets left behind.

The galley aft design plays a rightfully central role on the main deck. It’s part of the social scene, not hidden away below. A massive piece of glass hinges up to open inside to out, with a bordering storage unit sneaking in a pop-up TV. 

The S80 is probably going to be crewed (by no more than two people given the tight quarters in the stern) but it is a social boat and guests will love the galley, dipping into the Sub-Zero refrigerator, massive drawer-style freezers or just hanging around the bar area. Storage space is off the scale, the galley’s multiple dedicated lockers include a pop-up pantry while across the way there is a deep, long sideboard.

Dining is clearly intended to be al fresco on the S80, but you can option a table for the saloon – it can handle the extra furniture. The saloon is massive, another heady example of Princess' ability to deliver interior space, harmony and splendour with an ease few other yards can match. Height and glass play an important part. Huge, 6ft (1.8-metre) high sections of glass line the saloon and, with the optional glass-panelled sunroof and helm side door open, it’s like you never left the deck.

If light and splendour invite you in, the deep, low sofas ensure you won’t leave in a hurry. The best seating area (isn't it always) is the smallest. The raised lounge forward, up by the helm, is a great spot at any time of day, but it’s the perfect guest spot when underway - kudos to whoever had the foresight to subtly lower the forward finishing panel to ensure the best possible view forward.

Anyone who has been aboard the X80 or Y80 will be familiar with the four cabin-layout below decks. The S version has its own smart, performance-edged colour palette and materials, but it will be the peerless layout that wins you over. Four class-leading ensuite cabins will look after eight guests with ease, including the owner’s stateroom which is a perfect blend of style, space and luxury wrapped in deep glass hull windows. A useful upgrade on the S78, there are now separate entrances for the walk-in wardrobe and ensuite.

The forward VIP is equally impressive with an outstanding ensuite and more storage space than seems necessary – and I never, ever think that. There’s a sense of fraternity going on here too, with each cabin featuring the same style notes as the stateroom, including plenty of solid wood to go with the coolly understated but always inviting modern interior finish.

Beyond the looks and luxury, this is a boat designed for the owner to drive, when the fancy takes them, and for their guests to join in on the experience of 70 tonnes carving through the water at 32 knots. Both the upper and lower help stations look and feel like a performance yacht should, with deep, supportive seats and an array of screens and dials. But just as important are the flanks of guest-seating each side of the sportsbridge helm or the elevated lounge to port of the lower helm.

Initial sea trials, with a light load but 12 people on board, recorded 36 knots powered by the standard twin MAN 2,000hp engines, so the official top speed of 32 knots looks nailed on. The MAN 2,200hp option will suit owners who like to cruise faster while adding two or three knots to the top speed. Talking to the Princess team, you get the feeling the extra power is also about the new S flagship being able to match the outgoing one – a competitive spirit I very much endorse.

To say Princess has a reputation for good design, is a bit like saying Patel-Philipe makes accurate timepieces. The S80, like all its stablemates, simply doesn’t put a foot wrong inside or out. The proportions are near-perfect, the styling confident without being challenging and the finish always brings that little bit extra – as with the use of solid woods and semi-custom levels of choice and detail.

The nearest yacht in terms of onboard luxury, design and space is the Azimut S10 . The S10 is a very fine vessel with an unmatched sense of performance yacht cool, but it is 9ft (3 metres) longer and notably more money. The fact it is the S80’s most obvious competitor says everything you need to know about how good a boat this is.

The only possible downside for an S80 owner might be the unnerving sight of a Princess X80 keeping up with you. For anyone concerned about such an event, the MAN 2,200hp engine is the upgrade for you.

Princess S80 technical specs Length overall: 25.44m Beam: 6.07m Draft: 1.82m Berths: 8 people Displacement approx. (half load): 67,308kg  (148,389Ibs) * Fuel capacity: 1,430 gal / 1,717 US gal / 7,000 l Water capacity (excl. calorifier): 1,480 l Engines: TWIN MAN V12-2000 (2 x 2,000mhp) Maximum speed: range – 31-33 knots+

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Arksen 65 first look: Brand new British explorer yacht

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The Arksen 65 is an impressive new explorer motor yacht from the British builder that offer 3,700nm range from its 9,200 litre. fuel tank

British yard Arksen has released more details of its new 65ft explorer yacht. Like its bigger sister, the tri-deck Arksen 85, the first of which was launched earlier this year, the smaller two-deck 65 is designed for low-impact, self-sufficient adventures. The aluminium low displacement hull from Humphreys Yacht Design is built for ultra-efficient long-range cruising in all climates.

At the heart of the yacht is an open-plan saloon with aft galley and lounge forward to make the most of the views through the panoramic wraparound glazing. Then there’s a choice of two or three cabins on the lower deck – a forward ensuite owners’ cabin, an ensuite twin or double aft of the central engineroom, and a smaller space between them that can be specified as a third ensuite double, an owners’ study, workshop, laundry or lower galley to free up space in the saloon.

A big plus of the all-aluminium construction is the ability to offer semi-customised interiors without the constraints of the fixed bulkheads that moulded GRP hulls require. It’s also a more sustainable material that contains up to 70% recycled metal and can easily be recycled again.

Conventional diesel and parallel diesel/ electric hybrid propulsion packages are available. The proposed engines are heavy duty John Deere diesels delivering a modest 160hp at 2,300rpm on straight shafts for maximum reliability, refinement and a top speed of 12 knots.

The range from its 9,200 litres of fuel is predicted to be around 3,700nm at 9 knots or as much as 5,000nm at 8 knots. The hybrid variant uses the same engines but will also have a zero-emissions mode for environmentally sensitive areas and silent running at anchor.

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The raised-helm position aft can be either partially or fully enclosed beneath its hardtop.

Twin freshwater tanks fore and aft can be used to trim the yacht under way with fin and/ or gyro stabilisers taking care of roll. Twin skegs also allow the yacht to dry out without damaging the sterngear. A tender of up to 3.4m (11ft) can be carried on or above the bathing platform and launched using an aft deck crane.

An Arksen 65 should take about 18 months to build. Prices start from £3.2 million, excluding taxes, with a typical spec nearer £4 million.

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The E-Series E6 represents the culmination of our achievements in contemporary luxury yacht design and encapsulates the go-anywhere concept. This boat raises the bar already set by the E4 and adds an extra 16 feet of luxury allowing you to relax in even greater comfort and increased range capability.

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The owners cabin is the perfect place to unwind and relax from the days activities. Why not back sit back and enjoy a chilled glass of champagne, on the sumptuous double bed, you’ve earned it. Beautifully finished in cherry wood, you might think you were in a five star hotel with a spacious en-suite with double shower, large basin and head, all you could wish for.

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British tech magnate Mike Lynch, 2 US citizens among missing after luxury yacht sinks off Sicily

15 people were rescued and one body believed to be the cook was found near the wreck, but six others were unaccounted for and believed inside the hull, by andrea rosa and nicole winfield | the associated press • published august 19, 2024 • updated on august 19, 2024 at 6:21 pm.

British tech magnate Mike Lynch and five other people were missing after their luxury sailing yacht sank during a freak storm off Sicily early Monday, Italy’s civil protection and authorities said. Lynch’s wife and 14 other people survived.

Lynch, who was  acquitted in June  in a big U.S. fraud trial, was among six people who remain unaccounted for after their chartered sailboat sank off Porticello, when a tornado over the water known as a waterspout struck the area overnight, said Salvo Cocina of Sicily’s civil protection agency.

One body was recovered, and police divers spent the day trying to reach the hull of the ship, which was resting at a depth of 50 meters (163 feet) off Porticello where it had been anchored, rescue authorities said. They returned to the site after 10 p.m. to see if it would be possible to search through the night, when weather conditions were expected to worsen, said Luca Cari, spokesman of the fire rescue service.

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It had a crew of 10 people and 12 passengers, the Italian coast guard said. A sudden fierce storm had battered the area overnight, and struck the place precisely where the 56-meter (184-foot) British-flagged Bayesian had been moored.

“They were in the wrong place at the wrong time,” said Cocina, noting that another superyacht nearby wasn't as badly damaged and helped rescue some of the 15 survivors, who included Lynch's wife Angela Bacares.

The Bayesian was notable for its single 75-meter (246-feet) mast — one of the world’s tallest made of aluminum and which was lit up at night, just hours before it sank. Online charter sites listed it for rent for up to 195,000 euros (about $215,000) a week.

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One of the survivors, identified as Charlotte Golunski, said she momentarily lost hold of her 1-year-old daughter Sofia in the water, but then managed to hold her up over the waves until a lifeboat inflated and they were both pulled to safety, Italian news agency ANSA reported, quoting the mother. The father, James Emsley, also survived, said Cocina.

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Karsten Borner, the captain of the Sir Robert Baden Powell, said he had noticed the Bayesian nearby during the storm but after it calmed he saw a red flare and realized the ship had simply disappeared, ANSA and the Giornale di Sicilia newspaper reported. Borner said he and a crew member boarded their tender and found a lifeboat with 15 people, some of them injured, who they then took aboard and alerted the coast guard.

Eight of those rescued were hospitalized while the others were taken to a hotel. One body believed to be the cook was found near the wreck, but six others were unaccounted for and believed inside the hull, said Cari, the fire rescue spokesperson. The rescue operations, which were visible from shore, involved helicopters and rescue boats from the coast guard, fire rescue and civil protection service.

#Palermo , naufragio imbarcazione a Porticello: recuperato dai #sommozzatori dei #vigilidelfuoco il corpo senza vita di un uomo, all’esterno del relitto. Proseguono le operazioni di ricerca con il coordinamento in mare della @guardiacostiera [ #19agosto 11:30] pic.twitter.com/Y2m9o5ohCe — Vigili del Fuoco (@vigilidelfuoco) August 19, 2024

Fisherman Francesco Cefalu’ said he had seen a flare from shore at around 4:30 a.m. and immediately set out to the site but by the time he got there, the Bayesian had already sunk, with only cushions, wood and other items from the superyacht floating in the water.

“But for the rest, we didn’t find anyone,” he said from the port hours later. He said that he immediately alerted the coast guard and stayed on site for three hours, but didn't find any survivors. “I think they are inside, all the missing people.”

He said he had been up early to check the weather to see if he could go fishing, and surmised that a sudden waterspout had struck the yacht.

“It could be that the mast broke, or the anchor at the prow pulled it, I don’t know,” he said.

Cocina said the crew and passengers hailed from a variety of countries: In addition to Britain and the United States, passengers and crew were from Antigua, France, Germany, Ireland, Myanmar, the Netherlands, New Zealand and Spain, he said.

Among the dead and missing, four were British, two were American, and one was a man with dual citizenship from Canada and Antigua, according to Luciano Pischedda, the Italian Coast Guard official overseeing the rescue operations.

The UK Marine Accident Investigation Branch is deploying a team of four inspectors to Italy to conduct a preliminary assessment. The Foreign Commonwealth and Development office said it was “providing consular support to a number of British nationals and their families.”

Dutch foreign ministry spokesperson Casper Soetekouw said the lone Dutch citizen on board, a man, had been rescued and was not in life-threatening condition.

Lynch, once hailed as Britain’s king of technology, was cleared in June of fraud and conspiracy charges related to Hewlett Packard’s $11 billion takeover of his company, Autonomy Corp.

The not-guilty verdicts followed an 11-week criminal trial in San Francisco that delved into the history of HP’s  2011 acquisition  of Autonomy, a business software firm founded by Lynch.

The  fraud accusations  represented a dramatic turn in the fortunes of an entrepreneur once described as the Bill Gates of Britain — a title he seemed to live up to when he netted an $800 million from the Autonomy sale.

The acquittal vindicated Lynch, who had vehemently denied wrong doing and portrayed HP as a technological train wreck.

“I’m looking forward to returning the UK and getting back to what I love most: my family and innovating in my field,” Lynch said in a statement released after the verdict.

The yacht, built in 2008 by the Italian firm Perini Navi, can accommodate 12 passengers in four double cabins, a triple and the master suite, plus crew accommodations, according to Charter World and Yacht Charters.

The vessel, which previously was named Salute when it flew under a Dutch flag, featured a sleek, minimalist interior of light wood with Japanese accents designed by the French designer Remi Tessier, according to descriptions and photos on the charter sites.

AP writers Danica Kirka and Sylvia Hui contributed from London.

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Bayesian yacht sinking: Divers race to rescue Mike Lynch’s hard drive from boat’s safe on ocean floor

Italian prosecutors continue their investigation after divers recovered video equipment from the luxury yacht, article bookmarked.

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Divers are racing to retrieve Mike Lynch’s personal hard drives locked in a safe on the ocean floor, according to reports.

Italian newspaper la Repubblica reported that the tech billionaire, whose clients included MI5, the NSA and the Israeli secret service, didn’t trust confidential documents on the cloud and kept two encrypted hard drives in a safe which now lies 49 metres below sea level.

Investigators from Palermo said that no personal effects of the seven victims and 15 survivors have been recovered so far and that surveillance on the sailing ship continues 24 hours a day. They say the only hard drives brought to the surface are those of the ship.

An investigation into manslaughter is set to continue after specialist divers recovered video equipment that could explain how it sank.

Italian prosecutors will continue their probe after a source told Reuters Navy divers recovered parts of the deck , computer material, video surveillance systems, hard drives and various other equipment.

The electronic devices have been sent to specialised labs outside of Sicily to check their condition and possibly recover data, the source added.

Professor fears more deaths by ‘medicanes’ after Bayesian tragedy

Professor Yoav Yair, Dean of the School of Sustainability at Reichman University in Israel, told the Mirror that storms dubbed ‘medicanes’ - Mediterranean hurricanes - could cause similar sinkings like the Bayesian superyacht.

He said: “It is not a matter of if this (the Bayesian disaster) will happen again, but rather it’s when and where.

“In the last couple of years we have seen medicanes - which are a new phenomena. These are hurricane-like storms that pack a lot of energy, and create flash flooding, torrential rains, lightning, hail and severe sustained winds. The 2023 “Daniel” medicane destroyed Libya and caused over 30,000 deaths there.

“The sea surface temperature has risen globally and in the Med as well, charging the atmosphere with increased fluxes of water vapor, which means a higher potential for massive storms.”

Seven key unanswered questions around the sinking of the Bayesian

With the Bayesian lying on her side 50 metres underneath the now gentle waters of the Mediterranean, mystery still surrounds how the 56-metre superyacht, sank in the typhoon off the port of Porticello.

Remotely controlled underwater vehicles and cave divers are looking to raise the yacht , which experts will examine in the coming days.

The key unanswered questions around the tragic sinking of the Bayesian

With the search continuing of the sunken Bayesian an investigation has been launched to establish what caused the disaster off the coast of Sicily

Italian navy recover video equipment

Italian Navy divers have recovered video surveillance equipment from the wreckage of billionaire Mike Lynch’s Bayesian superyacht that could explain how it sank.

The British tech tycoon’s boat had been moored near the port of Porticello on 19 August when it sank during the early hours of the morning. It is now lying 50m below the surface.

Among those killed were Mr Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter Hannah, who had been due to begin studying at Oxford University in September, as well as four other family friends and associates.

Divers hunting for clues on how Mike Lynch’s superyacht sank make discovery

The video equipment recovered could show if the crews left doors open on the Bayesian superyacht, which might have allowed the vessel to flood

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