New ClubSwan 80 finished at the podium in the Rolex Swan Cup and in two races out of four of the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup. The ClubSwan 80 is the product of Nautor Swan that brought together a truly international team: design by Juan-K studio, CFD development, built by Persico Marine, with Nauta for the interior design, Vittorio Volontè as project manager, composite structure done by Pure Engineering, rig design done by Scott Ferguson and developed by Southern Spars, sails developed at North Sails.
You don’t expect a brand-new boat with a newbie race crew to put in a podium finish on their first competitive outing. And yet that is just what My Song, the achingly sleek new ClubSwan 80 has achieved.
The feat is made all the more impressive by the fact that it came in the teeth of some of the toughest big-boat competition in the world, at the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup. And then, to demonstrate that it was not a question of luck, My Song repeated the trick the following week in a blustery Swan Cup.
“She proved to be a racing machine also in IRC/ORC races,” says Giovanni Pomati. “As My Song planed past bigger boats, the sailing world sat up and took notice. Personally, I would love to see a fleet of at least five ClubSwan 80s competing in the maxi events, and I think that is a real possibility in coming years.”
Juan K commented “ClubSwan 80 is a One Design and the notion of it is related to have high-performance boats, which are also the lightest, and from this platform there is a series of interiors and features that can be added on. Working together as a team we’ve managed to have both performance and comfort coexisting according to the use of the boat, and that is very exciting” says Juan K. “My Song was only launched in June, a dream in carbon fiber with a canting keel and a forward rotating canard,
Mario Pedol of design studio Nauta added: “Despite very little experience of the yacht, they took first and third place on different days of the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup. We couldn’t be happier!”
My Song’s owner, the hugely experienced maxi sailor and industrialist Pier Luigi Loro Piana, was thrilled. "This boat has been a labor of love played out over three years. Not a day has gone by when I haven't intervened in the project directly. Just to step aboard this beautiful yacht now is a delight, but to make two podium finishes in our first regattas shows there is exceptional potential here.”
Hopes were high on the first day of the six-day Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup, held in ideal 15- to 22-knot conditions off Porto Cervo. The boat was designed after many hours of complex CFD calculations and looks every inch the racer. But her promise wasn’t confirmed until the helm bore away at the top mark and the huge asymmetric billowed into life.
“At that point we were all spellbound,” says Nauta’s Mario Pedol, who was racing aboard that day. “We were looking at the instruments in disbelief, then watching as our boat overhauled one, then two, then numerous of the bigger yachts as we planed downwind. I don’t think an all-Italian crew has ever remained silent for so long!”
My Song posted a strong third place in the first race of the regatta, and that set the tone for the rest of the event. The high point came on the final day, when a building wind propelled the boats round a 27-nautical-mile coastal course that ducked into the Maddalena archipelago, then off on a long southerly leg downwind. In this endurance race, My Song took a resounding first place.
Giorgio Benussi, ClubSwan 80 - My Song team manager commented: “The brand new CS80 is a game changer, no question! Down into the water in racing trim and with our full crew just a week before the prestigious Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup, where we competed against extraordinary opponents. At the start of the first race, when we finally jumped into the fray, we realized that what we imagined could come true. The CS80 has extraordinary potential; the conception, design and construction process can be turned into a solid, concrete success. We were competitive in handicap despite the canting keel/canard configuration. The performance - taken for granted in the off the wind legs - was just as good on the wind and the boat was easy to handle with a crew of only 18.”
Her performance the following week in the Rolex Swan Cup was perhaps even more remarkable. In a seven-strong fleet that ran up to 115ft LOA, My Song scored three second place finishes in four races. And had she been 33 seconds quicker on day three, she would have taken second place overall. As it was, she settled for an electrifyingly close third. It is the best possible start for the ClubSwan 80.
Several months were spent at the start of the project pondering different options for the hull and appendages of the boat. Foils and fixed keels were quickly discarded in favor of the canting keel and rotating canard, because it provided the best balance of performance and usability.
Once the optimum configuration had been agreed, the Nauta team set about designing an interior that would fulfill the requirements of comfortable cruising without sacrificing speed on the racecourse.
Interior furniture has been built in a mixture of foam-cored carbon fiber and flax fiber composite, and can be quickly and easily removed when necessary. Two people can transform the boat from racing to cruising mode or back again in just two days.
Nautor’s Swan was founded in 1966 in Pietarsaari, Finland. The builder entered the superyacht market in 1999. Since then, the yard has continued building high-performance sailing yachts in three different lines; ClubSwan, Swan Yachts and Maxi Swan Yachts.
Credits: Carlo Borlenghi/Nautor’s Swan; Nauta Design
Damen Yachting has confirmed the sale of a new 53-meter Yacht Support vessel from its Yacht Support range. The vessel, currently under construction at the company's facility in Antalya, Turkey, is scheduled for delivery in Spring 2026. This announcement follows the recent sale and delivery of the YS53 Emotional, which will be displayed at the Monaco Yacht Show.The YS53 model is designed to provide logistical support for main vessels, with facilities for additional crew, water toys, and helicopter operations. Its features include an expansive open main deck aft area equipped with a 15-tonne crane for handling submersibles, large tenders, and other heavy equipment. The vessel measures 53 meters with a gross tonnage of 499 and can accommodate 8 guests, 10 crew members, and a captain. The exterior design, interior design, and naval architecture were all developed by Damen Yachting.Jan van Hogerwou, Sales Director North America at Damen Yachting, stated: “This YS53 is the perfect addition to the Owner’s existing fleet and provides the extension of facilities the Owner is looking to achieve with the addition of a support vessel. We would like to thank Stuart Larsen for his collaboration throughout this project. We look forward to the remaining build period as we prepare for delivery in Spring next year."The next available delivery slot for a YS53 model is Spring 2028.Damen Yachting, the yacht-building division of Damen Shipyards Group, employs approximately 500 professionals across its Amels, SeaXplorer, and Yacht Support vessel programs. No purchase price was disclosed for the new build.Credits: Damen Yachting
September 15, 2025
Numarine has introduced a new explorer yacht model, the 27XP, at the Cannes Yachting Festival 2025. The 27-meter yacht replaces the 26XP model, of which 30 units have been sold.The yacht's exterior design and interiors are by Can Yalman, with naval architecture by Umberto Tagliavini. Two layout options are available: one with five cabins and another with four cabins. The five-cabin configuration includes a main deck VIP cabin, a full-beam master suite below deck, and three additional VIP suites. The four-cabin option moves the wheelhouse to the main deck.The 27XP features an open kitchen concept and enlarged outdoor areas. The flybridge is larger than on the previous model. A raised bow lounge is also included.Twin MAN 560 engines provide a top speed of 13.5 knots and a cruising speed of 10 knots. The yacht has a maximum range of 2,200 nautical miles at 8 knots. An optional enclosed, glass flydeck helm station is available.Ömer Malaz, Founder and Chairman of Numarine, stated: “After keeping our cards close to our chests for a little while as we worked on refining the design, we are thrilled to unveil our latest model, the Numarine 27XP. Longer, roomier and more versatile than her predecessor, she introduces new levels of comfort, light and openness, while still keeping the rugged explorer spirit which defines our XP series. She sets a new standard of elegance and capability in the explorer yacht class.”Numarine, a European high-performance motor-yacht shipyard headquartered in Istanbul, offers a range of yachts from 19 to 45 meters.Credits: Numarine
September 15, 2025
Benetti has presented at Cannes the Oasis 42M, a 42-meter yacht and a new model within its Oasis series. The design focuses on expanding exterior living areas and integrating sustainable engineering that has received a 3-star Sea Index rating.The yacht's primary feature is an aft deck measuring 100 square meters, which includes an 8.3-square-meter pool with a retractable enclosure. The sundeck measures 17.3 meters in length, which Benetti states is the largest in the 40-45 meter yacht segment. An additional lounge area is located on the foredeck.The interior design was developed in collaboration with bonetti/kozerski architecture. The main deck contains a salon, dining area, galley, and a forward area that can be configured as a gym, spa, or cinema. This space includes a drop-down terrace. The upper deck is dedicated to a 50-square-meter owner's apartment with a private 40-square-meter terrace.Enrico Bonetti from bonetti/kozerski architecture stated: “In our first yacht with Benetti on the Oasis 40M we were excited to bring a fresh eye to the design of a boat that ended up being a ground-breaking step toward a more dynamic and relaxed yachting experience. We are very proud that now, with the Oasis 42M, we have a chance to create a true evolution of that concept. The focus is still on an open and fluid plan, unexpected and consistent materials that gradually progress toward a more refined and tactile quality of details, the deeper you enter the boat.”The exterior design by RWD features curved lines. Mark Gardner, Director of Exterior Design at RWD, said: “The Oasis 42M is an evolution, not a revolution. Its softer, pebble-like lines create a yacht that feels sleek, natural, and enduringly elegant.”The yacht utilizes a data-driven engineering package to reduce fuel consumption and emissions. A hybrid Siemens E-Mode system is available as an option. A garage can store a 6.25-meter tender and other water toys.Founded in 1873, Benetti is the storied Italian shipyard specialized in luxury yachts. Every yacht is unique, developed around its owner. Benetti designs, builds and sells vessels in fibreglass from 34 to 44 meters and boats in steel and aluminium from 37 to more than 100 meters. The range is made up of eight categories: Class, Motopanfilo, Oasis, B.Yond, B.Now, B.Neos, B.Loft and Custom. By anticipating evolving lifestyles at sea, Benetti has introduced the Oasis family.Credits: Benetti
September 15, 2025
The second Wallywind110 sailing yacht will premiere at the Cannes Yachting Festival 2025 following private viewings in Sardinia and Monaco. The 33.5-meter vessel represents the sistership to the previously delivered Galma, featuring identical carbon fiber construction with customized interior modifications.Key distinctions from the first hull include a sand-grey hull finish and revised interior layout with flexible cabin configurations. The fourth cabin incorporates convertible bedding that transitions between twin and double arrangements through a sliding mechanism. An office area replaces the bar setup found on the previous vessel.Naval architecture by Judel/Vrolijk & Co. incorporates a telescopic keel adjustable between 4.5 and 6.95 meters depth. The sloop rig configuration utilizes Hall Spars carbon mast and North Sails 3Di sails providing 660 square meters of upwind area. Downwind sail capacity reaches 1,283 square meters.Interior design by Studio Santa Maria Magnolfi features lighter-toned oak cabinetry and reconfigured carbon fiber flooring patterns. The main saloon maintains raised seating with deep hull windows despite the vessel's exterior profile. Accommodations include an owner's suite forward, VIP cabin, and two convertible guest cabins aft.Construction efficiency improved compared to the first hull, with the yard completing the project ahead of schedule. The yacht will be displayed alongside other Ferretti Group products at the festival, which runs from September 9-14. The Wallywind110 remains the largest sailing yacht presented at the 2025 Cannes event.The vessel demonstrates Wally's continued focus on performance cruising yachts combining carbon fiber construction with customizable interior arrangements. The company maintains production facilities in Italy alongside other Ferretti Group brands.The Ferretti Group, led by Chief Executive Officer Alberto Galassi, is now one of the world’s leaders in the construction and sale of luxury yachts and pleasure vessels, with a unique portfolio of brands: Ferretti Yachts, Riva, Pershing, Itama, Mochi Craft, CRN, Custom Line and Wally.Credits: Gilles Martin-Raget/Ferretti Group
September 12, 2025
Sunseeker has presented a new 40-meter model at the Cannes Yachting Festival. The design marks the first collaboration between Sunseeker and Italian designer Francesco Paszkowski.The yacht features a curved superstructure, tapered glazing, and two-tone exterior styling. Key elements include an extended aft deck with multiple lounge areas and a forward plunge pool convertible to seating when drained. Full technical specifications and interior layouts remain undisclosed pending further announcements.Sunseeker CEO Andrea Frabetti stated: "This collaboration embodies our commitment to pushing the boundaries of superyacht design, delivering our clients exceptional craftsmanship, style and innovation."Francesco Paszkowski added: "Together, we aim to create designs that resonate with discerning yacht owners worldwide, combining elegance, performance and comfort."The 40-meter model represents Sunseeker's continued expansion into the larger yacht segment, following previous launches in the 30-35 meter range. The company maintains production facilities in Poole, UK, where construction of the new model will occur alongside existing product lines.Since 1969 Sunseeker Yachts has built composite semi-custom yachts from 12m to 47m. The shipyard's main facility is located in Poole.Credits: Sunseeker
September 12, 2025