It was no small feat. But in this issue, we managed to include four new products and projects presented at the Cannes and Monte Carlo boat shows. There is the Azimut Grande 36M described by Marijana Radovic and Marco Bonelli of m2atelier, but there is also the revolutionary BGF45, a hull borrowed from the America’s Cup chase boat experience, which is likely to have a significant impact on medium-sized pleasure boating. And then there is the new AB110, which is the manifesto of the new course of the Next Yacht Group, and the incredible Aera project by Royal Huisman, which marks a new milestone in the chapter of sustainability in recreational boating. Finally, there is an exclusive interview with Cantieri di Pisa, a historic Italian boating company that is set to become a new exceptional reality.
Spaces to live in, but also places to experiment with new design solutions. There is no doubt that the architectural season we are experiencing in yacht design is marked by unprecedented creative ferment. This was clearly evident at the latest edition of the Monaco Yacht Show, which has evolved from a simple boat show into a privileged observatory of trends and, above all, an open-air laboratory where shipyards, designers and engineers showcase their vision of the future. Never before have the innovations provided such food for thought as they did this year. The drive for innovation was tangible not only in the quantity of projects presented, but above all in their quality. Whereas in the past they could be defined as simple concepts, exercises in style designed more to impress than to become reality, today these prototypes are the result of a complete design process, ready to be transformed into limited series or even production models. Against this backdrop, Aera stole the show. The new catamaran by Royal Huisman is not only a cutting-edge project, but a manifesto that brings sustainability to a concrete level. At the heart of the project is a 35-metre-high wing sail, a solution that is as spectacular as it is technically sophisticated, developed thanks to the know-how of Artemis Technologies. The name is not new to sailing enthusiasts: the team has already demonstrated its technical and sporting prowess in several editions of the America’s Cup. Today, under the guidance of British Olympian Iain Percy, Artemis is looking beyond competition, investing energy and expertise in an ambitious programme to decarbonise maritime transport. Its portfolio includes projects in development and vehicles already in operation, such as the Artemis EF-12 Escape, a fully electric foil water taxi that represents one of the most concrete applications of the technology developed. Remaining on the theme of innovation, and shifting our attention to Cannes, the debut of the Bluegame BGF45 did not go unnoticed. Here, the key element is once again the foil, a technology that is also entering the world of recreational boating in its own right. The project brings with it the experience gained by the shipyard with the construction of two hydrogen-powered chase boats for the American Magic and Orient Express Racing Team teams. This know-how is now being poured into a model intended for the market, opening a new phase of experimentation. To paraphrase Neil Armstrong, one could say that for Bluegame this is a small step. But for boating as a whole, it is a leap forward that marks the beginning of a new era.
Matteo Zaccagnino
