Robb Report Names SÓL a Top Five Launch
11/01/2023
Making Waves
Five of the season’s most interesting launches were put through their paces in the Med – with each yacht bringing something new to the water.
Test driving a car is one thing, but finding the right watercraft is altogether more challenging. This cheat sheet is here to help, the result of first runs on a handful of new releases, ranging from Dominator’s 35-foot Midi Lumen M35 to the 171-foot Baglietto T52. Each was selected not just for being new to market but also for helping to advance the industry in some description, whether through cutting-edge propulsion, more-efficient hull shapes, or forward-looking interior design. Anchors Aweigh. Michael Verdon
80 Sunreef Power Eco
A legitimate breakthrough in all-electric Motoryacht design, the 80 Sunreef Power Eco’s 80-foot by 39-foot dimensions create an airy interior with useable space of many 100-foot models. Instead of needing to plug in somewhere to recharge, the 80 Eco relies on thin, shock-resistant solar panels within the hulls, superstructure, and hardtop – anywhere absorbing sunlight – that replenish the 330 kWh battery banks connected to twin 180 kw motors. The four-cabin cat also has a smart energy management system to monitor features such as its low-draw air-conditioning system.
On the water, it’s pleasant, silent, and slow. At 8 knots, it can run for eight hours, with a range of 64 nautical miles. The top end is 12 knots, though Sunreef was cagey about how long a charge lasts at that speed. “In electric, it’s less about knots and more about watts,” says the captain. For those with range anxiety, Sunreef recently announced the new 77-foot Ultima, a sleeker design with diesel-electric propulsion. J.Z.
