A New Vintage
Refined, understated, classic: the gentleman’s yacht is back, combining traditional aesthetics with next-generation technology.
Gentleman’s yachts are an established category in their own right, spanning everything from large motor yachts to commuters, day sailers, tenders and runabouts. What unites them isn’t size, but a classic, elegant look. One of the first gentleman’s commuters was built in 1927 by Lürssen in Germany, boasting three Maybach engines that propelled her to an impressive top speed of 34 knots. It was the height of fashion, and men everywhere strove for a handsome vessel in which to commute daily between their waterfront residences and city offices.
These classic runabouts and commuters have never lacked panache, but they have always been short of the state-of-the-art tech that has come to define 21st-century yachts. With more global shipyards working with retro aesthetics, it was inevitable that there would be a new breed of gentleman’s yacht, one that nodded to past designs while taking advantage of modern accessories. Herewith, a shortlist of the best new models.
© Lürssen, Massimiliano Romualdi (this photo + header)
Experience the scent of the sea and the sound of the wind with the latest launch from an icon in the 1970s, recognisable from afar and now produced under the aegis of the Ferretti Group. A fast and sporty open day cruiser with an overall length of 16.44 metres and a beam of 4.73 metres, the double-cockpit layout also includes two dedicated spaces for relaxation.
(Photo: Ulf Sommerwerck)
Oliver Berking, along with the Beiderbeck design team, created this exceptionally elegant 9.12m dayboat, which is also available in a larger version. The first production boat from the Flensburg shipyard specialising in restorations and replicas, it is based on a historical concept, dating from early-20th-century America.
© Cockwells
This award-winning, semi-production 11.48m vessel is available in three different layouts (most notably, twin- or single-cabin) and can be either a dayboat or weekender. With a spacious cockpit, polished stylings and an airy saloon with plenty of space for socialising in any weather, she boasts a top speed of 28 or 32 knots, depending on the configuration.
(Photo: Riccardo Gorgenini)
This compact aluminium model in the Picchiotti line, part of The Italian Sea Group, measures 23.96 metres from bow to stern. Luca Dini’s artful designs come in three variations: Hamptons, with natural luminosity, pale woods and breezy textures; Manhattan, boasting darker tones, stark contrasts and plays of light; and Modern Line, with clean contours, subtle illumination and contemplative ease.
© Seven Seas Yachts
This 9.65m runabout, which is also available in a smaller version, is designed for longer hours on board, or even overnight stays for two to four guests. When Peter Politis started building his first units, he had envisioned the majority of his clients coming from nearby Thessaloniki, Greece, but the speedsters have quickly become bestsellers across Europe and the US.
