AB Yachts 80 G-Five

Superyacht 68-Winter-2020-2021

The AB80 hit the water recently. It is the latest version of the sporty looking yacht by the historic AB Yachts shipyard a Gruppo Fipa brand.

Notwithstanding the explorer yachts’ success and that of their offshoots namely supply vessels and crossovers, there are some, a few, no very few yards that still go for Mediterranean style maxi opens. Among these top of the range yards there are two Italian ones AB Yachts and Mangusta Yachts of the Gruppo Overmarine.

AB Yachts has always believed in maxi opens but it has made performance one of its main features to the extent of installing Water-jet drives even into the larger units built. The latest is AB yachts 80 with project design work by Gruppo Fipa’s in house engineers with precious input from Acube Design studio in Tuscany. This 25.40 metre yacht while maintaining continuity of design with the yachts which preceded shows new styling decor such as large floor to ceiling window like ports as well as glazed see through inserts at bulwark level which deliver better visual contact of the interiors and better views of the exterior surroundings. The outlines have been hardened to meet current trends while softer sinuous external ones have been dropped. Gray is the chosen colour above the waterline to amplify a racier concept.

This AB 80 has been conceived as a gentleman’s yacht for the exclusive use of the owner who in fact will be in command as per the “owner-operator” concept so popular in the US which is acquiring greater consensus in Europe too. It is well suited to host cruising families and as a day run about boat.
This first unit sports made to measure interior decor by Gruppo Fipa’s Centro Stile as requested. On entry there’s an ample welcoming living room area connecting directly to the cockpit by walking past large see through cut glass sliding doors, while further forward there’s a dining area and technical bridge with the helm controls station. The galley is situated below deck and so are the three cabins, with the owner’s which runs full beam across at amidships, another is a twin and the last one is a double, all of them have a bathroom “en suite” The bow segment hosts the crew cabin while aft in the stern there’s a hangar for tender and toys. Out on deck there’s a welcoming lounge in the stern section furnished with a dining table and loads of cushions, a more private lounge follows in the bow and above it a sport fly-deck for tan fans.

“ The shipyard – President Francesco Guidetti affirms – has been working very closely with the
Ship owner in order to make all his requests and needs come true, as it happens in any project we work on. We take care of every single detail and the final beauty that emerges is the result of the firm commitment of craftsmen that work hard like our ancestors did with wood and marbles in our own lands”.

The power plant is made up as follows: three MAN V12 2,000HP engines linked to three MJP “G-Force” water-jets will push the yacht to a top speed of 58 knots and a recommended speed of 45. These drives together with a hull that comes from years of experience and development on hydro-jets guarantees exceptional manoeuvring at high speed as well and great cruising comfort even when cruising slow thanks also to the presence of gyroscope stabilizers and the possibility of sailing over the typical shallow waters of the Bahamas.
For further information: AB Yachts

Text by Fabiano Maresca – Photos by A&B Photodesign