Based in 2005, the Yihong Yachts shipyard in Zhangzhou close to Xiamen is one among China’s greatest yacht manufacturing amenities and has greater than 200 staff. Manufacturing contains Aquitalia luxurious yachts and the Sea Stella sequence, whereas the yard additionally builds catamarans, lake boats, shuttle boats, floating properties and steel-hull yachts as much as 60m.
Till lately, Yihong centered on the yachting market in China, the place it’s one of many home leaders. Nonetheless, the corporate has additionally offered boats to the UAE and different locations in Asia comparable to Japan and South Korea.
Nevertheless, final 12 months marked a turning level for the Aquitalia Yachts model, which is now going international following vendor appointments in Asia (Raffles Yacht, additionally worldwide advisor), Europe (LKW Pavic) and the US (United Yacht Gross sales).
Since September 2023, Aquitalia has exhibited at a number of main exhibits, beginning on the Cannes Yachting Pageant with the Europe debut of the Aquitalia 78 earlier than heading to the US to exhibit on the Fort Lauderdale Worldwide Boat Present.
Most lately, Yihong made its Southeast Asia debut on the Singapore Yachting Pageant, the place it displayed an Aquitalia 68 and launched the model with new vendor Raffles Yacht. Each Yihong and Raffles Yacht help The Worldwide SeaKeepers Society, Asia, as a part of their dedication to ocean sustainability.
Initially the Chinese language shipyard was the OEM for Aquitalia, which was based in Florence by a gaggle of naval architects. Yihong acquired the model in late 2008. In China, the Aquitalia model is called Shui Shen, which interprets because the God of Water.
Aquitalia’s Finest-Vendor in Singapore
The Aquitalia 68 was launched in 2016. Since then, the corporate has constructed some 40 models and nonetheless have half-a-dozen or so hulls in manufacturing for this 12 months. Moreover the 68, Aquitalia produces different fashions such because the 64, 78, 85 and the flagship 95, in addition to a 72 powercat, a mannequin whose design has now advanced to a 75.
The Aquitalia 68’s exterior has pleasing traces. You’ll be able to’t assist however consider a complicated, racy ‘Italian’ if you take a look at her.
“We like our yachts to replicate the essence of the water, so by way of the look, we use loads of circulate within the form of the boat,” says Michelle Ye, Yihong Yachts’ CEO and Chairwoman, who was in Singapore for the mannequin’s Southeast Asia debut.
As flowing as the outside traces are, the Aquitalia 68 has an expansive 20ft beam, which makes it virtually 3ft wider than a similar-length yacht from a number one Italian builder. The beam is notable within the typical aft cockpit and extra so on the flybridge, which has a curvy couch wrapped across the aft finish and starboard aspect, whereas a double sunpad ahead rounds off the lounging area.
The foredeck has a double sunpad surrounded by outward-facing seating; the aft cockpit makes the many of the boat’s 20ft beam
The beam can also be notable if you step contained in the spacious saloon. Moreover, the Aquitalia 68 in Singapore is particular. Legend is a charter-friendly model of the mannequin and the primary to characteristic a brand new inside by Italian studio Pulina Unique Interiors, which contains the model story with the 68-footer.
“The inside, particularly within the new design by Pulina, reveals the relations between water and nature within the design language,” Ye stated.
“The Aquitalia 68 provides spacious areas as a result of the beam is wider than most similar-size rivals. This enables the boat to supply extra open space for the designer and proprietor to utilise the area. That is necessary as open area is widespread for this dimension of yacht.”
The decrease deck options three superbly appointed cabins and three loos. Set down a few steps from the lower-deck foyer, the full-beam master bedroom is huge, with an enormous couch to starboard combining with the bedside to create its personal social space throughout events. Aft of the mattress is the lavatory to port and a walk-in wardrobe to starboard.
On the aft finish of the yacht, accessible from the swim platform, is crew quarters with two bunks and a head. There appears to be just one characteristic lacking from this Italian-inspired luxurious vessel and that’s a hydraulic swim platform. Upon enquiry, it’s revealed that it wasn’t requested by the homeowners of the hull in Singapore, who will constitution the yacht, however is offered as an possibility and is included on most orders.
The boat’s load displacement is available in at a really respectable 46 tonnes and there are twin Volvo Penta D13-800 engines put in in a spotless, soundproof, full-height engine room. Relying on sea circumstances, the engines present a cruising velocity of round 14 to fifteen knots, which isn’t super-fast however high quality for a time out on the water. With such a big hull, Aquitalia has additionally fortunately included a bow thruster for added manoeuvrability.
With its strong construct, Italian design and high quality finishes, the Aquitalia 68 represents a singular alternative in right this moment’s luxurious yachting market. It additionally proves that ‘Made in China’ is usually a constructive factor.
“Now we have an in-house design crew and are a extra boutique-style model, so we are able to tailor a ship’s inside design and structure to the shopper’s wants,” Ye says. “Normally, customisation is barely provided by European manufacturers on bigger yachts or superyachts, however with us, the proprietor can take pleasure in this sort of service from the dimensions of the Aquitalia 68.”
And with a price ticket from USD 2.2 million, Legend is an actual cut price for what you get, with the bottom value rising to about USD 2.7 million for a full-spec model together with a second helm, upgraded engines, hydraulic swim platform, passarelle and the likes. With massive out of doors and indoor areas, and inside décor elevated by the brand new Pulina collaboration, the Aquitalia 68 simply is perhaps an actual ‘God of Water’.
www.yihongyachts.com
www.aquitaliayachts.com
www.rafflesyacht.com.sg
Pictures courtesy of Raffles Yacht / Aquitalia
This text was first seen on YachtStyle.co.
For extra on the newest in yachting information, click on right here.
