Shadow dance: Test driving the powerful new dayboat from Axopar and Brabus Marine

The new Axopar Brabus Shadow 1200 Sun-Top is a rip-roaring response to the ocean's call to adventure, says Gabrielle Lazaridis

"You probably don’t need to brace that hard," the skipper at the helm of Brabus’ new flagship says to me while trying (and failing) to conceal a good-natured grin. A little sheepish, I relax my grip on the console as I come out of the widened stance I’d assumed.

We're easing out of the Mallorcan port of Calanova, sun shining overhead, to test the 13.9-metre Brabus Shadow 1200 Sun-Top from Axopar – tag line "The Adventure Company". With that designation in mind, plus the lingering image of three 400hp Mercury V10 engines hanging off the stern, I still think I should buckle down as we gear up for acceleration.

And yet, even at full throttle, the boat takes off without so much as a lurch and the double-stepped hull lifts almost imperceptibly onto the plane – all while staying perfectly level and maintaining clear visibility over the bow. I look around to assess the reactions of the others on board and can see I’m not alone in my excitement. This boat is as substantive as it is stylish.

One glance at the Shadow 1200 tells you just how much of a statement that is. With its stealth profile, Phantom Grey colour scheme and Brabus red upholstery mixed in with carbon fibre detailing, the boat looks tailor-made to star opposite Tom Cruise in the Mission Impossible franchise.

"The 1200 is the flagship of all our ranges," says Jan-Erik Viitala, Axopar's founding partner and creative and innovation director. "It’s the biggest, most luxurious, most capable boat we’ve ever created with Brabus Marine, with the most amount of new technology inside." Having built its reputation tuning high-performance automotive vehicles, Brabus entered the marine industry in 2019 through a collaboration with the Finnish boat builder, offering an elevated take on Axopar’s patented utilitarian function. This time around, the host of technical upgrades includes souped-up racing engines and Mercury’s Joystick Piloting for Outboards with an autopilot feature. Other onboard highlights include reverse and night vision cameras, premium JL audio systems and full RGB lighting throughout.

I glance over at the speedometer, which is rapidly climbing towards the boat’s marketed top speed of 55 knots, and then back at the horizon. I’m a little worried the low windshield will scarcely protect us from the elements but Viitala quells my concern. "There’s a wind screen that lowers down in case of inclement weather," he says, but for those who want even more cover, the Shadow 1200 also comes with a fully enclosable cabin.

"It’s as if the boat’s confidence is feeding my own, and I get the sudden impulse to throw her into a hard turn at 40 knots"

I take the helm to see how she handles and am immediately impressed by how tightly the hull hugs the surface of the water. It’s as if the boat’s confidence is feeding my own, and I get the sudden impulse to throw her into a hard turn at 40 knots. It's undoubtedly a thrill, but the boat responds with ease. "It’s remarkably surefooted," I yell over the wind whipping past. My comment appears to strike a chord with Viitala, who looks especially pleased. "Yes," he beams. "The drivability is my favourite part." He has me release the wheel mid-turn, leaving me marvelling at how it remains in place while the boat continues, undisturbed, along its arc.

According to senior naval architect Clément David of Navia Design, the firm responsible for Axopar (and therefore Brabus Marine) hulls, the boat's exceptional seakeeping is down to its double-stepped hull and low centre of gravity. These, alongside Axopar’s signature plumb bow, help to cut through the water, leaving guests feeling safe, comfortable and dry. "We want all Brabus boats to be drivable, fun and accessible," Viitala explains. "Our intention is not to create a yacht sensation. Rather, every Brabus product needs to incorporate fun and excitement, which we call ‘confident performance’."

Originally conceived as a day boat (although it can also serve well as a chase boat or limousine tender), the Shadow 1200 offers the option of not one but two interior cabins with modular layouts and innovative gull-wing doors to improve ventilation. Outdoor space has been equally considered, with full walkaround decks allowing 12 guests to move freely between each of the fore, mid and aft social areas. And just when I think I’ve seen it all, Viitala pops down two side balconies during a brief stop in a local cove. The result feels something akin to our own floating private island, held securely in place by Mercury’s Skyhook digital anchoring system.

I finish off the trip back to Port Calanova perched on the bow’s sun-drenched lounge cushions, surveying an expanse of crystal blue water while Mallorca's rocky, wild coastline whizzes by. From my new vantage point, I can certainly see how the right platform could inspire anyone to take up the ocean’s call to adventure.

First published in the October 2024 issue of BOAT International. Get this magazine sent straight to your door, or subscribe and never miss an issue.