Make a scene: Trialling Pardo's grand tourer yacht built for La Dolce Vita cruising

Pardo’s new GT75 crossover yacht is perfectly suited for leisurely voyages in La Dolce Vita style, says Gabrielle Lazaridis.

Inspired by the classic Gran Turismo automobiles pioneered in the 20th century, the new Pardo GT75 yacht practically begs for long, scenic voyages along a picturesque coastline. On a sunny day in Vieux-Port, Cannes, I board Pardo Yachts’ 22.8-metre flagship during its world premiere – and pause long enough to appreciate the yacht’s commanding profile, penned by returning collaborator Nauta Design. 

A sweeping reverse sheer hull is topped by a low-slung, forward-leaning cabin and decorated with trapezoidal cabin windows, a combination that conveys a sense of motion even at rest. It is an eye-catching model.

The new 75 follows Pardo’s wildly popular GT52 (with close to 50 units delivered since its release in 2022). It marks a significant step up in terms of onboard living space and interior volumes while also catering to the needs of owners who want something oriented toward performance. 

“The original concept was to create a crossover between our Walkaround and Endurance ranges,” says Rok Babarovic, business development manager of Cantiere del Pardo. “Many of our customers started asking us for something that is essentially still a dayboat but allows them to spend more time on the water, so we developed a range that really could deliver on all fronts.”

Stepping on board, guests are welcomed onto the yacht’s sprawling aft deck with a series of shallow steps leading from the swim platform, past the ample sunpad spread and up to the shaded cockpit with a C-shaped sofa and dining table. The area also features two unfolding side terraces for increased deck area and a multifunctional hydraulic platform that “allows guests to experience an even more complete and satisfying contact with the sea”, Gigi Servidati, Cantiere del Pardo’s chairman, says.

The aft area also highlights the GT75’s generous scope for customisation. Remarkably, the standard version I’m on has room for a tender garage, which is hidden underneath the sunpads and revealed at the press of a button. Should you require additional deck space, the alternative “beach” arrangement dispenses with the sunpads and tender garage to create a more open platform with private access to the owner’s cabin via a sliding glass door.

As we enter the main saloon, Nauta Design co-founder Massimo Gino, who also oversaw the yacht’s interiors, explains how the design process integrated the outdoor and indoor living spaces. “The idea is to have owners experience the yacht as a villa on the sea,” Gino explains. It’s not a revolutionary concept, but the delivery on board the GT75 is tastefully done and creates a more open sensation than I’ve experienced on yachts of a similar size.

There are the yard’s signature wraparound windows that open towards the rear, as well as a Venetian-style louvred roof and sliding doors falling on either side of the forward helm station. “If you want, you can make the GT75 very much into an open boat, but then when it’s too hot or too cold, you close the space, turn the air conditioning on and enjoy the beautiful view,” Babarovich says.

The yacht’s grand tourer credentials come into focus as we make our way downstairs to explore the guest accommodation, which looks well-suited to longer trips. The aesthetic here shifts to a slightly lighter palette, with white oak veneers, cream upholstery and lacquered accents giving the space a bright and cosy feel despite having minimal windows.

This first hull is laid out in the “galley-down” configuration (the “galley-up” version allows for one extra guest cabin) with a large country kitchen and lounge separating the forward VIP cabin and master suite aft. Both cabins make use of the yacht’s full beam – rather an indulgence on a yacht of this size – without losing any space should the owner wish to option a third or even a fourth cabin.

Despite not getting to trial the GT75, I get the sense from Babarovich that its performance capabilities are something that he’s hugely proud of. “We were able to push this size of vessel to 38 knots,” he tells me. “And not only that, the range at a fast-cruising speed of 30 knots is upwards of 300 [nautical] miles which, again, was important for our customers.”

Power on the GT75 comes from three 800-horsepower Volvo Penta IPS 1050 engines (with the option of upgrading to 1,000-horsepower IPS 1350s), which offer enhanced manoeuvrability and lower fuel consumption when paired with Zuccheri Yacht Design’s optimised hull form.

My flying visit leaves me with the impression of a capable and comfortable cruiser that will sell well on either side of the Atlantic. In fact, it already is: at time of writing, Pardo has signed 12 orders from a global client portfolio and is already planning to up its production capacity from eight units of the GT75 per annum to 15.

As for what’s next, Babarovic says the yard is already working hard to fill the gap between the two models with a GT65, but it’s the mention of Pardo going even bigger that gives me pause for thought. With a current flagship just shy of 24 metres, it seems the yard may soon disrupt an entirely different industry segment – one that readers of this publication are particularly interested in…

First published in the February 2025 issue of BOAT International. Subscribe now and never miss an issue.