Talk of the town: A show stopping debut for SAY Carbon Yachts' speedy and slender 52

Ultra-light, devilishly handsome and oh-so speedy, SAY Carbon Yachts’ newest flagship is a masterpiece of carbon-fibre construction, says Gabrielle Lazaridis.

I honestly didn't think I'd have to (lightly) elbow my way to the front of the SAY 52 unveiling, but clearly there’s more interest in the brand’s new 16-metre flagship than I'd thought. The quay is positively heaving with clients, industry enthusiasts and journalists like me, all vying for an unobstructed view. It's to the point where the casual observer must be wondering which A-list celebrity decided to crash this year’s Palma International Boat Show – though I’d wager what awaits is even more exciting than a surprise visit from Hollywood's latest heartthrob.

Listening to a brief address from Martin Pedersen, now the owner of German boat builder SAY Carbon Yachts, I’m led to believe the new model is more handsome as well. “You will look at it and say, ‘Wow, this is sensual!’ This sleek styling is a very important box to tick – it’s where you begin to fall in love with the product,” he says.

The cover whips back and a collective “oooh” sounds from the crowd as we drink in the SAY 52's race-ready profile. If the hype seems overblown, it isn't. Her razor-sharp gunwales and signature curves are enough to draw anyone's focus, but with a stylish new hardtop – where previous models were left open – and geometric panels, the SAY 52 looks so futuristic it may as well have sped directly out of the Tron franchise.

There are so many people to see the new model that I can only be guaranteed a 15-minute trial the following day. But rather than disappointment, I feel rather heartened by the boat’s filled dance card. It's possibly the best scenario SAY Carbon Yachts could have hoped for, having bounced back from insolvency just over a year ago.

According to chief technical officer Karl Wagner, the yard was struggling to sell enough product after investing heavily in its inventory. “We always had our costs under control, but we needed to strengthen our marketing and sales strategy,” says Wagner. “We were able to focus more on this side of the business with [Pedersen’s] investment, so bringing on new dealers across various markets, attending shows and making more noise.”

The company’s reorganisation also meant Wagner could return to his strengths in engineering, particularly his mastery of carbon fibre. Hailing from the automotive industry, Wagner was among the first suppliers of composite road car components for brands such as Lamborghini, Porsche, Ferrari and McLaren.

In 2014, Wagner joined SAY Carbon Yachts with a vision to deliver “a supercar on water”, made almost entirely of carbon fibre. “If you look at the automotive or aviation industries, the aim is always to keep the weight down,” he says, pointing to improvements in performance and efficiency. “For me personally, there’s no reason to make a boat heavier than is necessary, and we try to make as many parts as we can in the autoclave [a high-pressure vessel used to enhance the mechanical properties of carbon fibre components]. However, the process is very technical so it’s still rare to see boats produced using this method.”

Eager to experience the SAY 52 for myself, I scurry past the bathing platform’s remarkably inviting sunbeds and settle into the main seating area under the hardtop. “We learned a lot from client feedback on the 42,” says Wagner, with most of it speaking to the elevation of onboard amenities. “We’ve been very focused on perfecting the technical performance, so for the 52, we wanted to put more effort into the lifestyle aspect.” It’s part of the reason the brand decided to go bigger in the first place, to allow for additional features such as a compact galley that help SAY Carbon Yachts cross over from dayboats to fully-fledged weekenders.

We eventually clear the no-wake zone, and all 12 of us on board are just itching to let her rip. Without further delay, Wagner opens up the throttle for an initial burn along the coast and it’s here that I realise: if the SAY 52’s appearance is where you begin to fall in love, experiencing her at sea effectively seals the deal. In a matter of seconds, we’re hurtling along the Bay of Palma at 30, 35, then touching on 40 knots with barely any slamming, courtesy of Swedish engineering company Petestep. “There’s a series of deflectors along the hull that help redirect the spray to the stern, forming a cushion of water and air that the boat sits on,” explains Carlos Vassallo, SAY Carbon Yachts’ head of global sales. “You also feel less lateral G-force, so the boat can execute turns at high speed or low speed.”

As if on cue, there's a sharp bank to the left with a surprising amount of lean to go along. But with the additional help of Seakeeper 3 gyrostabilizers, the boat glides effortlessly over the water's surface, allowing guests to rest comfortably in their seats.

At under eight tonnes, the SAY 52 weighs roughly half as much as its competitors and claims to use up to 50 per cent less fuel. “This is really, really low,” Wagner emphasises. “The boat is doing 42 knots with only two 440-horsepower Volvo diesel engines, so it’s not a lot of power. Still, it accelerates more like a car than like a boat.” Alternatively, the SAY 52 comes in a petrol variant, powered by a pair of 430-horsepower Volvo Penta V8 engines.

The only reservation I have about the SAY 52 is a conspicuous lack of guardrails on the prow. It makes being topside feel a little precarious, though in fairness, I doubt you'd want to hang out here while thundering around at 45 knots. Still, I'm able to appreciate the broad Plexiglas foredeck (lighter than traditional glass) that sports the same geometric design and embedded LEDs as the hardtop. It also allows ample light into the spacious cabin below, which houses a bed, wine cooler, small dinette and a bathroom with a shower.

As we head back to the dock, Vassallo shares a glimpse into the yard's future plans, beginning with  a revamped 42 model and a new 32 to replace the 29. It’s an entirely fresh line-up, and a triumphant return for SAY Carbon Yachts. The size of the crowd awaiting us is surely a testament to that.

First published in the October 2025 edition of BOAT International. Get this magazine delivered straight to your door, or subscribe and never miss an issue.