Columbus Yachts, the new build arm of the Naples-based Palumbo Group, has unveiled designs for several new superyacht lines.
In a presentation at the Yacht Club de Monaco, the yard revealed the Columbus Sport/Columbus Sport Hybrid line, the updated Columbus Classic line, the Columbus Maxi line and the Columbus Explorer line. The designs were penned by Sergio Cutolo of Hydro Tec in co-operation with the yard and include yachts from 25m to 140m.
The 2013-launched Columbus Sport Hybrid 40m – which won three prizes at the recent ShowBoats Design Awards – is the first hull in what will become the joint Sport and Sport Hybrid line. The seven yachts in this bracket range from 25m to 65m. All except the smallest two are available with hybrid propulsion, but they all share the same ethos.
‘The concept behind these boats is aluminium construction to keep the weight as low as possible and over 20 knots maximum speed, but with a hull configuration that is also able to grant lower fuel consumption,’ says Cutolo. ‘We managed that in the 40m with extensive CFD studies and tank testing.’ Variants within the range include a raised pilothouse on the 35m and extra aft features on the 32m.
The Classic line was already part of the yard’s portfolio, but the six new yacht designs represent a more technically advanced and contemporary styled interpretation. The Classic line ranges from 44m to 75m and is based on the naval platform of 54m Prima, Palumbo’s first superyacht build. ‘These are boats with quite masculine design, but good volumes,’ says Cutolo. ‘The bow is left free and in the big models it could become a landing pad for a helicopter.’
The Maxi line consists of four models from 80m to 140m, all with impressive beach clubs. ‘When we have such a big boat we consider the aft area very important for life onboard,’ says Cutolo. ‘We keep also in these boats the concept of the side balconies on Prima.’
The Explorer range of five designs runs from 44m to 90m and has been developed partly using the same naval platform as the Classic line. The steel and aluminium, full displacement yachts are designed for range, efficiency and performance optimisation, aimed at a low environmental impact.
Columbus has three yachts in construction, the second Columbus Sport Hybrid 40m, a 55m full displacement from the Classic line, due for delivery in 2015 and already sold, plus a 68m Classic, begun on-spec and due for completion in 2016.