on 22 Jul 2021
Malaysian-built flybridge can cruise efficiently for over 1,000 nautical miles
Malaysia-based Grand Banks Yachts has confirmed it will debut its all-new Grand Banks 54 at the 2021 Cannes Yachting Festival this September.
The re-engineered Grand Banks 54 follows the GB60 and GB60 Skylounge in the same line – and also features the builder’s signature warped semi-displacement hull.
Like her big sisters, the GB54 also features advanced composite construction techniques, including a fully infused fibreglass hull and infused carbon fibre decks and superstructure.
The weight savings moves the yacht’s vertical centre of gravity lower, giving the yacht increased stability and comfort at sea.
The hull form provides a stable platform that can comfortably cruise at high speeds. Starting with the low-end of 10 knots running on a pair of 725-horsepower Volvo Penta D11s, the yacht has a fuel burn of 7 gallons per hour and a range exceeding 1,200 nautical miles. At the upper end, the yacht burns 57 gallons (216 litres) per hour, cruising at 25 knots.
“The new Grand Banks 54 is an incredibly versatile platform, with quality and performance second to none. It encapsulates our commitment to building the ultimate yachts on the water today, and with our focus on fuel-efficiency and sustainability, I think it will come to define what is expected of yachting in the years to come,” says Mark Richards, CEO of Grand Banks.
“Driven in large part from my experience and involvement in high-end sail racing – from the America’s Cup to the Sydney To Hobart – and the tacit knowledge and passion of our team at the factory yards, we’ve worked really hard to ensure our build techniques, designs and material selection are cutting-edge.”
The first hull of the GB54 features a two-stateroom, galley-down layout in its standard configuration. Owners will have the option to bring the galley up to the salon, which would add a third stateroom on the accommodations level.
Both layouts benefit from a large salon seating area with an L-shaped settee to port, served by a dining table. Stairs on the starboard side of the cockpit lead to the flybridge, where a boat deck aft supports a standard tender and davit. The upper helm station offers standard helm and companion seats, while an L-shaped settee and table can comfortably seat 6 additional guests.
“A yacht that can cruise efficiently for a thousand nautical miles should have an interior suited to the task as well,” adds Richards. “Just as the hull is built both for long passages and shorter jaunts, so the interior can welcome family and friends aboard in comfort, for the day, the weekend, or the month. There’s plenty of storage, and we’ve designed the layouts to be easy to get around – The cockpit and salon are a single step apart, and the accommodations level is just 3 steps down from the salon. Easy, comfortable, and enjoyable; that’s the name of the game.”