Spotlight – Prestige X70

Images: Jean Francois Romero

Packing all the qualities of a superyacht onto a 70-foot vessel is happening so fast these days, it’s like watching evolution on time-lapse: everything that once needed at least 100 feet can now be placed into an increasingly compact area.

Not only that, it can be done without losing functionality or, in the case of the new Prestige X70, style as well.

Designers Garroni Design and Militerno De Romedis – through the simple expedient of eliminating the sidedecks and using that saving to expand the flybridge – have completely reimagined how space can be utilised in a yacht of this size.

For many, the sacrificial lamb of the sidedecks – little more than glorified passageways between the aft and forward decks anyway – couldn’t have come soon enough. Designers have now called time on these space-guzzlers and it can only augur well for the future of yacht layouts.

It’s the interconnection between these huge spaces that is the key design feature – everything on board has been studied to facilitate movement on board

This hasn’t been lost on the industry and the X70 recently won the Best Layout Award at the 2020 World Yacht Trophies in Cannes. Offering a rethink on its F and S series, Prestige’s new X line is a gamechanger.

The designers decided to make bow access via the flybridge forward, rather than from the aft main deck, freeing up more space on the flybridge. According to the company, this means 90% of the flybridge beam can be used for social space, rather than the normal 70%.

It also means the main deck saloon occupies the entire beam of the boat, which opens onto a larger aft deck.

The main deck is composed of four distinct living areas: a large helm station with improved visibility – skippers will love the raked-back windscreens – a central galley with easy access to the flybridge, an aft cockpit enlarged by 300% and a beach club.

The beach club will be the scene-stealer for most owners. A hydraulic platform drops and integrates steps to create a gently sloping access point to the water. The drop-down bench set into the transom is simple yet well-proportioned, allowing a place to take in the view after a swim off the deck.

One innovation guests will enjoy is a stainless steel overhead shower that slots into the deck, creating a convenient area to wash off the salt after a day of frolicking in the sea, and a vast improvement on the usual pull-out deck shower options.

Below deck, a full-beam owner’s cabin features fine materials and great storage space. The cabin is accessed by a private staircase, with a guest and VIP cabins have their own entrances.

But it’s the interconnection between these huge spaces that is the key design feature. Everything on board has been studied to facilitate movement on board and to ingeniously blend the interior and exterior. 

Inside and the galley is the heart of life on board and has easy access to the flybridge. Throughout the interior the high-quality finish and materials diffuse a sense of soft and whispered luxury.

Cashmere, leather and wood have all been chosen for a relaxing life on board in what the makers are calling ‘your own private island’

Cashmere, leather and wood have all been chosen for a relaxing and comfortable life on board in what the makers are calling ‘your own private island’. 

For leather Prestige have gone with Foglizzo, one of the doyens of Italian leathercraft. Since the 1920s, the Turin-based company has been a supplier of high quality leather for antique car restorations.

Its work has now expanded into the yachting, aviation, motor, boutiques and residential interior design industries and is found on many of the largest and most expensive superyachts in the world. 

For the soft furnishings, the shipyard has gone with Duvivier – French furniture makers since 1840 – providing a chic and made-to-measure look.

The brightwork is also of the highest quality demonstrating expertise in even the slightest details. Finishes are mixed – such as lacquer and high-gloss varnish – and applied manually piece by piece. Meanwhile, the Bowers & Wilkins sound system is certain to impress on the beach club. 

Of course, as with many new production boats, the X70 enables a personalised layout. Each owner can choose his or her own tables, chairs, sun loungers and sofas from a broad offering and the fittings are highly modular allowing them to be chopped and changed at will.

 

Guest and VIP cabins all benefit from private entrances and the yacht offers the possibility of accommodating a full crew. 

On the technical side, the X70 is equipped with Volvo IPS 1200 and IPS 1350 engines, offering reliability, lower maintenance costs and optimal performance. It also offers a top speed of a shade over 26 knots and a decent cruising speed of 20 knots.

Designers Garroni Design and Militerno De Romedis have completely reimagined how space can be utilised in a yacht of this size

While its handling tends to favour straight- line cruising – you won’t be throwing doughnuts in this kind of heavy vessel – the comfort that it offers when underway, even in lumpy conditions, is second-to-none. 

Most of all, however, as a living space, Prestige is redefining the meaning of a superyacht; giving it more space yet making it more compact at the same time. 

Hong Kong yacht owners, buyers and enthusiasts will have a chance to see this fantastic yacht in person soon. According to Asia Yachting, the dealer for Prestige yachts in Hong Kong, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore and the Philippines, the new X70 is due to arrive in Hong Kong in the second quarter of 2021.

Technical specifications: Prestige X70 

Length overall: 21.83m
Hull beam: 5.34m
Draft: 1.7m
Maxi air draft: 8.96m
Light displacement: 33,400kg
Full load displacement: 44,640kg
Max speed: 29.5kts
Fuel capacity: 4,000l
Water capacity: 760l
Hot water capacity: 120l
Holding tank capacity: 290l
Architect: Garroni Design

www.prestige-yachts.com