KEEPIN’ IT FRESH

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ACCOMMODATION

The 44’s available in a variety of layouts. This one’s set up for six people in three cabins: a vast master cabin up front and two identical cabins aft, one in each hull. Unusually, the master bedroom – with its king-size double bed – lies between the hulls, where most cats would have a trampoline or the anchor locker. Its en suite is in the port hull, with a writing desk/dressing table to starboard. Each aft cabin has a large double bed and an en suite further forward.

They are all well-planned, spacious cabins, and offer a subtle advantage: located as they are at opposite sides/ends of the cat, you’ll enjoy a heightened sense of privacy and quiet.

I like the design of the saloon and galley. Again, it’s undeniably spacious but perhaps more importantly, it’s easy-to-use space. Consider the large opening window at the rear end of the galley. Apart from the sense of free-flowing, continuous airiness it creates when it’s open, it facilitates the passage of food and drink to the raucous guests occupying the cockpit’s big U-shaped settee. It’s easy to see why the

44 is so well-suited to chartering and entertaining.

For me, though, Central Station on the Aquila 44 is its flybridge – I just know this will be the chief congregation point for all guests.

PARTY ZONE

Numerous features qualify the flybridge as the party zone. The view, for a start. It’s a glorious, 360o panorama – and the area will accommodate a decent-sized crowd to enjoy that view. If the weather’s churlish – as it was for us in Sydney – there are full, wraparound clears to keep your hair unruffled and dry.

The cat has a single, island helm station – and it’s up here, on the centre line, near the front of the flybridge. It affords the helmsman uninterrupted views – especially useful for docking – and Volvo’s fingertip electronic throttles make it a genteel affair. As an island helm station, it’s best to stand in front of it, facing aft, when maneuvering the cat into her berth. With those engines taking full advantage of the 6.56m beam, she spins in her own length. There is, incidentally, an infrared camera mounted on the aft end of the flybridge roof, pointed aft, to help with night docking.

I hate to say this, but perfectly-located though the helm station is, it’s almost irrelevant in the context of the flybridge’s party potential.

The hotspot is the BBQ and wet bar just behind the helm station, complete with ice-box. And then there are the wellpadded settees – port, starboard, either side of the helm, with a large U-shaped settee and table further aft. The area will accommodate – and seat – 20 guests with ease.

With Abba blaring from the high-end Fusion stereo system (I lost count of the speakers mounted around the vessel), I predict the cat will field regular visits from Noise Control.

The flybridge’s smartest piece of design, though, is its dual

access. Flybridges are often a sticking point with crowds because usually there is only one access point – an internal staircase. This cat has its internal staircase from the saloon, but there is also a second, forward access, leading down from the front of the flybridge to the foredeck. This creates an excellent “flow” through the flybridge, and avoids the typical bottleneck that plagues single access designs.

Note that the flybridge BBQ is electric. In fact, the entire vessel runs a combination of 12-volt DC and 240-volt AC. The owner doesn’t like gas. So this cat has a 10.4kva generator, a 5,000kw inverter and 800 amp-hours of batteries. The galley below has an induction hob, surrounded by Corian work surfaces, fridge/ freezer, cooker and a stainless steel microwave oven.

Aesthetically, the cat presents well. I like the recessed LED strip lighting in the ceiling, the large TV that disappears into its locker on the starboard side of the saloon at the push of a button, and the comfortable living around the saloon table and settee. The cat’s fully equipped with heating and A/C.

I enjoyed the Aquila 44. She’s different, unusual and above all, a fun boat. For those who prefer to march to their own drums, her attributes offer a definite element of the non-conformist. With her height she’s difficult to miss, but if you’re looking for her in a crowded marina I’d suggest you just follow the music. They might even invite you to join the party. B