NUMARINE 26 XP

LOA 84ft 11in (25.89m) BEAM 21ft 8in 6.60m ENGINES Twin 560-1200hp MAN TOP SPEED 23 knots PRICE FROM €3.53 million ex VAT

This is exactly the kind of boat Numarine should be building. Instead of trying to beat the likes of Sunseeker and Princess at their own sporty flybridge game, it has come up with a really striking explorer yacht that looks tough, modern and very desirable. Two different hull shapes allow owners to pick between an efficient displacement-only hull with a bow bulb to maximise fuel economy and a semi-planing bruiser that will bash through anything at speeds of up to 23 knots. The one on show at Cannes was a displacement model, which courtesy of its 10,000-litre fuel tanks, can trundle along at 8 knots for up to 3,500nm.

Despite its rugged looks this is also a seriously luxurious boat boasting exceptional volume inside its tall beamy hull, as well as copious deck space. The flybridge is particularly impressive, running most of the length of the ship and boasting almost 100m ² of floor space. A hard top covers the upper helm and dining spaces, leaving the vast rear section free for more furniture, tender storage or even a dance floor. There’s also a sheltered socialising area in front of the pilothouse with more sunbeds and seating tucked behind those chunky bulwarks.

The main deck features a wonderfully airy, open-plan saloon and dining area with tall drop down side windows and an illuminated pink marble table. Light oak floor boards enhance the beach house vibe. The raised pilothouse is set forward and up half a level so the skipper can get on with the job undisturbed. All four cabins are on the lower deck but thanks to that broad beam and those big hull windows, they feel almost as light and spacious as most main deck cabins. The headroom and floor space is particularly generous.

This model was fitted with a bank of lithium ion batteries enabling the owner to run all the main electrical systems including the air conditioning for up to 12 hours without having to fire up the generator. No wonder that 80% of Numarine’s customer enquiries are now for its XP range of boats. CONTACT Numarine Yachts UK. Tel +44 (0) 2380 456 544, www.numarine.com