The new review
It’s been a year since Mark upgraded his flybridge cruiser. So what’s the verdict?
The first week in June marked the first anniversary of our taking possession and the maiden voyage of Artemisia, our new-build Prestige 680. During that first year, we racked up around 2,000nm and consumed some 20,000 litres of fuel averaging 10lpnm. Only when endeavouring a long distance in a day do we cruise as fast as 24 knots (330lph) as normally our ‘fast cruising’ for shorter distances is around 21-22 knots (250lph), and more often it’s just 18 knots (200lph). But with such spectacular scenery along the Amalfi Coast and the Neapolitan islands to savour, and relatively short distances to cover in a day, we are increasingly happiest pottering along at a very economical 8-10 knots (30-55lph).
Trading up from our previous three-cabin 18m Prestige 550 to the four-cabin 21m 680 has brought with it a quantum leap in enjoyment. Apart from the increased creature comforts that additional space brings, the larger boat handles much better and rides more securely through the waves. No longer do we get the ‘slapping’ that we often experienced on the lighter and smaller 550. Apart from the beautiful electric blue colour that we chose, which makes Artemisia a very distinctive yacht, bringing admiring looks and comments wherever we go, probably the single stand-out feature has been the installation of the Seakeeper gyroscopic stabiliser. This has transformed our cruising experience when at anchor, providing wonderful stability; no more do we and our guests have to endure the discomfort of trying to enjoy lunch in a swell whilst rocking like a pendulum.
Other significant pluses have been the installation post-build of a Glendining cabling system, making the handling and storage of the power lines a doddle, and the addition of the 180lph watermaker has enabled us to spend, if necessary, days away from a marina.
The custom rear bimini to the hardtop has provided much-needed shade for the rear seating, and the redesigned flybridge galley with its large Gaggenau grill has proven essential to cater for the number of guests that a boat this size accommodates. We are also delighted with the reliability of the Volvo Penta IPS compared to that of the Cummins Mercruiser pods. On the minus side, we’ve had a few minor quibbles, such as the flybridge helm bench seat being set too far away from the wheel and controls for comfort, and the limited capacity of the grey and fresh water tanks – the latter remedied by the watermaker. More significantly, we are totally bemused that unlike on our old 550, for claimed ‘reasons of safety,’ no remote-control systems are supplied to operate the passerelle and hydraulic platform. The former has been rectified at some expense post build – how is one meant to close the gangway after leaving the boat or extend it upon return without it? As for the platform, the lack of a remote has made the launch and return of the RIB a very stressful and indeed dangerous manoeuvre in any sort of swell when there are only two of us on board, as my wife has to remain on the cockpit to operate the up/down controls, and it is very difficult to manhandle the RIB single-handedly in those conditions.
All in all, our 680 has proven to be everything we wished for in upgrading from the 550. The build quality, functionality, reliability and cruising experience is on another level and whilst I may once have aspired to an even grander yacht, it looks as if we’ll be content to proudly enjoy our 680 for many years to come.