READY FOR RELAXATION

THE PRINCESS S78 IS A HOME AWAY FROM HOME IN ANY HARBOR

S78 stands for Sport, but I’d also opt for sleek, slippery or stylish. The builder’s new S Class flagship appears to be an express cruiser until you look closely and see the low-profile flybridge. Its design is so well-executed that it’s almost invisible at first, and it leaves room for a skylight above the salon. ¶ This yacht’s notable design traits are not limited to looks. Twin 1,900 hp MAN V-12s put the sport into the 78. She topped out at 39 knots during our sea trial, enough speed to get Massachusetts owners over to Nantucket, or California owners over to Catalina for brunch with time to spare. ¶ The S78’s hull form is based on the builder’s Y75 and, like that yacht, has four en suite staterooms belowdecks. The S78’s superstructure is completely different, though, and the sweptback windshield and salon windows reflect the slash-style glazing in the topsides, making every stateroom seem bright and the salon feel like it’s outdoors. ¶ That’s how I felt stepping into the salon, with windows stretching from cushion backs to overhead. There’s no step up or down from the cockpit to the salon, by the way, because Princess created a water-shedding, teak-covered drain. The deck is one level from the after sun pads all the way to the windshield. ¶ Also inside, Princess answered the question: “Do most people need a dedicated dining table?” This yacht has a cleverly constructed, glass-top table that slides inward as a coffee table and out to become a dining table. It is opposite the aft galley, which has a full-size Sub-Zero fridge, cashmere quartz countertops, and a sliding glass divider that separates the forward seating area. To bring the cockpit into the party, triple sliding doors open, and the galley window swings up, with a console just outside for buffet or bar service. ¶ Cockpit seating is customizable. The builder eliminated traditional fixed furniture and instead added two curved settees on Teflon pads (to protect the teak

COMING TO AMERICA

Princess Yachts America imports yachts to North America with a list of standard gear that’s usually found on the options list. That gear includes a Seakeeper 16 gyrostabilizer, a 29 kW generator, and a Garmin electronics suite with multifunction instruments at the upper and lower helms. Also included: a hydraulic swim platform, bow and stern thrusters, twin Cablemaster 100-amp shore power, an isolation transformer, underwater lights and a premium Naim audiovisual package.