Words: Zoe Dickens
It would be easy for Princess Yachts to rest on its laurels. The heritage British boatbuilder has, after all, achieved worldwide renown and respect from its base in Plymouth and, as a key LVMH brand, taken its place alongside Louis Vuitton, Christian Dior and Veuve Clicquot as one of the planet’s leading luxury names. Plus, with seven well reviewed yacht categories measuring between 35 and 131 feet in its stable, you wouldn’t blame Princess for sitting back and enjoying the ride.
This, however, is not the Princess way – as its latest launch, the R35, proves. Announced in January 2018, the first 35-foot sports yacht from the company had its official debut at the Monaco Yacht Show 2019, where its technical innovations and sleek looks made it one of the stand-out day boats on display.
So what makes the R35 so special? First you must look under the proverbial hood. With a max speed of 50 knots, this is Princess’ fastest yacht to date – quite the feat for a brand that has been at the forefront of yacht design since the 1960s. To achieve the technical innovations necessary to reach this speed, Princess worked with Ben Ainslie Racing Technologies (the team behind Britain’s America’s Cup contenders) to devise the Princess Active Foiling System.
Based on the same basic principles which see the America’s Cup yachts ‘fly’ above the water, the foiling system reduces drag while maintaining stability and manoeuvrability to propel the yacht to higher speeds while allowing for a more comfortable and thrilling ride. This system has been combined with two powerful V8 petrol engines to make for a boat that sets new records for the Princess fleet.
Of course, all this technology would mean nothing without great design and here Princess has called on another world renowned collaborator: Pininfarina. The design firm, best known for its work on some of Italy’s most outstanding supercars, partnered with Princess to create the R35’s lightweight carbon fibre monocoque hull. Its wave-piercing shape, combined with advanced aerodynamics in the form of striking side air blades and a sleek low profile silhouette, have resulted in a elegant yet aggressive aesthetic with the muscle to back up its show-stopping looks.
Inside, the R35 is equipped with everything you need to enjoy a lxurious day on the sea. The lower deck offers a compact galley with a television, dining table and banquette seating, which converts into a double bed, while the open-air main deck boasts wide helm station seating, a folding table surrounded by a further banquette and sunpads aft. There’s also a Naim sound system, wide swim platform with shower and wraparound walkways so the R35 can be enjoyed from every angle.
“The R35 is a rare mix of extreme elegance and technology,” says Princess Yachts executive chairman Antony Sheriff. “Often design is a triumph of beauty over function or function over beauty. Princess has been able to develop a technologically game-changing yacht that is also stunningly beautiful. It is in every way a new experience, yet also instantly recognisable as a Princess.”
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