SNAPSHOT
By JENNY SCROGGINS
GRAND BANKS 85 CRAFTSMANSHIP, INGENIOUS ERGONOMICS & INTERIOR VOLUME REDEFINE LONG-DISTANCE CRUISING
FOLLOWING THE SUCCESSFUL INITIAL sea trial of the first Grand Banks 85, the company has finalized the interior details of this pioneering long-distance cruiser. As one would expect from a yacht in this category, each GB85 will be built to suit the individual needs of her owner, based on the model’s ergonomic open-plan platform. Yet every GB85 will reflect the company’s relentless pursuit of perfection, a 65-year legacy of delivering world-renowned craftsmanship and a timeless interior fit-out designed to withstand a saltwater environment.
Like all new Grand Banks models, the GB85 benefits from the infinite knowledge gained from building cruising designs for nearly seven decades and delivering more than 7,000 yachts. Whether it’s a focus on maximizing storage, allowing an abundance of fresh air flow, or ensuring comfort both at sea and at anchor, there is not a detail on the GB85 that has been ignored. A beam of 22 feet allows Grand Banks to offer a range of internal configurations and amenities for guests and crew. For long-distance cruising, special attention was given to both sociability and privacy. 24 SEAMAGAZINE.COM AUGUST 2021
“First, we focused on what makes a superior long-distance cruiser while underway for long legs,” said CEO Mark Richards. “This means understanding the rhythm that occurs while on passage and creating various spaces where you can separate from others off-watch. Some people onboard are focused on running the boat, others are relaxing, and others may be sleeping. This approach ticks a lot of boxes in how the design comes together.” The next objective is to focus on comfort when at anchor or at the dock. Grand Banks ensures one mission is not compromised for the sake of the other. Decks are arranged for outdoor dining and entertaining. A supremely comfortable lounge seating area in the main salon optimizes space between the main deck and aft deck by using the full beam of the vessel in a configuration that is both open and intimate. 360° sight lines are a Grand Banks hallmark and the expansive windows, combined with and an electrically opening aft window, allow guests to view their surroundings from almost any position within the GB85’s main salon or dining area. The Grand Banks team appreciates that a morning anchorage is much more memorable if you can open windows and enjoy the fresh air, sights,
