HIGH SEAS

JOURNEYS

HIGH SEAS

VIKING SPIRIT

SWEDEN’S J CRAFT TORPEDO COMBINES ITALIAN STYLE WITH STATE-OF-THE-ART TECHNOLOGY

BY HOWARD WALKER

Gaze longingly at the gorgeous lines of this Swedish-built J Craft Torpedo cruiser, with its mirror-varnished mahogany and 1960s elegance, and the phrase “fit for a king” might come to mind.

Actually, it is fit for a king. Back in 1999, His Royal Highness Carl XVI Gustaf, King of Sweden, took delivery of the very first J Craft. He still owns it today and reportedly spends summer vacations cruising around the Mediterranean.

Unashamedly inspired by that long-out-of-production icon of the ’60s, the Italian Riva Aquarama, the J Craft Torpedo is 42 feet of handcrafted style and sophistication, guaranteed to spin heads from the coast of Maine to the Côte d’Azur. And we’re actually on the Côte to try this modern classic in a run from Beaulieu-sur-Mer across to glitzy Monaco, courtesy of our friends at Rolls-Royce Motor Cars.

Rolls has had a long relationship with J Craft, perhaps because the two companies appeal to the same kind of fun-loving billionaires. Not so long ago, they partnered on a proposal for a matching Torpedo and Phantom drophead coupe, both with the same stealthy black paint, creamy-yellow upholstery, and satin-metal detailing. The carmaker even created a stunning picnic box—complete with bespoke flatware—that could go from car to boat. Pass the Grey Poupon, please.

And just like any Rolls-Royce, the J Craft is a labor of love for a passionate, dedicated workforce. It takes a small team of artisans more than 8,000 hours, or a full year, to build each Torpedo at J Craft’s factory on the rugged, windswept Swedish island of Gotland.

Each cruiser is fashioned from sustainably sourced West African mahogany that’s formed by steam bending—in much the same way the Swedish Vikings built their longboats back in the day. But unlike those wooden longboats, the Torpedo uses vacuum-bagged vinylester and fiberglass for its deep-V hull.

See the finished J Craft bobbing gently along the restaurant-filled Beaulieu-sur-Mer waterfront, and it’s nothing less than a piece of art. It’s just beautiful, from that glorious arched rear transom to the pinched stern that flows forward into a wide, curvy bow, not to mention the quartet of porthole-style engine vents at the back.

Step aboard—shoes off, of course—and tread lightly across the

diamond-quilted sun pad, step down into the spacious cockpit, and soak in the detailing. Made by the Italian company Nardi, the leather-rimmed helm is a replica of the one used in Ferrari’s legendary ’60s sports cars.

While the Torpedo may look like an open day boat designed for soaking up the Med sun, there’s actually a very roomy cabin for four beneath that striped teak-and-holly foredeck. It comes with air-conditioning, a head with a shower, and plenty of closet space. At the twist of a key, the Torpedo’s pair of Volvo Penta turbo diesels, hooked up to IPS 650 pod drives with forward-facing props, burst into life. There’s a choice of four Volvo engines on offer, but our bluehulled Torpedo RS has the most potent 480-hp versions, which can punch it to a top speed of 47 knots. As we head out into the bay and pour on the power, the Torpedo rises easily and smoothly onto the plane, with only the dis-

tant muffl ed hum from the Volvos under the back deck. At 2,000 rpm, the speedo is showing 20 knots. At just 2,600 rpm, the boat is at its 30-knot POWER FILE cruising speed, where it’ll go for more PRICE: FROM $1.5 MILLION than 280 nautical miles on a tank. LENGTH: 41 FEET, 4 INCHES It slices through the waves like its namesake torpedo. Flick over that BEAM: 11 FEET, 9 INCHES lovely helm, and it leans easily and comfortably into a tight turn. At full DRAFT: 3.12 FEET power, 47 knots feel like nothing. POWER: 2 X 480-HP VOLVO J Craft is currently focusing on the U.S. market—the Torpedo was IPS 650 TOP SPEED: 47 KNOTS one of the stars of this year’s Palm Beach International Boat Show— WHY WE LOVE IT: BECAUSE ITS but order one now and you’ll still wait more than a year. Maybe offerLOOKS ALONE ARE ENOUGH ing a king’s ransom, or having a word with King Gustaf himself, might TO STIR YOUR SOUL. get you higher up on the list. «

Crazy Pantz

Crazy Pantz is a fundraising event benefiting Pace Center for Girls, Collier at Immokalee. Guests will enjoy an evening filled with crazy fun as they bid Guests will enjoy an evening filled with crazy fun as they bid on the Crazy Pantz of the distinguished men of SWFL. Tuesday, October 25, 2022 • 6PM – 9PM The Players Club & Spa, 8060 Grand Lely Dr, Naples, FL

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