A cosy Micro-Megayacht

BLUE FLUO ISSUE • n°38 • 2024

A COSY MICRO-MEGAYACHT

The Ax8 by Astondoa is a family cruiser boasting all the attributes that make social life at sea an unforgettable experience. It breaks into the market segment of the largest Flybridge yachts, offering unprecedented standards of spaciousness, comfort and elegance. A new line of 24-metre yachts with exclusive, tailor-made interiors

by Désirée Sormani - ph courtesy by Astondoa

With a length overall (LOA) of 24.46 m and a beam of 6.22 metres the Ax8 has a contemporary style and provides comfort with uncluttered, bright, functional and modern spaces. The Ax8 is powered by Volvo Penta IPS 1350 engines providing stable, comfortable sailing

Some yachts enjoy immediate success because they embody all the values of the past while taking in current developments and anticipating future trends, expressing the concept of the beautiful and well made. The new Ax8 flybridge yacht by Astondoa reflects all this, reflecting 100 years and four generations of the Astondoa family. Tradition, quality and cutting-edge innovation form part of the DNA of the company, which specialises in the construction of exclusive, tailor-made boats. Ax8 is the result of a magical collaboration between the yard’s designers, the creators of the exterior lines, and Italian designer Cristiano Gatto, who developed the GA and interior style. “With the shipyard we put in a great team effort to create a modern and contemporary interior design typical of full custom boats, with tailor-made details and finishes of the highest quality. I believe this is something totally new in the market for this type of vessel”, says the designer.

The ONE Yacht & Design stepped onboard during the world preview last autumn: we were immediately struck by the yacht’s luminosity, width and rational GA. With a length overall (LOA) of 24.46 m and a beam of 6.22 metres Ax8 reflects the evolution of the Astondoa style, which, while

preserving the brand’s essential lines and contemporary look enhances comfort with uncluttered, bright, functional and modern spaces. Indeed, at the centre of the project are the family cruise and social life at sea. “For this first example we started from the concept of three decks with the helm station on the third deck, leaving the main deck free and making room for a large main saloon with a forward dining area and a number of social areas, plus a corner with a smaller table for kids’ meals. The upper deck is the location for the helm station and living area with a spacious outdoor terrace. The sleeping area on the lower deck can be configured according to the owner’s choice. VIP cabins, aft and full beam, and the generously sized guest cabin forward, with one or two more spacious cabins complete the rest area (depending on the owner’s preferences).

The notable feature is that the Ax8 is a series build but its interiors and layout are personalised to the max through a collaboration with the owner. The large saloon has extensive front and side windows that flood this advanced design space with light. The natural and artificial light combine to emphasise the precision of the detail. “We carried out some in-depth research into indirect lighting, which provides contemporary touches and

Above, the aft cockpit is in direct contact with the beach platform and interior saloon. The helm station has been shifted to the upper deck to make room on the main deck for a large living space (opposite page, above) with many social areas and a dining area with magnificent sea view in place of the usual pilot house. A staircase with glass screening is lovely to look at and keeps children safe as they descend (below)

makes the spaces fresh and summery”, says Cristiano Gratto. The palette chosen basically comprises three contrasting colours. However, they seem to multiply through the use of materials like lacquers, leathers, diamond-worked leather, steel, teak and oak (also with a jute effect, worked and brushed to become non-slip) , lacquered panels with a three-dimensional effect and lots of glass, like the staircase linking the interior decks. It appears light and highly aesthetic but is also extremely functional, eliminating any potential danger to small children. There’s a refinement of details that’s hard to find on other yachts of this size. As Gatto says, “The precise details and the materials we’ve selected have enabled us to create a micro-megayacht, which was part of the basic philosophy of the project”.

On the exterior the side walkways provide a linear, comfortable and safe route between the cockpit and the beach club. The Ax8 offers two spacious sundecks , one on the main deck and the second on the flybridge for socializing, contemplating the sea from different heights and enjoying the cruise in the way we did, enjoying the yacht’s exceptional stability throughout its speed range and in rough seas. astondoa.com

The interior stairway linking the main deck to the sleeping accommodation is a striking exercise in design. Above, the upper deck lounge at the same level as the pilot house, with exterior veranda. Left, the owner’s cabin and below, the owner’s bathroom would not be out of place on a megayacht

LIKE A MOVIE STAR

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Astondoa presents a movie premiere of its new jewel, the Ax8, with a speech and an exciting short film that highlights the comfort and practicality of on-board life and opens the doors of a yard founded more than 100 years ago

by Désirée Sormani

TheOneYacht&Design was invited to an international preview of the Ax8 at Santa Pola, a few kilometres from Alicante, Spain, the home of the Astondoa yard. This technically-advanced production, screened in cinemas, was created specially for this first model in the line. The event was presented by Ione Astondoa, the yard’s first female manager, the fourth generation of the Astondoa family and daughter of Jesus, the yard’s CEO. Guests enjoyed sea tests, as well as a visit to the production site and style centre, which includes a workshop where clients are offered an extensive choice of materials and finishes to personalise their yacht. It is necessary to go back in time to understand how much care and attention is lavished on every craft, to 1916, when the brothers, Jesús and José Astondoa Martínez, started building rowboats and traditional trainera craft in a small carpenter’s workshop in Portugalete, Spain. After the Spanish Civil War, Jesús Astondoa focused on building fishing and recreational boats. Astondoa’s well-made wooden boats and highquality finishes helped the shipyard gain national recognition. In the early 1980s, Astondoa stepped away from its traditional wood production methods and began building boats in fibreglass-reinforced polyester resin. Advances in production techniques combined with stylish design strengthened Astondoa’s position as a leading European shipyard. Now its fleet includes 40 ft open boats, yachts over 120 ft long made of fibreglass-reinforced polyester resin and megayachts up to 45m long with steel hulls and aluminium superstructure.

Above, from left, Ione Astondoa, first female manager in the history of the yard since its foundation. The party held for guests at the yacht premiere. Below, Ione with designer Cristiano Gatto. who has been linked with the yard for decades and handled the interior styling of the Ax8. A view of the yard

© Désirée Sormani

© Désirée Sormani

© Désirée Sormani

© Désirée Sormani

© courtesy by Astondoa