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[ MUST- HAVES ]
MAGICAL WALLY Given its international debut at the Venice Boat Show, the new wallypower58 is wide open to the surrounding seascape. It also includes many of the solutions that have made the most recent Wally models famous for their skilful combination of design, technology and performance. The yacht’s most innovative feature is the “magic porthole”, which brings the sea right on board by Désirée Sormani
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The brand new wallypower58, a natural evolution of the wallypower52, offers the stylistic purity that characterised the shape of the line’s original model, the famous wallypower118. Opposite page, the wonderful sea-level terrace that can also sink several centimetres below the water
I
t could be a supertender, a chase boat, or even a yacht. Some
and construction innovations developed since 2003”. A futuristic
might use it as a day boat for sea outings in grand style with
design, as we said - the square, uncluttered, almost severe lines
a large group of guests on board. Others could see it as a
recall those of a military craft, but also an arrow launched
supercool means of transport for a villa in Miami. All in all,
across the water or a spaceship. The two hull chines, air intakes
Wally’s latest creation is pretty hard to classify. One thing is
resembling a shark’s gills and coach house with wrap-around
sure, though – acquiring a Wally means being a different kind
windows and one-piece windscreen (as well as providing a
of owner. Yachts by the Monaco-based brand are cutting-edge
unique view, this offers greater safety when under way) create a
icons, a blend of design, technology and gutsy performance,
design object with great style.
and the new wallypower58 reflects this to the full. The yacht
Stepping on board you enter a spacious cockpit with comfy sun
was given its international debut at the Venice Boat Show, and a
loungers facing the sea to stern and a forward-facing sofa. At
few days previously we had the honour to take part in sea trials
the touch of a button the sides drop down, increasing the open-
during a special event for the international press.
air stern deck area to up to 25 square metres. The optional
What’s immediately striking about the wallypower58 is the
hydraulic platform sinks a few centimetres below the water and
stylistic purity of its sober, elegant external lines and the almost
transforms into a pleasant “paddling” area that is also useful for
futuristic design, a legacy from its predecessor, the wallypower
launching a tender or jetski. The sheltered, climate-controlled
118, a yachting icon. “Here at Wally we often say that our yachts
cockpit is also a versatile, convenient space, furnished with a
are twenty years ahead of the times, and this yacht bears out our
sofa and dinette area and equipped with a helm station that
claim. The wallypower58 celebrates the innovative aesthetics of
includes ergonomic carbon fibre seats made in collaboration
the wallypower118, almost twenty years after its international
with Poltrona Frau.
debut”, says Stefano de Vivo, managing director of Wally,
Rather unexpectedly the interiors are bathed in natural sunlight
which became a Ferretti Group brand in 2019. “Naturally, the
filtering through a large skylight that provides an effect of airy
wallypower58 also incorporates all the technical, manufacturing
spaciousness in the area amidships, a full-beam lounge with day 183
[ MUST- HAVES ]
The cool, spacious cockpit includes a shaded area. As is usual with Wally builds, there is a lot of carbon fibre. Right, the magic porthole: it looks like a window but is actually a screen displaying the view provided by an exterior video camera. Opposite page, top, a night-time view with lighting that emphasises details and bottom, the below-deck lounge and the owner’s cabin forward
head for guests and in the owner’s cabin forward with queen-size bed and private bathroom. The guest cabin is situated aft. One striking and for the moment unique feature is the “magic porthole”, a large “fake” window that replaces the large hull windows while still providing views of everything outside the yacht. “As the side windows usually ruin the aesthetic purity of the hull, we decided to remove them completely and instal a 4K videocamera with universal stabilisation on both sides of the hull”, says De Vivo. “The two cameras are linked to two screens mounted to port and starboard in the lounge, providing wide side views without using windows. We’re very proud of this ground-breaking solution as it means less maintenance for the windows, no risk of damaging the glass during side-on mooring and most of all provides maximum privacy both at anchor and in port”. Teak and carbon fibre are the dominant materials on board – the use of carbon fibre is a hallmark of Wally designs. 184
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THE ONE YACHT & DESIGN WAS THERE! Surrounded by the beauty of Venice, pampered by fine art and good food, we talked about design and the successes of an iconic brand with Luca Bassani and Stefano De Vivo photo by Guilain Grenier
Moments during the sea trials with the international press: the beauty of Venice (above, a special night-time visit to the basilica of San Marco) with Luca Bassani and Stefano De Vivo (centre, on board the new Wally)
T
he ONE Yacht & Design was invited on board Wally’s brandnew model, the wallypower58, on the occasion of its world debut against the exclusive backdrop of Venice. Once at sea we were able to appreciate its scorching performance and the myriad details that make Wally yachts unique design objects. “Like the first wallypower 118 motorcruiser, this model possesses clean, essential lines dominated by the dual hull chines, design air intakes and a bow that meets the water with a soft, sinuous line”, says Luca Bassani, founder and Chief Designer of the Wally brand, which celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2024 and is now part of the Ferretti Group. “The plumb bow and deep V-hull provide extremely high performance – the boat can travel at 35 knots even in choppy seas – and work together to pierce the waves and ensure the craft remains stable. Our intention was to create a boat that was
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aesthetically pleasing, well-suited for Mediterranean life and would always turn heads. Our clients are trend setters, people who feel happy when they have a product nobody else owns. For 25 years I’ve been free to create and innovate as an entrepreneur. Now it’s time to follow a path and I think the path followed by the Ferretti Group is a very stimulating one”. There’s no shortage of innovations on board – the magic porthole for example, which for the moment is a unique solution. “The owner of this first unit hasn’t see it yet, and I think she’ll be bowled over”, says Stefano De Vivo with pride. “But regardless of this new feature, this model immediately met with great success. The design was presented at last year’s Yachting Festival then we started to show it to various people, especially owners who were already our clients. They come from all over the world, and are all fascinated by Wally design and technology”.
[ TRENDS ] THE TRANSFORMERS
W
hen it appeared in 2003 it shook the nautical establishment to the core, as the industry had become used to a classic,
conservative style that brooked no design innovation. There was plenty of talk of ground-breaking solutions, but in fact the market wasn’t ready for the revolutionary wallypower 118. It sprang from the vision of Luca Bassani, a brilliant designer who had already developed countless innovations for the magnificent Wally sail yachts like the use of carbon fibre, the lifting keel, easy sailing and sail management by one person, the plumb bow, the first carbon fibre sails, the extensive use of glass and creating a close link between interior and exterior. The exterior design of the wallypower 118 (a single example is now jealously conserved by its owner, who uses it as a chase boat for his yacht) were inspired by the sleek lines of a stealth bomber with exceptional performance. It also resembles a spaceship, and even made an appearance in the science-fantasy film The Island. Even then it included many innovations from the Wally world, like the straight bow and open stern bringing the sea close to the deck, but especially the first drop-down sides. “In fact it wasn’t to increase the boat’s deck area – the idea was to give more visibility to the interior saloon which was lowered within the glass prism”, says Bassani, “This gave guests a view of the sea even when seated. But when we used them we noticed their dual function”. These solutions opened up the way for a new generation of “transformer” yachts. “On large yachts, our patented Balcony system opened up the owner’s cabin to the sea”, says Giorgio Besenzoni. “In this way the owner could manage the private spaces independently and enjoy an exclusive space. That was in 2009, and that experience gave us the know-how to apply these systems to moving sections of the hull and gunwales, creating usable spaces in
This image, the 40 Open Sunreef Power, a catamaran with two lateral aft folding platforms that enhance the already generous living space. Top, the Wallypower 118: launched in 2003 it is regarded as the precursor of what today is a full-blown trend to create yachts engineered to include opening sides that create sea terraces
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[ TRENDS ] Evo V8
Evo R4
previously unthinkable locations. The current trend is to make better use of medium-sized craft by increasing deck area, creating pleasant beach areas that provide more space and a unique contact with the sea”. Evo Yachts of Blue Emme Yachts, for example, was one of the first to base the success of its craft on transformability – designed by Valerio Rivellini, at the touch of a digital command the sides of the R4 and the more recent V8 open hydraulically in less than thirty seconds to provide 40% more usable space. The 40 Open Sunreef Power represents a new level of onboard comfort: two lateral aft folding platforms enhance the already generous living space of the catamaran. The design of the Tuxedo’s exteriors,
13,88 m Tuxedo by Tuxedo Yachting House
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created by Luca Dini for the new Lavagna Tuxedo Yachting Sean Baylis @whitebox.hk
Evo R4
Sacs Rebel 55
Rio Daytona 46
Alia Yachts 27m Atlantico
House brand, is made to generate the maximum aesthetic and functional impact, with drop-down sides creating a magnificent terrace of over twelve square metres just under the water’s surface. Designer Massimo Alfani has also created racy lines for the Rio Daytona 46, with dropdown sides opening up even more usable space. One of the strongest features of the Pardo E60 is the exterior aft area, where two drop-down side terraces create a relaxation area of 41 square metres. More sporty passengers will appreciate the gutsy Rebel 55 by Sacs, which when at anchor can be transformed into a comfortable floating platform. The latest model from Alia Yachts is the 27-metre Atlantico, with a fiercely aggressive look and drop-down wings aft which extend the large beach club area to create a real sea terrace.
Pardo E60
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