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THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS by Mary Hegarty
The new Vanquish Yachts crossover steers like a water scooter but has the space and comfort of a supertender. Effortlessly straddling the two categories, it roars along at up to 40 knots with five guests aboard too
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he best of both worlds. The new Vanqraft VQ16 from Vanquish Yachts promises that and, dare we say it, a lot more besides. This
genuinely ground-breaking crossover effortlessly bridges the gap between jet ski and tender with its 16 feet of muscle and good looks. Last summer the first example raised eyebrows – and expectations - off Ibiza where it had its own garage aboard the recently-launched VQ48 Dual Console. To judge from the video posted by the Dutch yard, it is as fast, nimble, comfortable and – all-importantly – serious fun as claimed. Sporting the same refined grey livery as its mother ship, it will feel instantly familiar to anyone who’s ever driven a water scooter – the helmsman even straddles the same kind of seat. But with one crucial difference: the VQ16 is not just astonishingly agile to manoeuvre but also more comfortable than your regular jet ski. It blisters on the water too as its 1.8-litre Yamaha engine has jet propulsion, resulting in a powerful 200 hp output that sends the Vanqraft VQ16 shooting up to 40 knots – well beyond the capability of any water scooter on the market today. Although those 40 knots are available at its full complement of five guests, the yard has covered all the bases with a Veloce (fast) version that breaks the 50- knot barrier for total speed freaks. But what about the other side to its soul? Well, tender is as tender does: the VQ16 delivers a super-smooth ride, making it ideal for taking out for afternoon jaunts: the two forward-facing seats in front of the helmsman look especially comfortable and will deliver a serious thrill as pace climbs. Not surprisingly, the legendary Guido de Groot is the pen behind the crossover. It has the same ultramodern styling and lithe craftsmanship that has made Vanquish Yachts craft so popular with what the yard refers to as “connoisseurs of cool”. In other words, it will never go unnoticed pulling up to a restaurant jetty or into a yacht club marina. www.vanquish-yachts.com
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