BOAT REPORT


There’s so much space on the fl ybridge you can choose between having a fi xed sunpad and crane, a sunpad and wet-bar or even a hot tub


A CLOSER LOOK WITH JACK HAINES


STORAGE GALORE Just one example of the quality of detailing on board the 75. These angled drawers pull out on soft-close mechanisms to reveal fiddled storage for cups, saucers and plates.


lovely guest cabins and one that leads aft, past a window just above the waterline and into the full-beam master cabin – and what a cabin it is. I genuinely can’t see what Princess could do to improve it. The fl oor is fl at all the way around, with plentiful headroom, two full-height hanging wardrobes, a settee to starboard and a desk and vanity area to port. It has a sumptuous mix of fabric, leather, matt walnut and highly polished lacquer and, of course, the signature single-piece hull windows. That’s before you even get to the heads, decked out with marble counters, his ’n’ hers sinks and huge shower stall with its own square hull window. Guests won’t be moaning either, because


even the twin cabin to port is amazingly spacious and comfortable with its own ensuite. The layout on the boat we tested comprised a double opposite, whose ensuite is also used as the day heads, and the pick of the guest accommodation forward in the form of the ensuite VIP cabin. You can’t play around too much with the layout here but if you want to use the boat for charter, you can have two twins with electric sliding berths to add to the versatility of the accommodation.


ON THE SURFACE On deck, the biggest improvement over the boat this one replaces is the size and layout of the fl ybridge. So much space is there aft that you can choose between having a fi xed sunpad and crane (like on the boat we were on), sunpad and wet-bar, or go for the full superyacht effect and opt for a hot tub. It’s the design of the helm and surrounding


area that I really like though, with twin helm seats at a neat, well-designed helm with enough space around the chairs that occupants can come and go without disturbing each other. Flanking this area is a forward-facing bench that converts to a small sunpad to starboard and chaise longue to port. These two seating areas are a great focal point for everyone to cluster around when the boat is on the move and the view is second to none. In many ways I prefer the upper helm to


the one below, though they’re both pretty spotless. The fl ybridge helm just fi tted me


a little better, allowing me to get that bit closer to the helm and feel more involved in the action; the plotters especially are a stretch at the lower helm. And it’s not the fi rst time I’ve noticed this on a Princess, but for a boat that starts at £2.79 million, surely the yard can fi nd some more expensive- looking air vents? The ones in the lower dash look like they’ve been plucked from a golf cart. This aside, the lower helm looks great with classy, anti-glare materials and plenty of space to stow odds and ends. The difference between a 75ft yacht and


a fi ve-star hotel is that I’m yet to fi nd a hotel fi tted with a pair of MAN 1,800hp V12 diesel engines. There are also engine options from Caterpillar with either 1,622hp or 1,723hp and respective top speeds of 33 and 34 knots. Hardly shabby, but the MAN V12s feel like they have the power of the gods behind them. Barrel-chested waves of torque thrust the close-to 50-tonne 75 up to a top speed of 34.3 knots on test, and that was with an 88% fuel load on board. But as fun as it is to romp along at this speed (and terrifying when you look at the 691lph fuel usage) the point of these larger engines is more the variety of cruising they offer. With a pair of Sleipner fi ns fi tted keeping the boat rock steady, you could legitimately cruise at 9 knots to give a cruising range of 2,100 miles, but it’s just as feasible to thunder along at 30 knots. There is a real sweet spot at 1,800rpm where good progress is being made at 24 knots, fuel is a punchy but not ridiculous 383lph and sounds levels are almost unbelievably quiet. At the helm, I measured just 60 dB(A) and only 1 dB(A) more, closer to the engines in the saloon. At those levels you can still whisper and hear each other, all the while travelling at nearly 25 knots. The tweaks to the Olesinski hull form mean that though the forward sections are still reasonably fi ne, the aft sections are slightly fl atter to decrease planing time and hopefully boost fuel economy. In practice, the transition from displacement to planing is so smooth thanks to those monstrous engines, that it’s tricky to decipher whether it’s the engines doing the work or the hull. But,


MOORING GEAR This is a big, 50-tonne boat so hefty mooring gear is a must. Aft there are chunky cleats with a winch and multidirectional fairleads, plus a large bin for stowing rope tails away tidily.


Sumptuous use of textures, materials and colours in the full-beam master cabin


Princess’s signature single-piece hull windows light up the master cabin


Separate access down to the master cabin


The heads is decked out with marble counters, his ’n’ hers sinks and a huge shower


FOREDECK BINS These vast bins on the foredeck are incredibly useful for stowing large items like the boat’s fenders, cushions and covers. Foredeck companionway makes getting from locker to locker easy.


The guest double is like a mini master cabin


Amazingly, this is the crew cabin


ENGINEROOM Whoever is going to be doing the maintenance on board, be it owner or engineer, they will have no complaints about the machinery space. Even with the largest MAN 1,800s in place, there’s masses of space between and around them, not to mention full standing headroom. The metal flooring is a little tough on the knees but it’s good to be able to access the space from the crew cabin and also a hatch in the cockpit.


SEPTEMBER2016


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