The first Amels 80 has been transferred from the builder's Galati site in Romania to the Damen Yachting facility in Vlissingen, the Netherlands, to begin outfitting. The yacht, which is due for completion in 2025, was launched exactly a year after the sale of the first unit was announced at last year's Monaco Yacht Show. Construction of the 80-metre unit was started on speculation and the hull was snapped up just six months into construction, with Burgess bringing the client and remaining involved in the build as owner's representative.
“With much of the design development of the yacht being personally overseen by the owners, we believe this will be one of the standout yachts entering into operation in 2025,” said Sean Bianchi, partner, head of Burgess new construction, naval architect.
The Amels 80 is the largest offering in the shipyard's popular Limited Editions range and was unveiled during a live-stream broadcast from Amsterdam on 31 March 2023. Speaking about this recent outfitting milestone, Damen Yachting project manager, Romke van der Linde, said: "This yacht is at the forefront of shipbuilding. We are a 100+ year old shipyard that continues to innovate and the hybrid Amels 80 is a true testament to this. The feedback from the several Amels 60 yachts that already feature our hybrid system has been more than positive.”
The exterior of the new line has been designed by Espen Øino while Damen Yachting turned to Dutch studio Sinot Yacht Architecture & Design for the interiors, marking the pair's first collaboration.
Standout features on board the Amels 80 include a 6.5-metre swimming pool on the aft deck that features transparent floor segments that drench the beach club below in natural light. A large stern platform is a focal point of the design, according to Espen Øino. The beach club itself features three opening sea terraces, which create a semi-enclosed waterfront lounge within easy reach of the yacht’s spa, sauna, gym, Hammam and massage room. A circular social area takes centre stage with a sit-up bar close by.
Speaking about her exterior, Øino added that "her modern strong lines will look as good in 10 years as the day she is delivered".
Accommodation is for up to 14 guests in seven cabins with an owner's deck which acts as its own private apartment. The area is comprised of a private suite, two bathrooms, a private office and an owner's lounge with a breakfast area and a private library. The space is finished with inlays of precious materials, marbles and woven metal meshes, while full-height glass windows bring in natural light.
The new Amels 80 will have hybrid propulsion and a design that takes its cues from the natural world. Paul Costerus, lead designer at Sinot said: “Materials are treated so that the natural characteristics remain as pure as possible. The style is distinctive and allows the owner to customise and add their personal style.” For outfitting, the owner has chosen a unique colour palette and a selection of natural materials for the interior.
The 2,175 GT model offers plenty of scope for customisation with owners able to choose exterior paint schemes and configure the layout of the yacht to suit their lifestyles. For example, the bridge deck aft, just below the sundeck, is designed to be multifunctional while still offering good views and an indoor-outdoor flow. There is also an option for the yacht to carry an electric tender with a fast-charging station installed in the tender garage.
Crowning the yacht is a 200-square-metre sundeck that outperforms many similarly-sized yachts in terms of space. Here, the design features a circular Jacuzzi forward surrounded by sunpads, a shaded bar, and a circular dining table aft for evening meals or family breakfasts.
The Amels 80 follows in the footsteps of more than 40 other Amels Limited Editions superyachts delivered since 2005. "When we started the design process for this yacht we wanted to design something for our clients to enjoy with their family, but a yacht where they feel like they could easily connect with the sea," said Rose Damen, managing director at Damen Yachting, during the live premiere.
"The result is a timeless design where we managed to hold onto the winning features of her predecessors, like the forward-facing owner's cabin and dedicated owner's deck."
“Taking the Amels Limited Editions platform as a superior baseline, the owner has embellished the design in specific areas making the yacht a truly custom vessel. The collaboration between Damen Yachting, their subcontractors, designers and Burgess has been a joint and rewarding process that will make this first Amels Limited Editions stand out amongst her peers and set the benchmark for future yachts," commented Bianchi.
According to BOATPro, there are two Amels 80 units in build.