Italian shipyard Apreamare has launched the first unit in its semi-planing series, the Maestro 88. The 27.1-metre model is the flagship for the boutique Neapolitan yard, which produced a Maestro line in the past and is currently best known for its classic-looking Gozzo dayboat range.
The launch ceremony was attended by the owner – an Italian and repeat client of the Apreamare brand – his family, Apreamare management and the workers and suppliers who contributed to the project.
The new line shares the same trawler-style lines as her sisters, with exteriors by long-time Apreamare collaborator Casali-Tagliavini. The build is "all Italian" with Apreamare utilising its "supply chain of suppliers and artisans from Campania" throughout the process.
The shipyard has described the new range as "full-custom" with "surprising" internal volumes and Navetta-style qualities that will ensure improved seakeeping. Key numbers include a seven-metre beam, a draft of 1.8 metres and a displacement of 90 tons.
The Maestro 88 has a strong connection to the water through the aft deck, bow lounge and in the saloon, thanks to sliding glass windows. A rail on the bow adds a level of safety, and the yacht is fitted with a sizeable swim platform that offers direct access to the water.
The model also benefits from a flybridge with a wet bar and a selection of lounging options. Up here, solar panels are mounted to offset some of the yacht's energy usage.
The interiors offer a good level of flexibility for owners, with everything from the cabins to the furnishings open to modification. Hull number one follows a four-cabin layout, all of which have en suites, plus a "studio" with a relaxation corner and electric piano.
Future versions could see the studio swapped for a fifth cabin, and there is further complement for four crew members in two cabins.
"We celebrated a dream come true, thanks to an owner who truly believes in us," said Rita Pollio, CEO of Apreamare. "A special thanks to all the collaborators who have accompanied us in our journey of constant growth, which has brought us to experience this joyful emotion during the launch ceremony, full of pride for the creation of the Maestro 88."
The model can reach top speeds of 22 knots, pared back to 18 knots cruising. Twin 1,600hp MAN engines will harness over 8,000 litres of fuel for a maximum range of 1,000 nautical miles at a speed of 10 knots.
However, for the first hull, the owner has chosen a larger engine configuration, a pair of 2,000hp MAN drives.