THIS MONTH'S 10

THE 10 KEY BOATING STORIES YOU NEED TO READ

1 BLUEGAME’S GAME-CHANGER

Italian adventure yacht builder Bluegame is developing a radical new hybrid-engined powercat that it says will combine the space and efficiency of a multihull with the style and seakeeping of a monohull.

Due to be launched at next year’s Cannes boat show, the all-new BGM75 measures 74ft 4in long but sports a relatively narrow beam (for a powercat) of 26ft 7in. It claims this will allow it to offer the same volume and performance as a semidisplacement 90ft monohull while using smaller, more efficient engines. The slimmer proportions should also deliver a more seakindly motion than a typical wide beam motor catamaran, which can have a rather jerky motion in beam seas, as well as a less boxy profile and lower berthing costs.

The BGM75’s ultra-efficient hull has been developed by London-based French naval architect Philippe Briand, who says it will use around 50% less fuel than a comparable volume monohull. Powered by relatively modest twin Volvo Penta 600hp IPS800s, the semidisplacement hulls should deliver a top speed of around 21 knots with a sustained fast cruise of 18 knots. Bluegame is also claiming it will be one of the first boats fitted with Volvo’s new hybrid diesel electric powertrain, allowing it to cover short distances on battery power alone. Volvo is known to be working on off-the-shelf hybrid packages for its smaller D4 and D6 engines but this is the first we’ve heard of it developing hybrid versions of its larger D8-based IPS engines. A vacuum-infused carbon fibre reinforced hull and deck helps keep the dry weight down to around 48 tonnes, further improving efficiency and restricting the draught to 4ft 7in.

In another significant nod to sustainability, Bluegame is planning to use recyclable basaltfibre composites rather than the usual glass fibre matting, although it’s not clear whether this and the hybrid engine will be available from launch or introduced at a later date.

The exterior styling comes from Bernardo Zuccon and features Bluegame’s trademark reverse-angle windscreen. Key to the design is a huge aft beach club with fold-down quarter cheeks, a tender garage capable of carrying a 4m RIB, and a big hydraulic platform. Further outside real estate includes wide side decks, a big foredeck terrace and a hard-topcovered flybridge that tapers towards a central walkaround helm station. That hard top also incorporates solar panels, delivering up to 5kW of power to help run onboard electrics.

Vertical side windows and those distinctive reverse-angled windscree