Review: Princess 75 Motor Yacht

The world-wide launch for this star of the Princess lineup was at the London Boat Show earlier this year, and her first in-water display was in Asia at the Singapore Yacht Show in April.

A product of the Princess Design Studio, the Princess 75 Motor Yacht was developed to combine agile cruising with open-plan elegance, all packaged together in a family-sized yacht of 24 metres (or just under). Princess – which is owned by L Capital, part of the LVMH group – is renowned for their attention to detail and for taking note of customer feedback.

This well established British motoryacht shipyard produces yachts up to 132ft and has its premises at the old naval shipyard in Plymouth. The company employs over 2,000 people, and has been creating perfect sea-worthy yachts with luxurious styling for over 50 years. Last year, as part of their 50th anniversary celebrations, they restored one of the very first Princess production motor yachts, Project 31 and took it on a world wide tour. The craftsmen and women who work at Princess are responsible for over 80 per cent of the production of every yacht built in the yard. From the vacuum-sealed infusion of the hull to the carpentry that features specially curved wooden edges and shapes, all of these details go together to make Princess styling unique and distinctive.

Princess has long staked their reputation on the seaworthiness of their designs. Now, the dynamic new styling of the Princess 75 makes a good product even more elegant, and offers increased cruising efficiency. The modified deep-V hull is both efficient and stable, and allows the yacht to plane at lower speeds. The yacht comes with a choice of three different engines, and can reach speeds of up to 36 knots with twin MAN V12 1800hp engines.

This 75’ yacht offers a great deal more than just speed and agility, giving her owner a variety of options for entertainment, or just simple relaxation with the family. The flybridge is a spectacular area for socialising, with seating on either side of the upper helm providing excellent panoramas for guests. The flybridge also has sun pads and a wet bar, while the u-shaped seating and dining table give owners yet another al fresco dining option.

The elegant exterior artfully conceals a voluminous interior, where natural light flows into the main saloon, creating an informal, calm, and relaxed atmosphere. The extended window lines, in conjunction with the unique full-height window on the port side, make this area a spectacular free standing dining space. Comfortable sofa seating is paired with a full entertainment centre featuring a 50-inch LED television, DVD player, and MP3 system with clear and crisp surround sound.

There is a plethora of options for owners when it comes to interior styling. Further customisation is available using a range of premium upholstery and carpeting. When it comes to interior decor and finishings, Princess owners have the opportunity to work with a number of luxury brands including Dedar, Hermes, Fendi Casa, Loro Piana, Milano and Zimmer Rohde to name just a few. Choices for the woodwork are also varied, and include Rovere oak with satin or high-gloss finish, American walnut or Alba oak depending on the owner’s preference.

A very special custom feature in the saloon of the first Princess 75 Motor Yacht is a bespoke humidor cabinet, and a bar box designed by Linley – Princess believe that they have found “a great synergy in Linley’s sophisticated skills, craftsmanship and design, particularly their unparalleled expertise in marquetry, and selection and hand dying of veneers.” The Linley for Princess Bar Box opens to reveal an immaculately designed interior stocked with Linley Trafalgar crystal and bar accessories.

The galley comes with a four-zone ceramic hob, microwave and conventional oven with grill, and a refrigerator. Everything is perfectly set up for on board dining and entertaining. The galley is separated from the airy open-plan living space by sliding glass panels, allowing the chef to stay in touch with the diners, and creating a contemporary styled saloon that opens out to a well-equipped cockpit (via flush sliding patio doors) and creates an incredibly spacious area for entertaining. It can also be completely enclosed. A dedicated staircase leads to the owner’s stateroom amidships via a private lobby area. The master suite is nothing short of majestic, with its plush yet minimalist styling, and large bathroom and dressing area. The room is special not only for its size, but also for the large windows that allow daylight to pour in. Other special features include a private seating area, desk and a 46” television with entertainment system.

The VIP accommodation is forward, on the lower deck, with all of the three guest cabins sporting their own en suites. The guest cabins can be configured either as doubles or with twin beds –  simply by pressing a button. The rooms also include specialist storage lockers, wardrobes, and stylish bedside tables.

Crew accommodation includes a compact space for up to three staff, adjacent to the engine room. Crew in the comfortable twin cabin can enjoy natural light through the glazing at the stern, and there is also an option for an additional berth if required. Driven by five-blade props and a power-assisted electro-hydraulic steering system, the twin-engine Princess 75 cuts through the waves at a top speed of 36 knots with a Twin MAN V12 1800 configuration. A twin Caterpillar C32 A option is also available. In the lower helm position, manoeuvring is made easy with a modern navigation system featuring colour radar, GPS and chart plotter. The bridge features plenty more high-tech assist items, such as an echo sounder with alarm, intercom access to the flybridge, and a toughened glass screen for clearer night vision. The second steering position is ‘upstairs’ on the large flybridge, which comes into its own as a viewing platform when the scenery is particularly delectable, and can also be used as an excellent leisure or entertaining area. The flybridge includes an option for a 450 kg lift capacity electric crane for handling a tender.

To date, six Princess 75 motor yachts have been delivered, are in build, or on order, with a number of the units being from the original layouts presented by Princess. The company has produced a large yacht that is fast and fuel-efficient, giving a comfortable ride at high speeds up to 36 knots dependent upon the engine configuration. This package brings with it confidence on long cruises – and the fuel capacity of 1,300 gallons provides a good range. Collectively, this means a mix of performance and cruising ability that few, if any, in its class can match.

Taking the Princess 75 Motor Yacht as a whole, it is difficult to find a fault. The policy of listening to feedback from owners – coupled with attention to detail and rigorous quality control, and the production of so much of every yacht in-house – is certainly paying dividends. The 75 provides Princess with a cruising platform that meets most, if not all, the needs of a buyer, and sets a much-raised bar for future models from this UK manufacturer.

Specifications

LOA 24.25m (79ft 7in)

Beam 5.76m (18ft 11in)

Draft 1.76m (5ft 8in)

Displacement 47,700kg (105,160lbs)

Max Speed 33 – 34kts (Twin Caterpillar C32 A) 36kts (Twin MAN V12 1800)

Cruising Speed 31 – 32kts (Twin Caterpillar C32 A) 34kts (Twin MAN V12 1800)

Engines Twin Caterpillar C32 A / Twin MAN V12 1800

Fuel Capacity 6,000L / 1,585 USG

Water Capacity 1,350L Builder: Princess Yachts

This article was first published in Yacht Style. Look out for Princess Yachts at the upcoming SINGAPORE RENDEZVOUS.

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