Finishing touches are going aboard the first hull in the sleek-looking AB 80 series commissioned for U.S. cruising. The AB 80 yacht is just as much of a head-turner as her bigger sisters from Italy-based AB Yachts, especially due to thrilling speeds.
In fact, the shipyard engineered the series for a top speed exceeding 55 knots. Cruising speed, meanwhile, is still a rapid 45 knots. These wind-in-the-hair power punches come from triple MAN engines. While her performance lends itself well to her being a dayboat, the AB 80 is just as suited to long weekends. So, expect the owner of this particular hull to enjoy sandbars off South Florida as much as trips to the Hamptons and other East Coast destinations. Her super-shallows-friendly draft of just four feet (1.3 meters) makes it possible to practically beach her—while the owner or a captain is at the wheel, too. AB Yachts notes that the series tends to appeal to owner-operators.
Wherever the 83-foot (25.4-meter) megayacht eventually goes and whatever her owner decides to do, the living areas revolve around good times with good company. AB Yachts’ Centro Stile collaborated with the owner for the interior design and layout of the four-stateroom AB 80 yacht. All of those staterooms, by the way, are below decks, including the full-beam master suite. Interestingly, the full-beam VIP could be a second master in some people’s eyes. Depending on who comes aboard for long cruises, one of the twin cabins has berths converting to a double at the press of a button.
For daytime playtime—a priority, of course—the AB 80 yacht has big TVs in the saloon and skylounge. She further has a killer sound system, 12,000 watts pumping tunes to the flying bridge plus fore and aft main-deck sunning areas. The aft sunning area is perfect for cocktails, too, poured swiftly from the adjacent galley. Strikingly different, the owner wanted the galley to open on one side to this area and on the opposite side to the interior dining area. This way, drinks and snacks, plus full meals, are within arm’s reach. Gennaro Candida De Matteo, the CEO of Next Yacht Group (AB Yachts’ parent company), notes, “The secret of AB Yachts’ success in the USA is certainly our great focus on the specific needs of American owners in terms of functional and versatile layouts and technical solutions aimed at making the most of their lifestyle.”
That lifestyle also of course includes watertoys. This AB 80 yacht’s garage holds two PWCs, both launching via sliding tracks.
After AB Yachts delivers the project to her owner, it will have yet another megayacht in U.S. waters shortly thereafter. The yacht is an AB 120, making her global debut.
AB Yachts abyachts.com
More About the AB80 Yacht
LOA: 83’3” (25.4 meters)
Beam: 21’3” (6.5 meters)
Draft: 4’3” (1.3 meters)
Guests: 8 in 4 staterooms
Engines: 3/2,000-hp MANs
Range: approx.. 450 nautical miles at 45 knots
Builder: AB Yachts
Stylist: AB Yachts
Naval Architect: AB Yachts
Interior Designer: AB Yachts Centro Stile
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