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What
Staluppi and Rosatti were planning was the boat I was aboard, a yacht
that combines a beautiful, low-profile exterior that has curves in all
the right places, a fully custom interior, and a hull design that allows
for cruising speeds in excess of 30 mph. I picked up the 80 at Millenium’s
Riviera Beach marina facility and took her out on the nearby Intracoastal
Waterway. We intended to run out to sea, but with a steady 25-knot wind
playing havoc with the ocean outside Palm Beach Inlet and, of more concern,
thunderstorms moving in and out of the area, we opted for protected inland
waters.
The
rain kept us from enjoying the centerline helm topside, where there’s
also room to seat ten, plus a port-side grill and serving center complete
with refrigerator, freezer, and a sink. Piloting the 80 from the lower
starboard station not only proved comfortable, courtesy of twin, buttery-soft
Recaro helm seats, but also gave me the opportunity to evaluate her sightlines.
(The seats were manually adjusted, and on a yacht with a price tag of
$2.795 million, you might reasonably expect to find the Recaros electrically
operated.)
Even
with the windshield’s substantial mullions, I had an excellent view
of the seaway not only ahead but also through the large windows to either
side. The same was true looking astern, thanks to a large glass sliding
door, a real plus for stern-to docking. However, because of the seven-foot-deep
by 17-foot-wide swim platform, which can be electrically lowered and raised,
I’d prefer to have a crew member stationed aft with a walkie-talkie
for this kind of docking. In any case, the standard 20-hp Sidepower electric
bow thruster is a boon for finessing the 80 into a tight slip.
While
the view to outside is compelling, there’s also plenty to notice
in the interior. The helm, ringed in high-gloss cherry burl, is well laid
out, with all critical nav-aid monitors, controls, switches, and gauges
within an average reach. Directly to port a dining area easily seats eight,
and just aft is a couch, while on the opposite side is a bar with granite
countertop, sink, and refrigerator. All furniture is fashioned of highly
lacquered cherry and displays superior fit and finish.
On the
centerline, between the dinette and lower station, a staircase leads down
to the accommodations level. Each of the three staterooms—VIP forward,
full-beam master aft, and guest between to starboard—has an en suite
head and also features the same cherry furniture, cabinetry, and accessories.
All quarters have more than enough stowage space for a week-long cruise.
The
staterooms surround what Millennium terms the second saloon. This space
offers a large seating area to starboard and a full galley to port, with
side-by-side refrigerator/freezer, four-burner electric stovetop, stainless
steel sink, large granite countertop, a pantry, and plenty of drawer and
cabinet space.
There
are many other features that make the 80 more than just a fast cruising
yacht. For example, as you would expect on a boat this size, her engine
room, easily accessed from the swim platform via a substantial transom
hatch, offers plenty of space to perform all essential fluid checks and
engine-maintenance procedures. And should there be a need to get to the
tops of those diesels, the entire aft sole above the engine room is scored
for easy removal. A large lazarette can double as crew quarters, as there
is an additional head back here also.
On the
main deck, I found heavy-duty hardware including mooring cleats and took
special note of the stainless steel rails that surround the outer walkaround.
Not only are they sturdy, they’re also almost waist-high and so
afford an extra measure of safety. Millennium even supplies drains around
the recessed fuel fills to catch any spills. Should fuel happen to spill,
it gets recycled back into the tank.
Then
there are the things you can’t see, like the 12- to 15-mm (just
under to just over a half-inch) solid-FRP bottom, the Divinycell coring
in the hull sides, deck, and superstucture, and the use of an impregnator
to achieve an optimum glass-to-resin ratio. The glass stringers and transverse
frames are also Divinycell-foam-cored and are almost four inches wide
and about six inches high. Even the engine beds are cored with Divinycell,
with glassed-in steel inserts to which standard DDC-MTU engine mounts
are bolted.
Staluppi
and Rosatti, being successful businessmen, certainly have an ambitious
vision for their Millennium yachts, which are currently available in 118-,
140-, and 151-foot versions. “We want to make our boats the equivalent
of Feadship but without the high price,” says Staluppi. “We
build with the most quality and, because of our precise tank testing,
know ahead of time just what kind of seas our boat can take. Our philosophy
is to give the best boat for the price. And we’re here to provide
all the necessary service.”
The
partners also left me with the notion that while the 151 would be their
biggest, they would have no problem in taking another step: “We
build to spec, but if someone wanted something bigger, well…”
mused Staluppi.
Just
before I left the marina, I took a gander at a model of a 92-foot sportfisherman
already under contract. Could this be a new line of Millennium yachts?
We’ll see in about a year when, according to Staluppi and Rosatti,
this boat will splash, possibly taking this dynamic duo in yet another
direction.
Millennium
Super Yachts Phone: (561) 721-4100. Fax: (561) 844-6473. www.millenniumsuperyachts.com.
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