Le Mans Star

What lies beneath this confident paint job will satiate even the surliest speed-freak

The Gulf Racing Porsche 917 is one of THE classic cars. It won the 24-hour Le Mans race in 1970 and ’71, and then featured in the Steve McQueen film Le Mans

. Thanks to the stardom of this distinctive aerodynamic speed machine, its sleek blue and orange colour scheme has become synonymous with high-adrenaline luxury ever since.

For a builder to give this iconic colour treatment to a boat (even at the customer’s bidding) is a bold move, no less on a 58-footer. So, it’s through this lens that we view the new VQ58, with its Gulf Racing Blue aluminium hull and Hermes Brown upholstery. As far as the application is concerned, the colour scheme comes up a treat on this modern boat. Though it foregoes the sleek aerodynamic lines of its muse, the vessel features a bold plumb bow that gives way to gently curving bulwarks. The soft blue continues into the enclosed hard-topped saloon to create a calm, welcoming space; buyers are also able to opt for an open version, wheelhouse or T-top.

But don’t let that baby-blue hue fool you. When the throttle’s thrown open, the standard Cummins configuration will surge up to 38 knots. If that’s too pedestrian, owners can opt for a ferocious set of 1200 horse power MAN V8s that’ll melt faces at 50 knots.

There’s a surprising amount of space below decks, allowing buyers to choose from a two-bedroom, two-bathroom arrangement with a full-beam master suite, a three-cabin cruiser or an all-out dayboat optimised for long days of partying.

Active cruisers can opt for one or two garages, to house diving equipment, PWCs and the like. For those who prefer to stay dry, the deck layout has enough lounge space for 23 people, serviced by all the amenities required to keep them hydrated, well-fed and happy. They’ll be further comforted in the knowledge that the VQ58’s double spray rail makes this one of the driest boats on the market.

If you’re after a decent dose of luxury and can’t quite step to the $14-million US for a Porsche 917 (the record selling price set at auction in 2017), then it’s hard to go past the Vanquish VQ58. Though we’re yet to confirm pricing on these bourgeois beasts, we’d hazard a guess you’d be getting a little more bang for your buck.

SPECS

PRICE POA

LENGTH (overall) 17.96m (58’3")

BEAM 5.05m (16’7”)

DRAFT 0.9m (2’11”)

FUEL 1500L

WATER 400L

ENGINE 2x Cummings Zeus Pods, 2x Volvo IPS 950 or 2x 1200hp MAN

WEB www.vanquish-yachts.com

Locally www. eyachts.com.au