Far Horizons

Touted as the long-range entertainer's platform, we put the horizon FD80 to the test

For a long-range cruising vessel, the image that comes to mind is a traditional displacement hull with classic lines, modest windows and a wood-lined interior. Horizon, however, has baulked at tradition and given their take on a long-range cruising vessel with the FD range. If you are a traditionalist, this will challenge your wiring, but if you've ever wanted to see the world in modern luxury without sailing or looking like you borrowed your dad’s boat, then this should pique your interest. 

This new offering from the renowned yard gives you a superyacht quality vessel with capabilities to go well beyond the horizon. A statement boat for adventurers and entertainers, it has form and function that emulates the modern lifestyle rather than preserving the past, and being able to hit the 20 knot mark, it can do it all that bit faster.

When you consider where the main deck interior spaces ends in the average boat, you can see the designers have looked at the underutilised real estate of the foredeck and raised the walls for the owner's benefit. They have created an entertaining rooftop deck which has enabled the  significant creation of an on-deck master below, unrivalled in the sub 80ft market and a game-changer for owners who want enjoy as much time on the water as possible. The design has strived to maximise onboard ease, to immerse owners and passengers in the surroundings and to connect it more intimately with the environment, and it’s been done very well.

The starboard side of the saloon is a visual masterpiece of design. Dealing with the eyeline limitation imposed by the bulwark, the designers have cut it away to just above deck level. The incredibly robust frame that goes from the floor to the ceiling houses a piece of glass that, at just over 3 metres wide and 1.8 metres tall, has a staggering diagonal measurement equivalent to a 140-inch tv. Behind the lounge to port is another piece of glass the same size. In place of the bulwark are lifelines to maintain safety without compromising the vista. 

The saloon is adaptable — the starboard side can have a full dining table, have it folded in half and set it back near the glass to create a front-row seat or have it removed altogether for an unimpeded immersive experience from the saloon. 

On my first trip, the dining table was in place. Seating eight, the inward-facing dinners are framed with the destination. It feels very different from formal dining on other boats of this size, almost like we were dining over the water. Serving access behind allowed the culinary delights to be placed without interruption and the glasses refreshed without issue.

Adding to this, an absolute highlight of my time onboard was haute cuisine from the talented team from the Artichoke Restaurant located at our departure point, Sanctuary Cove. Single malts, bookended by couture antipasto platters indicated that the seven-course degustation ahead would make it a memorable day on the tools. 

THE GALLEY

Seeing a galley in action is a lesson in functionality for boat builders. The Head and Sous Chefs from Artichoke worked alongside the Executive Chef Grant, a culinary artist taking an impressionist approach to modern dining. Like the FD80, the food was a blend of many great flavours that are typically separated, to create something new and exciting for the palette. Grant and the Artichoke team are masters not only of weaving different nation’s tastes, but of making masterful decisions with regards to texture. It was delightful Haute Cuisine, deserving of an unhurried consumption.

This boat's focus is on maximising all areas, both inside and outside. If you've had an aft galley arrangement, the most noticeable difference is the flow the living spaces benefit from when the galley isn't taking centre stage in the aft section of the saloon. By moving the hub to the centre of the main deck, bottlenecks when entertaining are prevented, and it connects the boat the same way a kitchen does in a lot of houses. At some stage, you flow through this area, but you don't need to pass through it to gain access to outside.

The galley is, in my opinion, the best I have seen on a vessel of this size. Fully closed off, it can function with three or four people preparing and executing a dining experience. It has flow and function, and the port side entry is right beside the doors to the outside walkway so serving and clearing the aft deck can be done without passing through the saloon. The port side entry takes care of the inward flow and has the trash compactor and sinks too, keeping the clutter out of the way of cooking and serving areas of the galley. Below the serving counter, the plates and serving ware are right beside the dishwasher for easy emptying. The hot side has functional bench space and hot pans can be passed to the sink without travelling through the galley centre. The full-size refrigerator and pull out pantry is accessible from both serving and cooking sides but also from the starboard side entry.

INTERIOR ENTERTAINMENT

If the port side entry is the pulmonary return, then the starboard side entry is the aorta connecting and sustaining other areas of the boat. Outside this entry, the passageway connects with the on-deck master cabin forward, the flybridge stairs, the guest accommodation below and  the starboard side doors that give access to the foredeck. The hub of the boat allows each area to be catered to or accessed, without passing through another zone, similar to independent spaces that connect like a family home via the sustenance hub. I think this is a remarkable achievement. The stools at the bench and the sound of the water from the open side doors makes this area feel connected to the environment, while at the same time giving the soft and comfortable lounge to port an open breezy feeling. 

After dining the boat showed its distribution and gravitation areas, and the flybridge aft deck had a natural pull for socialising. Three stools with bar top are perched in front of the Jacuzzi for non-bathers to keep the conversation going with those taking a dip. The enclosed part of the flybridge, with its commanding helm chairs, are perfect for a one-on-one chat. The sky lounge has an enclosed head handy for entertaining and passage making, with excellent views and a very loungey feel. Removing the tender via the 1500kg davit also frees up the real estate aft of the Jacuzzi for sun lounging.

The open plan is a standout. Opening side doors on the main and fly decks plus full opening aft bulkheads allow fresh air to flow through the boat, which is great if you like giving the air conditioning a rest. The outdoor galley consists of a BBQ station, a two-burner electric cooktop, drinks fridge and icemaker — enough equipment, storage and facilities to survive on this deck alone for about a week.

The flow and function have been achieved on this level as it has on the main deck. The foredeck is accessible via the port side walkarounds. Both sides flare further out in line with the bridge access doors. There is no exterior control station, which allows the wireless yacht controller to use pinpoint accuracy and benefit from maximum vision — the eye-lines for berthing are superb on this vessel.

THE HELM

The FD80 is also available with an open bridge but considering its impressive displacement range beckoning Pacific Island adventures or across to New Zealand, having the enclosed bridge like this model makes much more sense. Imagine cruising up the Milford Sound with the impressive backdrops of waterfalls, framed by the picture windows in the saloon. 

Getting you to magnificent scenery in comfort is the enclosed bridge, laid out well with three helm chairs for passage making comfort. The three 24-inch navigation screens have plenty of space and the forward-tilted windows are a welcome feature; they remove reflections and give excellent vision to the bow. I would like the middle of the dash to dip a little to allow improved viewing of the bow when seated, but this is a small adjustment to otherwise excellent layout.

The distinctive trawler style forward-facing windows gives some protection to the cinematic seating that overlooks the large sun pad from the elements. Dual stair sets descend to the safe working area of the bow and the bow locker is like none I have seen on a boat of this size. The blunt bow and full nose have created a cavernous locker with glassed-in shelving for storage of lines, hanging fenders and plenty more. Dual ladders descend with openings big enough for large items to pass through. A loud hailer system allows for accessible communication with the helm. Still, thanks to the anchor, thruster and engine control located on the yacht controller it's an easy job due to the convenient access around the top level.

A FORWARD MASTER CABIN

Directly below the sun pad is the master cabin. Removing the centre cushion of the sun pad gives the master a view to the skies. Add to this the vision from the side hull windows and you feel like you have a boutique resort that changes location to optimise all seasons. Even the shower and toilet have a framed view that adds to the relaxed holiday feel.

For spending long stretches onboard the position of the master on the main deck is something that is an enduring highlight. Positioned a few steps from the galley, it has immediate access to the helm and the ability to be outside from midships. Another masterstroke in the design, this cabin will change your onboard living for the better.

Guests accommodations are a level below, and having the master on the main deck, the generous beam and volume forward have resulted in bigger and better guest accommodations that enable all guests that dine aboard to sleep onboard. Two large ensuite VIP cabins are situated to port and forward and the third cabin is a twin that converts to a double. Each of the guest cabins has a generous ensuite with separate shower stalls and ample storage for extended stays.

Below the aft deck is the FD Signature beach club, a sensational spot away from the sun and as close as you can get to the water without getting in. The floor of the beach club is 3 feet below the waterline, so standing is like being in waist-deep water. Low light reflects and naturally lights the area, while bright skylights bring in more natural light. Incorporating a galley in the beach club has made it the perfect spot to enjoy breakfast after a morning swim, and it operates very well as a bar too. Just forward of the beach club is a full bathroom with shower and twin accommodations for crew or extra guests.

PERFORMANCE

Adventurers, this may be the platform you have been looking for. The sturdy hull has used an intelligent design that maximises the hull length by introducing a wave piercer protrusion. Horizon developed the Horizon Performance Piercing Bow (HPPB) with consultation from the Dutch design team from Cor D Rover. The hybrid hull incorporates the tunnel design allowing for a draft of only 1.65 metres and provides a very comfortable ride. In footage shot during the test, you can see the difference to waterline length and once up to planing speeds you can more obviously see the wave piercer in action. The significant difference with this new style of bow protrusion is that it works at both high speeds, for enhanced performance, and low speeds, for efficiency. The result is less wave-making resistance and more stability, potentially saving a fair amount of fuel over long distances. On our run out of the Gold Coast Seaway, the conditions were beautiful and not challenging to the boat at all — cruising along at 10 knots we were burning a total of 60 L/h. At full speed, we were making 20 knots, about a knot faster than the specs and consuming 440 L/h, deserving of the model name of fast displacement.

WHO IS THIS BOAT FOR?

People who want an open breezy, flowing beach house feel to their boat instead of the closed-in style. It's built and proven to be a great entertaining platform, has an impressive amount of space and multiple independent zones that encourage conversation and connections. Horizon has achieved a great deal in this package as the design enables significant usable space on all three levels.

Design in new directions brings aesthetics which are different from what has come before. The FD80 is an exciting and bold design built on a stable hull. It fluently connects the inside with the outside, making the views onboard one of the most impressive features. The FD80 is a highly functional design with a new philosophy that takes onboard living in a positive new direction. 

It has brought with it a completely different feel with the openness, the immersive viewing saloon and the rewarding on deck master creating layout changes that benefit all onboard. The beach club is enormous and desirable at all hours, while three levels of food and drinks stations, a rooftop sun pad and cinematic forward-facing seating are great for entertaining. The design is all about merging the surroundings with onboard spaces, and when experienced firsthand, you see that the design is very fitting with the personality traits of this exciting new era of adventure platforms. 

SPECS

PRICE POA

MATERIAL FRP

TYPE Fast Displacement Monohull

LENGTH  24.56m (80’ 7”)

BEAM  6.91m (22’8”)

DISPLACEMENT 84.2t

DRAFT 1.66m (5’5”)

PEOPLE  10-12

FUEL 10,220 litres

WATER 1500L

ENGINE MAKE/MODEL Twin CAT C18A 

TYPE Diesel

RATED HP 1136hp

DISPLACEMENT 18L

SUPPLIED BY

Horizon Yachts Australia

44c, the Promenade, Hope Island Qld 4212

0424 658 100

horizonyachtaus.com