New Boats - Prestige 550 flagship, Australia bound

The very first of the new Prestige 550 luxury motor yachts is on its way to Australia, its Sydney-based owners making the trip to France to attend the boat’s world-wide VIP launch weekend

"We were thrilled to be able to host our customers." said Willet. "Visiting the factory is an ideal and easy way to have a look firsthand at the building process and to see these stunning yachts as they take shape. We encourage any potential owners to consider making the trip."

Building on the success of the prizewinning Prestige 500, the builder said the 550 - the new flagship of the five-model range - retains the smaller sister’s elegant and distinctive profile, and contains a
contemporary
interior that incorporates a range of details to enhance comfort.

The single-level express cruiser has an “immense” saloon with an aft galley that serves both inside and the cockpit, 360-degree panoramic windows and a lower startboardside helm station with seating for two.

The amidships and full-beam owner’s suite is accessed by a private stairway and features a large lateral hull window.
Its full-beam en suite has a head compartment adjoining the central shower room and a walk-in closet portside.

Toward the bow, the forward cabins form an independent living area and share a head with separate shower stall. The layout also yields the volume for a dedicated space for a washing machine located under the stairway.
The guest cabin in the bow has a double berth that can be converted into two singles and vice versa, the portside third cabin has two single berths that can be converted into a double.

It’s on the flybridge the Prestige 550 shows the key strength of this model, we’re told. Accessed by an open stairway from the cockpit it boasts: a sundeck, twin-seat helm, a galley and a large table and lounge area.

Research for the hull of the Prestige 550 was done in collaboration with J&J naval architects, the hull and deck infusion moulded for extra strength, rigidity and weight savings. The hull in particular has been designed to yield the best performance from the twin 600hp Cummins QSC engines equipped with Zeus 3800 pod-drives.
This pairing is said to offer advantages, like:
easy handling by joystick control, reduced noise and vibration, and increased fuel efficiency by around 20 per cent over a conventional shaftdives, as well as optional automatic trim tabs.

Other optional equipment includes:
powerful air-conditioning adaptable to any climate, the latest generation sound system, a gyroscopic stabiliser, and hydraulic swimplatform.

“The Prestige 550 benefits from the latest technological innovations, taking its current place of honour among models in the Prestige range by truly simplifying life onboard and offering exceptional quality and comfort to demanding customers in the market for a motor yacht of this size,” says Prestige.

For full details go to www.prestigeaustralia.com

(QuickSpecs)
PRESTIGE 550

MATERIAL: GRP
TYPE: Planing monohull
LENGTH: 17.92m (overall); 16.06m (hull)
BEAM: 4.79m
DRAFT: 1.17m
WEIGHT: 17.7 tonnes (dry); 24.1 tonnes (loaded)
FUEL: 2200lt
WATER: 800lt
HOLDING TANK: 120lt
ENGINE: 2 x 600hp Cummings QSC 8.3 Zeus
SPEED: Approx 30kts (max); approx. 24kts (cruise)