AB Yachts

If you’re after a full-size superyacht that can do more than 60mph, read on. Billing itself as the world leader in water jet propulsion, AB Yachts is a full custom shipyard that produces sporty, elegant and aggressively styled yachts and superyachts with outstanding performance potential, ranging in size from 58ft to 166ft (18-51m) and beyond. With sumptuous interiors and sharp, contemporary Italian design, high speed hasn’t compromised high-end luxury.

With speed comes capability, ocean-going deep vee hulls are crafted from kevlar and carbon fibre, including the latest composite engineering techniques and technologies derived from the aerospace industry. Good handling and comfort at high speeds is matched by long-range options at lower cruising speeds, with surprisingly frugal fuel consumption. At a still impressive 35 knots, these super-lightweight luxury vessels can be significantly more fuel-efficient than a similar-sized yacht with conventional shaft-drive propulsion.

Water jets and joystick control also give impressive manoeuvrability, which makes these yachts exhilarating to drive in open water and handy in harbour. The lack of propellers enables these vessels to navigate in shallow waters, giving access to anchorages that other yachts can’t reach.

Part of Francesco Guidetti’s FIPA Group, AB Yachts was founded in 1992 as a pioneer of hydrojet propulsion and hi-tech composite engineering, which have been the marque’s USPs ever since, along with AB’s signature shimmering metallic paint job. Based in Massa on the coast of Tuscany where it shares a large-scale shipyard with FIPA’s other brands, Maiora Yachts and CBI Navi, AB Yachts is a highly productive marque that builds around 30 yachts per year.