Full sail ahead
Sleek and stylish; it’s even the boat of choice for James Bond. But is it
worth the money? Sue Pelling takes to the waves in the new Spirit 54
It wasn’t just Daniel Craig making
waves in the last Bond movie,
Casino Royale. Agent 007’s modes
of transport are always stylish of
course, from Aston Martins to space
shuttles, and the stunning Spirit
54 speedboat that carried Bond through
Venice was no exception.
Based in slightly less glamorous Ipswich,
the boat’s manufacturer Spirit Yachts has
for 30 years been establishing a reputation
for producing some of the world’s finest
custom-designed yachts. Classic hallmarks
include timeless, elegant lines, counter
sterns, mirror-polished deck gear and rich
mahogany-inlaid decking.
The 54 featured in the Bond film, and
now available to the public, uses pioneering
technology with a full electric winch
package and electric roller reefing system
to assist with sail stowage. Designed as a
short-handed performance racer as well
as a cruiser, it has 347 sq metre of sail
including a high-aspect, fully-battened
mainsail for top performance.
The hull is constructed using Brazilian
cedar, and the internal layout is spacious
and luxurious with a mahogany satin
finish. Accommodation comprises just two
en-suite cabins and a single berth aft. The
option of sleeping two adults in the saloon
is limiting for a yacht of this size and price.
At €720,000 you may have expected
to see a bit more boat for your buck,
particularly when you compare similar
sized and priced boats offering more in
the way of accommodation, equipment
and relatively low-maintenance glassfibre
hulls. But perhaps the comparison is
unfair: moored alongside the beautiful,
hand-crafted wooden Spirit yacht these
functional glassfibre vessels are like Ford
Mondeos parked by an Aston Martin
– sensible and practical but not half as
stylish and certainly not as much fun.
As well as cruising, the Spirit has made
its mark on the racing circuit too with the
pursuits
main Mediterranean regattas such at Voiles
de Saint Tropez on its racing calendar.
Although Spirit Yachts have carved out
a niche market in a similar way to Riva,
manufacturers of classic Italian motorboats,
other companies offer a similar modern
classic, custom-built service including
Fairlie in the UK, and Holland Jachtbouw
in Amsterdam. For a smaller day-sailing
yacht, consider the International Dragon.
This craft not only looks good but it is
one of the most competitive classes of its
type, with hundreds of regattas held every
year including a fleet present at this year’s
Antigua Sailing Week.
SPIRIT 54
Builder: UK-based Spirit Yachts
Function: Connoisseur’s dream yacht.
Great for entertaining, cruising and racing
Typical user: Skilled yachtsman with big
boat experience; international spy (below)
Price: €720,000 excl VAT
Where can I buy it? www.spirityachts.com
Resale possibilities: Rarely come on the
resale market but if they do they tend to
hold their value well
Overall verdict: A sound investment. A
classy yacht to own and sail but if you want
to helm it yourself you must have plenty
of experience. Alternatively, consider
employing a professional skipper
Chartering options: No chartering
possibilities at present
Places to be seen in this yacht: Cowes
Week, Voiles de Saint Tropez, Antigua
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