European boat show wrap

While strolling along the Croisette -- the famous waterside promenade in the chic French town of Cannes -- I couldn’t help but overhear a conversation between two middle-aged women, who appeared to be as much plastic as flesh and bone.

“The great thing about Cannes,” one was asserting fervently, “is that it has something for everyone.”

I immediately assumed she was referring to the fact you can get Prada, Louis Vuitton, Gucci and Chanel here, but the woman had a point.

 The Cannes boat show was in full swing nearby, and between that and the Southampton boat show with which it overlapped (albeit without the designer labels), a claimed 150 new models were on display. Yep, there really was an awful lot of something to choose from.

GFC or no GFC, and whether because yachts are finally selling again or whether builders are desperate to keep refreshing their ranges to keep interest high, there’s no doubt that this is a golden time for anyone looking to pick up a new boat. Here are our picks…

The Atlantis 34 is the baby of the Azimut range and takes that typical Med’ open-boat style and throws in twin Volvo D3 engines coupled to Duoprop sterndrives to give a top speed of 32 knots.

Below, there’s a transverse double cabin amidships and a V-shaped dinette forward that converts to a second double.

On deck, flexibility is key with a large swim platform capable of taking a 2.5m tender, a six-seater table that converts to a sunpad, and a manual sunroof.

Azimut was also showing its new Magellano 43, which follows on from the successful 74 and 50.

The design is a nod to semi-displacement thinking, and at 9-10 knots you could expect to see a significant cruising range from the 1,680 litres of fuel, while opening the taps will still allow a speed of up to 22 knots should you want to get to the bar a bit faster.

The styling draws on what Azimut describes as a "modern interpretation of the trawler", and the model will be offered in both Hard Top and Flybridge versions.

Accommodation below decks is split between two double/twin cabins, and a third that can be a single guest cabin or additional storage.

On main deck level, a swivel helm seat turns to join C-shaped seating around a dinette forward, with the galley located aft -- great for serving al fresco meals when the weather’s kind enough.

Further up the range, Azimut also unveiled its first 55S, which has already topped 36 knots on sea trials thanks to a triple IPS installation. This configuration has also meant the mechanical spaces can be pushed aft, allowing for midships guest accommodation and a crew cabin in the bow.

The real highlight, though, is the inside/outside main deck area, where an opening hardtop and good use of space creates an extended living area that will be a joy to cruise with.

The looks aren’t too bad, either -- Azimut has once again used long-standing designer Stefano Righini to create sleek lines and an innovative hull shape in the bow.

What Princess is doing very well, however, is the fit and finish of its models, no doubt further enhanced by the experience gained on its first flagship 40 metre which was making its debut at Cannes and Monaco (more on that later).

Princess also brought along its V62S, a new and improved version of the sleek V62 launched in 2008. Enhancements include a longer aft cockpit, angled hull windows amidships to match the go-faster exterior styling, and various cosmetic enhancements.

Coming in at a shade over 64 feet, this is a true open-top sports express finished in the finest Italian fashion -- her interior used bleached and grey tinted oak set against dark leather, and both gloss and satin finishes; truly gorgeous.

In spite of the limited space, accommodations are actually pretty impressive, thanks in part to V-drive gearboxes meaning the engine compartment has been located right aft. The result is a two-double cabin layout with a third offering single bunks, and a main deck that stretches from the helm position amidships to a stern island sun pad.

Cruising speeds are expected to be around 35 knots, which would give a range of just 270 miles -- but cruising in the Virtus is certainly one of the most stylish ways to burn fuel.

According to Sunseeker’s Director of Design and Naval Architecture, Ewen Foster, the new 80 is an attempt to resurrect 1996’s original, ground-breaking Predator 80. The original model featured a foredeck that ran for nearly half the length of the boat, and a hull that could run at a theoretical 80 knots.

Two further incarnations followed in the 2000s -- the 82 and the 84 -- which got progressively fatter and fuller to cater for a changing client base who wanted space rather than outright speed.

Anyway, the new 80 remains something of a compromise, but does maintain the aggressive stance and a hull that has been designed to take a variety of engine and drive options right up to Arneson surface drives for speeds of around 45 knots.

The interior, however, has also had a spruce up, with former collaborator and renowned superyacht designer Ken Freivokh offering his magic touch to the design on both this and the new Portofino 40.

Ferretti were also showing off the new 870, which looks set to sell itself as a pocket superyacht complete with four guest doubles on the lower deck, aft crew quarters, and a main deck divided into a pilothouse, midships galley, and superyacht-type main saloon with forward dining area.

Fairline’s other big world debut arrived in the form of the Targa 62 Gran Turismo. An opening hardtop, aggressive curves, big hull windows and a bathing platform big enough to park your ute on -- what’s not to like?

There’s more to come from Fairline as well, announcing two new models for summer 2013 in the form of a Targa 48 Open and a 48 Gran Turismo.

That said, there are some benefits to the sort of high-rise Lego construction of the 50, namely lots of headroom and great flexibility in space.

The Trawler adheres to the adage that the view out is more important for an owner than the view in, but there are also several seamanlike features that make the Trawler 50 a very attractive proposition for fishing expeditions and proper cruising.

Opposite the helm is a two-seat dinette which converts to a passage bunk; the cabin layouts below offer three doubles, or two doubles and an office; and aft, there is the option to have a full hydraulic bathing platform.

When it comes to sailboats, the big European names were of course on hand with new models to tempt passing trade.

At the larger end is the new Oceanis 55 with interior design by renowned Milanese design office Nauta. Her hull shape reaches max beam quite far forward, and this is carried all the way aft making space for port and starboard aft double cabins.

A forward double takes capacity to six, plus a crew cabin in the forepeak, but an alternative layout allows for an additional twin bunk cabin.

Beneteau has also added a 46 to its Sense range, slotting between the 43 and the 50. Styling and the interior layout follow the same theme, with the master and guest double cabins forward and the saloon, dinette and galley aft leading directly to the cockpit.

Further down the range, the First 20 now sports a square-top mainsail, as does the 25S -- which is essentially a 25.7 with an America’s Cup look.

Based on the 545, the new model was lengthened specifically to allow for a hydraulic transom door that not only creates a mini beach, but also affords access to a full tender garage, for which Hanse has developed a tender launching system.

The first 575 carries a Williams 285 Dieseljet.

Hanse has also introduced a new 345, with all sail controls aft to the helms for easy short- and singlehanded sailing… a first on its smaller yachts.

The 469 uses design from renowned naval architect Philippe Briand, and the hull sports a chine -- ostensibly to give additional stability while also increasing available floor area aft.

It is also a nod to the hard chine hulls that are becoming commonplace in the thoroughbred racing maxis and offshore VOR-style boats. Whether any of that performance heritage will show remains to be seen...

Jeanneau may have unveiled two sailing yachts, but it is in the motor yacht side of the yard that the most action appears to be happening.

The builder unveiled two new models due to launch this winter, including the NC14 and the Voyage 42, along with five new models in the Cap Camarat and Merry Fisher ranges.

As a builder known for its avant garde styling and ground-breaking performance models -- both in the custom sailing and custom powerboat fields -- the announcement that it was going to build a displacement cruising yacht took many people by surprise.

But nothing can prepare you though for seeing the WallyAce in the flesh. A full bow, thick bulwarks, and that unique Wally styling make for a profile that will turn heads wherever it is seen.

If the view from the outside is enough to get you talking, the interior is even more impressive -- that vast expanse of a main saloon, coupled with excellent all-round vision and an aft owner’s cabin with a view to die for. Just a winner for scenic and economic cruising.

The WallyAce has caught more than just my eye -- at least two more are in build for clients, each with differing accommodation layouts and, of course, custom finishes.

But then, that’s what this industry is all about -- there’s something for everyone. Or, at least, that something can be made for anyone.