Ferretti Yachts 860: Family-orientated 27-metre yacht with flybridge

Clare Mahon

, Sören Gehlhaus

· 03.09.2023

Sprints skilfully out of the 850's shadow: the sporty Ferretti Yachts 860

Dynamic alignment: The lines open up towards the rear and converge at the front. The bathing platform dives down for the tender and jet ski launch

Fabulous Fly: New compared to the 850 are the wet bar on the starboard side and a sunbathing area next to the high steering position for communicative cruising

Peace and quiet: Italian studio Ideaeitalia has placed loose design furniture in the lounge. With a ceiling height of just under 2.30 metres, even a 75-inch TV is hardly a nuisance

Italian style: marble, Poltrona Frau furniture and plenty of al fresco surfaces

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Photo: Hersteller

Behind the sporty silhouette of the Ferretti Yachts 860 lies a familiar foundation that appeals to many tastes. The 27-metre flybridge skilfully sprints out of the shadow of the successful 850.

She is already sailing, even though she is still in the harbour. There are the window wedges of the lower deck, the bow tip and this blade-like recess in the bulwark, which together create a strong forward momentum. The agile look of the Ferretti 860 belies the rather high hull, which does not really suit fast yachts. The black and white contrast of dark glass surfaces and white outer skin creates additional drama. Added to this is the superstructure with a predatory look from the raised bridge. And of course, "muscles" criss-crossed by light edges are a must on the flanks of a flybridge format. And yet Filippo Salvetti manages to convey true elegance with the hull-deck unit. Whether old or young - the largest mid-range model from Ferretti Yachts should appeal to many.

Ferretti 860 with timeless lines

Oliver Sieckmann from the German Ferretti dealer of the same name is also on board in Cannes. "The lines of the 860 will still look good in ten years' time," he says. "It's not overly curvy or too angular, it's classic, and that's important if you want to maintain the value of your investment in a yacht." The fact that the almost 27-metre-long GRP semi-glider from Cattolica in Italy actually sprints off is down to two MAN twelve-cylinder engines. They each produce either 1324 or 1471 kilowatts and allow speeds of up to 32 knots. The cruising speed with the smaller engine option is 24 knots. It can travel up to 300 nautical miles with 7000 litres of diesel in the bunker. At a speed of ten knots, the range triples. The route to sea comfort is also subject to personal preference. You can choose between a gyro stabiliser from Seakeeper or Sleipner's side-power vector fins. Many customers will tick the Xenta joystick box. The orchestrated control of the two propellers and the bow and stern thrusters makes manoeuvring at slow speeds easier and uses GPS to maintain position without having to drop anchor.

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"The 860 runs well," confirms Sieckmann on the flybridge. "It's a good hull shape that is designed for fast cruising. We see a lot of families, especially younger ones, looking for yachts in this size range, and they like the longer range. All our customers would like to cruise more and further afield, at least that's the feeling we get from talking to them."

Family-orientated model

While the exterior is classic yet sporty, many owners of the Ferretti 860 are likely to be more interested in socialising and relaxation than speed. "I would say that the 860 is family-orientated," confirms Sieckmann. Another focus is on the connection between the exterior and interior, helped by Salvetti's generous use of glass. The view is always unobstructed, you never have to tilt your head or twist your body. The generous feeling of space is already apparent when you step aboard. The width of the guest cockpit is emphasised by two benches arranged lengthways and the glass bulwark aft. There is a bar on the port side, plenty of shade and shelter, but also fresh air and easy access to the water - qualities that delight guests of all ages.

The sliding glass doors between the aft cockpit and the saloon can be opened to their full width. "My first impression on entering the saloon was that it really is huge," says yacht connoisseur Sieckmann. "It's the large side windows that let in a lot of light. I like the open-plan layout between the living and dining areas and, of course, the Italian style." As with the previous models, Ferretti Yachts commissioned the interior design to Ideaeitalia from La Spezia, who developed two décor options: contemporary or classic. Both are characterised by loose furnishings, with the classic style using darker woods and richer fabric tones.

Light-flooded Ferretti 860

The saloon is surrounded by so much glass that not even the 75-inch flat-screen TV on the port side, which peers into the panorama, is able to obscure the view. The choice between an open or closed galley also requires courage. In favour of the latter option is a partition wall adorned with the new generation of Florim ceramics, which looks like a slab of luxurious marble. In both variants, a pantograph side door on the starboard side leads to the cooking cube and on to the helm station. Regardless of which layout you choose, a sliding glass door on the starboard side keeps the dining area open and airy.

A curved staircase on the port side of the saloon leads to the cabins on the lower deck. Even the accommodation - and not just that of the owners - receives plenty of light thanks to the generous hull windows. The master suite takes up the full width amidships for a centrally positioned bed, a desk, a couch, the walk-in wardrobe and a mirrored wall concealing a TV screen. The bathroom has two washbasins and separate areas for the toilet and shower. Further sleeping accommodation is provided by a double, a twin and a VIP cabin. All have their own bathroom and offer excellent light and visibility. "Imagine how nice it would be to open the blinds in the morning and see turquoise-coloured water all around you," enthuses Oliver Sieckmann. "This ship is perfect for the Mediterranean, America or Asia. Anywhere, really."

Another excellent area to enjoy a sunny day in good company is the foredeck. This eleven square metre area features a deep, forward-facing sofa with built-in glass or bottle holders and a C-shaped seating area that surrounds a teak coffee table, on which a large cushion lands in sun mode. The entire lounge area can be shaded by a bimini on four removable carbon fibre spars. The bow area is complemented by two cleats, anchor winches and irons, which fall classically over the stem into the water. There is an anchor pocket in the bow only from the Ferretti 920 upwards. The mooring lines and other utensils are stored in compartments that are flush-mounted in the bulwark.

Flybridge yacht with features

The crowning glory of the 860 is, of course, the flybridge, which is accessed from the aft deck via a teak staircase. "The Fly has a special new layout with an L-shaped wetbar, which is very stylish," says the yacht dealer from Hamburg. "Another nice feature is the sunbathing area directly at the helm. A whirlpool can also be installed aft." Owners can customise the large area and the hardtop with a fixed or opening glass roof or with sun protection slats - all options that allow the Fly to be adapted to different needs and climate zones.

Naturally, a large part of life on board takes place in or directly on the water. The Ferretti 860's garage is large enough for a Williams Sportjet 395 and a jet ski, and both can be lowered into the water via the hydraulic bathing platform. "This garage is something that no other yacht of this size currently offers. When the toys are in the water, a beach club is created when the lazarette is open. And the glass balustrade provides eye contact with the people in the cockpit."

Another solution that sets Ferretti's 27-metre flybridge apart is the positioning of the crew quarters for four people: In contrast to other yachts of this size, two cabins, each with a bathroom, are not located in the stern. Sieckmannn comments: "The accommodation in the bow makes more sense because it gives the crew quick and direct access to both the helm station and the galley. And considering that families usually stay in the aft cockpit when anchoring or in the marina, it is easier for the crew to move around mainly in the front part of the yacht." While most crew quarters and work areas are strictly separated from the guest areas for reasons of efficiency and privacy, the raised bridge is a place where guests and crew mingle. The furnishings reflect this. It is sociable and includes a sofa area with a coffee table and two Poltrona Frau helm chairs. And even in this work area, which is dominated by a phalanx of Simrad displays, the one-piece windscreen is impressive.

More than an "heir to the throne"

The 860 is far more than a further development of the successful 850 model that Ferretti Yachts originally presented in 2017. This shows the determination of the shipyard group and the importance of this segment. Although the 860 measures 26.95 metres above deck in its entirety, the hull is three metres shorter without the bathing platform and the theoretically removable bow section - and therefore just long enough to fall within the CE marking and appeal to a large number of owner-captains.

Although the 860 is new on the market, Sieckmann confirms that he has received many enquiries and that the waiting list is already long. "I'm sure it will be just as successful as the 850," he says. But that is perhaps an understatement: The Ferretti Yachts 860 is more than just a "successor to the throne", it is poised to become a reference.