Of course, there are still owners who switch from a 70-foot yacht to an 80-foot yacht and then on to a 90-foot yacht and perhaps at some point switch to a veritable mid-size yacht in the 50-metre class. After all, an entire industry thrives on this, and it is not for nothing that there are over 700 yachts over 24 metres in length under construction worldwide.
However, there is also a counter-trend, albeit a small one, in the superyacht scene - "downsizing". Owners who have already owned a three- or four-decker with ten or twenty crew members are downsizing so radically that they can set sail alone with their company or family and spend the day in the next bay. They shed the stress of running a small business with a yacht. And also the complexity of such a construction, which sometimes doesn't work exactly when you want to use it. Series owner Peter de Savary, also a "downsizer", once commented on this as follows: "When you own a big yacht, you have the constant pressure to use it regularly. And if the captain tells you just when you have time that there is currently a technical problem, you rightly ask yourself: Why did I pay so much money for this?"
It should be clear that those who have at least a two-digit, but more likely a three-digit million amount in their bank account will hardly be happy with a boat from a series manufacturer. And so, in this category of luxury day cruisers, there are a number of brands vying for the favour of downsizers and owners who want to avoid owning a large yacht because they only need a little mobility in front of their holiday home on Mallorca.
One of the most exciting current models is the 48 Wallytender. Now that the Wally brand has been integrated into the Ferretti Group, it is also the first delivery of this new constellation, of which Wally founder Luca Bassani says: "This boat is wonderful proof that the very special design DNA of Wally continues to exist under Ferretti's direction." The Italians, headquartered in Forlì, do indeed have big plans for their acquisition; some say that Wally is even set to become Ferretti's most important brand.
The 48 Wallytender, of which several units have already been sold to Europe and the USA and which is unmistakably a Wally with its lines, serves as the starting point. However, to make the boat a little more comfortable, the Ferretti engineers, in consultation with Luca Bassani, increased the freeboard compared to existing floating Wally powerboats, creating space for a spacious double cabin complete with bed, seating area and shower cubicle. Staying somewhere overnight is therefore no problem.
Nevertheless, life on the 14.50 metre long and 4.40 metre wide day cruiser takes place al fresco. The cockpit offers a dining area for four to six guests, a galley line and a voluminous sunpad with a view aft. The bulwark folds down to the side when required, significantly increasing the usable area. Aft, the passerelle also functions as a bathing staircase, so that nothing stands in the way of a quick cool-down at anchor. Wide gangways and fairly high sides ensure an excellent feeling of safety, which also makes the 48 Wallytender an extremely suitable family sea tender.
In addition to the hardtop, optional biminis on the foredeck and aft deck, which are held in position by carbon fibre supports, provide protection from the sun. When travelling, the poles are stowed in a small "garage" under the seat bench. There is also space for a pair of water skis, Seabobs or an inflatable SUP board in the cockpit locker. In terms of propulsion, the 48 Wallytender relies on two 650 IPS units from Volvo Penta, which together generate 714 kilowatts and propel the 11.5 tonne GRP glider to a top speed of 38 knots. With a tank capacity of 1400 litres, the range is 305 nautical miles at a speed of 32 knots. These are values that are more than sufficient for the purpose of the 48 Wallytender, which is mainly for day trips.
