With more than four hundred hulls produced, is it still possible to speak of a "newcomer"? Not really. After all, Sirena Marine has been manufacturing on behalf of Azimut-Benetti at the shipyard site near Istanbul, which now covers over 150,000 square metres, since 2008. A few years ago, the company added its own sailing yachts of the Azuree and Euphoria brands - now up to 84 feet in length. The design and structural calculations of the flagship come from the eternally creative grand seigneur Germán Frers, who also designed the first two models in the motor yacht line (Sirena 58 and 64).
With its success, the legendary Frers skills and the many years of expertise of the series shipyard behind it, Sirena Marine ventured into a new yachting dimension with the Sirena 88. Managing Director Ipek K?raç is also certain: "With the 88, we are now playing in a different league!" She's right - after all, it's not just six metres longer than its smaller sister, the Sirena 64: "The Sirena 88 is a compact explorer yacht with a large volume, designed for comfortable and long journeys," says Germán Frers, describing the concept succinctly. The result is impressive: In order to save weight and achieve the best possible stability and weight distribution, the Turkish yacht builders opted for a glass fibre hull laminated under vacuum and carbon fibre superstructures on top. The result of this proven design solution is a displacement of 100 tonnes in the technical data sheet. "Thanks to the efficient hull shape, the new Sirena flagship behaves very well across the entire speed range, with excellent consumption values," says the 78-year-old Argentinian.
When the captain pushes the command buttons forwards as far as they will go, the two 1156-kilowatt MAN twelve-cylinder engines accelerate the three-decker to a top speed of 25 knots. At a cruising speed of a moderate nine knots, the 11,000 litres of diesel in the tanks are sufficient for 2,100 nautical miles. During our morning sea trials in the Bay of Cannes, a speed of 16 knots also proved to be a comfortable cruising speed with excellent stability. A US customer, who inspected the flagship intensively during the trip, also raved about this. He frequently moves his current yacht, a Sirena 64, in rough seas between the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico, where he came to appreciate the excellent sea behaviour of the Frers hull.
With a draught of 1.84 metres and the resulting volume, the GRP hull (7.10 m) is one metre wider than its two smaller sisters and offers plenty of design options for the interior. The interior of the Sirena 88 was not designed by Tommaso Spadolini as usual, but by Cor D. Rover. "The shipyard wanted an interior that could be sold globally and catered to the tastes of different markets, instead of just looking distinctly Italian or American," says the Dutch designer, explaining the creative brief. The result is impressive: the material mix of dark oak, leather and stainless steel details has a timeless, modern look. The high-quality furniture produced in-house is complemented by branded products from Dornbracht, Minotti, Hermès and Loro Piana. Sirena Marine has prepared three design lines, but the shipyard naturally also caters to individual owner requests.
The Turkish yacht builders also give their customers remarkable freedom for this size of yacht when it comes to the layout. According to Cor D. Rover, each cabin can be flexibly customised thanks to the modular design. From the cinema and karaoke room to the fitness area and spa - there is a solution for almost every special request. Even the standard configuration with five cabins for up to ten people has a few surprises in store. These include the full-width VIP retreat midships in front of the two crew cabins, including an XL bathroom to starboard. To the front is an alcove with a cleverly concealed washing machine and coffee machine, as well as two bright double guest cabins with beds that can be pushed together in a few simple steps. The standard layout includes a second VIP cabin in the bow, which is a few steps higher. Alternatively, those who opt for the variant with four cabins will find the wellness bath with hammam in the same place, which is part of the owner's area extending over two decks.
For Cor D. Rover, the master suite has the character of a "New York loft" and is intended to open up new dimensions in this yacht segment. Even in the five-cabin version of the first Sirena 88, the owner's cabin at the front of the main deck measures around 30 square metres. The airy and pleasantly open feeling of space is enhanced by a ceiling height of 2.20 metres as well as the generous glass surfaces and the fold-out balcony on the port side. The bathroom, which extends across the entire width and is located in the bow, is particularly impressive. A large skylight provides natural light, and when the sliding doors are open, the owner can enjoy the view from the bed into a partially glazed pool decorated with mosaic patterns on the foredeck, which is effectively protected from prying eyes and wind in the harbour thanks to the high bulwark. Convenient access from the owner's bathroom to the attractive bow lounge is provided by three steps and a sliding glass door.
The saloon on the main deck of the Sirena 88 is also the most important lounge area for the owner and his up to eight guests. There is a large dining table at the very front and a cosy lounge area aft with two sofas facing each other. Large-format window panels flood the room with natural light and provide a great view. The galley directly in front, equipped with Miele appliances, has access from and to the outside deck for the crew, who can therefore operate out of sight of guests.
If the owner and his entourage prefer to dine al fresco, they can take a seat on the ten metre long flybridge or at the dining table in the aft cockpit. From here, a staircase leads up to the fly, which can also be reached via the forward side deck on the port side or via the bridge access. Under the hardtop with its integrated electric sunroof, Sirena Marine has accommodated an outside steering position and a dining area for ten people as well as an adjoining bar, from where the stewardess serves drinks to guests in the stylish wood-panelled Jacuzzi. Owners who attach little importance to the elevated jacuzzi have plenty of space for additional sun loungers. The tender and toys do not claim the prominent space for themselves; instead, they wait for their turn behind the tailgate in the beach club.
With the new Sirena 88, the Istanbul shipyard is presenting a sub-30 metre yacht with a large amount of living space, interesting layout solutions and amenities that were previously only found on much larger formats. In addition to a price tag of 5.9 million euros - fully equipped, mind you - the Turkish yacht impresses with a striking design that stands out from the crowd. Sirena Marine also scores points with its construction time of just under ten months. The company, which belongs to Kiraça Holding, is already thinking about building even larger yachts in the future.
