Pryde Yachts is the new name of Raffles Yacht, the Chinese shipyard based on the Yantai Peninsula, which was responsible for the construction of the 88-metre "Asean Lady" and the 90-metre "Nero", among others. With the 88.80 metre long "Illusion" project, Pryde Yachts is currently working on the largest yacht (3600 GT) ever built in China and hopes to establish itself on the large yacht market.
"The interest in 'Illusion' and our shipyard was unimaginably high," enthused shipyard manager Itay Simhony on the last day of the Monaco Yacht Show. If Fraser Yachts finds an owner in the near future, the 15.80 metre wide "Illusion" could be delivered as early as the beginning of 2015. The hull and superstructure of the steel-aluminium construction are ready, so the fitting-out and outfitting phase can begin.
The Azure Naval Architects team was responsible for the lines of the four metre deep six-decker, while the exterior styling was the brainchild of the creative crew led by Englishman Rupert Rainsford Mann. The modern Art Deco interior with free-floating staircases was designed by the Dutch firm Sinot Yacht Design. Rolls Royce engines feed two 1700 kilowatt Azipull pods and ensure a top speed of 17.5 knots. Range: 7000 nautical miles. prydeyacht.com

Editor in Chief YACHT