On a men's tour

BOOTE EXCLUSIV readers who wandered through Hall 6 at boot Düsseldorf at the beginning of the year will probably recognise "Kohuba". The British shipyard Princess Yachts, part of the world's largest luxury brand conglomerate LVMH, not only presented its latest large yacht model 30M in the Rhine metropolis with the masculine semi-glider, but also the largest yacht at the entire trade fair. The media interest was correspondingly huge, and of course we also took a close look at "Kohuba" in the dry trade fair air, knowing full well that the shipyard would soon invite us to an exclusive test drive under the Mediterranean sun so that we, as the leading German superyacht magazine, could get a detailed picture of the new model. After all, the yacht, which has a starting price of
6.8 million euros, is designed above all to prove itself underway, be fun and offer the ultimate in comfort.
The Princess 30M is the smallest model in the semi-custom line, which consists of the flagship 40M and the 35M launched last year (issue 1/16). "With the 30M, we are replacing our 32M model, of which we have delivered eight units," explains George Edwards, the sales manager responsible for the M-Class units. "However, the two yachts differ in far more than just their length." For example, the 30M has a completely newly developed hull, a clear layout and a larger tender garage.
The Olesinski design office, which has been closely associated with the shipyard for many years, used flow analysis programmes and tank tests to design a hull that, compared to its predecessor, should plane much earlier and sail more efficiently at higher speeds. "The 30M has very balanced lines that are suitable for efficient long journeys, but without compromising top speed or ride comfort," says Justin Olesinski, head of the English design office. We were finally able to see for ourselves how this feels on the water during a test drive in Mallorca. Much to our delight, the Scandinavian "Kohuba" owner had opted for the most powerful of the three available engine options.
The two MTU gensets with a combined output of 3,930 kilowatts were already running when we boarded the 98-tonne vessel in the beautiful setting of Cala d'Egos in the west of the Balearic island. Captain Éric Boulud is obviously keen to show us just how much power his elegant work platform has. From the picturesque anchorage, we head towards the uninhabited rocky island of Sa Dragonera. It quickly becomes clear that Eric is out for high speeds today. The command buttons are pushed forwards quickly and the engine speed rises continuously to 2450 rpm. The digital log levelled out at 26.1 knots and we glided along the south coast of Mallorca. Only a glance at the fuel consumption makes the passenger wince for a moment. Both engines burn 1000 litres of diesel together at this speed - per hour! This is an acceptable figure for a short, fun sprint and is also common among the competition, but this driving mode has little in common with sustainability and efficiency. "With charter guests on board, we usually travel at a speed of around ten knots," says Eric. "Then both engines only consume 110 litres per hour." The 12,200 litres of diesel in the tanks are enough for 1,100 nautical miles, a range that can easily cover some Mediterranean yachting hotspots.

Of course, it's not just pure performance that counts on board such pithy, motorised semi-gliders, but also the comfort that comes with them. And this is not only defined by the entertainment package installed, the quality of the interior fittings or the size of the cabins, but also
of the cabins, but mainly by something you can't see: Quiet! As is usual for Princess formats, the sound insulation installed in all four guest cabins and, of course, in the master suite located at the front of the main deck is impressive. Even at maximum speed, you feel safe in the beds and could easily use the journey back to Port Adriano for an extended siesta. But there is still too much to see in the interior. The owner's suite deserves a special mention as the top spot on board: it impresses with its generous dimensions, a bathroom located in the bow and, above all, the huge skylights above the bed and large side windows. This is how airy, fresh and warm exclusive owner's areas should look. Thanks to his experience with his previous Princess, a 72 Fly, the Scandinavian owner also favoured the installation of a compact bar and fridge close to the bed - no more long journeys to a homemade gin and tonic under the stars.

As is customary at Princess, the entire interior and styling was created on the computers of the shipyard's own design studio and completely customised. "For our large yacht models, the term semi-custom primarily refers to the selection of engine and layout options. We always work out the decor and styling in detail and together with the owners," explains George Edwards.
As could already be seen in Düsseldorf, the "Kohuba" owner attached great importance to a VIP parking space for his "Viking" custom bike. Even in the exhibition halls, the motorbike on display in a custom-built glass box on the flybridge attracted everyone's attention. "The owner wanted a safe and saltwater-protected parking space for his masculine road cruiser and also wanted to present it as a showpiece in Mediterranean marinas," says Captain Boulud. The shipyard was awarded the design and construction contract for the robust steel and glass box, which can be hoisted onto the dock using an Opacmare crane. There, the "Viking" drives out and the motorbike showcase is transformed into a jetty bar in a few simple steps.
Anyone who charters the "Kohuba" has the choice between a power bike (which can also be ridden) with a bar or the toy Viking, which is a little cooler in summer.
the somewhat cooler toy version, the jet ski. The flybridge is loaded according to guests' wishes.