To mark its 60th anniversary, Princess Yachts has given itself and its customers a wealth of gifts, including a film series about the beginnings of the shipyard in Plymouth and the New edition of the iconic V40. The British brand launched the S65 and S80 the year before the big event. The success of the 25-metre-long flagship of the Sportbridge series quickly became apparent. Seven units had already been sold by September 2024.
Head of Marketing Simon Clare and Will Green, Princess' new CEO since 2023, even held out the prospect of a new production site at the press conference in Cannes. "The S80 combines the best of all worlds," says Green, explaining the background, "it is comfortable and a real sports boat with a top speed of 35 knots. And handmade in Plymouth," he adds.
The design of the Princess S80 continues the look of the S72
There is a lot of pride in that sentence. The 3,000 or so colleagues work hard to maintain the reputation of being among the best craftsmen in the world. The design of the new S-Class was done almost entirely in-house, with professional help from the designers at Olesinski and the Italian interior specialists at Pininfarina.
The flowing lines and striking canopy of the S80 are reminiscent of the design of the not-so-old S72, which was unveiled at boot Düsseldorf 2023. Elongated window areas stretch along the main deck and only end on either side of the cockpit canopy. High bulwarks with oval stainless steel railings, an expansive teak deck and customised natural materials define the flagship status of the 64-tonner.
Sunbathing, relaxing and dining
"The Princess S80 concept emphasises a sociable living space close to the water with three areas: sunbathing, relaxing and dining. They can be used simultaneously without the need for any modifications," explains Andy Lawrence, Head of Design at Princess Yachts. "The glazing in the saloon extends far aft into the cockpit and wraps around the forward dining area. It offers protection from the wind without obstructing the view."
A brief inspection of the yacht quickly reveals an extremely clever concept for its utilisation - especially of the main deck. The central access is via the beach club, with the path to the cockpit lounge leading through the centre between two XL sun loungers. In front of the adjoining dining area for up to eight guests, a glass flap is wide open and provides a view of the open galley in the saloon directly behind it. Drinks or menus are conjured up in front of the guests and served directly outside.
Layout with various options
To the right of the hatch, a glass sliding door leads into the lounge with two sofa areas. Two steps lead up to a dinette and the open steering position, which is flooded with light thanks to the skylight. "There is also the option of closing this area off," says Sales Manager Luke Kenny, answering the question before anyone has even asked it, pointing out the door to the outside deck and the foredeck with sun lounger aka seating area plus table. On request, a WC is also available opposite the galley, but this would take up some fridge space. The large lounge area can also be converted into an indoor dining area with an additional table.
The flybridge suits a real sports yacht
Customers also have various layout options on the lower deck, especially in the stern area, where the crew set up camp. Depending on requirements, there is more storage space or a third bed, and a small crew mess is also possible. The guests are spread over a total of four suites further forward, the master is located amidships and, like the saloon, is furnished with soft natural materials and rounded corners.
The fact that the S80 is a veritable sports yacht is primarily noticeable on the upper deck and flybridge. The helm station takes up almost half of the 28.7 square metres of open space, with two sofa loungers flanking the two centrally positioned pilot seats.
The Princess S80 can even manage a maximum of 35 knots
Steering in company: those who accelerate up to 35 knots with the help of the two MAN V12 engines - with either 1397 or 1471 kilowatts - will certainly enjoy doing so with spectators. Classic shafts and propellers are fun to drive, while the optional vector fin and gyro stabilisers allow the S80 to be steered safely even in difficult weather conditions. At the rear is a BBQ lounge with a choice of a sofa or height-adjustable dining table.
The Princess's sporty, comfortable and flexible concept in top quality seems to have struck a chord, so perhaps there will be more in the foreseeable future? When asked what could follow the S80, at least in terms of length, Simon Clare has a clear answer: "We send customers who want a yacht over 30 metres to Ferretti or Sanlorenzo."
Technical data Princess S80
- Overall length: 25.44 m
- Width: 6.07 m
- Draught: 1.82 m
- Displacement: 63.95 tonnes
- Guests: 8
- Tank: 7000 litres
- Water: 1480 litres
- Engines: 2 x MAN V12 - 1471 kw
- Top speed: 33 - 35 kn
- Tender: Williams Sportsjet 435
- Construction: Princess, Olesinski
- Outside lines: Princess
- Interior: Princess, Pininfarina
- Shipyard: Princess Yachts, 2024
