Our goal is to develop yachts that are innovative and 100 per cent functional," explains Wally founder Luca Bassani enthusiastically in the cockpit of the 24-metre WHY150. "This adventure will never end for us. We will continue to challenge ourselves and rethink long-established, tried-and-tested concepts so that our customers have the best possible time on the water." History proves that this concept has been a complete success since the design-orientated brand was founded in 1991. Luca Bassani was the first to build supermaxis that were fast and easy to sail - carbon fibre and efficient hydraulic systems made it possible. Yachts such as "Wallygator" (today "Wally One") and "Wallygator II" (today "Nariida") were his ticket to the superyacht industry and - slowly but steadily - revolutionised the entire market and finally made push-button sailing socially acceptable. Anyone who wanted to could now sail their majestic 32-metre yacht at the push of a button, all alone, barefoot and with a relaxed smile on their face.
Goal: maximum living space and comfort
The Wally empire gradually expanded. The elegant supersailors were joined by the Wallypower line of racy tenders in weekender guise (6/2022), WallyAce (5/2012), quiet displacers with beach house charm and the latest models in the WallyWhy range, a successful symbiosis of spaceship and speed. "We had one goal for the WallyWhy line: we wanted maximum living space and comfort on a fast and efficient semi-planing hull," says Luca Bassani, summarising the design concept of the latest Power Wallys. With the WHY200 the first model in the new line was launched in 2021, while its smaller sister WHY150 celebrated its premiere and initial success last autumn. "We had already sold eight units before the first presentation," says Wally Managing Director Stefano de Vivo, who is also on board. A remarkable result, especially when you consider the starting price of just under 7.3 million euros.
In addition to the striking look with angular Wallypower superstructures, a voluminous negative stem, extensive glazing and an XL bathing platform, the new model boasts plenty of living space on a minimal length. "This is a great advantage these days, as stricter anchoring regulations for yachts over 24 metres in length have been in force on many Mediterranean coasts since 2019. They must keep a minimum distance of 300 metres from the coast, and off Corsica it is even half a nautical mile, i.e. 900 metres," says Luca Bassani.
WallyWhy150 becomes a compact triplane
With the 23.99 metre-long WallyWhy150, the Italians deliberately played with the formula and created a compact three-decker that is very similar in appearance to its larger sister. If you want to know exactly how much interior space the new Wally offers, all you have to do is look at the model designation. "As this line is all about space, we decided to integrate the interior volume numerically into the model names. The WHY150 therefore has a volume of 150 gross tonnes," says Stefano de Vivo. "Short, wide and high" was the formula with which the shipyard realised a lot of living space on the water. Thanks to a width of 6.78 metres over a length of 24 metres, the WHY150 is stable in the water, but with an overall height of 10.60 metres, a Seakeeper gyro stabiliser (optional) and fins help to minimise rolling movements at anchor if necessary.
There is no question that the two WHY sisters are similar, and yet - as with all siblings - there are special features. Although the stern of the little one benefits from an aft cockpit that merges seamlessly into the bathing platform and utilises the entire width, guests search in vain for fold-down bulwarks to enlarge the beach club. The bathing platform has also been adapted and, due to the lack of a tender garage, also functions as a dinghy lift and car park. The aft cockpit leads seamlessly into the main saloon, the real highlight on board the extensively glazed spaceship. With a ceiling height of 2.75 metres, the WHY150 offers as much headroom as some 80-metre yachts thanks to its clever split-level concept. The compact living room is divided into two sectors: a dining area with an oval table for eight people at beach club height plus a lounge set four steps higher with a cosy U-shaped sofa facing the stern. To starboard, a wide corridor leads to the master suite, which takes up the entire forward main deck and guarantees magnificent views thanks to a 270-degree wraparound window strip. As with the WHY200, there is also a sofa niche at the very front, which turns the room into a bow lounge. The queen-size bed appears to float on the midship line, with the generously proportioned bathroom and walk-in wardrobe behind it. The crew of up to four occupy their two cabins on the lower deck in the foredeck and prepare meals in the galley installed behind the owner's cabin.
Next to the galley, which is quite small, a companionway leads to the lower deck, where three spacious guest cabins are located aft of the crew quarters. Two directly in front of the engine room, where three Volvo Penta IPS units work, and a VIP suite in front.
"While our customers were still able to choose between different layout options with the WHY200, we can't offer any further possibilities here," explains Stefano de Vivo. The space is too limited and has been utilised to the maximum and skilfully in every respect.
Room for manoeuvre with the technical equipment
"When it comes to the technical equipment of the WHY150, the customer naturally has room for manoeuvre," adds Luca Bassani. "We offer the 85-tonner with two engine options, either with three Volvo Penta IPS 1200 engines, each with an output of 662 kilowatts, or with the 73 kilowatt more powerful IPS 1350 units, which enable a top speed of 23 knots." With an economical sailing style (ten knots) and thanks to 9000 litres of diesel in the tanks, the range is 1000 nautical miles. The test drive helps to better categorise these figures. At 2470 rpm and a maximum of 22.2 knots, the WHY150 consumes 578 litres per hour; at 1200 rpm and 9.8 knots, 98 litres rush through the pipes. If you want to be even more economical, you can move from bay to bay at 800 rpm and a leisurely 6.3 knots, which means only 30 litres per hour or, to put it another way, only five litres per nautical mile.
But back to the spaciousness that sets the WHY150 apart from the crowd. A staircase leads from the saloon to the bridge, which is framed by large window panels and dominated by two carbon fibre captain's chairs, where the captain or owner takes control of the semi-glider via three Simrad multifunction displays. One of the nicest places on board is a modern yet cosy chaise longue on the port side directly adjacent to the helm station instruments. "We have already created such cosy alcoves with premium views on other models in our portfolio. The owners love this space," says Luca Bassani.
"Typical Wally"
A few steps lead aft from the helm station to the top deck, which is almost completely covered by a carbon bimini and features a dining area with adjoining bar and grill, several sun loungers and a U-shaped sofa lounge. "The WHY150 fits perfectly into our brand philosophy and product range, as form follows function and the overall package is characterised by innovative ideas and technologies," summarises Wally mastermind Luca Bassani. A 24-metre yacht with a modern, powerful look that, thanks to its unique layout, creates an extraordinary feeling of space that is more reminiscent of an airy loft than a sporty semi-glider. Typical Wally. The Italians are currently still building the WHY models at the Pershing shipyard in Mondolfo, but the Wally shipyard in Ravenna is due to open this year. A hyper-modern production facility, made for the extravagant sailing and motor yachts of the trend-setting brand, which, in line with its new advertising slogan "Wally - 20 years ahead", wants to continue to be at the forefront when it comes to innovation. The 21.50 metre-long WHY100, the smallest model in the WHY line, is also being built in Ravenna and - how could it be otherwise - clearly stands out from familiar concepts and its larger sisters.
Technical data
- Length over everything: 23,99 m
- Length (waterline): 22,50 m
- Width: 6,78 m
- Depth: 2,00 m
- Height: 10,60 m
- Displacement (empty): 85 t
- Material: GRP, carbon
- Motors: 2 x Volvo Penta D13
- Engine power: 2 x IPS 1200, 662 kW or 2 x IPS 1350, 735 kW
- Speed (max.): 21 / 23 kn
- Speed (travelling): 18 / 20 kn
- Fuel: 9000 l
- Stabiliser: Seakeeper 26
- Navigation: Simrad
- Construction: Wally, Ferretti Group
- Exterior design: Wally, Ferretti Group
- Interior design: Studio Valicelli
- Class: CE "A", RINA B+F
- Shipyard: Wally, 2023
- Starting price: 7.28 million euros
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Martin Hager
Editor in Chief YACHT
