Aquila 50 Yacht: the ultimate frontier of space sails like a Stradivarius

Aquila-50-Yacht

Let’s get straight to it: the new Aquila 50 Yacht is a boat destined to reshape our approach to motor yachting. Beautiful, incredibly sturdy, and dedicated to space, it sails sublimely and has everything it takes to convince us to rethink the way we experience the sea. But let’s go step by step and explore together the reasons behind such bold statements.

Aquila 50 Yacht: space, the ultimate frontier

The new Aquila 50 Yacht isn’t just big; it’s truly massive! At 16 meters long (over 52 feet) and just under 8 meters wide, it offers expanses of space that are unimaginable not only for monohulls but even for catamarans of the same length. These impressive dimensions have been achieved by the shipyard without compromising a design that, in fact, remains graceful and elegant—a world apart from the catamarans that, unfortunately, often end up looking like a saiing cat that lost its mast. Aquila 50 Yacht, on the other hand, has its own unique identity, lending it the allure of an “Explorer Yacht,” a feature that is not only aesthetic but also highly functional. For all these reasons, and for what you’ll read next, in my opinion, Aquila 50 Yacht represents the current pinnacle of evolution in motor catamarans.

Aquila 50 Yacht – Main Deck

Upon boarding the Aquila 50 Yacht, we’re immediately welcomed by the expansive living area, seamlessly flowing from the outdoor dinette into the main deck interior. A standout feature is the bar, which connects to the galley with a retractable window and mirrored lower section, extending the yacht’s boundaries beyond its physical limits.

Moving further inside, we enter a massive open-plan living space. On the left, there’s a large L-shaped galley, access to the port hull, and a dining area furnished with a U-shaped sofa that can comfortably seat 8-10 guests. On the starboard side, there’s a large double fridge, ample cabinetry providing impressive storage, access to the starboard hull, and a double sofa.

This entire area is clearly designed with meticulous attention to detail. Simply closing the bar window and the main entrance transforms it from a vast living space into a cozy, enclosed area, sheltered from the elements or air-conditioned for hotter climates.

Underneath the main deck floor, thanks to its depth, are the yacht’s batteries and some onboard systems. Given the size and quality finish of this area, it also serves as an immense storage space, ideal for luggage, provisions, and much more.

Aquila 50 Yacht – Interior

It’s hard not to be enchanted by the Master Cabin of the Aquila 50 Yacht, which is far more than a cabin; it’s a true owner’s apartment that takes full advantage of the yacht’s maximum beam to create a loft over 20 square meters in size—a dimension typically found only on superyachts.

The King Size bed is centrally placed, complete with bedside tables, and benefits from windows overlooking the forward living area, flooding the space with light. This brightness is further enhanced by large side windows that offer an unparalleled view of the surroundings.

To the right of the bed is a spacious L-shaped sofa adjoining an elegant desk/wood-paneled workspace. From here, we enter the large walk-in closet, designed not only for hanging long evening gowns but also to provide ample storage for everything needed for extended stays onboard.

On the left side, there’s a double shower enclosed by a glass door, allowing natural light from the adjacent window to filter in. The bathroom vanity includes dual sinks and is equipped with numerous cabinets and storage compartments, significantly expanding available storage space. The toilet is located in a separate compartment, cleverly positioned in the forward port section to preserve space in this stunning owner’s apartment.

The other cabins of the Aquila 50 Yacht can be configured according to the owner’s preferences, with various options offered by the shipyard. Choices range from a 3-cabin layout with a technical room to a 4-cabin version plus 2 crew cabins.

My favorite version is the 3-cabin + technical room configuration. The two VIP cabins are spacious and welcoming, and the technical room can be transformed into an office with a full laundry setup, including a dryer.

An out-of-the-ordinary-bow

The bow of the new Aquila 50 Yacht is not only large but functionally adds another livable deck to the boat. Here all the space has been exploited to the centimeter, starting with the very wide side deckcs leading to this area and ending with the two extreme bows equipped with armchairs that are as comfortable as they are spectacular when underway.

In the center of this huge area (measuring a generous 30 square meters) is a massive living area consisting of a five-meter or so sofa positioned at the extreme bow which, set against a first row of seats, effectively forms a second large outdoor dinette to which, moreover, a flying table and shade cloths can be added to transform it into the most ventilated dining area on the entire boat.

Behind the first of row of seats we find a second one whose backrests, when raised, transform these mattresses into four stunning chaise-longues. But if we feel like sunbathing, it will be sufficient to pull down all the backrests in this area to obtain two huge mattresses, ready to accommodate a large number of people.

Aquila 50 Yacht – Flybridge

The flybridge of the Aquila 50 Yacht is accessed either from the aft dinette or, a really clever solution, from the bow. In either case, however, as soon as you enter this area, the wow effect takes over. The glimpse of this boundless expanse of space (about 60 square meters), also aided by the elevated position and the total absence of architectural barriers, is simply sublime.

The aft section of the flybridge is dedicated to a large sundeck and bar/kitchen cabinet that runs linearly on the starboard side and also houses a large grill. Centrally we find an L-shaped sofa and a fold-out table that can seat as many as 8 guests.

The bow of the flybridge is dedicated to navigation and houses centrally, two helm chairs equipped with armrests while to the sides of the cockpits we find a forward facing sofa to port and another large chaise-longue to starboard. The steering console smoothly accommodates all the electronics necessary for navigation and maneuvering.On board the Aquila 50 Yacht, visibility is always excellent both on the bows and in every direction.

Aquila 50 Yacht Sea Trial

A windy day welcomes us in Clearwater, Florida, right between two hurricanes that recently hit this beautiful area. The Aquila 50 Yacht has already faced one, and in a testament to its solid construction, it didn’t sustain a single scratch.

The catamaran we’re testing is equipped with the intermediate engine option offered by the shipyard: a pair of Volvo D6 engines, each delivering 480 horsepower. Alternatively, it can be powered by twin 550-hp Yanmar engines, though, as we’ll see, the Aquila 50 Yacht hardly needs the extra power.

We ease out of the berth effortlessly; the optional bow thrusters are extremely helpful, performing perfectly. Cruising slowly, there’s an unmistakable sense of stability—small, steep waves whipped up by the wind don’t impact the steady progress of this powerful yacht.

Once we’re in open waters, we’re met with steep, choppy waves that, under such strong winds, would turn a ride on most vessels into a rough experience. But here, we glide along at 8 knots without a hitch, rolling slightly and staying perfectly comfortable.

At this speed, our emissions are minimal, and fuel consumption is almost negligible; we could theoretically cover over 800 miles without refueling. Thanks to its additional tank, Aquila 50 Yacht holds just under 3,000 liters of fuel—an invaluable asset when navigating areas with limited refueling options.

As we speed up, the speed increases smoothly, with minimal hull friction. Between 12 and 14 knots, Aquila 50 Yacht gets up on plane, creating two beautiful wakes at the stern. The boat seems to shed its weight, gliding naturally across the water.

At 18 knots, this catamaran finds a fantastic balance; the waves are barely felt, and comfort is at its peak. What an extraordinary ride—it feels like being on a superyacht! At this speed, despite today’s full load of 35 tons, fuel consumption remains impressively low at around 8 liters per nautical mile, remarkable for a yacht of this size.

Pushing the throttles all ahead, we reach and exceed 21 knots—a high speed considering this yacht’s purpose, clearly indicating the well-designed hulls. This quality is even more evident in tight turns, where this catamaran surprises with the exhilarating sensations it delivers.

In conclusion, I can say that this new Aquila 50 Yacht has truly captivated me. It’s a meticulously designed “Explorer Yacht” with numerous strengths. It’s easy to picture yourself aboard, embarking on long, enjoyable cruises marked by the utmost comfort. What’s more, with this catamaran, you’ll never feel the need to dock in a port; though, it must be said, even in marinas, the Aquila 50 will certainly not go unnoticed.

Test Data

RPM	KNOTS	L/H	L/NM	RANGE
600	3.7	1.9	0.5	5,560
1,000	4.7	6.1	1.3	2,207
1,200	5.8	9.8	1.7	1,676
1,400	6.7	13.6	2.0	1,398
1,600	7.1	18.2	2.6	1,111
1,800	7.9	26.9	3.4	836
2,000	9.1	36.3	4.0	712
2,200	9.8	46.2	4.7	604
2,400	10.3	59.8	5.8	490
2,600	10.9	73.4	6.7	422
2,800	11.1	95.8	8.6	330
3,000	12.9	115.8	9.0	317
3,200	15.3	129.5	8.5	336
3,400	18.1	148.4	8.2	347
3,600	20.1	174.5	8.7	328
3,703	21.1	186.2	8.8	322

Technical Specs

LOA	15.99 m
Max Beam	7.76 m
Height above waterline	5.99 m
Draft	1.26 m
Light Displacement	23,013 kg
Fully Loaded Displacement	32,281 kg
Berths	Up to 10
Passengers Capacity	30 max
Cabins	3 or 4
Heads with separate shower	3 or 4
Technical Cabin	1 convertible
Fuel Capacity	1,964 l
Additional Fuel Tank Capacity	880 l
Water Capacity	800 l
Black Water Capacity	250 l
Standard Engines	2 x Volvo D6 380 HP
Optional Engines 1	2 x Volvo D6 480 HP
Optional Engines 2	2 x Yanmar 550 HP
Design Category	A12/B12/C20/D30

AQUILABOATS.COM

Luca D'Ambrosio

Editor-in-chief, boat tester and journalist. Luca began sailing at an early age with his father then as an adult discovered sailing regattas and offshore racing. He has been working in publishing for more than 30 years and continues to sail incessantly, especially aboard the editorial staff's boat, an old lady of the seas that he has completely rebuilt and which serves excellently as a "mobile laboratory" for The International Yachting Media.