Cantiere del Pardo: three world debuts in Cannes

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Cantiere del Pardo is preparing for a grand presence at the Cannes Yachting Festival 2024. The historic brand, which has been writing the most important pages of Italian yachting since 1973, is set to delight visitors of the French boat show scheduled from September 12 to 17 this year, with three new models destined to make a mark in both the sailboat and motorboat markets. Specifically, these are the Pardo GT75, the Grand Soleil 52 Performance, and the Grand Soleil 65 Performance, all making their world debut at the world’s most important international boat show. These three new creations from Cantiere del Pardo confirm the builder’s relentless drive forward and constant pursuit of excellence, following their celebration of 50 years in business last year and their integration into the Oniverse Group.

Pardo GT75, the new flagship of Pardo Yachts

The most anticipated 2024 innovation from Cantiere del Pardo is the flagship of the Pardo Yachts brand, the Pardo GT75. With this new model, Pardo Yachts expands its GT range with a vessel measuring nearly 23 meters, highlighting the distinctive features of the GT series. Positioned between the Walkaround and Endurance ranges, pardo GT75 combines luxurious, spacious interiors with hull lines typical of a high-performance 75-footer. The new model from Cantiere del Pardo offers an experience akin to a villa on the sea, with meticulously designed living and accommodation spaces, large sundecks, and lounge areas on both the aft and foredeck to enjoy a privileged contact with the sea.

Based on the versatile character of the GT52, this new model offers larger dimensions to meet the owners’ needs. Its design ensures seamless communication between indoor and outdoor areas, thanks to the sliding rear door, semi-open roof, sliding side doors to both side decks, and large windows. The GT75 embodies Pardo Yachts’ philosophy of creating easy-to-handle yachts with distinctive lines that highlight Italian craftsmanship.

Cantiere del Pardo’s GT75 offers various Volvo Penta IPS engine options. The standard configuration includes three D13 IPS 1050 engines, but owners can also opt for three D13 IPS 1350 engines. The hull is optimized for these engines to achieve optimal fuel efficiency and maximum cruising comfort, while also being prepared for hybrid propulsion to reduce environmental impact.

Regarding architecture, the GT75 is designed by Zuccheri Yachts Design, with exterior and interior styling by Nauta Design. True to Pardo Yachts’ unmistakable style, the GT52 features an elegant reverse bow and a deep-V hull.

The aft cockpit features a spacious electrically-raised sunbathing area, revealing a dedicated tender garage, a distinctive trait typical of superyachts. The walkaround design extends to the bow area, which includes a C-shaped sofa, a table, and a large sunbathing area with a central backrest. Below the bow area are the VIP cabin and crew accommodations. Finally, the main deck combines elegant design with functionality, offering the choice between a galley up or galley down layout. The gallery up version includes a well-equipped kitchen and an L-shaped sofa with a dining table capable of seating up to seven guests, facilitating direct interaction with the outdoor dining area in the cockpit.

Grand Soleil 52 Performance, Cantiere del Pardo revives past glories

Inspired by the lines of the glorious Grand Soleil 52, designed by German Frers in 1987, the new Grand Soleil 52 Performance marks the return of a legendary model for the French brand owned by Cantiere del Pardo. At the time, approximately sixty units of a yacht that was conceived as a masterpiece destined to endure were produced. The new Grand Soleil 52 Performance confirms that prophecy. Designed by the experienced duo Matteo Polli (naval architecture) and Nauta Design (exteriors, interiors, and layout), the yacht indeed captures the elegance of its predecessor and the same harmonious shapes that, then as now, translate into stability and excellent performance.

Built entirely in sandwich with compartmental bulkheads in composite wood, marine plywood, and PVC, the Grand Soleil 52 Performance has been meticulously designed to maximize volume and offer uncommon livability for its size, without compromising on weight. The spacious dinette includes a forward chart area, large storage compartments, and a fully equipped ergonomic galley in a C-shape, featuring three refrigerators with freezers totaling 172 liters, ensuring comfortable onboard stays even for extended periods.

The sleeping zone consists of three cabins: the owner’s cabin is forward with a dedicated bathroom, while the VIP cabin aft offers either twin beds or a double bed and direct access to the bathroom with a shower cubicle, similar to the guest double cabin located to the left. The owner can choose from different wood finishes such as oak, grey oak, or teak.

The deck layout and sail plan, as well as the hull configuration, differ between the two versions: the “Performance” version features an “easy sailing” deck layout with 4 winches aft, fixed mainsheet point, self-tacking jib standard, and standard carbon bowsprit; the cockpit is clear of running rigging for guest safety. The “Race” version, on the other hand, includes 6 winches, longitudinal tracks for the jib, recessed mainsheet traveler, enhanced sail plan, and a 90 cm longer carbon bowsprit compared to the standard version. Both versions use a German mainsheet system, and the mast is positioned aft of the main bulkhead to optimize the sail plan’s balance.

Grand Soleil 65 Performance, the perfection of style and performance

The third and final boat from Cantiere del Pardo to be unveiled at the 2024 Cannes Yachting Festival is the Grand Soleil 65 Performance, a new addition to the over 60-foot range of Grand Soleil Yachts, following the success of the GS 65 Long Cruise. In keeping with the spirit and design ethos of Cantiere del Pardo, the Grand Soleil 65 Performance epitomizes the perfect synthesis of performance, style, and innovation.

The extensive production expertise of Cantiere del Pardo and their innovative solutions, increasingly focused on sustainability and energy efficiency, define this new model. It was also designed in collaboration with Matteo Polli (naval architecture) and Nauta Design (exteriors, interiors, and layout). The development of the Grand Soleil 65 Performance concept was overseen and perfected under the expert guidance of Franco Corazza, a seasoned entrepreneur, long-distance sailor, and accomplished champion with 12 Italian titles, 2 European titles, and 1 world title to his name.

Like every model from Cantiere del Pardo, the Grand Soleil 65 is designed to respect the marine environment in which it sails. The materials and construction methods used ensure low environmental impact and high recyclability: sustainable teak is sourced, laminated glass enhances insulation, composite lamination employs linen and eco-resins, water-based paints are used, and solar panels provide renewable green energy.

The hull, crafted through vacuum infusion of vinylester resin with biaxial fiberglass and unidirectional carbon fiber fabrics, ensures a lightweight, rigid, and robust structure. Longitudinal and transverse structures, as well as load-bearing areas of the hull, are laminated with fiberglass and stiffened with unidirectional carbon reinforcements. The construction processes and onboard systems utilized for the Grand Soleil 65 are rigorously tested and certified by Cantiere del Pardo according to stringent quality controls.

Designed by Matteo Polli, the naval architecture of the Grand Soleil 65 aims to achieve the same goals as the larger Grand Soleil 72 but tailored to smaller dimensions. Concerning the sail plan, the mast is positioned aft to maximize the size of the foretriangle, while the distribution of sail surfaces ensures excellent aerodynamic efficiency while maintaining a relatively low center of gravity to reduce heeling. The sail plan can be reefed to maintain optimal balance relative to the hull and appendages, allowing the yacht to handle various weather and sea conditions effectively. Additionally, the Grand Soleil 65 comes standard with a self-tacking jib, ensuring easy and safe navigation even with reduced crew. This model can be sailed comfortably by a couple without the need for additional crew members.

Regarding the appendages, Cantiere del Pardo has opted for a single rudder blade and an inverted T-shaped keel for the Grand Soleil 65. The single rudder blade provides an excellent compromise between maneuverability and performance in various conditions, including under motor power. The inverted T-shaped keel ensures perfect stability and hydrodynamic efficiency with limited weight. The Grand Soleil 65 offers several draft options: standard (3.5 m), reduced (3 m), and telescopic.

Praise is due for the deck and interior design, created by Cantiere del Pardo in collaboration with Nauta Design to maximize the use of available space. Dimensions, ergonomics, storage spaces, functionality, and the quality of accessories are comparable to superyacht standards. The Grand Soleil 65P, with its sleek coachroof and sporty design, features a galley positioned aft to optimize the dining and relaxation area, while the engine room is traditionally located aft of the engines. The standard layout includes three double cabins (two with double beds and one with twin beds), all equipped with private bathrooms with showers, and a crew cabin forward with separate access. The overall design and materials palette exude an elegant atmosphere, with a welcoming and contemporary interior style.

Alessandro Giuzio

Alessandro is a professional journalist and contributes to The International Yachting Media since 2022. He is an expert on the sea and of course on boats.