The Genoese shipyard Tankoa Yachts has presented its new Sportiva range designed by Luca Dini; the first model is the Sportiva 55, under 500GT tonnage placing itself at the heart of a dynamic series that will include another two models, one larger and one smaller.

“In Tankoa – notes Vincenzo Poerio, CEO – we always try and think of new products capable of satisfying the continually evolving needs of clients in our market segment. Keeping this concept in mind, we met with a number of designers and exchanged ideas and points of view for our new products. We found an immediate connection with Luca Dini for our idea and it all came together a few months later with the first concept design for the Sportiva 55. It was love at first sight!”

“The elegant exterior makes this 55 metre boat a pure blood – explains the superyacht designer Luca Dini – it expresses its sporty nature, reflected in the ‘tails’ of the gunwales on the upper deck and in the bow section, which is inspired by automobile design. Its style is rigid yet timeless and contrasts with its layout, created for informal contemporary living.”

The beach club, which is, in fact, more of a cockpit for the main deck, takes up a large area, with its inset pool in the aft deck and access to the spa area (complete with gym and sauna) on the lower deck, in addition to the garage with lateral towage for water toys. An innovative trait of this area is the large window in the partially submerged hull, to be enjoyed both during navigation and at anchor.

Guest rooms include 4 cabins with private bathrooms (although a five cabin version is being developed) located on the lower deck together with the kitchen, while the crew area is to the bow. The layout of the main deck is asymmetrical, with a circular dining area uniting the aft deck to the living room, and the owner’s suite shifted to the port side, is equipped with a starboard walkway with a chaise longue, private hot tub and sauna.

There is an unusual choice of a central staircase leading from the forward deck (reserved for the owner) to the bridge deck, characterised by a sky lounge, an extendible table and a relaxation area on the aft deck designed to become an open air cinema when at anchor. A 7-metre tender, a service tender and jet skis are stowed in the forward deck, hidden from view by the gunwales. This “sea suite” concept offers an innovative and flexible layout which helps keep the gross tonnage under 500GT. Lastly, on the sun deck (partially sheltered by the hard top) is a mobile bar near the hot tub to the bow and an ample sun lounging area.

The Sportiva 55, with its steel hull and aluminium superstructure, can reach a cruising speed of 15 knots and a maximum speed of 16.5 knots. Its autonomy, at the economic speed of 12 knots, is 3,800 nautical miles. “The Sportiva 55 – notes Poerio – can also be equipped with hybrid propulsion and in this case, the engine room can be moved to the bow, so that the guest cabins on the lower deck have access to the spa and beach club. Fantastic!” Although the 55 metre is closer to the needs of current clients of Tankoa Yachts, the shipyard has asked Luca Dini to keep the same family feeling both in the fast 45 metre made fully in aluminium, and in the more comfortable 65 metre.