As promised I did not go to Cannes Yachting Festival without bringing back some nice boats and stories to write about and show to you. So, here we are, the one I chose to present you is the beautiful new Grand Soleil 52 Performance.
This model showed the distinctive sharp lines of one man who, even though you may not know his name, almost single handedly changed the course of Grand Soleil for good β¦. I follow the work if Italian naval architect Matteo Polli since years now and apart from the fact that his boats are collecting race wins and prices like nothing, his designs carry a signature style that is his most visible unique feature.
A Matteo Polli-designed yacht is unmistakable, easily recognizable. The new Grand Soleil 52 is no exception from this. Standing in front of her looking back, she appears almost as flat as a surfboard: Perfect, aggressive and lush lines made to roam and race the sunny Mediterranean waters.
In this it is truly remarkable that, at least in my opinion, Matteo Polli managed not only to design such beautiful boats but also to redefine a whole company. Up to that point I was personally never really interested in their products. Sure, their Long Cruise-yachts had some nice features, like the stong keel concept. But for me, these yachts had an appeal like a Hanse with luxury injected β¦ this, however, changed dramatically when Polli joined the game.
And those yachts are not just a set of new products. They are at last breathing new life into the whole brand. Yachts with their own strong character and distinctive design. Hats off and congratulations!
