European debut for Grand Banks 85 at Cannes
Grand Banks is set to debut its latest model, the GB85, in Europe for the first time, at the 2022 Cannes Yachting Festival. The new model utilises the company’s V-Warp platform and takes the company in a new performance-driven and fuel-efficient direction.
The builder says the GB85 focuses on maximising storage and allowing an abundance of fresh air flow. The GB85 is also said to be an ocean-going Bluewater cruiser that stays nimble with a shallow draft, making it equally suited for coastal cruising.
Designed to travel efficiently at 21 knots for extended cruising, and easily handled by owner-operators, the internal configurations can accommodate spacious crew-quarters capabilities.
This vessel follows on from the success Grand Banks‘ earlier models, 2017’s GB60 and 2020’s GB54.
Hull No. 1 is powered with twin 1,000HP Volvo IPS 1350s. CEO Mark Richards reported that, during the pre-delivery test, the GB85 met all expectations. The GB85 runs flat and pushes very little water, due to the V-Warp platform.
A beam of 22 feet allows Grand Banks to offer a range of internal configurations and amenities for both guests and crew. For long-distance cruising, special attention was given to both sociability and privacy.
“First, we focused on what makes a superior long-distance cruiser while underway for long legs,” says Richards.
“This means understanding the rhythm that occurs while on passage, and creating various spaces where you can separate from others off-watch. Some people onboard are focused on running the boat, others are relaxing, and others may be sleeping. This approach ticks a lot of boxes in how the design comes together.”
The vessel will debut at the Cannes Yachting Festival on 6 September 2022.
