Hull raiser
Carbon fibre
construction saves
20 % in hull weight
(500kg) compared to
traditional sports
yachts.
TESTED PRINCESS R35Stuff doesn’t test boats, but as the
Princess R35 is billed as the ideal
billionaire millennial’s plaything...
QThe average yacht owner is 15
years younger than in 2000, and
20% of the top 100 billionaires are
under 50. So because ‘self-made
millennials’ want adventures with
instant gratification, the Princess
R35 could be riding the crest of a
wave with its Active Foiling System.QThis automatically deploys two
feet under the hull when you reach
15 knots. Making 100 calculations
per second, they act as a stability
control – stopping the R35 from
rising out of the water, making
it easier to drive and more comfy
in the back.QStability is important if you want
to attract inexperienced younger
customers... and crucial if you’re
going to allow an amateur from
Stuff to take it for a spin around
the Cote d’Azur. The R35 is so
easy to manoeuvre it feels like it’s
riding around on rails, and takes
me back to playing Wave Race 64
on the N64.QThe looks are more supercar
than river barge thanks to a
potent mix of Pininfarina design,
tech adapted from Ben Ainslie’s
catamaran, and an ex-McLaren
MD in charge. It’s made almost
entirely from carbon fibre.QAnd it’s rapid. Select Comfort
or Sport mode from the giant
touchscreen, floor the throttle
and peacock around the coast like
you’re Daniel Craig, occasionally
administering the lightest of
touches to the wheel and trying
not to think about the fuel bill.Yacht companies are chasing millennials... It sounds absurd, but a recent University of
Monaco report says yacht ownership ages are tumbling, and British boatbuilders like
Princess want a piece of the pie. So the R35 is the waterborne equivalent of an Audi
R8: desirable looks, devastatingly quick, but comfortable and easy to drive. If you
can’t afford one, try chartering. Otherwise it’s back to Grand Theft Auto you go.Messing about in
boats is a young
man’s game
these days
James DayLil yachty
STUFF SAYS Buy a Lotto ticket now – your winnings couldn’t be better spent +++++
Engines Twin 6.2L 430hp
Volvo V8s Top speed 50 knots
Length 35ft Infotainment
Twin 17in Garmin touchscreens,
Naim/Focal audio systemQ Naim that tune
Tucked below deck is a Naim Uniti
hi-fi paired with waterproof Focal
speakers. You can even get an
ultra-wide display connected to
an HD camera with infra-red in the
bow, so passengers can see the
boat being attacked by sharks.Q Garmin to my parlour
The uncluttered dash is fitted with
twin 17in Garmin touchscreens
displaying engine management
data, Active Foiling System status
and more. Everything on board,
from the air-con to the mood
lighting, can be controlled here.from £535,000 / stuff.tv/R35Tech specs