New generation of Clipper Motor Yachts set to be launched at SCIBS

The new Hudson Bay 54 epitomises the new style and direction of the expanded Clipper range © Paul Wilson

With a proud history dating back to 1977 Australia's iconic Clipper Motor Yachts is poised to reach a major milestone at this year's 30th Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show.

Clipper will be launching an exciting new European inspired model range which will position it at the forefront of the international long range luxury cruiser market. After months of intensive research, focus groups, one on one interviews with current and prospective owners and design workshops held in Australia, Asia and the USA the new generation Clipper motor yacht range is finalised and will be unveiled at SCIBS.

Clipper Motor Yachts Managing Director, Brett Thurley, said the company was entering an exciting new era in its growth an development. "We will always keep the core elements inherent in the Clipper DNA such as walk around decks, semi-displacement- keel protected hull design, shaft drive diesel technology, long range economical cruising capacity and exemplary seakeeping ability however we have given the range a massive step change in styling and aesthetic direction for the future," he said.

"This has been done at a visual, engineering and design level so the new generation of Clipper Motor Yachts, encompassing both flybridge, sedan bridge and sedan vessels will be cutting edge contemporary compared with the Clipper's of the past. Our heritage is in traditional, solid, trawler style long range cruisers and we have now modernised and taking that style of vessel to a completely new level of design and finish."

He said after several years of painstaking review the company's strategy to evolve a complete new range came to a head when Clipper met and commissioned Patrizio Facheris Yacht and Product Design Studio based in Florida, USA. Patrizio Facheris has more than 30 years industry experience and is renowned for its luxe design work on vessels ranging from tenders to state-of-the-art superyachts and it is hoped he will be in attendance at SCIBS to be part of the world launch.

Thurley said SCIBS would mark the world premiere of the Hudson Bay 540 sedan, 470 sedan and 390. The HB 540 is valued at $1.6 million, the HB 470 at $1.2 million and the HB 390 at $600,000.

"We will have a total of 10 boats in our display which will be in front of George's Seafood Restaurant," said Thurley. "We have always had a presence at SCIBS which we consider to be one of the premier boat shows on the annual calendar. "The village atmosphere, expansive marina and all the other value adds such as the restaurants, the hard stand displays, the hotel and the golf courses make it a real destination for a lot of people from around Australia and overseas. The fact that it is the 30 anniversary of the show and we have the world premiere's of several of our new vessels makes it a very exciting time for us."

Thurley said the company would also be displaying six different Cobalt models including the Cobalt A28, the Cobalt R30 and Cobalt CS 23 which were having their world premieres at SCIBS. He said the new generation of motor yachts had already proven a success with a HB 540, a HIB 540 S and a HB 390 already having been sold. The first of those vessels will arrive in Australia in March or April. Thurley said there are currently 12 of the new design vessels in build.

"Patrizio is the epitome of Italian design and flair and has been working with major USA and European builders and owners for more than 20 years so his expertise, passion for elegance in design and ability to achieve excellence is well recorded," said Thurley.

"To have Patrizio and his team partner with us on this journey to produce truly world class, bluewater cruising motor yachts is exciting and we are hopeful he will be able to come to SCIBS to be part of the world premier of the new models."

Thurley said the new range encompassed a sleek, European styled sedan bridge Hudson Bay model with three versions being the 500S, the 540S and the flagship 640S. In addition there would be three sedan versions, the 350, 390 and 470. In addition the same style vessel will be produced in a sedan version starting with the Hudson Bay 350 sedan cruiser.

The jewel in the crown of the new offering will be a range of exciting new Cordova Motor Yachts including the 50MY, the 55MY and the 65MY. These vessels will be true long range cruisers designed to tackle virtually any sea conditions and deliver their owners in safety and comfort no matter where their destination.

"These motor yachts will be more in keeping with our past values, but they have been totally reimagined and styled to provide a contemporary, highly functional, solid, long range cruising motor yacht product that would hold its own in any company on the international stage," he said.