ARES YACHTS has unveiled the first images of a unique 50.55m superyacht project. When complete, SPITFIRE will deliver thoroughly modern living in a fast, transoceanic yacht that will challenge conventions and set new design standards.
The superyacht embodies sleek lines, advanced technical capabilities, and distinctive features. Performance, agility, and progressive design thinking are set to make the yacht an icon in its own right.
With the support of Lateral Naval Architects, ARES YACHTS has drawn on the fast displacement hull dynamics of its hugely successful ARES 150 BOLD offshore patrol vessel and applied them to SPITFIRE. Built in advanced composites, the yacht will have enviable performance and stability, with a maximum speed of 22 knots and a cruising range of 2,200 nautical miles which can be upgraded up to 3,500 nautical miles with extra tankage.
“This platform is constructed based on three fundamental principles: speed, lightweight construction, and iconic design proportions,” said ARES YACHTS Chairman Kerim Kalafatoğlu. “Combining a hull with offshore pedigree and the specifications of a superyacht platform opens up thrilling possibilities from both design and technical standpoints. We have used an advanced hull form for both performance and superyacht levels of sea keeping.”
Bannenberg & Rowell is responsible for both interior and exterior styling, assuring a continuity of vision that elevates the finished product far above the standard. The studio has sculpted a sleek, low-profile superstructure whose bands of dark glass and military grey create a seamless whole. Allied to the wide, rounded bow that drops vertically from cutaway bulwarks and a low, open explorer stern, the effect is of a yacht that means business.
ARES YACHTS has created a vast beach club area aft. Fold-down wings and a transformer platform gives easy access to the water, while the transom houses loose furniture and toy storage.
The beach club area, accessible through a sleek upward opening door on the stern platform, offers two versatile layout options. Choose between a luxurious lounge and cinema space with expansive seating or a fully-equipped gym. Bathed in natural light from four large skylights above, this area is designed to enhance your on-board experience. And when the tenders on the aft deck have been launched, the potential of this area knows no bounds – from party venue to open-air yoga studio.
Flexible and informal living is the key to understanding this yacht, whose social spaces can be easily joined and separated at will using sliding glass walls and doors. On the main deck, for example, the D-Fac dining room and the Bunker lounge have floor-to-ceiling glass sides which can be easily slid out of the way to make a gigantic indoor-outdoor area. It’s the same with the upper deck Wardroom, where doors and a sunroof allow the indoor sofas to become part of the exterior bar, grill and sun lounger zone.
“The bespoke interior solutions of Spitfire prioritise relaxation and flexibility, embodying a thoughtful and purposeful approach to optimising the modern lifestyle,” said Kalafatoğlu. “The typical owner is someone who epitomises the essence of contemporary living: modern, dynamic, and thriving in a fast-paced lifestyle. They also have a progressive mindset, unencumbered by rigid adherence to traditional thinking.”
Accommodation is thoughtfully laid out with the owner’s full-beam suite forward on the main deck, and four guest cabins below. Dimensions are generous, with large bathrooms and plenty of storage. Naturally, the owner’s cabin is the largest of all, with a freestanding bed that takes advantage of sweeping sightlines covering some 270 degrees. There is direct access to a private forward cockpit, complete with Jacuzzi and its own outdoor movie theatre. Retractable side screens and glass bulwark sections make for a spectacular backdrop.
SPITFIRE is equipped with hybrid diesel-electric propulsion that gives her a range of flexible options under power. Tapping the large battery bank, twin 290kW electric motors can propel the yacht for an hour under stealthy electric power alone. Or she can overnight in silence, drawing on emissions-free electric power to run the yacht’s hotel systems. An optional extra battery package can push the silent operation out to 11 hours, even in Mediterranean conditions. Meanwhile, variable speed generators offer the optimum combination of quietness and efficiency.
Construction of the composite hull is scheduled to begin by 2025. ARES YACHTS has unrivalled expertise building in high quality fibreglass, which is the key to SPITFIRE’s high speed and low displacement.
“ARES YACHTS is renowned for building world-leading military and commercial vessels in aluminium, steel and composite,” said Kalafatoğlu. “It was a natural progression to apply the same design and build qualities to a superyacht platform, harnessing our deep understanding of what makes a safe, high-performance hull. Watch this space!”
