Words GUY NOWELL

Yacht design is very much like movie-making: it’s a process of incremental improvement that never really ends. The finished product of one design is merely the starting point for the next project. “Next time we’ll move the door 1cm to the right…”

Prestige have been getting it within an inch of perfect for a long time now, thanks to the enduring and immensely successful relationship with Garroni Design who have been responsible for drawing all the Prestige models.

The Prestige 560 is an elegant boat. Flybridge yachts often look a little too tall for their own good, but this yacht is nicely proportioned whether she is carrying the optional hardtop above the flybridge or not. The exceptionally generous window height and lowered bulwarks along the main deck accentuate the appearance of length, and Prestige’s signature roofline, that dips towards the stern and then pops up again into a low-rise radar arch, is nothing but stylish.

The most important question is always, “does it suit purpose?” The Prestige 560 is actually 59’ 9” LOA, and carries accommodation for six plus one crew berth. Twin Cummins QSC 8.3 600 CV Zeus pods, with integrated flaps, power the boat along comfortably at 24 kts when cruising, and 30 kts if you are in a real hurry. The boat was specifically designed around these power plants, and there isn’t an alternative option, meaning that they are in the perfect place to provide optimum weight distribution. That, in turn, makes the driving easier and the ride more comfortable.

In Asia, where a boat like this is probably going to be used for day trips rather than overnights, 24kts cruising speed makes all the most popular destinations accessible in no time at all – you’re not going long distances. Step aboard, and head for your favourite bay or anchorage: you’ll be there long before lunchtime.

Optional lower driving position

Outdoors for your day trip, the Prestige 560 provides an expansive aft cockpit with sofa-style seating that converts into sunpads, as well as a cockpit table. Leave your cold drink here as you step down to the newly designed and elongated swim deck that features an automatically-deployed ladder.

If you want more sun, head forwards to the bow area, and more of those reconfigurable sunpads for which Prestige is well known. There’s even an awning system that pops up like a bimini if the rays are just too much.

The prime spot outdoors is of course the flybridge. If you’re not up here, why did you buy a flybridge yacht in the first place? The helm station to port, and with seating for two, leaves a huge space for yet more sunbathing, and there is still room for seating around a table, aft. Naturally, visibility for the helmsman is just perfect up here, and close quarters manoeuvring is simplified by the joystick slow-speed steering system. ‘Intuitive’ is an over-used word these days – but that’s exactly what it is.

The main saloon is laid out with the galley, aft, and suitably positioned to serve the cockpit as well as the dining area. Casual seating to starboard leads forward to the interior helm position which has seating for two and a door to the side deck immediately behind it. Access to the guest cabins is a companionway straight down forwards to the VIP suite in the bow, which features a walkaround double berth that splits down the middle into a V-twin.

Spacious master suite

The master suite is accessed by an entirely separate stairway from aft in the saloon, and is very special indeed. Is this really a 60ft motor yacht? It feels a lot bigger, partly because of the generous headroom, partly on account of the light sparkling off the water and coming in through the huge ports, and partly thanks to sliding doors to the en suite and dressing room that contribute significantly to space saving.

This is a motoryacht that it’s hard not to like. It seems to have everything: space, style, speed, and elegance. All fitted into less than 60 ft overall. The most startling thing is that – next time – Prestige will do it just a little bit better, but for now this is just perfect. For more information, please visit www.prestige-yachts.com.