Prestige’s new X60 has a hard act to follow. Her elder sister, the X70, was a revolution for both the market and the French builder, renowned for its classic F-Line and S-Line ranges up to the 690 and a world leader in the 40-60ft motor yachts sector.
The X70 broke the mould, shaking things up with its forward-raked windscreen, infinity cockpit and widebody superstructure, a radical new concept executed by Italy’s Garroni Design, which has designed all Prestige models since the brand emerged as a Jeanneau offshoot in 1989.
A full-beam saloon and no side decks were among major points of difference for the X70, while the upgraded furnishings, décor and details elevated the image of Prestige, which has also rolled out the new interior styling on its 690 flybridge motor yacht.
The four-cabin X70 was a remarkable start for the X-Line, which has now widened its range with the three-cabin X60, a model that shares many of the winning features of the flagship yet is surprisingly different in so many ways.
Erwin Bamps, Brand Director of Prestige since November 2018, explains: “The X60 is the second model in the X-Line, so it had to be coherent with the concepts we introduced on the X70. These include greater connectivity, meaning the easy level of circulation around a monohull boat, while inside there’s a higher level of finishing and finesse, and a richness of materials.
“On the X70, it was possible to use the full beam for the main-deck interior because of its proportions. However, on the X60, we chose an asymmetric design with one side deck, which offered the best solution to gain interior space on the main deck and yet give accessibility from the aft cockpit to the foredeck.”
From afar, the X60 is recognisable as an X-Line model, with a reverse windscreen and dark wheelhouse roof, although new touches include replacing the hard top’s side supports with double carbon poles.
The iconic beach club is reassuringly similar and features a hydraulic swim platform with built-in steps to port, a hot and cold shower, as well as a fold-down sofa that allows guests to sit and lounge comfortably by the water.
Like on the X70, the oversized teak platform is overlooked by aft-facing seating and an infinity cockpit, so guests enjoy views of the sea and beach club through the clear glass balustrade.
Fun Foredeck, Fab Flybridge
Once you reach the main deck, however, the differences to the X70 start to become apparent. Most notable is that the X60 isn’t a full widebody but instead has one side deck, to port.
This passageway leads to the foredeck, which is one of the X60’s signature features and can also be accessed by a short starboard side deck starting by the indoor helm. A world away from the flat foredeck on the X70, the X60 features a beautiful sunken bow lounge, with seating and sunpads plus drinks holders on both sides of a movable octagon-shaped teak table.
The central pads on each side include a fold-up backrest, while the forward two pads on both sides can be removed to reveal four storage lockers. For cover, a canopy can be erected using four poles inserted into deck holes.
“The foredeck is not just for sunbathing but a proper outdoor social area, like you have in the cockpit or flybridge. It gives you another entertainment space for people to meet, to have a drink,” Bamps says. “If you have six or eight people, groups can split up around the boat and find their own space when they want to.”
The flybridge, accessed by starboard stairs from the cockpit, spans an area of 26sqm (280ft), which Prestige says is 30 per cent bigger than the flybridge on the comparably sized 590 F-Line flybridge model.
The area covered by an electric sunroof features an athwartships dining table and chairs by Roda Teka.
Forward is a fitted L-shaped sofa to starboard, while to port is an outdoor galley with a grill, fridge, sink and storage, and a twin helm station with Garmin screens, autopilot and VHF. Unlike the X70, there are no stairs to the foredeck.
The aft flybridge area is clear of fixtures but includes, as standard, an island lounger with movable, weighted backrests, while options include sunbeds or two island loungers either side of a drinks table.
Breezy Indoor-outdoor Living
On the main deck, there are also furniture options for the aft cockpit, with an island lounger again the standard option.
However, the X-Line’s features include an extra-long cockpit and although it’s not as noticeable on the X60, there’s enough room to complement the island lounger with an optional dining table and loose chairs, offering another alfresco dining area and increasing the social options.
In contrast to Prestige’s F-Line and S-Line models, which have an aft-galley layout, the X-Line is more in line with larger luxury motor yachts by having the galley forward.
Along with the starboard side deck, the saloon on the X60 is among the major differences compared to the X70, although both models feature interiors designed with Italian Valentina Militerno de Romedis.
Instead of the saloon spanning one side of the hull to the other, the inclusion of a side deck on the X60 reduces the relative indoor space, although Prestige has offset this by including a sliding glass door to port, meaning the saloon is truly open to the sun and breeze on two sides.
Prestige says the semi-widebody design provides interior width not found on another 60ft monohull, yet that feels slightly undermined when you enter the interior, as the private staircase to the master suite — a brand signature — reduces the width of the living area by a metre or so.
“On the X60, we couldn’t use the full beam for the interior because the staircase to the top would have been too steep and you’d lose too much space on the flybridge if you had two accesses,” Bamps says. “However, the sliding side door in the saloon combined with the two sliding doors aft allow you to sit inside yet feel as though you’re outside.”
Soft Interior Luxury
The saloon includes two beige Duvivier sofas: a two-seat version to port and an L-shaped one to starboard, where there’s also a foldable table.
The full-height glass door and window to port are complemented by large windows starboard and forward, so guests can enjoy panoramic views including through to the windscreen as well as plenty of natural light.
The interior features hardwood oak flooring and Walnut woodwork, and the detailing is top-drawer, in line with the X70. To starboard, aft of the slightly raised helm station, is an open, three-sided galley, which has a three-zone induction cooktop, microwave/grill and — a personal favourite — two high-low storage units that can electrically descend to provide a flush countertop when needed.
To port is more storage, a fridge-freezer and another Laminam ceramic worktop, while forward is a raised L-shaped sofa, offering companion seating for the skipper and a nice cosy snug for reading, with great views outside and inside the boat.
The raised helm has a dark-leather bench seat and includes a joystick as part of the Zeus drive package, the option of two 12-inch or 16-inch standalone screens, and a full-height door to the short side deck.
Cabins Supreme
However, Prestige’s upgraded fabrics, finishes and detailing are arguably best showcased in the stunning guest cabins, led by the magnificent full-beam master suite, which features super-soft carpeting and beautifully combines soothing natural colours with wood, velvet and a variety of tactile surfaces.
Accessed by a wide staircase and situated midships – not in the bow, as on the X70 — the master has a forward-facing bed, a sofa to port and storage on both sides, with the whole room benefiting from huge hull windows plus port holes on both sides. The mood lighting including above, behind and below the bed is discreet and elegant.
Forward is a TV flanked by two sliding doors. The starboard one leads to a bathroom with a Corian countertop and plenty of mirrors, while the port one accesses an elegant walk-in wardrobe, with both rooms having access to the central rain shower.
The two guest cabins are reached from the stairs beside the lower helm and the VIP could be a contender for best in class. The double bed, which can ‘scissor’ into singles, sits lower than is usual for a cabin in the bow, feeling more like a conventional cabin than one squeezed too far up into the forepeak.
The room also benefits from a skylight and, like the master, is beautifully finished and well equipped, featuring wardrobes and storage on both sides, a gorgeous standalone vanity to port, and an en-suite bathroom to starboard.
The bathroom can be used as the day head and potentially shared by those staying in the port-side guest cabin, which has twin beds that can slide together and the option of an en-suite bathroom to replace the VIP cabin’s port cupboard.
Although designed with owner-operators in mind, the X60 is a big yacht so there’s a comfortable crew cabin aft of the engine room, which houses twin 600hp Cummins engines that provide comfortable performance, with a top speed of 25 knots and a cruising speed of 20. Onboard technology includes Groupe Beneteau’s Ship Control and Seanapps systems.
The first unit in Asia has already been secured by Asia Yachting and is scheduled for a mid-2023 arrival to the delight of Tanguy Tertrais, the Hong Kong-based APAC Sales Director for Prestige and Jeanneau.
“We’re really looking forward to having one more X-Line unit in this part of the world,” Tertrais says. “We strongly believe the X-Line perfectly suits the demand here, with reinvented space on board for greater volume and a design that’s more open to the sea.”
This article first appeared on Yacht Style.
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