CL Yachts recently made the much-anticipated technical launch of its first Sea Activity Vessel (SAV), the CLX96. The revolutionary 96-foot, 9-inch yacht was created in collaboration with international designer Jozeph Forakis, structural engineering from Albert Horsmon, and naval architecture from Earl Alfaro. CLX96 has already been recognized as the winner of the Good Design Award 2020, Bronze A’ Design Award 2021, and the prestigious International Yacht & Aviation Awards 2021.
Her versatile open layout includes a “workboat chic” two-level deckhouse with reverse-sheer windshields that reduce glare to ensure good sightlines as well as maximize space. The plumb bow further extends interior space and increases hydrodynamic efficiency. Two distinct social zones offer an array of entertainment options unique to CLX96. With an abundance of natural light and panoramic views, the interior feels quite massive, and its décor is stylish yet discreet. Belowdecks, a full-beam master stateroom, three guest cabins, plus two for crew, are spacious and bright thanks to large windows and high ceilings. The builder anticipates a cruising speed of 22 knots and a top speed of 27 knots (at half-load) with powerful and efficient twin Caterpillar C32 engines.
“We want to return the romance of yachting to today’s owners, who are educated and demanding,” said Martin Lo, director of CL Yachts. “CLX96 SAV is the crossover yacht that meets their needs head-on: You get a good range, excellent top and cruising speeds, plenty of space, and the possibility to enjoy mini expeditions to wherever your heart desires.” clyachts.com
Flagship of CL Yachts’ CLB series, the CLB88 is making her global debut in Fort Lauderdale. Built in consultation with structural engineering firm Gurit, the 25-knot 88-foot, 11-inch (22’ 6” beam) hull is certified by RINA and constructed with a strategic use of carbon fiber and advanced resin-infusion technology. Her interior design is equally modern with an open-plan layout and oversized windows. Designer Jozeph Forakis has created a comfortable and inviting atmosphere on board with a sophisticated and bright design that flows seamlessly to the exterior decks. While brand new, she’s already an award winner, scooping the 2019 Good Design Award in the transportation category
presented by the Chicago Athenaeum Museum of Architecture and Design. clyachts.com
Cheoy Lee launches a new breed of yachts, and it begins with the CLA 76f.
The “old dog, new tricks” cliché doesn’t apply to Cheoy Lee. For nearly 150 years, they have been building supremely seaworthy vessels, but steady does not mean staid. This old builder has some new tricks. “Cheoy Lee has been around forever,” acknowledges Panu Virtanen, vice president of the North America office. “But there are new buyers now, a younger crowd that looks at boating differently.” So the venerable Hong Kong shipyard has launched a new division called CL Yachts to reach this next generation for whom “boating needs to be fun and effortless,” says Virtanen. The CLA 76f is one of the first embodiments of this philosophy.
Big Changes
A successor to the Cheoy Lee Alpha 76, it features the same Michael Peters hull, but above the waterline, everything has changed. This is no evolved model. It’s a whole new yacht. Step into the main salon and one of the tenets of the CL Yachts brand is readily apparent—the design is on trend. The light, bright, open-plan main deck has 360-degree views through extra-large windows.
Intan Nioridwan of Singapore-based Atolla Design says he strived for a clean, simple style. “We used a combination of wood and good quality leather to let people experience the feeling of high-end warmth and relaxation.” Glossy, medium-toned walnut complements the creamy upholstery, carpet and Majilite overheads that feature decorative bands of stainless steel. These strips are part of the plan. “The design has horizontal aspects to widen the area everywhere, like wood grain, granite and marble patterns, even headboards,” says Nioridwan.
The lounging and dining space is generous thanks to an arrangement that places the galley, lavished in “Silver River” granite, next to the helm all the way forward. It is raised so chefs are not only part of the main deck action but also preside over it. Undercounter Sub-Zero drawers hold refrigerated and frozen items rather than upright appliances to keep the all-around view.
The modern interior is spacious and light-filled.
The Master Stateroom is built for a King or a Queen.
Crewed or owner-operators would be hard-pressed to find fault at the helm.
The best part? A private beach club.
The main salon provides sweeping views.
Experience Shows
The advantages of 150 years of shipbuilding experience show in the operation’s second precept: user-friendliness. It’s all done properly, with wide side decks and a foredeck laid out for easy line handling. A ZF remote control with a 25-foot lead plugs into the port side of the flybridge or starboard on the main aft deck for docking.
If you’re more of a stay-out-of-the-way, fair-weather boater, you can find your user-friendliness in the convenient wine cooler next to the interior dining, or the propane barbecue up top or read all the A/V electronics mounted on racks in a salon cabinet that slide out for easy access. Above all, boating must be comfortable for the young clients in CL Yachts’ sights. Motion control is a major factor.
A Seakeeper gyrostabilizer and Zipwake active interceptors hold the CLA 76f steady from the anchorage to high speeds. Interior comforts include an ensuite for each of the four staterooms whose shower stalls are impressively sized. The amidships master stateroom commands the full beam and by placing the bed athwartships to starboard, it has an incredible amount of floor space.
Exterior comforts are found at a very pleasant foredeck lounge with seating and sunpad as well as up on the flybridge with dining and wet bar under a hardtop with an opening sunroof. Both of these areas can also escape the sun by a sunshade that attaches to lightweight carbon fiber poles.
Engine Room
The engine room is a true revelation for a yacht of this size. The two Caterpillar C18s appear petite within the capacious room, leaving loads of space so everything is accessible and serviceable. As Virtanen puts it, you feel like you’re on a little ship in here. Cheoy Lee has always sourced all major equipment and components in the U.S., so servicing and locating spares on this side of the world is straightforward.
The old Alpha had a tender garage; the new CLA 76f has a crew cabin for one instead—a nicely finished mini apartment with a microwave, refrigerator and good-sized head. The tender mounts on the swim platform which integrates a two-stage lift by TNT. In addition to flush, it drops below the waterline to ease swimmers into the water or to load the tender, which can be driven right up on it. Underway, it is raised; the extra height offers safe clearance in a following sea.
Each model line from CL Yachts is a unique concept with different architects, designers and, in the case of the first two models, propulsion types. What ties together the brand is the structural integrity of the builds, says Virtanen. The resin-infused composite hull couples with a foam-cored monocoque structure. Careful engineering and extensive use of carbon fiber provides a light but strong structure so the boats operate more efficiently.
For the CLA 76f, this means a 29-knot top speed. That’s the advertised max at least. During a sea trial off Port Everglades in one- to two-foot seas, she reached 30.7 knots with 82 percent water and 27 percent fuel. Consumption at 9.6 knots was a total of just 13 gallons an hour between both engines.
This is only the beginning for CL Yachts. After debuting the CLA 76f and CLB 72 last fall, it began work on the fleet’s third model: the ultra-spacious CLB 88 which will premiere in Miami next February. Something completely different will come after that—a 95-foot next-generation explorer.
“This is what CL Yachts is all about,” says Virtanen, “all new designers, all new vision, from one of the oldest builders in the world.”
By Kate Lardy, Southern Boating May 2019
ABOUT THE CLB 72
At the debut of CL Yachts’ other new model, everyone touring the CLB 72 had the same question for Panu Virtanen: “Can I take this cheese knife on display here and cut the counter?” This seeming destructive streak among boat show attendees was really just curiosity.
The galley is covered in opaque black Fenix NTM, which uses nanotechnology to heal itself thermally of accidental light scratches. It’s one of several innovative materials used thanks to the fresh perspective of Carmen Lau, an up-and-coming Hong Kong designer.
She chose the dark galley finish as a focal point and contrast to the light-hued main deck that features the largest windows classification society RINA would allow. Another spot that highlights her creativity is the master, which she arranged to show off huge hull windows and created an etched glass feature wall between the stateroom and head that frosts at the press of a button.
Howard Apollonio took a similarly fresh look at the hull design and started from scratch to optimize it for Volvo IPS1350 engines. In keeping with CL Yachts’ ethos of fun, easy boating, the joystick-controlled drives negate the need for thrusters, so there is no need to worry about hydraulics. House power is simplified too; a Decision-Maker 3500 Auto Parallel system senses the load automatically to transfer or share it between two 24kW Kohler gensets.
This first hull is under contract and two more are sold, but Lau is working with CL Yachts on two further spec builds. It will be interesting to see what she comes up with next.
The nearly 150-year-old builder launched a new luxury performance division in 2018—CL Yachts— and unveiled the CLB72 and CLA76f. The new offerings tap into current trends and take a different approach to design, materials, and innovation.
Careful engineering and extensive use of carbon fiber in the hull structure make for an exceptionally lightweight boat, which eases handling and gives a top speed of around 30 knots. The layout varies greatly between each, but both boast a full-beam amidships master and a particularly spacious engine room. The priority is given to comfort and user-friendliness is seen in the gyrostabilization, active interceptor system, and floating interior that minimizes vibration.
