In fashion, cuisine, culture, cinema and luxury brands—in other words, in just about every facet of upscale society—the Italians bring an advanced approach to the fine art of living well. La dolce vita, right? Lamborghini, Louis Vuitton, Gucci. Rome, Venice, Milan. Sophia Loren, Marcello Mastroianni, Gina Lollobrigida. When you hear these names, no further explanation is required. They epitomize grace and style. 

This is a rather highfalutin way to launch a boat review, but I’m devoid of apology. Because in the nautical world, there’s another brand that deserves high praise.

I’ve been aware of the Italia line of ­performance cruisers for several years now, but as a judge in the 2024 Boat of the Year contest in Annapolis, Maryland, as I stepped aboard to inspect the 51-footer, I wasn’t really prepared for the experience. There was but one word to describe the 14.98 model’s attention to detail, long list of options, approach, and execution: magnifico. 

There’s a lot to unpack here, and I’ll get to the truly important features: clean aesthetics, robust construction and sparkling sailing characteristics, as well as myriad customization options. But first, allow me to unload a few lines that I jotted down because they really speak to the deep level of detail ingrained in every 14.98:

“Cellphone holder/charger on the steering pod.” “Very sweet, ample life-raft stowage in cockpit.” “Stainless-steel stanchions and pulpits painted black: sexy.” “Really nice adjustable sheet-lead arrangement and excellent belowdecks install keep lines tidy and clean.” “Huge sail locker forward, always a bonus, with room for inflatable dinghy and outboard.” “Drains around hatches a great idea.” “Giant lazarettes with access to steering quadrant, very cool.” “Interior LED lights with floor-level lighting really adds to ambience.” “Engine-room manifold system with everything led to single through-hull is brilliant.” “Love the Oceanaire blinds and screens on all hatches.” “That single rudder will make backing down easier.”

Why all the attention to these ­relatively minor items? Simple: If you sweat the small stuff, it usually means you’re laser-­focused on the major matters. Which is certainly the case with this yacht.

The design of the 14.98 is a collaborative effort between naval architect Maurizio Cossutti, who drew the exterior platform, and interior designer Mirko Arbore, who handled the belowdecks layout and furnishings. Cossutti has delivered a stunning hull form—a tapered, curved dish that rises at the bow and descends toward the stern with a subtle sheerline that accentuates the minimalist coachroof and keeps wetted surface to a minimum. There’s a sleek, extended sprit forward—it’s available in two lengths, standard and racing, and sort of serves as an exclamation point for this contemporary structure—and a drop-down swim platform aft, centered by a ­spacious cockpit for lounging or ­maneuvers, depending on the task at hand.

Down below, there are three layouts from which to choose. In the United States, the 14.98 is represented by David Walters Yachts, a brokerage house that, having previously repped Hylas Yachts, has deep experience with luxurious brands that cover both bases between a dedicated bluewater cruising boat and an honest racer-cruiser capable of Grand Prix inshore competition and offshore events such as the Newport Bermuda Race. Erik Haaland, sales director for the Italia line, presented the boat to us; when we asked about options, he smiled. “Just ask us,” he said. “We’ll do it.”

David Walters has imported 12 Italias into the States in the past five years, and, as of this past fall, had another quartet on order. We sailed Hull No. 7, whose owners are a couple of former college racing sailors who still wish to compete at a high level. They did last year’s Annapolis to Newport Race with a 10-person crew, notching 17 knots flying down Chesapeake Bay.

They also enjoy using the boat as a weekend condo and taking extended cruises with their family, including a Chesapeake trip this past summer and a season in New England coming up. It’s a true dual-purpose boat. And it’s been fitted out accordingly.

The nearly beam-width traveler in the cockpit forward of the twin wheels is a clear sign that this is a race boat; the standard setup calls for a single, centrally located mainsheet. All lines are led aft to a suite of clutches. There are several winch packages from which to choose, including the set of electric winches on our craft. The standard draft is 8 feet, 2 inches, though a nearly 10-foot performance keel is an option, as are a pair of L-shaped shoal-draft alternatives. Likewise, the rig on our test boat was carbon fiber, though the standard spar is aluminum. There’s also a choice of mainsails: traditional, square-topped and battened, or furling. 

Regarding power and systems, there was no generator on this boat, but rather a Victron lithium-ion battery bank with 800-amp capacity linked to a pair of 250-amp fast-charging alternators that will permit 12 hours of uninterrupted air conditioning without running the engine. (There is space for a generator, but on this boat, it was occupied by the air-conditioning compressor.) This boat was also equipped with a Spectra watermaker. A pair of 200-watt removable solar panels were installed on the dodger for additional juice.

The resin-infused construction is robust but light, utilizing various densities of foam core depending on its placement within the laminate. For example, it’s reinforced in the bow, where slamming can occur, but lowered in less-stressed areas to keep weight at a minimum. Bulkheads are tabbed and glassed into the boat (plywood is standard, but foam-cored bulkheads are available). Carbon-fiber reinforcements are used throughout, including the transverse stringers and a grid system that’s bonded in place and then relaminated to the hull, bulkheads, and stringers. There is no traditional chainplate; instead, the rigging attaches to a stainless-steel padeye that is bolted through the top of the hull toe rail into the carbon-fiber grid system. 

“These boats are known as stiff, upwind missiles,” Haaland said. We confirmed it when we had a chance to sail the boat. 

And quite the sail it was. In ideal 10 to 14 knots of Chesapeake Bay pressure, the 14.98 tracked like a freight train, easily notching speeds in the mid-7-knot range hard on the breeze, and then topping out at more than 9 knots when cracked off to a reach. At the helm, raised and leveled with a fold-up chock like the round-the-world racers, the deep, single rudder provided plenty of bite. The wheel was light to the touch, and visibility was outstanding. It would be a real treat to get into the open ocean on the 14.98 and let it spread its wings.

There has to be a drawback to all this somewhere, correct? Yes. The boat ain’t cheap. In fact, with a million-plus-dollar price tag, give or take, the 14.98 is, for most of us, an aspirational brand, a vessel aimed at sailing’s 1 percent club. 

Still. It’s heartening to know that in a world of mass production, with goods and services often aimed at the cheapest common denominator, there are things being made with care and skill that elevates a category or genre. When it comes to production sailboats, such results should be recognized and applauded. We’re looking at you, Italia 14.98. Grazie.

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A Satisfied Crew of Italia Owners

You can learn a lot about a brand by looking at actual owners and how they use their boats, and it’s clear from this list of US Italia sailors that they enjoy competing aboard their yachts. Chuck Stormes from Detroit, a past commodore of the Bayview Yacht Club, placed first overall in the 2022 Bayview to Mackinac Race aboard his 9.98, DeTour. New Yorkers Andrew and Linda Weiss have owned several yachts called Christopher Dragon, and on their 11.98 of the same name, they’ve won the Block Island Race, the Northern Ocean Racing Trophy and other prizes. Jeff and Sarah Kennedy sail the 14.98 Artemis, our test boat for this review. Frank and Nancy McGowan, aboard their new 12.98, Querencia, are looking forward to the next Newport Bermuda Race, as well as the ORC World Championship in Rhode Island later this year. Bostonian John Sapirstein, who previously sailed a 12.98 Classic, has moved up to Aquilone, a 16.98. He expects to take delivery in the Adriatic Sea this spring before a summer in the Mediterranean and a trans-Atlantic trip in the ARC rally in 2025.

The post Sailboat Review: Italia Yachts 14.98 appeared first on Cruising World.

A pair of silky new boats were tied up along the pink-carpeted docks at the most recent Cannes Yachting Festival. One was the Italia 14.98, an elegant crossover performer that, one month later, would sail its way to Annapolis, Maryland, and win Cruising World’s 2024 Boat of the Year award for Best Performance Cruiser. The other was the slightly more compact Italia 12.98, which would not reach the United States in time to compete, but which was clearly cut from the same cloth of the model that took home the hardware. 

The Italia 12.98 is a collaboration between the Italia Yachts Design Team, Cossutti Yacht Design, and Arbore and Partners Design. The yacht strikes a nice blend of speed, grace and comfort. Borrowing similar concepts from the Italia 9.98, the 12.98’s streamlined hull hints at a sexy sailing experience, with a dynamic waterline length that adjusts with speed, mitigating pitching for enhanced comfort. The maximum beam was reduced to minimize hydrodynamic resistance. The result is a hull that sails smoothly in medium- to light-air conditions and that notches improved speeds in sustained winds. 

Available in Sport and Bellissima versions, the yacht caters to race enthusiasts and comfort-seekers alike. 

The Sport version is lighter and more race-oriented. The number and positioning of the winches are functionally optimized for racing, and the deck-equipment layout can be customized according to the owner’s preference. 

The Bellissima version has an optional teak deck and a layout more suited to cruising, making navigation easier and comfortable for a family or a smaller crew, while retaining similar speed and handling characteristics. An ergonomic cockpit design elevates the comfort factor while maintaining optimal boathandling capabilities, whether cruising or racing.

Inside, the Bellissima’s interior takes a slightly more lavish tack, with fine wood finishes and upholstery, providing an essence of Italian luxury. The Sport version conveys a more race-oriented ambience with lightened interiors, yet with equal attention to contemporary style and craftsmanship.

Already seen popping up in US waters, the Italia Yachts 12.98 should be making its rounds on this year’s boat-show circuit. Fans of Italian style and exhilarating sailing should hop aboard the first chance they get.

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After dockside tours of this year’s two finalists for Best Performance Cruiser whet the collective appetite of the judging panel, we couldn’t wait to hoist sail and evaluate each of these boats’ sailing prowess. And in both cases, we were in for a treat. “Performance cruiser” can be a somewhat vague concept to define, but it’s instructive to note that our sister publication—the focused yacht-racing magazine, Sailing World—categorizes these boats as “crossovers.” In other words, they can seamlessly serve cross purposes, as inshore or offshore racers, or as dedicated cruising boats. In both instances here, that selective criteria is perfectly addressed. 

Winner: Italia Yachts 14.98

“Whoa,” judge Tim Murphy said. “I’ve never in my life sailed a boat like this. It pointed higher than any I can think of: an apparent wind angle of 24 degrees! Powered up under main alone, it pointed higher than most boats will with all sails set. The structure is infused vinylester employing E-glass with carbon reinforcements, with Divinycell foam of different densities. That carbon fiber was put to very good use; this boat was uncommonly stiff. The hull form was more curved, more pleasing than some of the slab-sided boats we’re seeing of this generation. A crew of 10 on an Italia came in third in the most recent Annapolis to Newport Race. This was one of the most powerful, close-winded sailing experiences I can remember. An exemplary performance sailboat.”

Judge Mark Pillsbury was equally captivated: “During our dockside visit of the Italia 14.98, the builder’s representative said that the boat was designed and fit-out for a cruising customer who likes performance and speed. He called the 14.98 an ‘upwind missile,’ and when we got to sail the boat a few days later on a breezy morning, we all could see just what he meant. What a great ride. At one point, in about 12 knots of breeze with the spinnaker up and the speedo pushing double digits, it was quite lively on deck. That’s when I stepped below and was struck by how smooth and peaceful it was in the salon. This was a boat where those on watch could crack off some miles while the off-watch could really rest up and be ready when it was their time on deck.”

Judge Herb McCormick added: “I’ve met a few Italia owners,” judge Herb McCormick said. “Very successful guys who use their boats a lot and sail them well, and competition is a big reason they go sailing in the first place. They want to have a yacht where they can compete with anyone in events like the Newport Bermuda Race. These folks can have whatever boat they want, and they chose an Italia. And once I got on the wheel of the bloody thing, it was pretty evident why. In a week of great sails, this 49-footer may have set the gold standard.”

Runner-up: Solaris Yachts 44

Like its fellow nominee from Italy, the Solaris 44 is well-suited to the concept of performance cruising, and it too provided the judging team with a thrilling sail. “This is one of those boats that I had a hard time evaluating on the dock, but once underway, it really sailed beautifully,” judge Tim Murphy said.

“Yes,” judge Mark Pillsbury seconded, “as. “As a performance cruiser, the Solaris was well-suited to both missions. The three-cabin, two-head layout works well for an owner with occasional guests; there was plenty of storage; and underway, the boat was quiet and bright below. And the 44 sports a powerful, but manageable sail plan. I mean, talk about a boat that lights up under sail! The 44 was a dream to drive upwind and down. With the kite up in 10 to 12 knots of breeze, the speed hovered right around 10 knots. Upwind, cruising along with the self-tacking jib, the steering was silky smooth even in the gusts, and the twin rudders gave us really good control.”

Judge Herb McCormick also gave this boat good marks: “Like the Italia, with its long waterline, plumb bow and lovely transom, to my eye, this Solaris is a really lovely boat,” judge Herb McCormick said. “And I agree with my fellow panelists: It’s: It’s a terrific sailing boat. Unfortunately, it had the poor luck for this year’s contest to be matched up with the sensational Italia. But it should be noted that the Italia is priced at over $1.1 million, and this Solaris, at $700,000, comes in at about a half-million less. That’s a huge discrepancy. For many sailors seeking a dual-purpose alternative, this Solaris is well worth exploring and will meet their requirements just fine.”

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