Yacht Acali Hits the Water as the First WiderCat 92 From Wider Yachts

With fanfare including a blast of orange confetti, the yacht Acali lowered into the water in Fano, Italy at Wider Yachts’ headquarters. The twin-hulled megayacht is not just its first catamaran, but also one reliant on electric motors and other emissions-eliminating operations.

Wider Yachts conceived the 92-foot (28-meter) catamaran series to which Acali belongs for a few reasons. Firstly, multihulls are more efficient than monohulls. Secondly, they provide more usable space for owners and guests. Thirdly, multihulls tend to be more stable and therefore comfortable in some sea conditions. The shipyard additionally decided to apply the aesthetic appeal of a traditional monohull—and that of a bigger superyacht—to the design. Finally, Wider Yachts exclusively builds yachts with hybrid propulsion or other alternatives to diesel-only engines.

Amid the 39-foot (12-meter) beam, the yacht Acali has a main-deck owners’ stateroom. Only much larger megayachts can rival that type of space. The suite further has a private alfresco lounge that’s nearly the entire footprint of the outdoor forward area. Below decks, two VIP staterooms and a twin cabin accommodate guests. (Note, too, that the WiderCat 92 yacht series can come with four guest staterooms below decks.) Also interesting, the galley sits on the main deck, not in one of the hulls, which is more common among catamaran models. It’s a nice benefit for the crew, and for owners and guests who like to live informally.

All guests and the owners, meanwhile, have more spacious leisure areas outside. There’s the main aft deck, for instance, plus a super-wide swim platform off the beach club. The platform forms when the tender garage’s hatch folds down. Meanwhile, the beach club, which contains hidden watertoy stowage, notably has access from the VIP staterooms. Once again, only much larger superyachts connect guest staterooms directly to the beach club, and not even many of them.

Marcello Maggi sipeaks at the launch of the yacht Acali, the first WiderCat 92

As for propulsion, the yacht Acali incorporates Wider Yachts’ serial hybrid propulsion system. Specifically, twin 500-kW electric motors couple with thrusters, while two 349-kW gensets provide electricity for the motors and a lithium-ion-phosphate battery bank. The gensets are set to operate at minimal power consumption. Naturally, a battery-management system monitors electricity needs and balances loads. Also, like future WiderCat 92 deliveries, the yacht Acali has solar panels, a total of 1,615 square feet (150 square meters) for feeding operations at anchor. The batteries feed unused energy to the battery banks, too, for the yacht’s electric needs overnight.

Finally, the electric motors should allow cruising in no-emission, silent mode at 6 knots for 27 nautical miles. That suits short coastal cruises and repositioning. If the owner wants to remain at anchor for a long time, the battery bank should keep the typical lighting, air conditioning, and other needs fed for about 14 hours. Overall, Wider Yachts asserts that its hybrid propulsion system not only reduces fuel burn, sound, and vibration, but also increases time between maintenance periods.

“Each designer, engineer, and craftsman has poured their passion into this endeavour,” says Marcello Maggi, the head of Wider Yachts (above). “As we celebrate this achievement, I have full confidence that, just as in our previous milestones, the WiderCat 92 will set a new standard in the industry.”

In related news, the Wider Yachts shipyard where the yacht Acali currently sits is gaining environmental-minded technology, too. Once the corporate offices finish construction in a few months, the entire roof will incorporate solar panels. The production sheds already feature them.

Wider Yachts wider-yachts.com