2008 Baia 70 Italia – NOW SOLD

Grabau International is delighted to announce the sale of the 2008 Baia 70 Italia ‘CHILLI’.

Baia has a reputation as a builder of no-compromise, high-performance sportboats. The shipyard pioneered the use of Arneson drives in Europe. Indeed, sales manager Mario Borselli was taught to use them by the inventor, Howard Arneson himself. While the rest of the industry in Europe was looking suspiciously at this specialized American hardware, with its jagged propellers and bizarre, ball-jointed shafts, Baia was demonstrating that surface drives were not just a fringe technology for the leisure sector, but a practical propulsion alternative—one with exponential advantages in performance and efficiency.

In spite of its radical new looks, the Italia 70 is every inch a Baia when it comes to power and performance. The hull and deck are molded in Aramat, a tough, weight-saving Kevlar-glass hybrid. Fitted with two Caterpillar C32s rated at 1,800 hp each, the 70 nearly achieved 58 mph during our sea trial off Cannes, France, giving a firm ride in a two- to three-foot chop with more than three tons of fuel and water onboard. (Baia claims to have seen 60 mph in more favorable conditions.) Once on plane, her straight-line acceleration was nothing short of phenomenal, zipping between 23 mph and 46 mph in 15 seconds…

… The yacht’s high-quality interior was designed by Carlo Galeazzi, and apart from its bold use of an unusually pale and deeply grained wenge hardwood, along with expansive panels of moabe veneer, it is particularly noticeable for having a two-berth crew cabin as part of the main accommodation. This is found to port, on the same side as the small galley, with access from the central lobby…

… The two guest cabins, each with en suite heads, are well lit by generous side windows and deck hatches, with plenty of breathing space and headroom throughout of at least 6’4″. The forepeak VIP… with a big hanging locker on each side as well as under-berth stowage, it makes practical use of the available space…A twin cabin is on the starboard side, with en suite head access.
The layout of the master cabin is particularly successful, with a diagonally offset double berth and useful quantities of stowage space—under the berth, in drawers in the small sideboard, and in the large hanging locker to starboard…

Unusual for a vessel of this size, the soles in the forward accommodation areas are all on one level. There aren’t even any thresholds to trip over in the doorways. The same luxurious big-boat feature is also found on the main deck, which is on a single level all the way from the stern to the helm station. This is displayed to particular advantage by the layout, with its long, unimpeded central walkway, and by the amazing Plexiglas cockpit bulkhead, which is hinged along its upper edge and disappears into the hardtop. Opened up, the entire main-deck area becomes one daytime living space, with a sliding sunroof as well as opening side windows to keep everyone cool. There is a big hi-lo TV to port—you can watch it in either position—and with the three folding fabric stools deployed, the dining table seats six in comfort.

Farther aft, the cockpit opens out towards the transom, the sofas curving away on each side to accentuate the uninterrupted expanse of floor. The cockpit table can be lowered to turn the aft sofa into a sunlounging area. The way the seat back provides support on three sides makes this especially versatile and comfortable. In the stern the centre section of the transom and swim platform lifts up in one piece to reveal the tender garage, which is big enough for an 11-foot jetRIB.

We wish her new owners fair winds and following seas.

For those that missed out, Grabau International has a number of other similar yachts available for sale including:

Princess V65 – full details here

Princess V65 – full details here

Vismara MY52 – full details here

Prestige 520 Flybridge – full details here

Glacier 48C – full details here

Do you have a yacht like this to sell? Grabau International are always looking for new high quality cruising yacht listings both in the UK and internationally. For further information about our tailored brokerage services, please look here or feel free to contact us.