Yacht Class n°39 (dec 2024/jan-feb 2025)

Sanlorenzo Yachts

The second unit in Sanlorenzo’s sporty range, the SP92 has all the attributes needed for performance ambitions, but she also knows how to be welcoming and comfortable for her passengers.

Written by : Christophe Varène – Photos : DR

Sanlorenzo is a major player in the yachting industry, and has developed several ranges to meet owners’ expectations as closely as possible. In the yacht category, there are no fewer than four families (SL, SD, SX and SP) with specific sailing programmes. The one we are interested in for this visit is called Smart Performance, with the “smallest” of them all, the SP92 that nonetheless boasts an overall length of almost 30 metres. And if the name immediately evokes a sporting dimension, the design instantly corroborates this ambition. The silhouette, designed by Zuccon International Project, reflects this quest for dynamism, with her trailing lines tapering off towards the stern and her bow clearly marked by the indentations and strakes. What’s more, as on her big brother, the 110, a line of coppery orange adds elegance and punch between the white of the hull and the black of the superstructure. The overall effect is a success.

39 knots at top speed

And yet what would it be if, at the heart of this unit, there was not something to propel her in line with this aesthetic promise of speed? Performance enthusiasts will be reassured to know that the Sanlorenzo SP92 is powered by two diesels MAN V12 engines, each developing 2,000 hp, combined with MTU waterjet propulsion. The maximum speed announced is 39 knots, a figure that implies an excellent hull quality, the entire naval architecture having been entrusted to Sanlorenzo’s in-house design and engineering department. From the helm station at the front of the main deck – but we shall come back to that later – visibility is all the better for the fact that, in addition to the many glass surfaces at this level, there is full instrumentation, with integrated cameras. Nothing of the immediate environment escapes the captain’s attention.

An amphitheatre aft deck

Embarkation takes place via a wide, open stern, giving you an immediate sense of space and communion with the marine element. The remarkably large bathing platform can accommodate a solarium for three passengers, and the steps leading up to the main deck form a beautiful amphitheatre with sea views. Also, the outside saloon offers a set of sofas and loungers, which can be arranged to suit individual tastes, for moments of sharing, sheltered from the heat of the sun by a shade sail installed in just a few minutes using carbon posts. Through the side decks, which are identical on each side, guests can head for the foredeck, where they can enjoy another saloon with U-shaped seating around a table and sunbathing area, a popular spot at any time of day or evening. Here too, a simple, lightweight system provides protective shade.

A warm and serene interior

While the exterior of the Sanlorenzo SP92 is welcoming and well thought out for enjoying life outdoors, the interior also has its share of – pleasant – surprises. The opening window is not, as is often the case, vertical, but sloping over most of its length. This detail, insignificant at first glance, contributes to the boat’s streamlined lines, but also to the creation of a protective canopy to provide shade and coolness. It then opens onto a saloon, a natural extension of the outside area, to discover two staircases: one descending to the cabins, the other ascending to reach the saloon, dining room and wheelhouse. The latter leads besides to a space flooded with light, whose design, as found throughout the boat, is equally impressive: natural materials (wood, fabric, etc.) dominate, with soft curves on the partitions and furniture, and a delicately worked ceiling. The overall impression is one of warmth and serenity. Well positioned forward, the helm station is functional, with two control screens and all the commands needed to manage the boat’s manoeuvres and technical elements. However, to get the full feel of the Sanlorenzo SP92’s performance, there’s nothing like going up to the flybridge via the staircase located in the interior saloon. Out in the open air and high up, the pilot should appreciate the qualities of the hull, which has already been tried and tested in its broad outline on the SP110. And he will not feel alone there, because behind him passengers are enjoying the benches and sun loungers available.

A refined shipowner’s suite

It’s now time to go back downstairs and take the staircase down to the cabins. A first flight of five steps leads to the main passageway, where a door on each side opens onto the VIP cabins, the one on starboard being slightly larger. Each retains the same soothing atmosphere as the main level, with a dressing area and a refined bathroom with shower cubicle. Continuing down the corridor, you reach the door to the owner’s suite. The impression of volume, clarity and elegance is immediately striking. The large double bed on the starboard side runs transversely to the direction of travel. A dressing room worthy of the name is fitted with translucent doors to great effect. To port, a small saloon, beneath a TV screen, adjoins the bathroom with shower cubicle and separate toilet. To appreciate the quality of the finish, just take a look at the sliding panels that conceal the portholes: the grooves in the wood coincide perfectly with the shutters. A fine piece of work. Three more steps down bring you to a small saloon with toilet, which can be converted into an extra cabin if required: children should feel right at home here. The forward part of this lower deck, accessible via a staircase near the wheelhouse on the main deck, is the crew quarters with the galley and two cabins for four people. While the Sanlorenzo SP92’s design, engines and helm stations have a sporty feel throughout, this is matched by the special care taken to ensure that life on board is as comfortable and refined as possible.