Grand Banks Yachts has announced that its 25.9-metre yacht Grand Banks 85 (GB85) has been launched. The first hull of the flagship model has completed a preliminary sea trial, which has proven her capability of long-distance cruising at 21 knots.
Photo: Grand BanksThe GB85 draws inspiration from competitive sailboat design. She features a unique hull design based on key characteristics of high-performance sailboats: wetted surface and reduction of energy. The GB85’s V-warp hull reduces the amount of energy required to move the boat and improves her overall efficiency and performance, allowing her to cruise for long-distances.
Photo: Grand BanksThough the GB85 still awaits her official sea trials before being delivered to her owner, the CEO of Grand Banks Yachts, Mark Richards, is enthusiastic about her performance: “We had one primary objective above all when we started the 85. To deliver the most fuel-efficient, high-speed, long-range cruiser of this size in the world. Period. It is incredibly exciting to tick this box right out of the gate on what is not yet even the official sea trial.”