BEST OF CANNES

From superyachts and speed machines to cruisers and cats: 19 of the hottest new boats launched at the show

PRESTIGE F4

LOA: 49ft 10in (15.18m) BEAM: 14ft 9in (4.49m) ENGINES: twin IPS-650s (2x480hp) TOP SPEED: 28 knots PRICE: from €890,000 ex VAT CONTACT: www.prestige-yachts.com

Prestige’s new F4 was one of the busiest boats at Cannes and it’s easy to see why. While the external styling is relatively modest, there’s a freshness to the deck arrangements that makes everything feel just that bit more special. The Ocean View Galley is a case in point.

Positioned low and a good way aft, it adopts a transverse orientation, enabling it to straddle the zone between saloon and cockpit to great effect. You can look back toward the benches of the aft deck or forward toward the saloon dinette, while continuing to feel like a very natural part of both. Better still, the manipulation of deck levels means that when you stand at the galley, your eyeline matches that of the seated saloon guests on the other side of the low-level glass screen, so the care behind this part of the boat is really impressive.

There’s equally good thinking at the bow, where the raised forward cabin takes great advantage of the extra breadth in the upper, less-tapered, section of the hull. It also enjoys natural separation from the two guest cabins further down and aft – and that elevation feels figurative as well as physical, giving you a sense that, when you walk in, just a few steps down from the main deck saloon, this is the place rightly set aside for the top dog.