ACCELERATED EVOLUTION

Sunseeker’s Predator 60 Evo is moving the British yacht builder in a fresh, new direction.

- C.B. NORRIS

The ‘Evo’ label has been applied to cars over the years to demonstrate major breakthroughs in specific models. Sunseeker is using Evo – short for Evolution – on its new Predator 55 and 60 models to show the rapid transformation of the brand.

The Predator 60 Evo made its North American debut at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show late last year and was displayed at the Miami Yacht Show this February. We had a chance to run the boat after Fort Lauderdale, before spending time in Miami with Sunseeker CEO Andrea Frabetti to talk about the new design.

The boat shares the same hull as the older Predator 57, but its interior and cockpit are via Frabetti, and give a glimpse of the future of the brand.

Frabetti was hired as Sunseeker’s Chief Technology Officer in January 2019 and was promoted to CEO in June. He brings a unique skill set to Sunseeker, having been the chief designer for the brands of the Ferretti Group for 25 years, including Sunseeker’s historic competitor Riva.

Shortly after he joined Ferretti Group in 1985, Frabetti became the chief protégé of Norberto Ferretti, long considered a pioneer in yacht innovation. By the time Frabetti left, he had designed over 300 yachts and developed then-radical technologies like through-hull windows and stabilisers that are standard features today.

“More than any other brand, we saw Sunseeker as the most innovative among our competitors,” Frabetti says. “We had a lot of respect for them, and there was much back and forth in new designs over the years as we fought it out. I can’t recall how many times we discussed what Sunseeker was doing and how we would have to respond.”