ICE 80: A bespoke maxi-cruiser with a sporty edge

Light-wind performance and long-distance cruising comfort

There is a lot of movement in the maxi segment. Numerous shipyards are expanding their ranges upwards. YYachts now offers models between 60 and 90 feet in length, Comar is working on the Comet Maxi range of yachts measuring between 80 and 100 feet, whilst Grand Soleil and Nautor Swan also compete in the 80-foot class. With the ICE 80 Blue Water Sport, ICE Yachts is now also making its mark in this demanding market.

​What had initially been announced merely as a project was on display for the first time as a completed yacht at the Cannes Yachting Festival. The vessel on display there is build number one. According to shipyard director Marco Malgara, the second and third vessels have already been sold. The 24-metre design is thus evolving from a bespoke flagship into a small model range – although ‘series’ is not entirely the right term for a yacht that can be customised to such a high degree.

The ICE 80 is being built in Salvirola, Lombardy. The shipyard is situated around 50 kilometres east of Milan. According to the company, ICE Yachts manufactures the hull and key structural components in-house there. This approach is intended not only to allow the shipyard to maintain control over weight and quality, but also to enable it to fulfil its clients’ wide-ranging special requests.

Sporty lines by Umberto Felci

As with other models from the shipyard, Umberto Felci was responsible for the construction, lines and design. The designer from Lake Garda produced a design that draws on familiar elements of modern performance cruisers, but does not take them to extremes.

The bow appears comparatively full and has a distinct kink below the point where the bowsprit attaches. Towards the stern, the hull tapers slightly. At the same time, the lines near the waterline are strongly indented, particularly in the aft section. This is intended to reduce the wetted surface area and explains, at least in part, why the yacht picks up speed so quickly in light winds.

A striking feature is the chamfered transition between the deck and the side, which runs the full length of the hull. Felci continues this design motif with softer radii on the superstructure and the cockpit coamings. As a result, despite its length of 24 metres, the yacht appears low-slung, elongated and sporty.

This gives a slightly misleading impression of the actual volume. During the inspection in Cannes, what was particularly surprising was just how much headroom and width are available below deck. Externally, the superstructure remains low-profile, whilst inside the yacht feels almost like a much more conventional maxi-cruiser.

Hull number one is fitted with a twin-rudder system. However, ICE Yachts also offers the Felci design with a single rudder on request. The shipyard therefore does not regard the model as a fully defined production model, but rather as a technical platform whose steering system, layout and fittings can be adapted to suit the individual owner’s requirements.

Carbon-fibre construction with a displacement of just under 38 tonnes

The provisional displacement is 37.6 tonnes, of which twelve tonnes is ballast. Given the vessel’s size and extensive comfort features, this is a comparatively low figure. The the Swan 80 launched this year, displaces a full five tonnes more.

The hull, deck and structural components are made from carbon fibre sandwich panels. ICE Yachts uses a vacuum infusion process for this, in which large components are manufactured, wherever possible, in a single continuous process. The shipyard also takes care to avoid unnecessary weight in the interior panels.

The lightweight construction is not an end in itself. Together with around 330 square metres of sail area and the hull’s low drag, it forms the basis for sporty performance when sailing close to the wind.

Added to this is a telescopic keel, whose draught can be reduced from 4.60 to 3.20 metres. Under sail, the greater draught provides a high righting moment; in harbours and shallower waters, the retracted position improves accessibility. Whilst this does not exactly make a yacht with a minimum draught of 3.20 metres straightforward to handle, the adjustable keel does significantly expand its range of operation.

According to the shipyard, the yacht is said to achieve a level of performance – particularly in light to moderate winds – that is more reminiscent of a large racer-cruiser than a comfort-oriented long-distance cruiser. A YACHT test is already being planned.

Two cockpits for guests and the sailing crew

The deck layout largely separates the guest areas from the working areas. Guests can spend time in the forward cockpit without being directly involved in manoeuvres. At the stern are the two helm stations and the central controls for sail handling.

The helm stations are fully integrated into the cockpit layout. This means that the helmsmen are sheltered whilst still having access to the functions essential for trimming and manoeuvring. The mainsheet and other key systems can be operated directly from the helm stations.

A captive winch, electric or hydraulic headsail furlers and the optional self-tacking jib are designed to reduce the crew requirements. Whilst this does not turn even an 80-foot yacht into a single-handed boat, it can be sailed with significantly fewer active crew members than one might expect given its size.

Hull number one is fitted with sails from North Sails and a carbon rig. Separate attachment points and furling systems are provided for the Code Zero and other large downwind sails.

Unobstructed decks and retractable cleats

During the inspection in Cannes, the wide, uncluttered walking decks caught our eye. This impression is enhanced by the hydraulically retractable cleats and fittings. They are extended only for mooring and casting off, and can then be retracted back into the deck.

The system was supplied by an external supplier and was installed at the owner’s request. The owner was already familiar with the solution from a previous yacht and did not want to be without it on board the ICE 80. When sailing, this means there are fewer trip hazards and obstacles left on the deck.

In addition, there is a retractable sprayhood. It is designed to provide protection from the weather on longer voyages, but can be retracted far enough to preserve the yacht’s low profile.

Underwater lighting is fitted at the bow. The stern features a large, fold-out bathing platform. A dinghy approximately 3.50 metres long can be stowed in the garage. It is positioned slightly off-centre to allow space for technical equipment, access points and other storage areas in the aft section.

Warm teak instead of a stark carbon-fibre look

Whilst the exterior clearly emphasises speed and technical efficiency, the interior of build number one takes a different design approach. The owner wanted a warm, classic ambience with plenty of teak and small hull windows.

This sets the ICE 80 apart from many modern performance yachts, whose interiors are characterised by light-coloured surfaces, large hull windows and a distinctly minimalist fit-out. On the first boat built, carbon-fibre technology meets a cosy, almost traditional feel.

However, the small number of side windows does not necessarily make the interior appear dark. A variety of light sources, the generous headroom and the open-plan layout of the saloon create a bright atmosphere. Added to this are areas with electrically operated glass. These panes can be set to be transparent or opaque as required, allowing for flexible partitioning of individual spaces.

It remains to be seen to what extent this interior design can be applied to future units. The shipyard emphasises that each ICE 80 can be highly customised. Other owners may therefore opt for larger windows, lighter-coloured wood or a more minimalist design.

A private area such as a flat

The most striking feature on board the ICE 80 is the owner’s cabin in the bow. The great width of the hull and the fact that there are only a few cabins create a space that is more reminiscent of a small flat than a traditional bow berth.

As well as the large bed, there is ample storage space in cupboards and beneath the sleeping area. A walk-in wardrobe and a spacious en-suite bathroom are also included in the fit-out. The owner deliberately chose not to maximise the number of berths, opting instead for large living areas designed for long-term use.

The layout is complemented by a spacious VIP cabin and a separate cabin – or rather, a private area – for the owner’s daughter. The guest cabins each have their own bathrooms. The foredeck in particular demonstrates that the shipyard did not simply implement a fixed, standard layout, but adapted the layout to the client’s family life and everyday travel routine.

The navigation area is also spacious. Large Raymarine displays bring together navigation, system monitoring and other on-board information. There is direct access from this area to the outside, allowing technical operations and watch duties to be kept separate from the guest area.

The ICE 80 has a dedicated crew area

The ICE 80 can be operated by up to three crew members. A separate area has been provided for this purpose, comprising cabins, bathrooms, a lounge and a galley. A washing machine is also included.

The crew quarters were not treated merely as a technically necessary addition. According to the shipyard, great importance was attached to good working and living conditions. This is particularly relevant on longer voyages: the more clearly the guest and crew areas are separated, and the better the crew are accommodated, the more smoothly everyday life on board runs.

At the same time, the yacht does not necessarily require a large professional crew. The automated sail-handling system allows it to be operated by a small team. In practice, depending on the cruising area and intended use, owners are likely to choose between private operation, a minimal crew consisting of a captain and a stewardess, or a three-person crew.

48 volts against the cable weight

A key technical feature is the largely integrated 48-volt system. High-power electrical loads such as winches and bow and stern thrusters are powered by the higher voltage.

The main advantage lies in the lower current levels. This means that cables with smaller cross-sections can be used. According to the shipyard, the 48-volt architecture saves around 380 kilograms in cable weight compared with a conventional design. At the same time, power consumption is expected to fall by around twelve per cent.

On a 24-metre yacht, a few hundred kilograms might seem insignificant at first. In high-performance yacht building, however, such weight savings add up. This is all the more true when the interior is extensively fitted out and there are numerous electrical and hydraulic systems on board.

The 48-volt electrical system therefore helps to resolve the trade-off between comfort and weight: the ICE 80 can power many functions electrically without heavy wiring negating all the benefits of the carbon fibre construction.

250 PS and twin generators

A 250 PS Cummins diesel engine is fitted to provide propulsion under its own power. The shipyard deliberately opted for a comparatively powerful engine. On a fully equipped 80-foot yacht, this should provide sufficient power reserves for manoeuvring in harbour and sailing against wind and waves.

Two generators power the extensive on-board systems. Depending on the power requirements, they can apparently be operated either individually or together. In addition to the available power, redundancy is a key priority. If one unit fails, the power supply is generally maintained by the second generator.

The same ‘blue water’ principle is evident in other technical areas. The water treatment system is designed to be highly self-sufficient, with some systems and pipework configured with redundancy. Hoses, electrical distribution systems and maintenance points remain easily accessible within the plant rooms.

Removable, lightweight panels make access easier. This is crucial on a yacht with complex on-board technology: it is not only the quality of the individual components, but also their accessibility, that determines whether a fault can be rectified efficiently whilst at sea.

The Blue Water Sport Promise

The first ICE 80 Blue Water Sport demonstrates that the shipyard’s concept is based on more than just a catchy model name. Marco Malgari promises sporty sailing performance combined with an unusually spacious interior featuring a large owner’s suite, a VIP cabin, separate crew quarters and comprehensive long-distance cruising equipment. It is precisely this that defines the character of this flagship, which is available from 5.8 million euros: The ICE 80 aims to be neither a pure racer nor a floating flat. It seeks to combine the speed of a modern carbon-fibre design, the ease of operation with a small crew, and the comfort of a large long-distance cruising yacht.

Technical specifications for the ICE 80 Blue Water Sport