300 FLY
The Galeon 700 Raptor is a 70-foot sports cruiser yacht with a hard-top that was launched by Polish boat-building company Galeon at the 2009 Genoa Boat Show. Crafted in partnership with renowned naval architect Tony Castro, this sleek yacht boasts an ultra-modern and assertive profile with plenty of sharp curves, dynamic glazing and a refined finish. Interior spaces, meanwhile, impress with a cool and minimalist tone that provokes comparisons to the contemporary mansions of Malibu or the Balearics, and like such mansions, these interiors provide the perfect setting for sophisticated late-night partying. One of the most luxurious yachts ever built by Galeon, the 700 Raptor won a host of awards after it was released, including the prize for “Most Innovative Design” at the 2010 World Yacht Awards.
Out on the foredeck there is room for a pair of guests to enjoy glamorous marina-facing sunbathing on a pair of modular sunpads. To the rear, meanwhile, there is a remarkable, multi-tiered beach club space with a sturdy hydraulic bathing platform at the stern that is paired with both a lifting crane and a transom garage. Sitting atop of the garage there is a rear facing sunpad with headrests that connects to an al-fresco wet bar station with a dual Kenyon grill and chilled storage. The aft cockpit, meanwhile, is larger than most yacht’s salons and benefits from being entirely shaded, making this a superb space to cool down and enjoy afternoon aperitifs away from the full glare of the sun. There are two L-shaped leather sofas here, surrounding your choice of breakfast and coffee tables, while sliding glass doors connecting to the salon can transform this entire section of the yacht into a breezy and free-flowing lounge.
The internal salon boasts Alcantara leather or suede furnishings, wengewood or mahogany surfaces, bronze-effect accents and sculptured fiberglass walls that glisten in the sunshine that streams through the broad side windows and the striking glazed sunroof overhead. A low-slung sofa to port is joined by a walk-in galley with all modern conveniences, though some owners choose to place to galley below deck to provide room for more seating or a walk-in cocktail bar. At the front of the cockpit and sitting beneath a faceted, transparent roof that opens up at the touch of a button there is a modern helm station with Raymarine electronics, Humphree trim controls, Side Power thrusters, VHF radio, power-assisted steering, a pair of adjustable piloting chairs and a skipper’s door to the side deck.
Across the lower-deck there is sleeping space for up to eight guests across a range of bedrooms, though you can remove one of these to create space for a lower-level galley. An en-suite twin room to starboard sits across from a twin bunk berth to port, while a double stateroom to the bow impresses with a five-foot strip skylight, an armchair, a full-height closet and a spacious en-suite. The pick of the rooms down here, however, has to be the full-beam owner’s stateroom, where a king-sized bed, a work desk and a side sofa are joined by upholstered wall panels, plush carpeting, bedside cabinets, double-width closets and a granite or marble-lined bathroom with a waterfall shower.
You can expect thrilling top speeds of up to 40 knots if you choose to equip the Galeon 700 Raptor with top of the range MAN V12 1550MHP diesel shaft-drive engines. Less expensive, though slower, engine options are also available, and will offer a still-swift full-throttle top speed of around 35 knots. Should you choose to pilot your yacht at the cruising speed of 24 knots, meanwhile, then you will enjoy a range of around 380 nautical miles.
