Wallypower 118 Super Yacht

This futuristic gunmetal apparition is no cartoon or lost prop from a Star Wars movie. It's unique, it's exclusive and it's the ultimate show-off weapon. Everything about it screams ultra cool, except maybe its name. It's the 118-foot Wallypower super-yacht.

Whereas most 100 plus footers cruise along in old school luxury at reasonable speeds, this Italian designed ultra modern behemoth barrels along at over 110 kilometres per hour.

Its futuristic form is a product of its intended function: fast, all-out performance. The radical styling tested at Ferrari's wind tunnel in Maranello achieved this goal. It's a boat for billionaires who love power and speed.

The Wally is equipped with three 5,600-hp gas turbines designed similarly to a jet fighter plane. Two air inlets on either side of the boat funnel air into the engines allowing for higher revolutions and greater power

The top speed is a very fast 60 knots with a range of 400 miles.

There are two alternative models that could be fitted with two turbines (with a price tag of $26million) or for the cheapskate, two 370-hp diesel engines ($20 million).

With so much power behind the Wally, the hull design was an integral part of its performance capabilities.

It has a steep angled V-shaped bow to withstand high-speed, deepwater travel constructed from polyester resin to absorb the force of the water. For the deck, Wally designed a sandwich of carbon fibre skins with a PVC core, which dampens the noise and vibrations in the boat's living quarters. The cockpit was encased in a unique glass and carbon fibre structure.

What you won't see on the Wallypower are any bits and pieces popping out to break the smooth clean lines. Cleats, mooring winches, radar antenna, TV dome, anchor system everything is perfectly and neatly concealed and hidden away until needed.

The Wally's a bit like a chameleon – the dark green metallic paint changes colour depending on the light, water and surrounding landscape.

It is the stealth fighter of the open seas – without the weapons of course.

At around $30 mil you're obviously getting one of the fastest most high tech superyachts on the market with the unfortunate name of the Wally. Reports from the French Riviera state that when the Wally pulls into port jaws drop and people stop what they're doing to check it out. It really is the latest and greatest toy probably in the world at the moment.

Now while the exterior is all about lines sharp enough to cut through red gum the interior is all about soft furnishings - less high tech and more make over show. That is because the deck, cockpit, navigation, dining and saloon areas have been conceived as one continuous element giving the atmosphere of a New York style loft.

The dining and lounging cockpit is right up the front of the boat forward of the superstructure, to provide maximum privacy as well as being in the coolest area at anchor.

And after a champagne meal of Bolly and caviar you might want to relax – the table mechanically lowers to provide a large cushioned 'relaxing' area.

The Wally 118 is just mind blowing and if you want to see more go to the website at www.wally.com.

Wallypower 118 Super Yacht (November 2004)