Darwin 86 from Cantiere delle Marche in Ancona appeared on the European boat show circuit in 2011, and she can be described as a pocket superyacht.
Darwin Class 86 from Cantiere delle Marche has length of just twenty-six metres, and costs a lot less than what most of us would expect to pay for a superyacht.
The first striking feature of the Darwin Class 86 is the styling. Designed as a true expedition yacht, it may only be 26 metres LOA, but with four decks she is tall.
Darwin Class 86 is designed for those who want to cover long distances in comfort. The Darwin has the purposeful lines and utilitarian appeal we've come to expect from explorer yachts. It may not be beautiful, but it has a functional elegance that will definitely appeal to those in search of a 'little ship'.
That feeling continues when you step on board. Cantiere delle Marche has strong pedigree with it’s commercial vessels, and this heritage is obvious as you walk around Darwin 86. The solidity of the build and the engineering solutions achieved leave you in no doubt that this boat will last. And although it was built by a yard more used to producing 100 metre-plus tankers and passenger ships, the fit and finish of the Darwin 86 is more than exceptional.
As a semi-custom build, the Darwin 86 has a standard layout that can be adapted. The twin Caterpillar 400hp engines are a good match for a boat like this, giving a top speed of about 12 knots at 1,750rpm. At this speed it is only using 65 litres of fuel per engine per hour, a figure almost halved by dropping the revs to 1,500rpm and the speed to 11 knots. At this comfortable cruising speed the Darwin is very smooth, very quiet, and has a range in excess of 4,500 nautical miles. This is a genuine long-distance explorer, an impression reinforced by a visit to the engine room and machinery spaces, where the installation is superb and the quality of engineering beyond reproach. Independent rudders, and thrusters at the bow and stern, make the Darwin easy to manoeuvre in tight situations, which is important in a boat weighing 200 tonnes fully loaded.
These practicalities really set the Darwin apart from similar boats of this length. There is an astonishing amount of storage on board, more than enough for a month at sea without re-provisioning, and features such as the refrigerated garbage-storage compartment show that a lot of thought has gone into this boat.
The Darwin 86 is an explorer in more than just name and style - it's a proper long-distance passage maker.
For just a 26 metre boat, the Darwin 86 is an extraordinary vessel. Not everyone wants an explorer, but for someone who wants a serious go-
