Ad Astra 60: Piloda Yachting's lobster boat designed for the Mediterranean

Cannes (France) – At the Cannes Yachting Festival, Piloda Yachting presented the Ad Astra 60, a lobster boat that embodies the Down East tradition, reinterpreting it with a functional, Mediterranean approach. The boat is the result of a collaboration between Piloda Yachting, the nautical division of the Piloda Group, and Francesco Guida, who oversaw the naval architecture, exterior lines, and interior design.

The stated aim is to bring simplicity, design coherence, and attention to detail to the forefront in a market that tends to reproduce similar solutions. Ad Astra 60 focuses on balanced proportions, classic lines, and select materials, avoiding aesthetic excess and solutions tied to temporary trends. As Guida explains, the aim was to maintain a restrained, recognizable elegance without resorting to superfluous decorative elements.

The Ad Astra 60 is 17,86 meters long, with a maximum beam of 4,75 meters and a displacement of 24,7 tons. The hull, developed with a focus on navigation in different trims, features a pronounced stem and a spray chine designed to limit swell. The stern exits were designed to maximize hydrodynamic efficiency.

The standard engine configuration includes two Man I6-800 engines, six cylinders, each producing 800 hp, combined with a shaft drive. This choice was made to ensure robustness, ease of maintenance, and operating costs consistent with continuous use. The declared performance indicates a cruising speed of 25 knots and a top speed of 32 knots, with low fuel consumption even in displacement mode. This makes the boat suitable for both fast cruising and longer voyages at reduced speeds, while maintaining stability and comfort.

The fuel tank has a capacity of 2.700 liters, while the fresh water tank holds 1.000 liters, values ​​that allow for good range for both day trips and extended cruises. The deck design focused on a clean, essential design, with functional surfaces free of unnecessary elements. The spacious cockpit is directly connected to the lounge via a sliding door that creates a seamless connection between the interior and exterior. This continuity is further emphasized by the electrically opening sunroof, which allows for the adjustment of light and ventilation.

The outdoor dining area comfortably seats six, with furnishings designed for conviviality and practicality. Owners can choose between two layout configurations that influence the organization of space: the three-cabin, two-head version, with an outdoor galley and a support area in the interior saloon; or the two-cabin version, which moves the galley to the lower deck and integrates an outdoor grill for meal preparation. Both options are designed for versatility: from day cruising, with up to 12 guests on board, to longer cruises with comfortable accommodations for the owner and guests.

The interiors are finished with solid teak and veneer, meticulously crafted to ensure a tangible level of quality. The design philosophy, as project manager Salvatore Bonavita emphasizes, is one of "true detail": there are no sharp edges in the beds or misalignments in the ceilings, because what isn't immediately visible is nevertheless crucial to the overall perception of the boat.

The interior saloon is arranged as an extension of the cockpit, with sofas and functional furnishings. The cabin layout varies depending on the chosen layout, but in both cases the goal is to combine comfort and ease of use, without sacrificing living space or introducing overly complex solutions.

The Ad Astra 60 appeals to a diverse audience: on the one hand, owners coming from larger vessels looking for a product they can manage independently without sacrificing comfort, on the other, younger clients seeking a solid and distinctive boat, also suitable for family use. The project is part of the strategy of Piloda Yachting, part of the Piloda Group, an Italian industrial company operating in the construction (Piloda Building) and shipbuilding (Piloda Shipyard) sectors. With the Ad Astra 60, the company aims to consolidate a range capable of combining construction tradition and current technical choices, maintaining a production focus on quality rather than mass production.

Piloda Group has been operating in the nautical industry for 15 years, managing military and refit projects with specialized labor; it manages over 200 vessels a year in Torre Annunziata. "This gives us a unique perspective," said Walter Di Palo, head of Piloda Group's Yachting division. "We know what works and what forces owners to make unacceptable compromises. The market today offers increasingly boxy boats: large saloons, indispensable stabilizers, little attention to navigation. We believe that a boat should excite, seaworthy, be beautiful to live in and to look at. Ad Astra was born from the concrete experience of those who repair boats every day. We designed an accessible engine room, easily accessible systems, and intelligently integrated liferafts. Simple solutions that avoid the mistakes we see too often in shipyards. It's a boat designed not only for today, but to function well even twenty years from now."

Then came the announcement that they don't want to become a mass-production shipyard. "We'll build 4-5 boats a year, each customized for experienced owners. We've had good feedback: from the Mediterranean to Turkey, from France to Northern Europe." An open version and an 80-footer are on the way, "always with the same philosophy of gradual growth," Di Palo explained, "and uncompromising quality."

Technical data sheet – Ad Astra 60

Length ft: 17,86 m

Width: 4,75 m

Displacement: 24,7 t

Propulsion: 2 x MAN I6-800

Fuel: 2.700 L

Water: 1.000 L

Cruising speed: 25 knots

Maximum speed: 32 knots

Guests: up to 12 – 3 cabins + crew cabin

CE Category: B

Base price: €2.230.000 (VAT excluded) 

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