When Italian builder Wally burst onto the superyacht scene with the 89-foot wallywhy200 in 2021, the boat’s boxy lines raised some eyebrows. Sure, it came with all the volume, and more, you’d expect from a much larger vessel—the 200 in the name means 200 gross tonnes of interior volume, closer in cabin space to a conventional 140-footer—but at the cost of looking bulky.

So when it came time to condense the wallywhy into a 70-foot footprint (again, it’s called the wallywhy100 because of the 100-gross tonne interior) the team decided to focus the design around a low-profile silhouette and single deck running flush from bow to stern. This time around, the result is a more nimble, stylish-looking weekender tailored for owner operation and fine-tuned to put the connection to the sea front and center.

Introduced as an entry-level addition to the wallywhy fleet, which also includes the wallywhy200 and wallywhy150, the 70-footer shares the same avant-garde design language as its larger sisters, dictated by Wally founder Luca Bassani. Interior design is by Studio Vallicelli, with input into the final design and engineering decided by Wally’s parent company, the Ferretti Group.

The standard Volvo Penta D13 IPS1200 engines give the wallywhy100 a top speed of 28.7 mph (25 knots), but owners can choose to upgrade power to a larger Volvo IPS package for a higher top end of 31.1 mph (27 knots). Volvo’s joystick controls were intended to make maneuvering in tight quarters easy for owner operators, though there’s also the option of a hired captain, along with small quarters.

During a run into the Med during the Cannes Yachting Festival, the seas were choppy and the sky above cloudy. In any offshore run, I scout out the comfy lounges either up front or in the cockpit. But today, I’m not expecting to stretch out and kick back.

But that’s before I discover the solarium that doubles as the salon. Completely encased in sliding glass panels, the indoor-outdoor lounge is a smart, all-weather feature on a boat of this size. Glass doors and windows seal it from the cockpit and walkaround decks, when necessary, to keep the bad weather out and the natural light in. In fine weather, the enclosed area opens up to the sun.

That interior-exterior blend continues in the upper part of the split-level cockpit, which has a deck that hangs over the area, complete with semi-transparent skylights. “We wanted this area to have the same effect as a cotton bimini, so you have the light but it’s muted,” says Bassani.

The cockpit is replete with sunpads, all of which face outwards overlooking the swim platform, to remind you that you’re on the water. When the yacht is anchored, the gunwales around the stern flip down and the platform extends down into the water (ideal for tender operations), for an excellent waterfront living area. Another alfresco living area can be found forward, with a sofa hugging the bow.

The helm station is both so high up and far forward, it gives the illusion of flying above the waves. That forward positioning was the only way to achieve the huge cockpit. “We wanted to give as much space as possible to the aft,” says Bassani.

Another big selling point is the 18’7” beam.  The vessel was designed without much much fixed furniture, which adds to the roomy feel. A total of 18 people can enjoy the yacht. During our outing, there were eight people on board and everyone had their own space.

The newest Wally has a three-stateroom layout, connected by a narrow corridor. The VIP is laid out transversely and the twin’s sliding berths make it multi-functional for different configurations. Both have access to full heads, though the head connected to the twin cabin doubles as a day head with a door to the corridor.

Located amidships, the master suite makes the most out of the beam. Its en suite is integrated into the port side of the cabin, separated by a smart glass partition that can be opaque or transparent at the touch of a button, giving the owner the benefit of both privacy and natural light.

As one would expect from Wally, the styling is beautifully finished in warm, honey-colored wood, slate-gray suede and long strips of discreet lighting bars carving out the overheads and bulkheads. 

This area belowdecks is another layer that distinguishes this boat from any other 70-footer on the water. The wallywhy100 is clearly not a boat for everyone, but it wasn’t designed to be. It’s unique enough to attract Wally diehards who love the marque, no matter what, but will also appeal to mainstream boaters who want an all-weather, owner-operated cruiser that is guaranteed to turn heads.