The music was powerful and happy. The vibe was positive. It felt like a house party. Nearly 15 people milled about the Pearl 82's flybridge, with room for a couple dozen more. The area seemed large enough to accommodate a pickleball court. Maybe it is? Heck, it had space for two people at the helm, a sun pad aft to starboard for several more, a hot tub for six, U-shaped seating around a table to starboard, and L-shaped seating with a table to port for another 10 or so-with both seating spaces under the retractable hardtop. There's also a grill, a fridge and loose seating aft.

Our sizable crew was jetting off Cannes, France, to wring out this builder's 82-foot raised-pilothouse yacht, which fills out a four-model lineup ranging from 62 to 95 feet length overall. I found this yacht to be memorable for several reasons beyond the impressive flybridge layout.

The Austin Parker shipyard in Italy began a new phase of development in 2019, with a goal of offering forward-looking models and product lines. That goal is now being achieved in partnership with designer Fulvio De Simoni and the firm Pininfarina, which collaborated on the launch of the Unica 58 power catamaran and the recent introduction of the Iconica 100 navetta design.

"We need to anticipate trends, imagine new ways to use onboard spaces, and define a distinctive style that identifies the shipyard," says De Simoni, who also has worked with Pershing, Rossinavi and other yacht brands. "Collaborating and sharing ideas with such an important partner has certainly been stimulating, and I believe that together we are creating projects of great quality."

Explore the Aquila 50 Yacht Catamaran from the Ft. Lauderdale International Boat Show. Discover its full-beam master cabin, spacious design, and versatile performance built for unforgettable cruising adventures and entertainment.

As the gateway to the US Virgin Islands, St. Thomas is an appealing Caribbean island getaway for cruising enthusiasts of all skill levels looking for some sun, some sand, and a lot of duty-free shopping using the common currency and language of the mainland United States.

Get a first hand look at the ECLIPSE 505 Shadow with Yachting's staff during the 2024 Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show.

Use the right acoustics, and familiar waters reveal their secrets. Just ask Dave DeVos, who's been fishing the same waters off Port Canaveral, Florida, for years aboard his Contender 28. DeVos thought he knew all the honey holes separating his marina from the offshore depths; after all, he's long run similar tracks with chirp on his traditional sonar.

DeVos works as Garmin's senior manager for marine sales and support. That's why he got to test one of Garmin's first Panoptix PS70 transducers-and that's when his game changed.