Introducing the GB85: Grand Banks on a Grand Scale

By Heather Collier

Grand Banks is once again pushing the envelope for design and engineering, and is thrilled to release their new flagship, the Grand Banks 85.

The GB85 benefits from the infinite knowledge gained from building cruising designs for nearly seven decades and delivering more than 7,000 yachts. Whether it’s a focus on maximizing storage, allowing an abundance of fresh air flow, or ensuring comfort both at sea and at anchor, there is not a detail on the GB85 that has been ignored. True to the brand’s heritage, the GB85 is an ocean-going Bluewater cruiser that is also nimble with a shallow draft, making it equally suited for coastal cruising.

Designed to travel efficiently at 21 knots for extended cruising, and easily handled by owner-operators, the internal configurations also accommodate spacious and highly impressive crew-quarters capabilities should that be the owners’ choice. Hull No. 1 is powered with twin 1,000HP Volvo IPS 1350s. Richards reported that, during the pre-delivery test, the GB85 met all expectations. Like the entire range of the new generation of Grand Banks, the GB85 runs flat and pushes very little water, demonstrating the superior efficiency of the-Warp platform.

Her beam of 22 feet allows Grand Banks to offer a range of internal configurations and amenities for both guests and crew. For long-distancecruising, special attention was given to both sociability and privacy.

First, we focused on what makes a superior long-distance cruiserwhile underway for long legs,” says Richards.

This means understanding the rhythm that occurs while on passage, and creating various spaces where you can separate from others off-watch. Some people onboard are focused on running the boat, others are relaxing, and others may be sleeping. This approach ticks a lot of boxes in how the design comes together.

We look forward to witnessing her debut at the 2022 Cannes Yachting Festival.

"It is an incredibly versatile platform, with quality and performance second to none. It encapsulates our commitment to building the ultimate yachts on the water today, and with our focus on fuel-efficiency and sustainability, I think it will come to define what is expected of yachting in the years to come."

Mark Richards, CEO, Grand Banks

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"It is an incredibly versatile platform, with quality and performance second to none. It encapsulates our commitment to building the ultimate yachts on the water today, and with our focus on fuel-efficiency and sustainability, I think it will come to define what is expected of yachting in the years to come."

Mark Richards, CEO, Grand Banks
By Heather Collier