Read indepth magazine
Third Amels 80 Hits the Water in Vlissingen
There's a simple measure of whether a semi-custom design is actually working: owners keep buying it. The Amels 80 has now cleared that bar three times in four years, with Project Zurich, the third hull, launched at Damen Yachting's Vlissingen yard this week. Two more are in final outfitting. The first has already been delivered. Having only introduced the Amels 80 platform in 2022, three hulls launched in under four years is a serious rate of build.
The appeal isn't hard to understand. The 80-metre Limited Editions formula gives owners genuine volume and flexibility without the lead times and complexity of a full custom project and with new build schedules at many yards running longer than ever, a tested platform with known engineering is an increasingly attractive starting point.
Project Zurich is a good illustration of what the platform actually delivers. Espen Øino's exterior carries 2,175 GT across seven guest suites for 14, with 20 crew plus captain. The beach club opens on three sides, the wellness suite runs to gym, hammam and sauna, and the 6.5-metre glass-bottomed pool sits above it all. For the owner, a tested platform means fewer unknowns and a yard that already knows how to make it their own, without the delays that typically come with breaking new ground.
'Launching our third Amels 80 marks an important milestone for everyone involved. Yachts of this scale require meticulous planning, craftsmanship and close coordination across our teams, together with the Owner’s representative. Managing multiple projects of this size simultaneously calls for experience, precision and focus as we move into the final stages ahead of delivery,' said Sander Peeters, Project Manager Damen Yachting.
Three hulls in four years isn’t a one-off. It positions Amels as the go-to for owners who want 80-metre capability without Full Custom timeframes; a sweet spot as new builds stretch out and the market hungers for tested platforms. Delivery later this year keeps the series firmly on the ownership radar.
"Managing multiple projects of this size simultaneously calls for experience, precision and focus as we move into the final stages ahead of delivery"
"Managing multiple projects of this size simultaneously calls for experience, precision and focus as we move into the final stages ahead of delivery"
Sander Peeters, Project Manager, Damen Yachting