A SMOOTH NEW START

PRIVILÈGE IS RENEWING ITS RANGE UNDER HANSE, STARTING WITH THIS 50-FOOTER. FRANÇOIS TREGOUET REPORTS

- FRANCOIS TREGOUET

For its first launch under the governance of Hanse Yachts, Privilège has totally redesigned its popular 50ft model, the Série 5. But what impact has the German production giant had on this French pioneer in luxury multihulls?

The 510 is now the entry-level model of a range in the making, a catamaran which has been updated in tandem with an all-new 580, due out this autumn. It is also makes for an interesting competitor to the Discovery Bluewater 50 in the luxury multihull market.

The hulls and deck of the 510 still belong to the original Série 5 design, so the volume remains impressive. However, you quickly appreciate the additional design work done by Marc Lombard. The coachroof, which runs a long way forward, also extends aft with the bimini. The portlights are now larger, offering a better view both from the saloon and from the owner’s cabin.

Everywhere you look are minor modifications to increase practicality or stowage space. Take the master cabin for example. It is still housed forward in the central rostrum – a Privilège tradition – and occupies the entire beam of the boat, nearly 8m (26ft). And though the central berth still lacks full headroom, access has been improved by a few crucial centimetres.