NEW YACHTS

GOT A NEED FOR SPEED? THERE'S PLENTY NEW TO EXCITE, SAYS TOBY HODGES

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Neo 620 Roma (& 460 Competizione)

LOA 18.59m 61ft 0in • Beam 5.30m 17ft 5in • Draught 4.50m 14ft 9in • Displacement 13,500kg 29,762lb • 620 Roma €2.1m ex VAT • 460 Competizione €750,000 ex VAT • neoyachts.​com

The red bandit. This rocketship is the second Carkeek design for Italian carbon cognoscenti Neo Yachts. The Neo 620 is its new flagship, which will muscle into the competitive mini-maxi arena. It's an evolution of the 570 we featured a couple of years ago (check out the video tour), and continues to sport Carkeek's distinctive chamfered topsides, which run into a reverse sheerline, a stealth bomber-style shape first seen on racing machines such as Ràn.

The 620 has various layout options, primarily adding a third heads compartment compared to its smaller sister, and providing the option for a convertible fourth cabin space, which can be used as a nav station, for dining or sleeping - all while keeping weight to a mere 13.5 tonnes (nearly half of which is ballast in a deep keel).

Neo manages this wizardry by building the 620 in prepreg carbon fibre, fitted with a high-modulus carbon rig. Cariboni hydraulics aid high-speed control, while it can sport a single or twin rudders, has space for a 3m tender, and includes 400lt tanks for both fuel and water.

Founded by competitive sailor and sailmaker Paolo Semeraro, Neo has now built 30 custom or semi-custom high-performance yachts since 2018. The 'Roma' branding is Neo's fast cruising line, which reflects the possibility for the wood veneered interior to be removable. So these yachts suit those wanting to compete at high-level events with the lightest-weight boat, yet do so while protecting the timber finish and maintaining resale value.

460 Competizione (Race)