Four stunning yachts designed by supercar manufacturers

Dubbed the ‘Silver Arrow of the seas’, the Mercedes-Benz Arrow460–Granturismo Edition 1 is aesthetically as elegant as floating vessels come. Sporting a silhouette more in keeping with that of a luxury saloon than a 46ft, £1.2m yacht, a pair of 480hp Yanmar diesel engines will power the vessel to a 30-knots cruising speed. Feel the wind in your hair as you motor through the great blue yonder. 

The yacht can accommodate up to ten passengers, meaning that you should be able to invite all of your closest friends to enjoy its many comforts. (Nobody should have more than ten close friends.) The side windows can be retracted and the windscreen raised, allowing passengers to sit inside while being treated to a panoramic view of the surrounding ocean. The windows also automatically adjust to sunlight, which is a subtly elegant detail...

Further luxurious finishes include nubuck leather and eucalyptus wood panelling. An advanced audio system and wine cellar should help keep the party going long into the night. (One of the great advantages of the sea? Not many neighbours to annoy with nocturnal carousing.) Only ten editions of the yacht will be created, making this baby as exclusive as they come. 

For more info, see mercedes-benz.com

The Italian yachtmaker Riva has often been referred to as the ‘floating Ferrari’. Riva was founded in 1842 after a huge storm wrecked the boats of the fishermen on Lake Iseo in Lombardy. Local craftsman and all-round good guy Pietro Riva repaired many of the damaged crafts. 

Riva’s iconic Aquarama is talked about in nautical circles as the prettiest boat ever made – especially with Sophia Loren on board. But few realise that Riva collaborated with the car marque to make a Prancing Horse for the water. (Insert seahorse joke here.)

In 1990, just 30 examples were made of the Riva Ferrari 32. (The ‘32’ represents the boat’s length in feet, not its scarcity.) Formula One provided inspiration for much of the design – including the carbon-fibre spoiler. The three dramatic slashes along the side of the hull echo the side strakes of Ferrari’s iconic 1980s Testarossa.

Even the rear exhausts pay homage to the car marque – two pairs of 400HP V8 engines power the boat to a top speed of 62mph – not quite the velocity of a land Ferrari but not too shabby for open water. There’s also a small cabin that should sustain you for a couple of days at sea, although we wouldn’t recommend making a week of it. All that’s missing? Some indicators – and, er, four wheels...

Despite the rarity of these boats, the relationship between the two brands continues to this day. As of last month, Riva is now a sponsor of the current Ferrari Formula One team. Who knows, maybe a new boat will be in the offing soon? For now, though, the Riva Ferrari is only available through occasional auction lots. Keep your eyes peeled – blink and you’ll miss it. 

For more info, see riva-yacht.com

You would hope a yacht powered by Rolls Royce would be something pretty special – and the Aeroboat S6 doesn’t disappoint. The moment you step on board, it’s obvious that a serious amount of love, care and technical expertise has gone into its creation. Rolls Royce has spent as much time on this boat as it would on any car – and the results speak for themselves. 

Take the teardrop cockpit, which houses an information panel called the Header Rail Readout. This panel displays the speed, course, direction and estimated time of arrival of the journey without disturbing anybody at the helm...

A table is concealed amidships in the central seating area, allowing al fresco dining with the minimum of intrusion when not in use. There are also hidden TV screens, ideal if you’re dining alone or simply want to relax for an hour or two. 

The superstructure tail can be lifted to gaze upon the engine bay beneath it. Alternately, relax on a couple of sunbeds as you cruise towards your destination. If you fancy a dip, an extendable platform can be lowered to allow easy access to and from the water... Alternatively, it can be raised for easy boarding, which is made safer and elegant thanks to the height-adjustable passerelle that extends out from the Superstructure Tail to meet what the builders call the Aerostairs...

Head downstairs to the owner’s lounge should you crave a bit of extra comfort. This well-proportioned space can easily be converted into a suite once sleep finally creeps up on you. A single cabin on the port side, just beyond the galley, can be used by the crew or any guests – the boat can sleep four in total. 

With a length of 65ft, the Aeroboat even has room for a few extra toys. The tender garage can house a couple of jet skis or alternatively a boat of up to 3.8m, which is deployed using an overhead crane. Perhaps best to let the crew handle that bit… H 

For more info, see aeroboat.co.uk

Although primarily known for manufacturing the type of supercars that cause pedestrians to double take, Bugatti has partnered with yacht experts Palmer Johnson to create the Niniette 66 – a craft  so spectacular, one wonders if Bugatti should abandon the motoring business altogether and run away to sea.  

With the two brands boasting a combined 207 years of history, which produced 8,300 Bugatti cars and 275 Palmer Johnson yachts, their lovechild was always going to be something special. The beautiful, sleek design echoes the shape of the Niniette’s automobile inspiration, the 2016 Bugatti Chiron. The yacht is 66ft in length, hence the numerical aspect of the name. Meanwhile the advanced stabilised hull can reach 44 knots with efficiency and comfort. Speed has never been so simple...

What of the decor? Again, the Chiron has provided the inspiration for the interior – with the Bugatti horseshoe shape creating the sense of a luxury cocoon. The master suite is furnished with soft leather, suede, polished metal, and carbon – think the largest, most comfortable car you’ve ever sat inside. Then add a marble bathroom, galley kitchen and skylight-fitted salon, to provide further amenity to your auto heaven. 

Heading on deck you will discover even more pleasures await. A fire pit will warm you in the evenings and makes barbecues a must; sunpads offer ample opportunity to top up the tan; a champagne bar will keep your glass topped up, after which you can retire to the jacuzzi and take it all in...

Oh yes – there’s another reason for the 66 that comes after Bugatti Niniette. Only 66 versions of the limited edition sports yacht will ever be made; well, you didn’t expect them to flood the market, did you? If you want to own a unique collaboration between two titans of their respective fields, you better get your order in quickly. Forty-four knots should do the trick. 

For more info, see bugattininiette.com