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The Instagram sensation got aboard the Baglietto T52 Akula in Monaco and gave us his thoughts.
For the minority of boaters who may still be unaware, Kevin Koenig is a deeply experienced marine journalist who operates under the handle @theyachtfella on Instagram where he has amassed 215,000 followers in a little over a year. Koenig is known for his captions wherein he pairs deep insights with an irreverent attitude to create content unseen anywhere else in social media. A good friend of The Italian Yacht Group, Koenig took time out of his busy schedule to tour Akula and let us know his thoughts.
IYG: Thanks for sitting with us today Yacht Fella. What was your overall impression of the Monaco show?
YF: I thought it was a really strong show. You know you had the big boys there this year with Renaissance, Kismet, and Golden Odyssey—the three biggest yachts to ever be shown there—and I thought that really set the tone for the whole event. With the election coming up and the various conflicts around the globe, I wondered if the show’s light be a little dimmed this year, but that certainly wasn’t the case at all.
IYG: Well that’s great to hear. We saw that you did a post about the Baglietto T52 Akula. What did you think of her overall?
YF: I thought she was a great boat, I really liked her overall. I think Baglietto is an excellent example of the great strides that Southern European yards have made over the past decade or so in upping their quality to truly world-class level. The fit and finish was next level and the technical areas were really good too. I only got aboard at the docks, but I’d love to see what her seakeeping is like. Everything I’ve heard from people involved with the project has been good in that regard but I always like to see for myself.
IYG: You mentioned the fit and finish, was there anything about the interiors that stood out?
YF: Yeah Enrico Gobbi did an excellent job on a few levels. First the color scheme he picked, that cookies and cream with lots of neutral tones—one, that’s so classic, the owner’s never going to step onboard and regret the interior aesthetics. Two, that mild nature is great for charter where you want a boat that goes with everyone’s tastes. And three, it’s going to crush it on the resale market for the exact same reason.
And beyond that, the art was so cool. I believe Gobbi picked it out himself. There was a real post-modern vibe to it, with some elements of abstract impressionism too. I mean did you see the mirror in the master with the claw marks in it? So cool.
IYG: You have good taste, we liked that too. How about the exterior areas?
YF: The top deck was just a beaut. You know with that big Jacuzzi forward with the barstools to either side? I mean what a way to make an entrance into a port. Sign me up!
And then in the after section with the big grill and an outdoor shower? Those are two of my favorite things in life, so yeah you’d catch me up there often.
IYG: Anything else about the boat that blew your hair back?
YF: Yeah I think she is going to do really well on the charter market. That main deck master is so nice for space and privacy and then the accommodations level also excelled in those areas too. And that’s what you need for a successful charter. You gotta give people their own space no matter how much they love each other. Even a 170-footer can feel small after a few days, you know?
IYG: What’s next for the Yacht Fella?
YF: Well I am prepping for the Lauderdale show and the Antigua show after that. I’m really hoping Boomer will get me out on one of those big, fast Vanquishes while I am in South Florida. He has been threatening to take me out for a while now, but we haven’t done it yet. Fingers crossed, y’know?
