220 sq.m of space in an 80-feet-long yacht: this is the unique proposition offered by the Sherpa 80XL built by the renowned Italian shipyard Arcadia, known for their trend-setting yacht designs.
With her unique and unconventional features, the Sherpa 80XL undoubtedly stands out from other vessels. At 80 feet, the Sherpa XL is an agile pocket-megayacht, designed to offer unexpected space for its guests to enjoy as they cruise across the water. The Sherpa XL, based on the headline-grabbing 18 m Sherpa 80 model, takes spaciousness to another level with its impressive size of 23 m.
When Arcadia entered the yachting scene, they made a deliberate choice to depart from conventional design approaches. Instead, they opted for rounded semi-displacement hulls, extensive use of glass surfaces, and a different layout of the superstructure volumes. Notably, these volumes are positioned much forward, setting their yachts apart from traditional designs. Even Francesco Ansalone, Arcadia’s Marketing & Communications Director admitted: “At the start, no one took us seriously. However, after 15 years and a whole fleet later, these lines, these shapes are now part of yachting culture.”
Unexpectedly large open spaces
Her large open outdoor spaces encompass a 700 sq. foot aft deck, seamlessly connecting to a beach area equipped with an expansive sun pad. This area is easily accessible at all times since the tender and water toys are stored in a side garage rather than at the stern. The sky lounge, spanning 387 sq. feet, creates an outdoor dining and living experience within its glass-enclosed walls.
With ample natural light streaming through, it establishes a direct connection between guests and the sea, fostering an immersive experience. With its two Volvo Penta IPS 1350 engines, the Sherpa XL achieves an impressive maximum speed of up to 23 knots and a comfortable cruising speed of 20 knots. Remarkably, this yacht offers a range of 1,000 nautical miles at a speed of 10 knots. The Sherpa XL impresses with its spaciousness, particularly noteworthy for a yacht of its size: this is made possible by its wide beam, measuring 22.9 feet. Another notable feature is its shallow draft, measuring just over 4 feet.
Avant-garde design with a sophisticated italian touch
Milan-based designers, Hot Lab, were given the task of designing the interior of the Sherpa XL. “The brand identity is so strong that every designer involved in their project will have to somehow put aside their own styling desires and bend them a bit towards the yard’s approach,” says Hot Lab’s Head of Design Enrico Lumini.
The Sherpa XL’s sun lounge, accessible via a flight of stairs leading up from the saloon, offers a place to relax with its freestanding sofas, a bar complete with an icemaker, as well as extra storage. Aboard the yacht are four spacious staterooms, including an impressive 236.8 sq. foot owner’s suite amidships on the lower deck, a VIP forward, and 2 guestrooms, each fitted with its own ensuite bathroom. This pocket megayacht also generously features space for up to 3 crew members across two crew cabins, also appointed with their own ensuite bathroom.
“When stepping into the cabins you feel like you’re on board a much larger yacht,” says Lumini. “This was again a main characteristic of all Arcadia yachts we had to follow and respect.” The master suite sees a combination of sleek black marble, stainless steel, oak panelling, and crisp, white carpet. The bed is elevated above the floor by indirect lighting, finished with an Alcantara light grey headboard. Arcadia caters the Sherpa XL’s interior design solely to the needs and wishes of the owner, with the option of having custom-built furniture also available.
Exhibited at the Monaco Yacht Show 2022, the 4th Sherpa 80 XL christened Mabelle, features marine-themed interiors, nautical blue and white tones.
Solar panels and thermal insulation
Arcadia is one of the first shipyards to design a mini-explorer that makes extensive use of solar panels. The yacht’s solar panels have the ability to generate 3 kilowatts of energy into the 30-kilowatt battery bank, as they soak up the heat of the Mediterranean sun. This means that the majority of the yacht’s key systems can run without having to utilize the generator, promising a peaceful, anchored evening, or the option to keep the yacht set to quiet mode throughout the night even if guests are using the air conditioning.
To increase energy efficiency, portions of the yacht’s glass windowpanes are equipped with insulated gas sandwiched between them. This insulation helps to minimize heat transfer and helps maintain a stable temperature inside the yacht. “We always strive to maximize the surface area dedicated to solar panels,” says Ansalone. “Moreover, the interplay of light and shade created by the filtered sunlight through the panels is truly stunning.”
One of the main ideas behind the design of the Sherpa XL was to reduce the usage of air management completely, meaning that the yacht retains as much heat as possible even when temperatures drop. When the temperature rises, guests have the option to lower the windows. Much similar to its predecessor (the original Sherpa), the XL features electric windows installed all around the main saloon. Each of the electric windows is controlled independently, allowing in as much of the fresh sea air as its onboard guest’s desire.
The Arcadia fleet
The growth of Arcadia in 2023 has been remarkable. They have achieved significant milestones, including the signing of a contract for the sale of their 4th A 105 yacht. Currently, the entire Arcadia range is in production, among them the latest addition to the A line, the A96, an exciting project with interiors designed by Igor Lobanov. Renowned globally for their innovative and environmentally conscious approach to yacht design, Arcadia has attracted significant interest from various regions. The shipyard offers a range of six models, spanning from 60 feet to 115 feet in length, categorized into two distinct lines: the A line and the Sherpa line.
While both lines share similarities in their construction design, they differ in dimensions and technical features onboard, catering to the unique preferences of each owner seeking a specific lifestyle at sea.
- The A line focuses on designing distinctive yachts with expansive open spaces, complemented by specially crafted cockpits that serve as protected patios, fostering joyful moments among onboard guests. The upper decks of the A line fleet feature Convertible Sky Lounges, offering spacious master cabins that have set a benchmark in their category. These yachts also incorporate fitted solar panels, optimizing energy usage. With their semi-planing hulls, they ensure fuel efficiency and achieve a maximum speed of up to 27 knots while guaranteeing comfortable cruising.
- The Sherpa line, on the other hand, stands out for its notable volume, accompanied by large cockpits and stern swim areas positioned just above the water’s surface. Similar to the A line, the Sherpa line features decks designed as Convertible Sky Lounges, along with generous master suites and strategically positioned solar panels that create a captivating interplay of light and shadow.
Founded in 2008 by Ugo Pellegrino, Arcadia shipyard is based on the coast of Sorrento, a short distance from Capri and only a few kilometres from the Pompei Archaelogical Park. Their headquarters are located in a modern 47,000 sq.m facility. Here, the company designs and constructs their yachts with an eco-friendly approach, and a style that has become synonymous with innovation, excellence, and Italian design.
The main elements that have become part of Arcadia’s brand include large outdoor spaces built specially for the purpose of socialising, and spacious interior areas fitted with extensive glazed surfaces. Other predominant features of Arcadia include fuel consumption efficiency, thermal and acoustic insulations provided by multi-layer glass designed to harness energy, ceilings fitted with solar panels that present an extraordinary play of shadow and light, side openings, Convertible Sky Lounges, and electric windows for effortless continuity between the interiors and the exteriors.
