Imagine your favorite seaside terrace getting two V8 engines and sailing out to sea. The Bellini Astor 36 is not just another yacht to sip champagne on; it's a floating designer piece that reminds you, without being too loud, that you've won in life. And now it's coming to our Adriatic.
Let's face it: the world of yachting is often full of vessels that look like oversized floating wedding cakes, full of unnecessary plastic and kitsch, whose main purpose is to dazzle the neighbor in the marina. But the Italians – oh, those shamelessly talented neighbors – still understand that true elegance is in what you leave out, not what you add. And that's where the Bellini Astor 36, a boat created with a single mission: to turn the concept of enjoyment at sea upside down and transform it into pure, unfiltered Italian “dolce vita”.
Quiet luxury that screams for attention (ironic, right?)
If you thought you'd find gold taps and neon lighting on this vessel, you're completely missing the point. Bellini is a brand with roots in the 1960s, the golden age of those sinfully beautiful wooden speedboats. Astor 36 is their first step into a new generation, developed under the guidance of the philosophy of so-called “quiet luxury”.
It’s like a perfectly tailored Italian suit – it doesn’t scream logos, but everyone in the marina knows it was expensive. The materials are thoughtful, the lines are clean, the proportions are balanced, and every detail is crafted with obsessive precision. “Design is never separated from function. One comes from the other,” they say at Bellini, and they even prove it with limited design editions with renowned artists like Daniel Arsham. This vessel doesn’t just want to be a means of transportation, but positions itself as a top-notch designer and collector’s item.
Transformers for real hedonists
The most spectacular trick the Astor 36 has up its sleeve comes when you stop in a secluded bay. At the touch of a button, the stern sides (terrace) lower towards the surface and the boat transforms like a sleek Transformer into a spacious “beach club”. The standard width of 3.9 meters (12.8 feet) is drastically increased, giving you a huge terrace for sunbathing, diving and those evening parties that will be talked about until Christmas.
The space is fluid and open to the sea. Movement on the 11.3-meter (37-foot) long deck is natural, without the annoying jumping over cushions and tripping over ropes that are all too often mandatory on vessels of this size. Below deck, however, you'll find another surprise: a spacious and exceptionally bright cabin with a large double bed for the owner, a separate bathroom with shower and an extra berth. Four people can comfortably sleep together, meaning that stopping the party and returning to port after sunset is no longer necessary.
Numbers that make your heart skip a beat
Of course, it’s not all about sipping espresso and lounging at anchor at sea. When it comes to moving that impressive 7,350 kilograms (16,200 lbs) of dry weight, the Bellini Astor 36 doesn’t disappoint. Buyers can choose from a variety of powertrains, but the real mechanical romance begins with the twin Volvo Penta V8 petrol engines. Yes, you read that right, a boat with twin V8 engines, because – why not?
A total output of 514 kW (700 HP) ensures that this Italian sculpture literally flies over the waves. Top speed? A dizzying 40 knots (74 km/h / 46 mph). Acceleration to the ideal cruising speed of between 25 and 27 knots (46–50 km/h / 28–31 mph) is consistently brutal, yet incredibly smooth and quiet. At this cruising speed and a massive 700-liter (185-gallon) fuel tank, you have a range of around 250 nautical miles, meaning you can visit half of the Adriatic without feeling a pang in your chest or looking at the fuel gauge.
If you're a bit more calculating by nature (or just fancy a different sound), there are also 300 hp (220 kW / 300 hp) Volvo Penta D4 diesels available, or an option for those who really want to be noticed: two Mercury Verado V10 outboards, each with 400 hp (298 kW / 400 hp).
Ready to invade the Adriatic
This is where the story becomes even more interesting for local sailors. This Italian work of art was brought to the shores of the Adriatic Sea by the company Croatia Yachting, which has become the authorized and exclusive partner for the markets of Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia and Montenegro. This model will be on display live at this year's Dalmatia Boat Show.
What about the price?
Look, I've always half-jokingly said that boats are mostly just holes in the water that you keep throwing mountains of money into and hoping they don't sink. And let's be honest, in most cases that's still true. But sometimes, just sometimes, a vessel appears on the horizon that makes you think, "You know what, I'd be willing to eat instant noodles for the rest of my life for this." The Bellini Astor 36 is exactly that. It's technically brilliant, it's damn fast, and it looks damn good.
The price of entry to this exclusive Italian club starts at around 450,000 euros (excluding taxes and those necessary personalized extras that you will definitely and irresistibly want). Is that a lot of money? Absolutely. But for that amount you don't just get another piece of fiberglass and two propellers. You get an incredibly thoughtful and innovative floating private island, an absolute status symbol that, unlike the competition, actually has exceptional taste, and an unlimited ticket to a world of complete Adriatic hedonism. If that's not worth your time and hard-earned money, then I really don't know what could be. See you somewhere on the waves, most likely with an espresso in one hand and the steering wheel in the other!
