Every once in a while, you come across a boat that is capable of creating a dominating presence in any port, regardless of whether the vessels beside it are much larger. The AB 120 Wraith, launched last year, is one of them. We had a chance to tour it recently in Palm Beach.
AB builds its boats in Viareggio, the center of Italian yacht-building, so it’s possible that the stiff competition motivated the builder to create something that punches way above its weight. Wraith is 121’1” long and displaces 135 tons. Taken alone, the figures are unremarkable, until you add triple 2,600-hp MTUs mated to three MJP jet drives. With this formidable and highly unusual propulsion package (think never), the 120 has a top end of 54 mph, giving it entrée into the upper echelon of the world’s fastest superyachts. Its cruise speed of 46 mph delivers a respectable range of 450 nautical miles.
With jet drives, Wraith has a draft of just four feet, another noteworthy asset for visiting shallow-water ports such as the Gulf Coast of Florida or the Bahamas.
The AB 120 has unusually low-profile lines, so much so that it resembles a massive steak knife cutting across the water. But even with extra-sleek aesthetics, the designers managed to add plenty of social space. Foldout terraces to either side of an aft beach club provide 1,100 square feet of open space for owner and guests to enjoy themselves close to the water.
Just above, the cockpit and salon are both open concept, and with the electric doors open, the two converge to create a space that feels like a Tribeca loft. The salon’s light, airy feel is accentuated by 500 square feet of glass. The flybridge can be used for alfresco dining or open-air movies.
On-board accommodations include a full-beam owner’s suite, with a Jacuzzi, along with four guest staterooms. Five crew members are housed in three unusually spacious cabins, with a large mess for dining.
But the most interesting space is forward of the main salon and down a flight of stairs, where the yacht’s windshield acts like an atrium positioned over a second salon. With a plush leather couch and soaring ceilings, the salon offers privacy, but also feels like the great room that you might find in a ski chalet, though there’s no snow to be found.
This unique, go-fast superyacht is currently listed on the brokerage market for $18.4 million.
