This yacht is a true villa on the water. Testing the Astondoa Ax8 (24 m)

Just as in grand villas, where there is always a room you haven’t seen yet, so too on Astondoa’s Ax8 there is that atmosphere of spaciousness. There are areas, such as the small lounge behind the wheelhouse, equipped with its own terrace that reminds me of a small “winter garden,” an intimate and cozy place to lie and read or chat. It is perhaps the smallest common space on this yacht, but also accomplice to the adjoining terrace that is practically dedicated, if I ever set out on a cruise on this boat I would want to spend a great deal of time here. It is a personal taste.

Astondoa Ax8 – TEST

The more party-minded owner can take full advantage of the two adjoining lounges plus the outdoor cockpit that are on the deck. This solution is definitely original since on the boat I tested – in addition to not having the wheelhouse on the main deck, but only the one on the flybridge (a spaceship-like command bridge!) – the two lounges are without a galley, “remotely” located in the bow, below deck, as requested by the owner.

The large round windows make total contact with the surroundings, bringing brightness to the interior and once again demonstrating the design and construction skills of the site, which also opts for very articulate and particular solutions. For example, there is the interior staircase to access the upper deck, which we can consider a case where form yields ground to function: there is a classic handrail on the starboard wall, while the side facing the living room has, instead of the usual railing, some glass plates that join the steps vertically from the ceiling, with a short space between them.

The aesthetic effect is very eye-catching and futuristic, although an old sailor who always imagines the most unlikely and extreme weather conditions might prefer a railing on both sides.

The cabins of this 24-meter Astondoa yacht

We see another “custom” peculiarity of the Astondoa Ax8: a double independent access to the below-deck areas such that the aft one, in the main salon, leads to the master cabins, while the forward one to the crew area, where precisely the galley is located.

Unprecedented solutions that, after all, embody a new trend in which volumes predominate in the choices and needs of shipowners, especially in larger sizes. This gives rise to new lines that were unthinkable until recently. Astondoa named this yacht Ax8, clearly indicating how it fits into the crossover landscape, where between exterior and interior spaces nothing is sacrificed. In the standard configuration this 24-meter yacht has four double cabins, while in the “custom” configuration there are three, each with its own bathroom. When you say an XL owner’s boat, you think of this: a full-beam room and a superyacht bathroom, also along the full width of the hull. In terms of style and design, the touch is Italian and is that of Cristiano Gatto, who has been working with the shipyard for some time. It is the choice of shapes and materials that makes living on this Astondoa a pleasant experience.

Spanish shipyard produces everything “in house”

For the Spanish shipyard, one must always keep in mind that much of the production is in-house: carpentry, upholstery, as well as hulls, of course. A process that, in addition to ensuring a remarkable quality of finish, allows for very advanced customization. To have all this interior volume obviously the exteriors went accordingly and even the flybridge is almost entirely enclosed. Working on the colors and voids with some “cuts” made it possible to lighten what is, no pun intended, an imposing yacht. Classic purists will bemoan it and will not understand it, but the reason is probably in the fact that, on these yachts, they have never taken a cruise.

Of course, it all depends on one’s use, but boats like Astondoa’s new Ax8 take on-board comfort to a very high level. We are talking about an 80-footer (24 meters) that, when fully loaded, is close to 70 tons (68.5 tons to be precise). In short, a giant of the sea that does not want to be fast, but to bring cruising back to its slower nature.

It is also true that, by having the engines pushed to the maximum, 22-23 knots can be reached thanks to the propulsion system with Volvo Penta IPS 1350, but the comfort with which 10-11 knots are sailed is priceless, as well as being more sustainable both environmentally and economically.

Astondoa Ax8 Datasheet

Navigation data