Princess V65

• LOA: 20.61m (67ft 7in)
• Beam: 5.04m
• Draught: 1.62m
• Displacement: 36.5 tonnes
• Engines: twin MAN V12-1400
• Top speed: 36 knots
• Fuel: 4,100 litres (range up to around 550 nm)
• Cabins: 4 plus optional crew

Flagship of the V Class

The V65 sits at the top of the V Class, the family of planing sports yachts that defines the sharp end of the Princess line. At 20.61 metres it is the largest V model to date, which lets it carry the volume of a bigger boat while keeping the low profile owners expect. Princess aims it at buyers who want open cockpit living and real pace without moving up to a flybridge. Five hulls had sold by the time the first boat reached the water, which speaks to steady appetite at this size.

The brief for the V Class has always centred on a driver-focused feel and a stance close to the water. The V65 honours that character and adds a genuine four-cabin layout below deck. It reads as the natural home for owners who cruised smaller V models and wanted more room without losing the sporting look. That mix of pace and accommodation is what earns it flagship status within the range.

A Pininfarina profile

The V65 wears an exterior styled by Pininfarina over a hull drawn by Olesinski. The lines are low and taut, with a long foredeck and a purposeful bow that mark it out as a sports yacht rather than a cruiser. Resin-infused composite construction keeps weight down, which helps both pace and economy. The overall stance is planted and sleek without any of the fussiness that dates a design quickly.

The headline feature is the largest retractable sunroof fitted to any boat in its class. Opened, it turns the main saloon into something close to an open deck and floods the interior with light and air. The cockpit and foredeck give owners two clear social zones, and a beach club at the stern opens the boat to the water at anchor. Every choice serves the same aim of easy outdoor living whether under way or at rest.

The sharpest driver in the range, now with room to sleep a family of eight.

Single-level living

Below the sunroof sits a single-level main deck of around 26 square metres, finished here in satin walnut. The saloon and galley share one bright space alongside the helm, linked to the cockpit by three-panel sliding doors that all but erase the boundary. The effect is a large, connected living area that feels generous for a boat of this length. Natural light does much of the work, helped by deep side glazing.

The lower deck carries four cabins, an unusually full count for a sports yacht of this size. A full-beam master amidships gains a walk-in wardrobe and its own bathroom, and a forward VIP sits alongside two further cabins. Three bathrooms in marble serve the accommodation, and an optional crew cabin and tender garage keep service out of sight. The layout suits a family or a group of couples cruising for several nights rather than a day-boat crowd.

Deep-V pace

Twin MAN V12-1400 engines drive the V65 to a top speed of 36 knots. The deep-V hull comes onto the plane cleanly and holds a settled attitude at cruise, which keeps fuel burn in check for the pace on offer. Princess describes the handling as close to a quick road car, with the boat leaning into turns in a way that flatters the helm. The naval architecture aims for a dry, comfortable ride rather than raw numbers.

A fuel capacity of 4,100 litres gives a useful reach for a sports yacht, quoted at up to 550 nautical miles depending on conditions and load. That range lets owners plan longer coastal hops rather than short marina runs. The hull's efficiency at cruise is central to the appeal, since it allows real distance without constant refuelling. Sea keeping stays true to the Olesinski deep-V lineage that has served the range for decades.

Who it suits

The V65 speaks to the owner who wants the fastest, most driver-led boat Princess builds at this length. It rewards hands-on use, so it fits people who enjoy taking the helm rather than handing it straight to crew. The four-cabin layout means that pleasure never comes at the cost of overnight comfort for a full party. In the range it stands as the choice for pace over the extra deck of a flybridge.

Priced from around 2.76 million pounds before tax, it competes with the larger sports yachts from Italian and other European yards. Its case rests on British build quality and the pairing of Pininfarina and Olesinski, helped by a body of light that few rivals match through that huge sunroof. Owners moving up from a smaller V will find the character familiar and the space transformed. It is a considered flagship for a well-defined kind of buyer.

Design

• Exterior: Princess Design Studio (in-house)
• Interior: Princess Design Studio
• Naval architecture: Bernard Olesinski / Olesinski Ltd (deep-V hull)

Who it is for: Hands-on owners who want the quickest, most driver-focused boat in the Princess range, with genuine four-cabin comfort for family cruising rather than day use.

Guide price: New-build price on application (not publicly listed on dealer sites); Princess V Class spans roughly GBP 0.5M (V40) up to ~GBP 3 to 4M for larger V models. Source: YachtBuyer.