28m AB 95S Heads to Fort Lauderdale with 6,600hp

AB Yachts takes its 28.45m Sport model to Florida

AB Yachts will present its 28.45-metre AB 95S at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show from 28 October to 1 November 2026, bringing the Sport version of its AB 95 to an audience of American owners and brokers. The Italian builder announced the appearance on 20 October, positioning the yacht as a demonstration of how far high-performance propulsion and lightweight construction can be taken in a vessel comfortably above the 24-metre superyacht threshold.

The first AB 95S was launched at the Viareggio facility earlier this year and acquired by an American owner. The Florida appearance is therefore a specific new show presentation, not a claim that a new hull has just been launched or that a second unit has been delivered. The yard describes the exhibition as part of Next Yacht Group's broader effort to strengthen relationships in the United States.

Three MAN V12 engines underpin the speed claim

The central technical feature is a trio of MAN V12X-2200 engines, providing a stated total of 6,600 horsepower. AB Yachts says the yacht can exceed 53 knots in its specially identified fast-lap configuration, an unusually high advertised speed for a yacht measuring almost 29 metres. That figure should be understood in the context given by the manufacturer rather than treated as an everyday cruising speed under all loading and sea conditions.

Around 93 tonnes of displacement is quoted for the composite yacht, whose structure makes extensive use of carbon fibre. Weight control matters because every additional tonne influences the power required to accelerate and sustain high speed. The published announcement does not provide an independently verified comparison between the fast-lap setting, ordinary passage-making speeds and fuel consumption.

The yard's emphasis on manoeuvrability, acceleration and reduced vibration is especially relevant to owners who want to cover considerable distances between ports within a short operating window. A prospective purchaser would still need actual range, consumption and seakeeping data for the intended operating profile before making practical cruising plans.

Exterior styling connects the helm with the sea

The Sport model uses a wraparound windscreen and an opening roof integrated within the superstructure's aerodynamic profile. Its lower visual silhouette and continuous glazing are presented as part of the AB Yachts design identity, rather than an attempt to make the AB 95S resemble a conventional three-deck displacement yacht. The design balances a protected helm with the sense of openness normally associated with a smaller performance craft.

AB Yachts has designed the main deck to bring the aft cockpit and interior saloon together. This means the owner can move between the open entertaining areas and the principal indoor space without a heavy visual boundary. Extensive windows give guests long views ahead and to the sides, although the practical effectiveness of climate control, ventilation and weather protection should be evaluated aboard the actual yacht.

Beach area accommodates a tender and toys

The aft beach space has been developed for waterside use and for carrying the yacht's tender and other equipment, including a personal watercraft. It illustrates the different compromises in a fast superyacht: space used for launching equipment is also expected to operate as a comfortable social area at anchor. The precise tender size and stowage configuration should be confirmed against the owner's selected layout.

For an American owner considering Bahamas passages or regular coastal cruising, access to the water, reliable tender handling and crew workflow may have more influence on day-to-day enjoyment than the maximum-speed headline. Equipment needs to be secured for fast passages, and the arrangement must allow appropriate separation between passengers and operations when launching or retrieving toys.

Bridge technology is a separate design priority

The yacht carries AB Yachts' Integrated Bridge, developed with Fincantieri. The builder presents this helm as a coordinated digital control environment with attention to visibility, ergonomics and navigation management. An integrated bridge can reduce the amount of information scattered between independent displays, but the crew still needs clear procedures for monitoring alarms and operating the vessel in difficult circumstances.

Because the AB 95S can operate at very high speed, communication, situational awareness and dependable control systems deserve particular attention. The press material does not establish that the display automatically provides any specific autonomy level or collision-avoidance capability. Those functions should not be inferred simply from the term integrated bridge.

Lower deck remains a superyacht interior

Below decks, the builder offers accommodation for as many as eight guests, depending on the selected cabin arrangement. The description includes a full-beam owner's suite and additional guest cabins, with a crew area planned separately to preserve privacy and allow the professional team to work. This is a different proposition from a weekend speedboat with little overnight accommodation.

At this length the challenge is to give guests a high standard of finish while keeping structure, systems and interior components within the displacement strategy. Owners will want to understand noise levels at cruise, space allocation and the relationship between the engine-room arrangement and living areas. The yard describes low noise and vibration as design objectives, but the announcement does not include an independent measured acoustics report.

Fort Lauderdale marks a commercial step

Next Yacht Group deputy chairman Giorgio Mattei described the United States as an important market for owners who value performance, design and customisation. The AB 95S will be a visible expression of that strategy during FLIBS, where the company hopes to strengthen connections with American brokers, clients and industry partners. It is an exhibition plan rather than a published forecast of additional American orders.

Further information is in the AB Yachts press statement of 20 October. The announcement confirms the yacht's length, propulsion, the owner's American connection and the forthcoming show dates; other performance and delivery questions should be checked directly with the yard.

For the wider superyacht market, the appearance offers a timely example of an alternative to long-range displacement cruising. The AB 95S seeks to combine a genuine superyacht guest arrangement with an exceptionally rapid hull, making the trade-off between speed, operating cost and living space central to any serious evaluation.