41m Baglietto AQUILA Joins Royal Yacht International Sales Fleet at €9.9m

A new brokerage appointment, not a new yacht

Royal Yacht International announced on 21 October that the 41.4-metre motor yacht AQUILA had joined its sales fleet under a joint central-agency arrangement. Built by Baglietto in 2004, the yacht is currently offered at €9.9 million and described as lying in Imperia, Italy. The announcement marks a new brokerage appointment; it must not be confused with a newly launched vessel or a completed sale. The yacht had appeared in other brokerage marketing earlier this month.

This distinction helps buyers interpret the market. A change or addition in the agency network may increase exposure without necessarily implying a change in ownership, condition or price. Prospective buyers should request confirmation of the currently authorised brokers and make sure they are receiving one consistent specification and inventory. Multiple advertisements for the same hull can carry different dates or photographs; only the current verified offer should form the basis of a serious enquiry.

A distinctive yacht originally commissioned for Cavalli

The broker says AQUILA was originally commissioned for fashion designer Roberto Cavalli. Her dark hull and energetic Baglietto profile remain part of the yacht’s visual character. The yacht combines a high-performance aluminium construction philosophy with relatively extensive guest facilities in a length just over 41 metres. That design may interest buyers who prefer a more assertive style and higher speed rather than the restrained volume distribution of a conventional displacement yacht.

Fashionable provenance is a story, but the value of a yacht is more closely connected to construction, maintenance and operating suitability. An owner considering AQUILA should assess the age and condition of the hull, access to machinery, the effectiveness of sound insulation and the practicality of her relatively fast propulsion package. A vessel created around one owner’s preferences may be highly individual. Whether that is an advantage depends on how closely the next owner’s programme matches the layout.

Recent refit work and a RINA survey

Royal Yacht International highlights substantial work undertaken between 2022 and 2024, including exterior and interior improvements, repainting and major machinery attention. It also says the yacht completed her RINA 20-year survey in 2024. Those assertions provide a useful checklist for a prospective inspection, particularly on a vessel built in 2004. They should be verified through shipyard invoices, class documentation and the final scope of work rather than assumed from the headline.

Paint and interior updates improve presentation but do not answer every engineering question. Independent surveyors should examine structure, seawater systems, corrosion protection, main-engine hours and the history of the waterjet drives. The reported refit could be a strong selling point if records are comprehensive. Equally, a buyer must understand what was not replaced and which future surveys are due. Current technical documentation will be more valuable than an undated gallery.

Waterjets and advertised 26-knot performance

The brokerage lists twin 3,700-horsepower MTU engines driving Kamewa waterjets and quotes a maximum speed of 26 knots. This is a substantially different operating proposition from a long-range, low-speed displacement superyacht. Waterjet propulsion can support a responsive yacht, but the machinery, controls and jet units introduce specialist maintenance requirements. The reported speed should be treated as an advertised capability subject to loading and current technical condition.

Buyers should request a sea trial with accurate fuel-flow measurements and full records for gearbox and jet servicing. Machinery access, vibration, manoeuvring response and noise should be examined at the speeds likely to be used, not only at maximum throttle. The operational budget will vary significantly with cruising speed, berthing pattern and professional crew. It is worth comparing AQUILA with similar performance-oriented yachts before equating her price with slower vessels of comparable length.

Five cabins and a dedicated cinema

AQUILA is advertised with five guest cabins accommodating ten people, including a full-beam owner’s suite. The upper deck includes a dedicated cinema room with an 86-inch screen, while the exterior arrangements provide a Jacuzzi, flybridge dining for 12 and a variety of lounge areas. The broker also highlights zero-speed stabilisers. Together these features present the yacht as a social platform where entertainment and shared time aboard are central to the layout.

The practical questions are how the spaces work during different seasons and with a full guest complement. Dining for 12 is useful only with adequate service circulation and weather protection. A large cinema may be impressive, but owners should inspect lighting, acoustic treatment and whether the room could serve another purpose. Stabiliser performance should be demonstrated at anchor as well as under way. The inventory must clarify all audiovisual equipment and other sale inclusions.

What inspection should establish

A €9.9 million asking figure makes AQUILA an identifiable candidate for buyers willing to consider a distinctive, fast superyacht with a recent refit history. It does not establish an achieved sale price. The broker’s update offers a useful summary of performance and accommodation, but owners should investigate title, tax documentation, the condition of the waterjets, class and flag status, and the cost of operating a twin high-output engine installation.

The opportunity is not simply to buy a 41-metre Baglietto. It is to acquire a specific, twenty-two-year-old vessel whose character, maintenance investment and machinery choices will influence every journey. Royal Yacht International’s new agency appointment may make enquiries easier, but a decision should follow formal surveys and an unambiguous equipment list. The most convincing sale will be supported by records that show how the yacht has been cared for across its entire life.

Source: official Royal Yacht International announcement. Further model and broker information: original builder or broker material.