Photo courtesy of Italia Yachts
The new Italia Yachts 12.98 fits neatly between its big sister, the 14.98, and smaller sibling, the 11.98, in size, design, and purpose. While the bigger 14.98 is geared toward the speed-oriented sailor with luxurious long-term cruising in mind, and the 11.98 is focused more on the racing end of things, the 12.98 does a bit of both.
Cossutti Yacht Design has drawn a sleek, lean-looking hull with a comparatively narrow entry and more defined fore and aft rake than other models. “The result is a smaller wetted surface area for the benefit of performance in light wind conditions. Aft waterline sections allow a variable dynamic length, short in light wind, longer with increasing speed,” the builder’s website notes.
As with the 14.98, this boat has two versions, the more laid-back and luxurious Bellissima, and the more racing-oriented Fuoriserie, or Sport. The latter uses foam-cored cabinetry to reduce weight (this version is about 600 pounds lighter than the Bellissima), the interior is a bit simpler with more durable surfaces to resist wear and tear, there’s an option for a bowsprit that’s twice as long, and a deeper keel with a slightly different shape for optimal performance. Likewise, the cockpit layout is different for each, with the Bellissima focusing all trimming and sailhandling from the helm. Both have dual helms controlling a single rudder.
Belowdecks, Mirko Abore created the interior design, which is rich with diffused light and bright fabrics and surfaces to provide a sense of openness. The layout is traditional, with an L-shaped galley to port, a C-shaped dinette just ahead of it, and a settee opposite. One head is in the salon, the other in the owner’s cabin forward, though this can be exchanged for additional storage. Two cabins aft each have double berths.
As with the 14.98, the structure is carbon-reinforced and construction is vacuum-infused vinylester, all helping to make a stiff, strong boat.
Bellissima LOA 46’11” LWL 38’3” Beam 13’ Draft 7’3” Displacement 19,886 lbs Sail Area 1,178 sq ft (main and jib) 1,916 sq ft (gennaker) Sport LOA 48’7” LWL 38’3” Beam 13’ Draft 8’3” Displacement 19,280 lbs Sail Area 1,211 (main and jib), 2,099 sq ft (gennaker) Engine: 50hp Volvo Penta (both models)
New Boats & Gear 2024
