Horizon FD 80 - boat review
- Words, Boat Photography & Boat Video by James Dumergue
The image that comes to mind with a long-range cruising vessel is a traditional displacement hull with classic lines, modest windows along the typically wood-lined interior. Horizon has baulked at tradition and given their take on a long-range cruising vessel with the FD range. If you are a traditionalist, this will challenge your wiring, but if you’ve ever wondered how to see the world in modern luxury without sailing, then this boat should pique your interest.
Horizon has added the F, which stands for “fast” to the series which pleases some long-range cruisers knowing that they can hit the 20-knot mark when desired, go further and faster all without looking like they borrowed dad’s boat.
This new offering from the renowned yard allows you a Superyacht quality vessel with capabilities to go well beyond the Horizon in a style of craft that is a true statement wherever you go. A boat for your modern-day adventurer and entertainer, and it has form and function that emulate a modern lifestyle rather than preserve the past.
The bold design is very beamy at almost 7 metres, with a much fuller volume forward of the beam. It has given the square meterage similar to a 100ft vessel with a more marina friendly footprint, the Horizon 80 is big on personality, for a boat that can go far and wide, the destination has been as thought about as much as the journey.
When you consider where your average boat ends the main deck interior space, you can see the FD designers have looked at the underutilised real estate of the foredeck and raised the walls for the owner’s benefit. They have created an entertaining rooftop deck which has enabled the creation of an on-deck master below, unrivalled in the sub 25metre market. The on-deck master is a game-changer for owners who enjoy as much time on the water as possible. Easy access on the same level as the main deck is a significant change from the midships lower deck arrangement. The design has strived to maximise onboard ease, immerse the surroundings and connect more intimately with the environment.
Haute Cuisine by the very talented team from The Artichoke Restaurant located at our departure point, Sanctuary Cove was an absolute highlight of my time onboard. Single malts, bookended by a couture antipasto platters indicated that the seven-course degustation ahead would make it a memorable day on the tools.
Heading north, to Jumpinpin on the northern tip of South Stradbroke Island, the pick was set just off millionaires row.
The starboard side of the saloon is a visual masterpiece of design. The incredibly robust frame that goes from the floor to the ceiling houses one piece of super-duper glass with staggering diagonal equivalent to a 250-inch tv. Dealing with the eyeline limitation imposed by the bulwark, the FD designers have cut it away to almost deck level to give a virtually unimpeded view. In place of the bulwark are lifelines to maintain safety without compromising the vista. The adaptability of the saloon allows for the starboard side to have a full dining table or fold it in half and put it up against the glass for a front-row seat or altogether remove it for an unimpeded immersive experience from the saloon.
On my first trip, the dining table was in place, seating eight the inward-facing dinners are framed with our destination. It feels very different from formal dining on other boats of this size, almost like over the water dining from inside. Serving access behind allowed the delights to placed without interruption and the glasses refreshed without issue as the day of treats flowed from the main deck galley.
The Galley
Seeing a galley in action is a lesson in functionality for boat builders. The head Chef and Sous Chef from Artichoke worked alongside Grant the Executive Chef, a culinary artist taking an impressionist approach to modern dining. Like the FD80, the food was a blend of many of the great flavours that are typically separated. The team blended them into something new and exciting on the palette. Grant and the Artichoke team are masters not only of weaving different nations tastes into exquisite blends of flavours, but there were also masterful decisions with the texture too. Delightful Haute Cusine, deserving of an unhurried consumption for the full sensory delight of the seven-course degustation.
If you’ve had an aft galley arrangement, the most noticeable difference is the flow that the living spaces benefit from when the Galley isn’t taking centre stage in the aft of the saloon. This boat’s focus is on maximising all areas, both indoors and outside. By moving the hub to the centre of the main deck, it prevents bottlenecks when entertaining and connects the boat in the same way a kitchen does in a house. At some stage, you flow through this area, but you don’t need to pass through it to gain access to outside.
The Galley is, in my opinion, is the best I have seen on a vessel of this size. Fully closed off, it can function with three or four people preparing and executing a significant dining experience. It has flow and function, and the port side entry is right beside the doors to the outside walkway. Serving and clearing the aft deck can be done without passing through the saloon. The port side entry takes care of the inward flow, it has the trash compactor and sinks too, keeping the clutter out of the way of cooking and serving areas of the Galley. Below the serving counter are the plates and serving ware right beside the dishwasher for easy emptying. The hot side has functional bench space and can pass hot pans to the sink without travelling through the Galley centre. The full-size Refrigerator and pull out pantry is accessible by both serving and cooking sides but also from the starboard side entry.
If the port side entry is the pulmonary return, then the starboard side entry is the aorta connecting and sustaining the other areas of the boat. Outside this entry, the passageway connects with the on-deck master cabin forward, the flybridge stairs, the guest accommodation below and a couple of steps away are the starboard side deck doors that give access to the foredeck. The hub of the boat allows each area to be catered to or accessed, without passing through another zone. I think this is a remarkable achievement. Independent spaces that connect like a family home via the sustenance hub. The stools at the bench and the sound of the water from the open side doors makes this area feel connected to the environment like an aft galley. At the same time giving the soft and comfortable lounge to port an open breezy feeling. Great views and a level connection to the aft deck thanks to the full opening bulkhead that separates them.
After dining the boat showed its distribution and gravitation areas, the flybridge aft deck had a natural pull for socialising. Three stools with bar top are perched in front of the Jacuzzi for non-bathers to keep the conversation going with those taking a dip. The enclosed part of the flybridge with its commanding helm chairs are perfect for a one on one chat. The sky lounge has an enclosed head handy for entertaining and passage making, excellent viewing and a very loungey feel. The open plan and open flow are standouts. The opening side doors on the main and fly deck with full opening aft bulkheads allow fresh, natural air to flow through the boat. If you like giving the air con a rest, then this boat has the flow to live the indoor-outdoor lifestyle without the opening and closing of doors all the time.
The top deck has as much if not more than most boats on their main-deck of this size. The outdoor Galley consists of a BBQ station, drinks fridge, icemaker and an additional refrigerator. Enough refrigeration and storage for four to survive at least a week without leaving this deck.
With the tender removed via the 1500kg davit the real estate aft of the Jacuzzi is sun lounging territory. Perfect for lounge chairs or use the padded sun lounge from the Jacuzzi top. Ideal for both relaxing and knocking a golf shot over to the tee set up on the sandbank of Millionaires Row.
The flow and function have been achieved on this level as it has on the main deck. The foredeck is accessible on the same level via the port side walkarounds. Both sides flare further out in line with the bridge access doors. There is no exterior control station which allows the wireless yacht controller to use pinpoint accuracy and benefit from maximum vision. The eye-lines for berthing are superb on this vessel.
The FD 80 is available with an open bridge, but considering its impressive displacement range beckoning Pacific Island adventures or across to New Zealand, having the enclosed-bridge like this model, makes much more sense in this part of the world. Imagine cruising up the Milford Sound with the great backdrops of waterfalls terminating in the Fjord, framed by the saloon picture windows. Whether it’s Sydney Harbour on New Year’s eve or majestic scenery of the Pacific, this boat deserves to be a platform for viewing the magnificent scenery. Getting you there in comfort is the enclosed bridge, it’s laid out well with three helm chairs for passage making comfort. The three 24 inch navigation screens have plenty of space. The forward-tilted windows are a welcome feature; they remove reflections and give excellent vision to the bow. I want the middle of the dash to dip a little to allow improved viewing of the bow when seated, a small adjustment to otherwise excellent layout design.
The distinctive trawler style forward-facing windows give some protection from the elements to the cinematic seating that overlooks the large sun pad. Dual stairs sets descend to the safe working area of the bow. The bow locker is like none I have seen on a boat of this size. The blunt bow and full nose have created a cavernous locker with glassed-in shelving for storage of lines and hanging fenders and plenty more. Dual ladders descend with openings big enough for large items to pass through. A loud hailer system allows for accessible communication with the helm. Still, thanks to the anchor, thruster and engine control located on the yacht controller it’s an easy job for one thanks to the convenient access around the top level and the exact vision that benefits you from a control point of view.
Directly below the sun pad is the master cabin. Removing the centre cushion of the sun pad gives the master a view to the skies. Add to this the vision from the side hull windows, and you feel like you have your boutique resort that can change location to optimise all seasons. In line with the pillow height, the hull windows make you feel like you are part of your surroundings. Even the shower and toilet have a framed view that adds to the relaxed holiday feel.
For spending long stretches onboard the position of the master on the main deck is something that is an enduring highlight. Positioned a few steps from the Galley, it has immediate access to the helm and the ability to be outside from midships. This cabin, like the saloon, is another masterstroke in the design. This cabin will change your onboard living for the better.
Guests accommodations are on a different level below deck, having the master on the main deck and the generous beam and volume forward have resulted in bigger and better guest accommodations. Two sizeable ensuite VIP cabins are situated to port and forward. The third cabin is a twin that converts to a double enabling all guests that dine aboard to sleep onboard. Each of the guest cabins has generous ensuites with separate shower stalls and ample storage for more extended stays.
Below the aft deck is the FD Signature beach club. A sensational spot away from the sun but as close as you can get to the water without getting in. The floor of the beach club is 3 feet below the waterline, so standing is like being in waist-deep water. The eyeline is sensational, low light reflects and naturally lights the area. Bright skylights bring in natural light. Incorporating a galley in the beach club has made it the perfect spot to enjoy breakfast after a morning swim and operates very well as a bar too. Just forward of the beach club is a full bathroom with shower and twin accommodations for crew or extra guests.
Performance
Adventurers, this may be the platform you have been looking for, the sturdy hull design has used an intelligent system that maximises the hull length of a longer vessel by introducing a wave piercer protrusion. Horizon developed this with consultation from the Dutch design team from Cor D Rover, creating the proprietary HPPB or Horizon Performance Piercing Bow. The hybrid hull incorporates the tunnel design allowing for a draft of only 1.65 metres and provides a very comfortable ride. In footage shot during the test, you can see the difference to waterline length, once up to planing speeds you can more obviously see the wave piercer in action. The significant difference with this new style of bow protrusion is that it works at both high speeds for enhanced performance and at low speeds for efficiency. The result is less wave-making resistance and more stability over the longer waterline length, potentially saving a fair amount of fuel over long distances. On our run out of the Gold Coast Seaway, the conditions were beautiful and not challenging to the boat at all, cruising along at 10 knots we were burning a total of 60 LPH. At full speed, we were making 20 knots about a knot faster than the specs and consuming 440 LPH, deserving of the model name of fast displacement.
Who is this boat for?
People who want an open breezy, flowing beach house feel to their boat instead of the closed-in style. It’s built and proven to be a great entertaining platform. It has an impressive amount of space and multiple independent zones that encourage conversation and connections. Horizon has achieved a great deal in this package; the design enables significant usable space on all three levels.
Design in new directions brings with it aesthetics which is different from what has come before. The FD80 is an exciting and bold design, built on a stable hull it fluently connects the indoors with outside making the view onboard one of the most impressive features, and is themed throughout the boat. The FD 80 is a highly Functional Design with a new philosophy that takes onboard living in a positive new direction. It has brought with it a completely different feel, the openness, the immersive viewing saloon, and the rewarding on deck master have created layout changes to traditional that benefit all onboard. The beach club is enormous and desirable at all hours. Three levels of food and drinks entertaining stations, a rooftop sun pad and cinematic forward-facing seating. The design is all about the surroundings and merging them with onboard spaces, when experienced first hand, you see that the design is very fitting with the personality traits of this exciting new era of adventure platforms.
