Sailing into soothing elegance - Sanlorenzo SL86A
- mymoderndarcy
- Jan 21
- 3 min read
Dear readers, while the sailing season may still be months away, luxury yachts remain timeless symbols of sophistication, seasonless luxury toys for those with an adventurous spirit and a deep affinity for the ocean. For connoisseurs of refined living and nautical lifestyle, few things compare to merging exploration and elegance into one seamless experience. Looking back a few months ago, several prestigious yacht shows took place in some of the world’s most glamorous resort destinations. First came the Cannes Yachting Festival, followed by the Monaco Yacht Show, both held in September 2025 in France. These events not only attract yacht owners and industry professionals, but also celebrate the art of luxury living, blending nautical chic with glitz and grandeur. Back in my city, Hong Kong also hosted its own prominent annual yacht event, the Hong Kong International Boat Show, which took place in early December 2025 at Club Marina Cove, just before Christmas; as always, visiting this show has become somewhat of a year-end ritual for me. Among the many stunning luxury yachts on display, the Sanlorenzo SL86A stood out as one of the most impressive yachts showcased.
Making its Asia-Pacific premiere, the SL86A yacht was presented by Simpson Marine, the region’s leading yacht sales and services company. To commemorate the occasion, they hosted an intimate cocktail event for VIP clients and yacht enthusiasts, featuring elegant collaborations with luxury brands including Baccarat and Guerlain, which seamlessly complementing the sophisticated aura of this floating masterpiece.
Stepping aboard the Sanlorenzo SL86A yacht feels like arriving at a private floating mansion. With an overall length of 26.82 metres, the yacht embodies contemporary Italian design and effortless comfort. The main salon, styled under the “Arcaica” design theme, combines tactile natural materials, included untreated wood, marble, and stone, matching with organic fabrics such as linen, jute, and silk as upholstery, the effect is immediately captivating: a balance of warmth, texture, and modern Italian elegance.
A clever layout redefines the flow of the main deck; By retaining only one of the external access passageways to the bow on the starboard side, this yacht created a more spacious living area and a natural separation between the main salon and the forward dining area, linked subtly by a discreet corridor that preserves both openness and intimacy.
Descending to the lower deck reveals four cabins, including a stunning full-beam master suite with high ceilings, a soothing neutral palette, and a smartly designed en-suite bathroom hidden behind sliding doors. On the opposite side of the bed, a cozy seating nook enhances the room’s homely luxury. A generous walk-in closet adds functionality (which initially I thought it was a nursery room), offering plenty of space for nautical fashion and haute couture alike. The guest cabins, styled with the same attention to comfort and tranquility, accommodate guests or children with ease while maintaining privacy for the owners.
For those who crave open-air living, the flybridge is a showstopper. With ample lounge space for entertaining, sunbathing, or enjoying cocktails under the shade of its shelter, it offers an unmatched panoramic connection to the sea and the sky. Wide side decks with high toe rails and stainless-steel safety railings ensure effortless and safe movement throughout the yacht.
Beneath its refined exterior lies serious engineering power: the SL86A is equipped with twin MTU diesel engines, capable of reaching a top speed of 30 knots, with a cruising speed of 26 knots and a range of approximately 355 nautical miles at 25 knots. This stunning yacht comfortably accommodates up to eight guests and three crew members.
As I thought back to the moment I stepped off the yacht from the aft deck, a cinematic image suddenly crossed my mind — the closing scene of “Emily in Paris” Season 5, where Chef Gabriel presents his carefully prepared cuisine to guests and his new boss, the hotelier billionaire Mr. Thomas Heatherton, on his luxury yacht. A lavish lunch unfolds beneath the sunlit sky, blending fine cuisine, charming company, and the endless allure of the ocean. For those who experience this luxury yacht firsthand, that same dreamlike scene may just become reality.
Image courtesy of Simpson Marine Hong Kong / Sanlorenzo Asia Pacific.