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ICE 70 RS, where performance meets the journey

Designed by Felci Yacht Design, the ICE 70 RS blends fast sailing with a lifting keel, composite construction, generous spaces and genuine offshore capability

ICE 70 RS combines performance, advanced construction and comfort in a 21-metre fast cruiser designed for long-distance sailing

The ICE 70 RS was not conceived simply as a more sporting version of a large cruiser. Developed by Felci Yacht Design together with the ICE Yachts technical team, it seeks to combine two qualities that are not always easy to reconcile on a 70-footer: the ability to sail quickly and the comfort required to spend extended periods on board.

At 21.30 metres, the ICE 70 RS belongs firmly in the fast-cruiser world, but its character goes beyond the category itself. Composite materials, sophisticated appendages, careful weight control and a design suitable for offshore racing coexist with cruising spaces and the extensive customisation possibilities that remain part of the Italian shipyard’s philosophy.

A yacht designed around sailing

ICE Yachts describes the 70 RS as a high-performance yacht developed to remain a complete, robust cruiser capable of long offshore passages. That distinction matters because it moves the focus away from performance alone and towards the ability to maintain speed, control and safety when the yacht is genuinely being used to travel.

The ICE 70 RS can therefore feel equally relevant on an offshore racecourse or during a long Mediterranean passage. The possibility of sailing with a full or reduced crew is part of the same approach: making the potential of a substantial yacht accessible without requiring every outing to become a professional racing exercise.

Draft that changes with the route

One of the yacht’s most interesting technical elements is its Cariboni hydraulic lifting keel. The possibility of varying the draft from approximately 2.8 metres to more than 4 metres has a practical impact on how a performance yacht of this size can be used.

With the keel fully lowered, the deeper draft supports stability and sailing performance. Raising it, however, gives the yacht access to a wider choice of marinas, harbours and coastal areas that could prove difficult for a deep fixed-keel yacht.

In the Mediterranean, this is more than a technical detail. It means being able to move from fast offshore sailing to a greater choice of destinations without abandoning the fundamental characteristics of the yacht.

Lightness without going to extremes

The hull uses sandwich composite construction combining glass and carbon. Weight control is central to the project, although ICE Yachts stresses that the pursuit of lightness should not come at the expense of structural integrity.

For a yacht intended for offshore sailing, this balance is fundamental. A rigid, lightweight structure helps the boat exploit its sail plan and respond more directly, but it must continue to provide strength when sea conditions deteriorate and loads increase.

The result is a performance-oriented approach that avoids turning weight reduction into an end in itself.

The pleasure of feeling the yacht accelerate

The sail plan makes the character of the ICE 70 RS immediately apparent. The configuration published for the model includes approximately 150 square metres of mainsail, 115 square metres of jib and a gennaker of around 388 square metres.

Those numbers become more meaningful when combined with relatively low displacement and the appendages developed by Felci Yacht Design. This is where the more engaging side of the project emerges: a large yacht intended to continue giving the helmsman a sense of acceleration, sensitivity and response.

Performance is therefore not only about outright speed. On a fast cruiser, the quality of sailing also comes from immediately feeling changes in wind, trim and sail settings.

The spaces remain those of a large cruiser

The sporting character does not remove the focus on life below deck. The ICE 70 RS has been developed with considerable scope for customisation, including different cabin and interior arrangements.

This approach reflects ICE Yachts’ semi-custom philosophy. Not every owner is expected to use the yacht in exactly the same way. Those planning longer periods on board may favour privacy and larger individual spaces, while owners who regularly cruise with more guests can select a different arrangement.

The aft garage also plays an important role in everyday use, providing space for the tender and equipment without compromising the areas dedicated to outdoor living.

A 70-footer that refuses to choose between racing and cruising

This is perhaps the most interesting aspect of the ICE 70 RS. The yacht makes no attempt to hide its sporting personality, but neither does it allow performance to become the only reason for being on board.

It can compete, exploit a substantial sail plan and provide the sensations expected from a performance yacht. At the same time, it remains a boat designed to travel long distances, welcome guests and spend days or weeks at sea.

In the Mediterranean, that combination has particular relevance. A passage towards Sardinia, a longer route through the Balearics and an offshore regatta can all belong to the same season and, potentially, to the same yacht.

The ICE 70 RS therefore treats speed not as an isolated exercise, but as part of the pleasure of travelling. When performance and destination cease to be separate worlds, a fast cruiser can express its character at its best.

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ICE Yachts, ICE 70 RS

21 August 2026
© MED Yachting Editorial Team
ICE 70 RS, where performance meets the journey
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The information in this article has been sourced from and adapted from official sources and/or press releases, in accordance with our editorial code of ethics.