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Ad Astra 60, a contemporary lobster yacht made for the Mediterranean

Downeast-inspired lines, twin 800 hp MAN engines and social spaces define the new Ad Astra 60

The Ad Astra 60 reinterprets the lobster yacht in contemporary form, combining 17.86 metres, three cabins, large glazed surfaces and a strong connection between indoor and outdoor spaces

The Ad Astra 60 starts with a familiar design language, that of lobster yachts and downeast boats, but avoids turning it into a nostalgic exercise. Its proportions, soft lines and cockpit character clearly refer to a specific tradition, while the layout, glazing and organisation of life on board are firmly contemporary.

The result is a yacht built around balance: between elegance and practicality, sheltered interiors and outdoor living, relaxed cruising and enough performance to move quickly along the coast.

A lobster yacht without nostalgia

Ad Astra describes the 60 as a meeting point between the tradition of downeast style boats and the evolution of the modern lobster yacht.

Exterior and interior design are by Guida + Engineering, while naval architecture is by Francesco Guida. The technical documentation identifies S&Y as the shipyard.

Rather than simply recovering an aesthetic from the past, the project uses that heritage to create a yacht for present-day use: straightforward to operate, with generous social spaces and a layout designed to reduce the separation between inside and outside.

Cockpit and saloon become one space

One of the main ideas behind the project is the relationship between cockpit and saloon. With the saloon door open, the two areas can function as one continuous social environment.

This approach is particularly suited to Mediterranean use, where life on board naturally shifts towards the exterior. The covered cockpit provides shelter while large glazed surfaces maintain constant visual contact with the sea and surrounding landscape.

The stern platform, positioned at sea level and equipped with electro-hydraulic movement, further strengthens this relationship with the water. The same area also incorporates a tender garage for a tender up to 2.85 metres long.

Three cabins without overcomplicating the layout

Below deck, the Ad Astra 60 offers three cabins and two bathrooms. The owner’s cabin features a double bed, while the two guest cabins use separate berths. Both bathrooms have separate showers.

There is also accommodation for one crew member with a separate bathroom, helping maintain greater privacy between guests and crew during longer cruises.

Rather than maximising the number of berths, the layout appears to prioritise clarity and comfort, in keeping with a yacht intended mainly for family and friends.

A galley that joins the social life

The galley follows an American-style layout and connects directly with the dining area for six guests. Once again, the design avoids excessive separation and favours a more open way of living on board.

The saloon can be converted into a comfortable dining area and features a panoramic roof, while the helm station has an ergonomic double pilot seat.

These choices express the character of the Ad Astra 60 particularly well: technical functionality remains important, but it does not dominate the way the interior is experienced.

17.86 metres with shaft-drive propulsion

The Ad Astra 60 measures 17.86 metres overall, with a construction length of 16.74 metres and a maximum beam of 4.75 metres. Maximum full-load draught is 1.21 metres, while declared full-load displacement is 24.7 tonnes.

Propulsion comes from twin MAN i6 engines producing 800 hp each, connected to shaft drives. The shipyard quotes a maximum speed of 32 knots and a cruising speed of around 25 knots.

These figures are consistent with a motor yacht that is not intended to chase extreme performance but to maintain useful passage speeds without moving away from its cruising character.

Autonomy and comfort for longer stays

Fuel capacity is 2,900 litres, with 1,000 litres of fresh water. Onboard systems include a 16 kW generator, 48,000 BTU/h air conditioning and an 80-litre boiler.

These specifications become especially meaningful when considering longer periods on board: not only short day trips, but coastal cruising where comfort, autonomy and ease of operation are just as important as speed.

The official documentation also highlights spacious technical compartments designed to make access and maintenance easier. It is less visible than the styling, but far more important when a yacht is used regularly.

An Italian project with plans to grow

Ad Astra is the new brand of Piloda Yachting, part of Piloda Group, which states a history extending over more than a century across sectors including construction, restoration and luxury yachting. Through Ad Astra, the group is expanding its presence in new yacht construction and refit.

The 60 therefore represents more than a single model. It is the first clear expression of a range that is beginning to develop, with an Ad Astra 80 already announced.

In this sense, the 60 is interesting not only for what it offers today, but also for the design language it establishes for the brand: classical references without rigidity, generous social spaces, practical use and a strong relationship with the sea.

A lobster yacht designed more for living than showing

The Ad Astra 60 does not attempt to reinvent the lobster yacht. Instead, it interprets the concept in a more open and contemporary way.

Large windows, continuity between saloon and cockpit, a sea-level stern platform and a relatively straightforward interior layout move the centre of the project towards everyday life on board.

That may ultimately be its most interesting characteristic: using a recognisable aesthetic without allowing it to become the real protagonist of the yacht.

Because the value of the Ad Astra 60 appears to lie above all in the way it invites owners to experience the Mediterranean: not simply looking at it through the windows, but allowing it to enter the living spaces on board.

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Ad Astra Yacht

18 September 2026
© MED Yachting Editorial Team
Ad Astra 60, a contemporary lobster yacht made for the Mediterranean
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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.