This boat has a very singular design that makes it different to every other. But it is also functional and pleasant to be on when under way
by Niccolò Volpati
“Come back early tomorrow and I promise you we will go out”, I was assured by Valentin Mitev, the captain of the Manda S05.3 which is moored at Cannes. It was the third time that I had gone along the quay hoping to get on board and try out the boat. Luigi Manda, the head of the yard, had promised that I could, but it was a very busy time with the Yachting Festival on. It was understandable as the Mandayachts boats, all of them designed by Giovanni Ceccarelli, drew special attention and there was always a queue of visitors to get on board. It is a really unusual design, making it impossible to miss, and it is difficult to resist the temptation to visit it. And that is what boat shows are for.
The interiors have two entrances: one from the stern leading to the panoramic living area and one aft of the steering console with a ladder near the owner and guest cabins.
I wasn’t very optimistic the following morning. I thought Valentin Mitev was going to get rid of me with a “come back tomorrow” and free himself of the nuisance. But instead he kept his promise, and was waiting for me with the engines already running. “I wasn’t expecting that”, I told him “I assumed that it wasn’t going to happen”. “What on earth are you saying? I’m the boss round here”, he replied with a dazzling smile. Off we went, and outside the harbour wall the waves were half a metre and fairly steep, and were crossed by all of the wakes left by the yachts crossing the gulf.
There are two Volvo D8s with IPS transmission in the engine room. The feeling you get is immediately very positive, with the hull behaving well cutting untroubled through the waves, making the boat stable, well balanced and easy to handle. The V bow is perfect as the boat doesn’t slam on the waves, even when you might expect it to. It also handles extremely well when turning, and the positive feeling is accentuated by the optimal sightlines from the helm, with a very open console that doesn’t have supports or superstructure blocking the view. You can keep an eye on everything from there, something I realised because there is a lot of traffic off Cannes, especially during the Yachting Festival. But I was relaxed and we proceeded calmly. At top speed I clocked up 28.5 knots, but I would say that the most important detail is a planning minimum of under eleven knots. And the Manda S05.3 gets out of the water while using a total of just 63.5 litres per hour. It isn’t a hull that has any problem getting on plane, which means you have a broad choice of cruising speeds, something that normally comes from powerful engines that can get the boat moving very fast, but also use a lot of fuel. By contrast the Ceccarelli-designed waterlines mean you get that wide span of possible speeds without that.
As well as the living area there is the galley, while the master cabin – with separate bathroom – is in the bow.
It wasn’t just what was under water that struck me about the Manda S05.3. Both the deck and down below are really original, but it is important to make clear that this isn’t just a design that seeks to dazzle, and in fact it has been conceived with a particular use in mind. The reverse bow is something we could by now call a Ceccarelli bow, being a distinctive sign of the designer and something that sets it aside from other boats.
From outside the Manda S05.3 appears to have the characteristics of a fly bridge boat, and also those of an open and an explorer. The stern is a huge beach area, covering a full fifteen square metres, while you have to go up to get to the living room and the helm station. There are three steps, and it is almost as if you found yourself on a second bridge deck. The first good thing about that is the perfect sightlines from the helm station, in part because it is located higher up. The sun pads are located in this central area, and – protected by the hard top – also the sofas, dining table and kitchen unit. That immediately begs the question as to why exactly the area is raised. And the answer is that the enclosed dinette lies below it, as a full beam living space that looks onto the beach area. To get to it you just have to move the transparent pantograph door, which delivers a really unusual feeling. It is a closed and protected area, but nevertheless a very panoramic one. You are inside, but it feels as if you were outside, not least because you are at the same height as the water level. I thought about how functional it would be if there are children on board, and I saw how nice it is to sit on the sofa and watch the wake behind you when under way. And the same goes when you are at anchor.
Visibility from the helm station is also ideal because the main deck is raised above the aft beach area. The deck offers plenty of sunbathing and living areas. The layout is designed for enjoying outdoor life. And then there is the 15-square-metre beach area at the stern.
As well as the living area there is the galley, while the master cabin – with separate bathroom and shower cubicle – is in the bow, and that too is spacious and light. A second cabin is located half-way between the owner’s area and the panoramic stern dinette. Everything makes you want to stay on board for a long time, both the qualities of the hull and the experience you get either above or below deck. But at a certain point Valentin Mitev, the skipper, pointed to the quayside, which was already crowded with visitors queuing: “We’ve got to go back in”.
Engine room
The system is an IPS 800 with two Volvo D8 engines delivering 600 horsepower. This is more than enough power, especially since the hull’s water lines are very efficient.
MANDAYACHTS CANTIERI NAVALI
Piazza Vittoria, 6
80121 Napoli
www.mandayachts.it
PROJECT
Ceccarelli Yacht Design
HULL
LOA 15.00m • Maximum beam 4.82m • Fuel tank volume 1,800 l • Water tank volume 550 l • Standard propulsion 2x Volvo IPS D6 650 • Optional propulsion 2x Volvo IPS D8 800
MAIN PROPULSION
2x Volvo D8-IPS 800 • Outlet mechanical power 441 kW (600 hp) • 6 in-line cylinders • Swept volume 7.7 l • Maximal rotational speed 3,000 rpm
EC CERTIFICATION
CAT B
PRICE
1,200,000 € Excl. VAT and optionals
*The price refers to February 2026
(Manda S05.3 – Beautiful, and possible – Barchemagazine.com – Excerpted from Barche, February 2026)
