Bluegame BG72 Builds on Strong Platform
Italy’s Bluegame newest model combines the aft-platform and lower-deck saloon of its ground-breaking BGX series with the open style of its BG range. Bluegame is one of the fastest-growing superyacht brands in Asia and the BG72, which made its debut at the Cannes Yachting Festival, shows why the yacht builder has a place at a table with some of the industry’s iconic brands.
For the BG72’s world premiere at this year’s Cannes Yachting Festival, Bluegame’s newest model was nestled with a BG42, BGX60 and BGX70 among an imposing selection of Sanlorenzo yachts ranging from the SX76 to as big as the SD126, a 38m superyacht with a volume of 314GT.
Although towered over by flybridge and trideck models from their sister brand, Bluegame boats sat proudly in the heart of the Jetée among the show’s leading exhibitors, with Azimut and Ferretti Group models along to the left, Princess and Sunseeker to the right.
Having then shown at the Genoa International Boat Show, the BG72 even leveraged off Sanlorenzo’s muscle to appear at the Monaco Yacht Show, where she was the smallest boat on display in the world’s premier superyacht show.
In the same way Bluegame’s recent rebirth has been propelled by its mother company, so the brand is fast emerging in Asia under Simpson Marine, which has been Sanlorenzo’s exclusive partner in Asia since 2015.
After also taking on Bluegame last year, the region’s biggest dealer brought the high-profile BGX70 to Hong Kong to kick-start the brand’s presence, which has proved its worth. The company now has similarly high hopes for the BG72, which has many of the BGX70’s attributes but with an open-style main deck.
Nick Stratton, Sales Manager for both Sanlorenzo Asia and Bluegame Asia, says, “The BG72 shares aspects with the BGX70 like the iconic profile, plus the huge platform and the aft lower-deck saloon, which aren’t seen on any other brands. The beam and the social spaces, especially on the magnificent stern platform, provide a new way of life at sea.
“However, like all models in the BG range, the BG72 has a spacious, bright and airy main deck. It’s a great boat, with enhanced circulation between the lower and main deck, and even more light in the lower saloon. Owners love the modern styling, and we expect it to be equally popular as the BGX70.”
Bluegame’s Growth in Asia
It’s a bold statement considering Simpson Marine has announced sales of three BGX70s, a unit of the BGX60 that debuted in late 2020 plus one and two hulls respectively of the open-style BG62 and BG42 that kick-started Bluegame’s rebirth three years ago.
Sanlorenzo had previously owned the brand founded by Luca Santella until the financial crisis of 2008 led to it being put on the shelf in 2012. The two-time Olympic sailor later became Design Development Manager at Sanlorenzo and worked with Zuccon International Project on the SX range.
After Santella revealed designs showing how Bluegame could help ‘extend’ the SX concept to models smaller than the SX76, Sanlorenzo Executive Chairman Massimo Perotti moved to revive the brand.
“When Sanlorenzo re-introduced Bluegame as part of its portfolio, it marked a rebirth of an attractive niche brand for a specific kind of customer, but now the brand is growing very quickly worldwide and that also includes Asia,” Stratton said. “Bluegame takes advantage of Sanlorenzo’s quality and expertise in build but addresses owners looking for smaller sizes.
Knowing Sanlorenzo’s reputation, customers feel confident about Bluegame, so growth is significantly quicker than introducing a totally new brand to the market.
“It’s a brand that innovates, is different but also bespoke. The yachts look trendy and streamlined, have a very pleasant circulation and feel of spaciousness.”
While the BG42 and BG62 were updates of former Bluegame models, it was the BGX70 that made the brand a true influencer in the motor yacht world. Sanlorenzo’s SX88 and SX76 featured extra long swim platforms just a few steps from a clear-backed cockpit, providing more living space close to water level. However, the two-deck BGX70 took the concept to a new level.
Designed by Santella with Zuccon and with a hull by Lou Codega, it made the platform even longer and included an aft saloon on the lower deck, which also housed the guest cabins. The more conventional main deck features an aft cockpit, enclosed saloon, galley and helm, as well as an open foredeck.
Rearranged Lower Deck
The BG72 shares the same 18ft-wide Codega hull, housing the Volvo Penta IPS drives under the aft deck, but it’s a lot more different to the BGX70 than initial glances suggest. Among changes are an almost completely reconfigured lower deck with an aft master suite option, a completely new main deck befitting BG’s open style, while even the bow area has been redesigned.
In fact, even the huge platform has been lengthened aft, with the BG72 more than 3ft longer overall than the BGX70. Furthermore, instead of only starboard stairs to the main deck, there are also stairs to port.
The hull shown at Cannes, Genoa and Monaco features the standard aft-saloon option, while the owner chose distinctive materials and colors, including Canaletto walnut wood plus leather and fabrics in light and blue tones.
Compared to the BGX70, the entrance is now on the port side, while the room itself has been extended and rearranged. In the absence of enclosed dining on the main deck, a dining area has been included on the port side, where it sits alongside the semi-enclosed, L-shaped galley.
The lounge is to starboard and has an improved layout, with an L-shaped sofa allowing views aft of the platform and water. There’s also room for chairs by the sliding glass doors, which provide more natural light than on its predecessor.
The central corridor leads to a hallway accessing the three en-suite guest cabins, starting with twins port and starboard. Forward are the stairs and the owner’s suite, which has an aft-facing bed against a mirrored bulkhead and an elegant bathroom to starboard.
The BG72’s alternative lower-deck layout replaces the saloon with the master suite, which would offer the owners stunning views and the opportunity to wake up looking over the water to the horizon. In this option, the saloon, galley and a twin cabin are positioned midships, with the VIP suite in the bow.
Breezy Main Deck
Accessible from either the exterior aft stairs or internal stairs up to the helm, the main deck has an open design that starts aft with a triple sunpad that’s not covered by the hardtop but can be by an attached bimini.
The sunpad looks forward to a sofa to port and an L-shaped sofa and expandable table to starboard, all offering a pleasant covered social area. There’s also the option of some informal alfresco dining as there’s a wet bar just forward of the sofas.
The impressive pilothouse has a reverse-angle windscreen and is enclosed on three sides, while the aft doors can shut when the room needs to be fully enclosed, whether for privacy or bad weather.
The double helm seat sits under a slatted sunroof and faces a nice display with three large Garmin screens, central throttle, joystick control and smart docking as part of the IPS system, which is renowned for fuel-efficiency. Like the BGX70, the BG72 reaches 28 knots with twin 900-hp IPS1200s and 30 knots with the 1,000-hp IPS1350s.
There’s easy circulation throughout the main deck and high bulwarks ensure safe passage to the foredeck, which features flexible furniture comprising a sofa and a large sunpad. As with the aft sunpad, this area can also be covered in a bimini, while the sunpad itself disguises the entrance to the twin-bunk crew cabin.
However, there’s one more sunbathing area, up on the roof of the hardtop. Accessed by a steep stairway forward of the port sofa, the simple sun deck features four adjoining sun pads across the hardtop, just aft of the sunroof.
There’s more to come from this brand next year with the BG54, which features many elements from the BG72’s open main deck and again shows a brand with a strong DNA that’s more than solely an extension of Sanlorenzo.
“Bluegame is the brand of the future for an active, younger, curious and lifestyle-focused owner,” Stratton says. “We believe the brand will keep growing in Asia and are awaiting eagerly its new models to join our expanding fleet in this region.”
Bluegame is well supported by Sanlorenzo, but the little sister is growing up fast and starting to make a name for herself.