VESSEL REVIEW | Betsy – Fast displacement 54m yacht for Western Mediterranean charters

Italy's Overmarine Group has handed over Betsy, the fifth example of its 54-metre (180-foot) fast displacement motor yacht, following a three-year construction project.

The Cayman Islands-registered yacht was launched at Overmarine's Pisa shipyard on June 24, 2026, and then moved to Viareggio for final commissioning before her delivery in late August.

Betsy has a beam of 9.01 metres (29.6 feet) and a half-load draught of only 2.3 metres (7.5 feet). Both the hull and the superstructure are of aluminium.

According to the builder, the displacement is approximately 410 tonnes at full load and 380 tonnes at half load, and gross tonnage is under 499 GT.

Improved hull form over deep-V and other contemporary designs

The yacht’s hull was designed by naval architect Pierluigi Ausonio in collaboration with Overmarine's engineering department. Ausonio has described the form as "fast and surface piercing". The hull passes through the sea surface instead of planing and uses dynamic lift to control longitudinal trim while remaining in displacement mode at high speed.

The stern has a round-bilge form intended to house the four shaft lines and to keep water flowing cleanly to the propellers. Further forward is a dynamically surfacing bulbous bow and a spray rail.

CFD calculations conducted on the hull indicated 15 to 20 per cent less resistance at 30 knots and 50 per cent less at 15 knots compared with hulls of the deep-V or double-chine types that lack bulbous bows.

The design originated with Overmarine's need for a hull that could reach a 30-knot top speed while remaining below 500 GT. The yard chose to develop its own hull with Pierluigi Ausonio. It also drew on its previous experience with four-engine installations, but used shafts and propellers instead of waterjets.

Propulsion comes from four MTU 16V2000M96L diesel engines, each rated at 2,600 hp (1,900 kW) at 2,450 rpm. The builder specified the engines as compliant with IMO Tier II and US EPA Tier III emissions standards. Each engine drives its own shaft line with a fixed-pitch propeller while stabilisers operate both at zero speed and underway.

Mangusta Yachts listed approximately 29 knots as Betsy's maximum speed at half load, with 20 knots as the cruising speed. The builder said the yacht can travel up to 4,200 nautical miles at an economical 12 knots. Tank capacities are approximately 71,000 litres (16,000 gallons) of fuel and 12,000 litres (2,600 gallons) of freshwater.

Ample indoor and outdoor amenities ideal for warm climates

At the stern, a beach club gives guests access at sea level. It also has an opening transom door and two fold-down side hatches that widen the aft area when deployed.

Alberto Mancini and Overmarine are credited with the exterior design, and the interiors are by Overmarine. The builder's model specification indicated that up to 12 guests can be housed in five cabins while the nine crewmembers have access to five cabins.

Betsy has been offered for charter in the western Mediterranean since September.