Sunseeker Superhawk

By Phil Draper

I was more excited than usual as our crew cruised away from Sunseeker’s site at West Quay Road. I have done this run many times, and it’s invariably a joy, but this time, I was aboard the builder’s Superhawk 55. It’s the first open cruiser the British yard has built in ages, and it’s a return to what made Sunseeker world-famous.

Beyond being home to Sunseeker, Poole Harbour’s claim to fame is being Europe’s largest natural harbor. That morning, it felt like it. We chugged out through the navigation channel traffic, past the majestic Brownsea Castle, and past the sloping lawns and exclusive terraces of Sandbanks, some of the most expensive real estate in England. Finally, we reached the Poole Bar Buoy and open water.

Throttles opened. Worth the wait? Absolutely yes.

The twin 725 hp Volvo Penta IPS950-D11 diesels max out at 2,550 rpm, which, during my runs at about half-load in a gentle breeze and very little swell, gave us a top-end speed of 37 to 38 knots. Sunseeker says the hull form is completely new. It strikes a great balance between planing efficiency and a rewarding driving experience. The Superhawk 55 easily sliced the wave crests we generated, and the yacht heeled satisfyingly into the turns, especially with the wheel hard over. Having the driving position on centerline is a definite bonus.

Allowing for a 10 percent reserve, expect a range of 200 to 225 nautical miles. According to my numbers, this yacht will run all day at 2,000 rpm and around 25 knots.

Sunseeker’s first real “hawk” was the Tomahawk 37. Then, in no particular order, came the Thunderhawk 43, Hawk 27, Mohawk 29, Hawk 31 and Tomahawk 41. Over the years, there also were several Superhawks, namely the 34 (famous for the River Thames chase sequences in the James Bond film “The World Is Not Enough”), the 40, the 43, the 48 and the 50 that had surface drives and topped out around 50 knots. There’s also the current 60-plus-knot Hawk 38, which is a dayboat with a center console and outboards. Most of the older Hawks topped out at 40 to 46 knots.

Sunseeker has virtually stopped using wooden decking. This Superhawk 55 had a light surface made of Sikafloor Marine-595 Antarctica throughout the main deck. The mock white caulking creates striking patterns.

The 2,000 hp MAN diesels on the Ocean Alexander 32E are Tier 3 compliant for Environmental Protection Agency emissions standards, and they have a MAN gold-standard warranty for 60 months. A V-12 designed for luxury yachts, this four-stroke engine has strong torque to 2,100 rpm and displaces 24.2 liters (1,476 cubic inches).

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