Bellini Yacht has presented the Astor 68 at the Cannes Yachting Festival as the new flagship of its expanding Astor range. The 21.4-metre walkaround model builds on the brand’s emphasis on open movement and close contact with the water while adding substantially more volume, accommodation and long-stay capability.
Bellini introduced the project through a digital collaboration with Argentine artist and designer Andrés Reisinger before the physical premiere. The yacht itself remains a production engineering project, with a conventional propulsion package and a layout designed around practical use as well as the visual identity of the Astor family.
A 37-square-metre beach area shapes the stern
The defining exterior feature is a beach area exceeding 37 square metres and positioned less than one metre above the water. Bellini uses a multi-level arrangement to connect that lower waterside zone with the saloon and forward social areas above, giving the stern more of a terraced character than a single-level cockpit.
That layout follows the broader direction of the Astor range, which places walkaround circulation and outdoor living at the centre of the ownership experience. On the 68, the extra beam and length allow those ideas to be carried into spaces intended for longer stays rather than only day-boating.
Four guest cabins fit within the 21.4m platform
The technical specification lists four guest cabins plus two crew cabins, with three guest bathrooms and a separate crew bathroom. Bellini quotes a maximum beam of 5.99 metres, which helps provide the volume needed for the accommodation while keeping the yacht within the sub-24-metre category.
The lower-deck arrangement is supported by larger hull windows and an emphasis on natural light throughout the design. For owners comparing yachts around 20 to 22 metres, the combination of crew separation and four guest cabins can be significant because it broadens the yacht’s usefulness for family cruising and longer trips.
Volvo Penta IPS provides two power levels
Standard propulsion is listed as twin Volvo Penta D13 IPS1200 units of 900hp each, with IPS1350 engines of 1,000hp each offered as the higher-output alternative. The pod-drive arrangement gives Bellini a compact machinery solution while also bringing joystick handling and the manoeuvring characteristics associated with Volvo Penta IPS.
The Astor 68 has a quoted light displacement of about 37.5 tonnes and a loaded displacement around 46.5 tonnes, so propulsion selection will influence more than maximum speed. Owners will need to consider cruising profile, fuel use and expected loading alongside the attraction of the more powerful option.
Cannes completes the transition from reveal to yacht
The June announcement established the design story and confirmed Cannes as the venue for the world premiere, but the September show is the point at which the Astor 68 becomes a yacht buyers can assess in person. That matters for a model whose appeal depends heavily on proportions, deck flow and the relationship between the beach area and the upper living spaces.
For Bellini, the 68 also demonstrates how quickly the Astor line is expanding beyond the smaller dayboat segment. A 21.4-metre flagship places the company firmly into the larger luxury-yacht market while staying below the 24-metre threshold that defines Luxury Yacht Guide coverage.
