PRESTIGE F5.7: A Flybridge Yacht Built for the Real World

This article originally appeared in the February 2025 issue of Power & Motoryacht magazine.

By: Chris Dixon

It’s always nice to step aboard a yacht whose designers are clearly aware that despite the necessary rosy videos touting luxury amidst calm seas and wine-infused sunsets, yachts also need to function in the real world. That means running safely through heavy weather with railings that will keep you aboard and anchors that are actually deployable from a heaving deck. It means grab points, and access to vital mechanical components in an engine room that won’t bake the mechanic. Or if the weather’s splendid, maybe it means windows belowdecks to circulate air—or remove it when the head exudes too much Chanel N°2.

On these sorts of considerations, I found PRESTIGE's new F5.7 particularly well sorted. I visited this newest, 57-foot member of the seven-boat F Line in Cannes. Though this is the second yacht in the F-Line’s third generation, she bears similarity to her 42- to 70-foot siblings: fairly high sides—particularly forward—a flared, Michael Peters-designed hull, mammoth glass expanses around her main deck salon and a sleek, steeply raked forward windshield. She’s rounded out by a swim platform that can hold an 800-pound tender and a luxurious flybridge that accentuates her height. 

MAIN DECK

Approaching from the bow, a substantial stainless-steel plate just below the anchor was crafted by designer Camillo Garroni to not only to look cool, but protect the hull. Boarding from the swim platform, I was immediately impressed with the gear garage and a low glass wall that opens views from the main-deck dinette down to kids frolicking in the water. 

Two steps up from the platform lies the main-deck cockpit. The fore-to-aft dinette and its folding table could seat eight between sofas and comfy stools. Floors are made from a relatively sustainable African wood called Iroko (PRESTIGE calls it “Iro-Deck”). Handsome cockpit and flybridge folding tables are made of another teak lookalike called Doussié. Folded up, they offer not only grab rails but four cupholders. 

To port, Corian countertops fold up to reveal cockpit storage and a sink. To starboard, the same countertops hide a joystick for docking with the Volvo Penta IPS. 

THE INTERIOR SALON

The salon lies on the same level as the cockpit. A portside galley opens to the cockpit via a huge retractable window that opens to a galley bar—a terrific social feature. A hefty sliding door combines with that window to seriously open the F5.7. The galley itself is fairly small, but full service—dishwasher, four-burner induction cooktop and a near full-size fridge/freezer (an icemaker sits off the cockpit outside). Natural white stone countertops cap everything beautifully. 

The salon is blonde, beige and gray—a luxurious design by Valentina Militerno de Romedis. It’s brightly illuminated by giant top-to-bottom windows (with a burly sliding door to starboard) and very cool ribbons of LED ceiling lighting that resemble raceways from the film TRON. A vast C-shaped lounge runs almost to the helm—capable of seating eight. It surrounds a big table, which, with leaves deployed, creates a salon berth. 

Across from the lounge, the two-person helm seat is a PRESTIGE-first parlor trick. Its backrest flips forward and the seat lowers to create a rear-facing chaise. The helm itself is ergonomically correct; throttles, joystick and bow thrusters at the right-hand fingertips, triple Garmin screens—with Garmin’s remarkable Surround View system for docking and full control of climate—and a fourth Volvo Penta screen to monitor the IPS. There are Zipwake controls, redundant switches and a nice leather-wrapped grab rail to keep you from wiping out when leaving the helm or descending the stairs. 

BELOW DECK

Down those stairs, the huge full-beam master suite is forward in the bow with a king-size bed and at least six and a half to seven feet of headroom. There’s plenty of room on either side of the bed for maneuvering and very cool angular wooden shelves with beautiful dark stonework on either side. 

The VIP suite lies amidships with gobs of storage and a cool, angled double-bed setup for easy access to both sides. An en suite head and big closet separate the VIP from engine noise. The third guest cabin is small, with a pair of twin berths that can be optioned to slide together to create a double. 

THE FLYBRIDGE

Up a handsome chrome-pedestal staircase rises the flybridge. There’s a twin-seat helm to port with nearly the same full setup as the main helm. A roof covers nearly the whole flybridge, but a huge retractable fabric sunroof not only saves weight but invites copious sky. 

ENGINE ROOM

The engine room is easily accessed from a cockpit hatch. PRESTIGE gave easy access to filters, the Seakeeper 6, the 17.6 kW Onan genset and twin 600-horsepower Volvo Penta IPS drives that should give the F5.7 a 27 knot top end with an efficient 23-knot cruise and a 225NM range. PRESTIGE envisions this boat to be mostly bought by owner-operators, but there is a separate single-crew cabin accessed through a door at the back of the salon. It’s a small, but sleepably cozy space with a toilet and a sink, but no shower. 

Safety, practicality, fuel economy, beautiful design and a ton of thoughtful touches. For families in particular, the F5.7 should check a lot of boxes.