With a light displacement of 13,669 pounds and 4,409 pounds of lead ballast, the 11.98 is conceived as a powerful sports tourer that can win races without becoming impractical for cruising. It carries a CE design category A rating, signaling offshore capability.
Design and Construction
The hull and deck are hand-laid E-glass and vinylester laminate with a 30 mm foam core, while carbon-fibre reinforcements and a composite sub-frame with carbon unidirectionals carry the main structural loads. Below the waterline, solid laminate runs along the centreline and around the keel and rudder areas.
The standard lead T-keel has foam-filled cavities that can accept additional lead granulate, increasing keel weight for offshore work. Polli kept the measured waterline relatively short: 10.06 metres against an overall hull length of 11.65 metres. A narrow waterline beam gives the boat a fine bow entry and a stern overhang.
The hull is full amidships and tucks in aft. Heavily flared topsides lead to a pronounced but very flat round bulkhead at the stern, while an aft chine and reverse counter stern give the boat its distinctive profile. A slim, deep rudder blade sits farther forward than is typical on a cruiser/racer. That placement makes the steering immediate, but also demanding.
Rig, Performance, and Handling
The 11.98 uses a 9/10 fractional rig with twin aft-swept spreaders, discontinuous rigging, and a full-width chain-plate base. Its high-aspect sail plan combines a minimally overlapping headsail with a 48-square-metre mini square-top mainsail. A German mainsheet system runs to just ahead of the twin wheels, and the traveller spans nearly the full cockpit width.
Test sailors found the boat silky smooth and light on the helm, responsive and comfortable in both light air and stronger breeze. In 5 knots, it made 3.8 to 4.0 knots upwind. As the breeze built, the boat carried an A2 from the fixed bowsprit and matched wind speed at around 110 degrees true. It later reached 7.0 to 7.5 knots in 10 knots of wind. Writing in YACHT, testers recorded 7.2 knots upwind at 40 degrees true in 13 knots.
The flat hull sides are intended to engage as speed builds, making the boat stiffer upwind and helping it plane faster offwind. This isn’t a boat for beginners: its direct steering and complex design reward experienced hands.
Accommodations
The interior has a symmetrical layout running from aft to bow, with two spacious aft cabins, a saloon with settee berths, and a double berth in the forepeak. In the Bellissima version, gloss-white surfaces, warm diffused lighting, tall lockers, leather upholstery, and carbon-look panelling create a bright, highly finished interior.
Nearly all the furniture is composite sealed with gelcoat, which keeps weight down. There are compromises, however. The saloon feels narrow, and the forward berth is only 1.90 metres long and built well into the bow.
The galley to port and navigation station to starboard are set at the same height, allowing the navigation worktop to extend the small galley. The keel-stepped mast passes through the aft end of the folding saloon table. Its position shows how far forward the cabin has been set to free up cockpit space.
Versions and Options
Italia Yachts offers two principal versions of the 11.98. The sporty-touring Bellissima has twin wheels, extendable cockpit benches, a fixed bowsprit, and a furling headsail. The Fuoriserie regatta version uses a tiller, short thwarts, a tuff-luff forestay, and symmetric spinnaker gear.
Buyers can mix components between the two versions, so a regatta boat may have twin wheels or a gennaker bowsprit. A water-ballast system holding roughly 400 litres per side was planned. At the time of the YACHT test, a fin keel without a ballast bomb was also being developed for IRC, though details were not yet available.
Known Issues
The deck non-slip is highly effective but aggressively textured, a feature that drew mixed reactions from test sailors. The composite fixtures are also secured only lightly so they can be removed for racing. That arrangement may concern cruising sailors who expect built-in furniture to feel more solidly fixed.
The Verdict
The Italia 11.98 is a sophisticated Mediterranean sports tourer that balances race-winning pace with genuine cruising comfort. Its short waterline, flat hull sides, and forward-positioned rudder make it quick and responsive, while the Bellissima version provides a bright, well-finished living space. It demands a competent crew but rewards them with performance and style.
Pros
- Short waterline and narrow waterline beam keep wetted surface low for light-air speed
- Carbon-reinforced sandwich construction, with solid laminate below the waterline
- Bright, symmetrical three-cabin layout with a clever dual-purpose navigation and galley worktop
- Proven race record, including Sugar 3’s win at the 2019 ORC Worlds
Cons
- Direct, challenging steering makes it unsuitable for beginners
- Saloon feels narrow, and the forward berth is short at 1.90 m
- Aggressive deck non-slip may be uncomfortable under bare feet
- Lightweight furniture is only loosely secured in place
