Nominated for European Yacht of the Year and singled out by Yachting World as one of the stand-out yachts in its trial, the Italia 15.98 is a sophisticated, fast Mediterranean flagship with ocean-going manners.
Design and Construction
The hull and deck use sandwich construction, with biaxial and unidirectional glass fabrics, vinylester resin, and a PVC core of varied densities, all vacuum-infused. Carbon reinforces the highest-stress points. In the bow, carbon structural framings are laminated directly to the hull.
Amidships, a grid of galvanized steel stringers and floors forms a closed ring that distributes loads through the hull and deck. A watertight bulkhead separates the anchor locker and sail stowage from the living spaces for safety.
The hull has flared sections, with knee-high flare and deep deadrise forward. Yachting World described her Cossutti lines as long, sweet, and fast, with a quality of finish that is simply prima.
Keel, Rudder, and Rig
The standard keel is a 2.90 m T-shaped fin with a Weldox 700 steel blade and lead torpedo. It’s the more performant choice where draft isn’t a constraint; two L-shaped shoal-draft options are also offered.
The rudder is a high-aspect spade 2.50 m deep, with a blade that fishes 1.50 m. Steering is through two pedestals with fully separate, independent circuits, so a failure in one still allows the crew to steer from the other wheel.
The rig is a 19/20 fractional sloop with three orders of quartered spreaders. Its 24-meter mast is set slightly aft, creating a prominent bow triangle suited to gennakers and code zeros. The standard John Mast aluminum spar has discontinuous rod rigging and closed turnbuckles. A carbon mast-and-boom package is available on request.
All running rigging uses Dyneema-core rope, the halyards are flush, and the furling drum is recessed below deck and operated from the halyard winch.
Sailing and Handling
Test sailors found the Italia 15.98 fast yet purposeful on the helm. She sliced to windward at 8 knots in a Force 4 and tacked sharply, with a relatively stiff but direct feel.
Under a large gennaker, she accelerated into double figures, surfing at 11.5 knots and touching 13.5 in 20–24 knots true. The sail plan is powerful enough that properly taming it in cruising mode matters.
Cockpit and Deck
The cockpit follows maxi-yacht thinking and is divided into three zones. The central area is devoted to guests and relaxation, with a folding-leaf table and a recessed mainsheet traveler beneath the decking. A sunbathing area lies aft by the wheelhouse.
Four Harken Performa electric winches are within reach of the helmsman, so one person can manage the sails. The maneuvering area was judged genuinely ergonomic, with concealed bollards and wide, unobstructed foredecks.
That arrangement does have drawbacks. Writing in Yachting World, test sailors found the cockpit coamings far too low and the benches inadequate for protection, a consequence of keeping them low to preserve the boat’s sleek lines. The same review said the winch layout could make sheet-handling difficult and considered the overall cockpit arrangement too complicated for a typical cruising couple, despite the aft-sited primaries and mainsheet winches consolidating lines in front of the wheel.
Accommodations
The Italia 15.98 is a semi-custom platform with twelve interior combinations and two deck layouts. It can sleep four to eight people in two to five cabins. The owner can place the master cabin forward or aft; choosing the aft arrangement raises the cockpit to provide headroom below and adds a step in that space.
The port side of the saloon is the only constant element. Galley choices include an L-shaped passageway arrangement and a central U-shaped layout, while the C-shaped settee seats eight. Reviewers called the C-shaped galley superb and the stowage excellent. They also found the belowdecks style and sophistication consistent with the exterior.
A bow crew cabin with a sink and head is available. The engine room is wide enough to walk around in, and the test boat had a machinery room between the cabins, separate from the engine bay.
The Verdict
The Italia 15.98 is an elegant, soundly built flagship that sails as beautifully as she looks. It combines a refined Cossutti-Polli hull, Spadolini styling, and a genuinely customizable interior.
She rewards an engaged crew with real performance and offshore manners. However, her low coamings and busy cockpit call for experienced hands rather than a couple looking for relaxed two-person cruising.
Pros
- Long, fast Cossutti hull lines, with vinylester sandwich construction and carbon reinforcement at load points
- Independent dual steering circuits
- Performant T-keel, with shoal-draft alternatives
- Twelve interior layouts, a choice of forward or aft owner’s cabin, and a walk-around engine room
- Genuine offshore speed: 8 knots to windward in a Force 4 and surfing at up to 13.5 knots under gennaker
Cons
- Cockpit coamings and benches are too low to provide adequate protection
- Winch layout and cockpit complexity may prove difficult for a typical cruising couple
