Design Brief & Intent
The core mission of the Mylius 50 was to resolve the age-old compromise between a stripped-out grand-prix racer and a heavy, volume-optimized cruising yacht. Alberto Simeone’s design brief focused on creating a "gentleman's racer" that could comfortably embark on multi-week summer cruises in the Mediterranean before seamlessly transitioning to elite offshore regattas, such as the Rolex Giraglia or the Middle Sea Race.
To achieve this dual identity, Mylius collaborated closely with notable interior designers—including Aldo Parisotto of the Parisotto + Formenton architecture studio, who was an early Mylius 50 owner—to craft a cabin space that feels like a high-end contemporary apartment rather than a cramped marine interior. The cabinetry utilizes lightweight composite backing panels skinned with high-quality, water-varnished teak, eucalyptus, or open-pore oak. Clean lines, flush-mounted overhead hatches, and recessed carbon-look details emphasize structural honesty while minimizing unnecessary weight. The layout keeps the heaviest cruising components, like the galley and refrigeration units, centered near the companionway and the yacht's pitch axis to optimize performance under sail.
Variations & Configurations
Throughout its production run, the Mylius 50 saw several refinement phases, most notably transitioning to a slightly modified hull form around 2020/2021 that featured a marginal increase in beam to 14.7 feet (4.48 meters) and an optimized T-keel drafting a deeper 11.5 feet (3.50 meters). The initial standard models sailed with a 9.84-foot (3.00-meter) draft bulb keel, which offered a practical balance for owners targeting standard cruising ports while still utilizing a highly efficient lead torpedo bulb.
Interior layouts were typically offered in two primary configurations:
- The Two-Cabin Layout: This arrangement prioritizes cruising comfort, offering a massive forward owner’s suite with a central double bed and dedicated en-suite head with a separate shower box, alongside a single aft guest cabin, a second head, and a spacious utility/crew space.
- The Three-Cabin Layout: Optimizing guest capacity for six people, this configuration splits the aft section into two symmetrical double guest cabins while retaining the large owner’s cabin forward and two heads.
The sail plan relies on a high-modulus Southern Spars carbon fiber mast and pocket boom. Standing rigging configurations varied from high-tensile Nitronic 50 rod rigging to ultra-lightweight, high-performance PBO synthetic rigging, which significantly reduces aloft weight to diminish rolling in a seaway.
Sailing Performance & Handling
Evaluating the Mylius 50’s technical metrics reveals a yacht engineered for exceptional acceleration and responsiveness. A sail area-to-displacement (SA/Disp) ratio of 27.75 points to an immensely powerful sail plan capable of generating high speeds in light air, where traditional cruising boats would be forced to motor. Under sail, this power is tamed by an impressive ballast-to-displacement ratio of 38.38%, with most of the ballast concentrated in a low-center-of-gravity lead torpedo bulb at the end of a high-tensile steel fin.
With a displacement-to-length (Disp/LWL) ratio of 115.96, the Mylius 50 sits squarely in the ultra-light displacement category. Downwind, when paired with an asymmetric spinnaker or gennaker tacked to the integrated carbon bowsprit, the hull transitions easily into a plane, readily hitting double-digit speeds in moderate breezes.
The yacht’s capsize screening formula of 2.08 is indicative of its modern, wide-beam hull shape. While this wide beam creates an exceptionally stiff sailing platform when paired with the deep bulb keel, it also impacts its comfort ratio, which stands at a lively 20.98. In a heavy head-sea, the lightweight carbon hull and wide, flat aft sections will provide an active, highly communicative motion. At the dual helm stations, the rudder stock—constructed from solid laminated carbon—delivers immediate, fingertip feedback, behaving more like a sportboat than a fifty-foot offshore cruiser.
Known Issues & Triage
Because of the advanced materials utilized in its construction, purchasing and maintaining a Mylius 50 requires a specialized marine survey approach.
- Ultrasonic Structural Inspection: Rather than traditional hammer-testing, the full-carbon composite hull and structural grid require non-destructive testing (NDT), such as ultrasonic scans. Mylius partnered directly with QI Composites—the same diagnostic firm utilized by America's Cup and Volvo Ocean Race teams—to inspect hulls during construction and record structural "medical records". Buyers should verify these structural records and commission a localized ultrasound of the keel attachment area and chainplates to check for interlaminar delamination.
- Keel Joint and Fin Maintenance: Given the massive righting moment generated by the deep draft and heavy bulb, the steel keel fin and its attachment to the carbon structural floor grid are subject to immense loads. Annual inspections of the keel bolts and the hull-to-keel joint are mandatory to identify any structural flexing or moisture ingress.
- Rod and PBO Rigging Lifespans: Performance-oriented rod rigging requires professional re-heading or replacement every 5 to 7 years, while high-modulus PBO synthetic rigging requires meticulous inspection for UV degradation and typical replacement within a 5-year cycle, representing a significant recurring maintenance cost.
- Teak-to-Carbon Adhesion: The flush deck layout features a full teak deck laid over a carbon fiber sub-deck. Over time, the differing expansion rates of the carbon substrate and the timber can cause localized adhesive failures or caulking separation, requiring targeted re-seaming.
Modernization & Upgrades
Many early-generation Mylius 50 yachts have undergone modernizations to align their cruising capabilities with contemporary technology.
- Lithium (LiFePO4) Conversions: The original 24V house electrical systems are frequently upgraded to high-capacity lithium-ion battery banks. This conversion allows owners to run heavy AC loads—such as watermakers, induction cooktops, and air conditioning—directly through high-output inverters without the noise and weight of a dedicated diesel generator, preserving the yacht’s strict weight budget.
- Propulsion Upgrades: While standard units were equipped with Yanmar or Volvo Penta diesel engines (often 55 HP to 75 HP) driving folding props on sail-drives, owners who focus on cruising have retrofitted low-drag, high-thrust four-blade folding propellers to improve handling in reverse and maximize efficiency under power.
- Sail Wardrobe Optimization: To match the yacht's powerful rig, modern owners favor membrane sails (such as 3Di or carbon-technora laminates), replacing older dacron or basic cruising laminates that struggle to hold their shape under the high loads generated by the Mylius 50's fast righting moment.
The Verdict
The Mylius 50 is an elite, high-performance yacht designed for the experienced sailor who refuses to compromise on speed, structural rigidity, or contemporary Italian style. It is not a passive coastal cruiser, but rather a highly sophisticated, active sailing machine that demands attention and reward at the helm.
Pros
- Exquisite all-carbon construction delivering an incredibly rigid and lightweight structural platform.
- Exceptional light-air performance and effortless downwind planing speeds.
- Minimalist, loft-style Italian interior design with superb fit and finish.
- Rigorous factory structural quality control backed by QI Composites ultrasonic diagnostic records.
- Clean, ergonomic flush deck layout optimized for short-handed cruising or fully crewed racing.
Cons
- Highly active motion in a seaway due to a low comfort ratio and light-displacement design.
- Deep draft limits access to shallow harbors, anchorages, and intercoastal waterways.
- Demanding and costly maintenance schedule associated with carbon components, rod or PBO rigging, and high-performance sails.
- Minimal internal storage compared to traditional, heavy-displacement blue water cruising yachts.
