- Military DNA, Superyacht Style: Built on proven military-grade aluminum hulls, the TYKUN X blends rugged performance with refined Italian design
- Powerful & All-Weather Ready: Reaching up to 55 knots and handling rough seas with ease, it’s built for both thrill and comfort
- Fully Custom, Future-Ready: From tailored layouts to a hydrogen-powered version, TYKUN sets a new standard in custom chase boats
The key to any performance chase boat or tender is balance – between performance and seaworthiness; between comfort and capability; and between proven design and customisability. This focus on balance is what has driven the development of the all-aluminum TYKUN X, and the result is a stunning success.
The first hull was not just shown but demonstrated at the Monaco Yacht Show, offering a glimpse into the supreme practicality and formidable performance this 10.5-meter model provides. The TYKUN X combines Italian know-how and Made in Italy philosophy with prodigious experience in a rigorous sector.
Behind TYKUN is Cervia-based MED Group, a shipyard that has spent the last decade building hundreds of specialist high-speed aluminum vessels for public administration and the armed forces.
The concept and design of the TYKUN range – which also currently includes proposals for 8-meter and 12-meter versions – was developed by MED Group in collaboration with renowned architect Tommaso Spadolini and strategic advisor Benedetta Iovane (also known as The Luxury Yacht Lady).
For MED Group CEO, Marco Galimberti, the move from military projects to superyachting wasn’t as big a leap as you might think, not least because the nature of the shipyard’s previous projects meant that most were custom-built to meet a specific role or purpose – the epitome of the custom superyacht chase boat ethos. “More than 90 percent of our business has been military, so in 2024 we decided to try applying our knowledge to build something for superyachts that is different from what’s offered currently,” enthuses Galimberti.
“We chose aluminum – it’s more complex, but it allows us to handcraft each boat for high performance and high safety. That makes it ideal for moving between anchorages or as a high-end villa dayboat.”
Hard runs on high seas
Apart from the carbon fiber hardtop, everything else on the TYKUN – including the hull and the superstructure – is built in aluminum. “It’s lightweight, it’s reliable, it’s easy to repair, and it’s recyclable,” Iovane explains. “Most of all, you have a high level of customization, so depending on an owner’s needs, every aspect of the layout can be modified. Also, the TYKUN is born from a military hull, so it is already tested in those vessels, and it’s incredible – the seaworthiness is second to none.”
It shows. Take the TYKUN out of the harbor and you quickly realize that the limits other chase boats and tenders face present no barriers to the TYKUN X. In nominally flat conditions with four passengers and 400 liters of fuel on board (essentially at half load), the TYKUN has already topped 52 knots with the twin Mercury Verado 400 engine option and will achieve more if you opt for a more powerful package, with confirmed performance reaching up to 55 knots.
But while calm-weather performance is suitable for general use, it’s when things turn ugly that the TYKUN truly stands out from the competition. Taking her out of Monaco into a confused sea with unpredictable waves running over a 2.5-meter swell proves the point – TYKUN X is an absolute breeze to drive, and just as comfortable for guests.
Thanks to its wide cruising range between 25 and 40 knots, TYKUN X allows owners to choose the most comfortable pace for themselves and their guests, while remaining stable and composed even in rough sea conditions: a true strength of TYKUN’s twin-stepped hull, designed by architect Carlo Bertorello.
Bring her onto the plane and she’ll tackle the seaway head-on at 17 knots in comfort; go helm down a touch to take the seas beam-on and the X will happily run at a cruise speed of 27 knots while providing a dry ride even on the occasion she does launch from a crest. The aluminum twin-stepped hull lands comfortably without a single creak, and the ride in these conditions remains as dry as cruising on a mirror-like lake.
The TYKUN X’s capabilities are really seen when you run with the seas on the quarter and open the throttles wide. Even in that confused sea state, she climbs to 42 knots and is happy there as you throttle from crest to crest, building your confidence and bringing smiles to your passengers’ faces. It inspires confidence, even when the weather turns. The hull also grips admirably in turns, and she remains predictable and fully controlled even when slaloming in less-than-ideal conditions.
Platform for relaxation
Of course, the TYKUN isn’t designed just to be a grin-inducing wild rider – she’s also built as a multipurpose guest platform. That means features suited to guest transfer and days out on the water, including a full-length foam rubbing strake encircling the hull; drop-down bulwarks that extend the cockpit space while at anchor; a configurable cockpit layout that, on the first hull, includes twin C-shaped sofas with twin dinette tables that drop to create daybeds or sun pads; a generous sun pad in the bow; and an interior cabin that offers a head as well as a V-berth under the foredeck for overnight use when needed.
There’s also a wet bar unit between the helm and cockpit seating that can deliver sink, fridges, grill – essentially, whatever you want to complete the onboard dayboat experience.
All this has been expertly combined in a striking design penned by renowned Italian architect Tommaso Spadolini. “This project was a joy from the start,” beams Tommaso Spadolini. “Marco Galimberti involved me in designing the TYKUN line, and right away I recognized the potential of this collaboration.
Once completed, the project generated so much enthusiasm that a client, for whom I had previously designed a 50-meter yacht, immediately decided to purchase the first unit. Part of the layout was then developed according to his specific needs, to create his ideal tender. I also designed alternative versions for different uses, all based on the extraordinary military-derived hull developed by MED Group. I just love this concept and the resulting design.”
Storage is also considered, from a warps and fenders locker under the rear sofa, accessed by hydraulic hatch, to more storage under the forward sunpad, and a handy niche as part of the aft cockpit sofa that would be perfect for Seabobs and other small toys or towables. The TYKUN X can also accommodate a wider range of conditions with the addition of clears that can be zipped and clipped around the hardtop frame to create an enclosed helm area protected from wind and weather.
Custom creation
The TYKUN X will soon be joined by a bigger sister, with a 12-meter XII model already under construction and the shipyard planning larger models. The shipyard’s flexibility is key, however, not just in terms of materials and color customization, but also in meeting the exact demands of each owner.
“In our military work, we only do one-off projects – every build is different, and for us, this is normal,” Galimberti states. “We don’t do industrial production – for example, this year we have done 14 different projects because public administration and the Italian army all wanted different requirements met. Essentially, for us, every boat we have produced since 2015 is already custom! This is our attitude, and this is the reason we chose to do the TYKUN series.”
As a tender or chase boat, he continues, following the mother ship’s style or creating other custom design elements is part of the package. “If someone wants something different, we can do that,” he says. “We have our Boutique line – the base TYKUN tenders and chase boats – and the TYKUN Atelier, which allows you to customize your TYKUN, for this reason.”
TYKUN X – Interiors and Details
Future perfect
It doesn’t stop there – MED Group has already developed a version of the TYKUN that uses the same hydrogen-powered fuel cell propulsion system as the chase boats built for the 37th America’s Cup. “We partnered with TESYA Group, who worked on the Bluegame chase boats for the last America’s Cup, and we have already designed and engineered the hydrogen version as well as getting it pre-certified,” says Galimberti.
“An owner could order one today and take delivery in eight months. In fact, our TYKUN H1 hydrogen proposal won the Blue Wake Award for Tenders/Water Toys at the 2025 Monaco Yacht Show, recognizing our commitment to advancing sustainable maritime technology.”
