Avion Luxury International Airport Magazine
Luxury Italian mega yachts
The flag bearers of the Italian shipbuilding industry are those who produce high-quality designs, have a high-quality work force and produce high-quality leisure craft, and have experience in the management, care and hospitality of the ship. This Italian excellence in the world of yachting is the result of the many years' experience of certain shipyards devoted to construction and restoration; shipyards that were known initially for their production of large ships and later leisure craft. Genoa, La Spezia, Viareggio, Livorno, Ancona and Pesaro, to name just a few: a large concentration of the world-famous creators of these masterpieces are today found in in only a few places. We begin with Azimut, based between the mountains and the sea, which with the Grande 32 will surely get enthusiasts' hearts racing: it's not a Dantesque beast, but an elegant work of cutting-edge design, created by the hand of Stefano Righini. As always, this Azimut yacht is distinguished by its sophisticated lines, but also for a level of comfort and liveability never seen before in this segment. It is not the “usual” flybridge that welcomes guests, but a multilevel terrace aft, which brings privacy and sailing enjoyment to previously unknown levels. Innovation, however, is about more than just appearances: thanks to a wave-piercing bulbous bow and specially designed hull, it offers excellent marine features and energy savings of 30% more than other craft made in the past decade. There are still many “grand lady” characteristics, such as the full-beam large owner's cabin in the bow, which, as can be seen from a distance, is fully equipped with floor-to-ceiling windows.
In Baglietto, Francesco Paszkowski Design has developed the impressive My Silver Fox project, a 48-metre T-Line equipped with 350 m2 of interior space and an incredible 140 m2 sundeck. It has a very beautiful swimming pool in the stern and superior central area for al fresco living. Intended for international markets, this yacht was presented at recent yacht shows to stimulate the interest of a global sailing public and satisfy the demand for super luxury rentals. For this reason, a balanced selection of colours was chosen for the interior to create an atmosphere of elegance, using neutral tones, soft-touch fabrics and natural wood. A feeling of warmth and brightness was created by the clear colours of Italian walnut, combined with touches of gold and bronzed brass. One of the yacht's unique features is the so-called “beach club” which offers direct access to the sea: 47 m2 of secluded space, with steam shower, corner bar, and sufficient space for exercising or massages. The Genoan shipbuilder Tankoa has developed a very luxurious new 72 metres, Solo, again designed by Paszkowski in collaboration with Margherita Casprini for the interiors, which has some incredible details for its category. A touch of opulence is seen in the choice of interior woods, with the dominating colour being given by polished Macassar ebony. Many materials come from afar, such as the French and Indian marble, and the sauna wood from Finland, while the interior furnishings, for the most part, come from Italy. A variety of outdoor activities are on offer, thanks to a spacious central garage for 7.50 metre tenders and a forward side garage for water toys. The owner will be able to arrive in style using the aft helideck (with a 4.5-ton certification, sufficient for most twin turbine helicopters). But it is it the yacht's “green” features that are astounding. Longer than the Palinuro Navy school ship, this yacht promises to consume, at 10 knots cruising speed and with just one engine, only 195 litres of fuel an hour, which is the same as a boat four or five times shorter and with engines of a quarter of its power. With these figures, it could have a range of 7,000 nautical miles, sufficient to cross most of the longest routes in the Pacific Ocean.