Johnson

Launched in 2018 by Cerri Cantieri Navali, the 28-metre yacht Freedom belongs to a renowned Italian designer Roberto Cavalli, the founder and former Creative Director at an eponymous company. Despite reported financial difficulties the popular brand currently struggles with, as they closed their US stores, preparing to liquidate its North American operations as of March 2019, Cavalli’s net worth is estimated at $ 500 Million by CelebrityNetWorth.Freedom was launched as a fully-custom design by Cavalli himself in cooperation with his friend and fellow designer Tommaso Spadolini, who had also worked on Cavalli’s first yacht, 41m Baglietto RC. According to media, ‘Design me something that Batman would drive!’ were the seven words the Freedom concept was born from.This time, the owner was looking for something bold, unique and dramatic. As a result, the exterior styling features two sweeping arches framing the aft cockpit, and a metallic black hull and dark grey superstructure. The hull was painted with an iridescent livery that changes colour depending on the direction of the sun rays. Freedom was conceived for private cruising with Cavalli’s partner, three crew members and up to four guests within two cabins, including the master suite. Cavalli can enjoy his main-deck owner's cabin laid right behind the pilothouse, as he is keen to drive the yacht himself. The central skylight and four large windows allow for constant sea-view and plenty of natural light throughout the yacht. The main deck was designed with four slope steps allowing for the beach area and the main lounge appearing as continuous space close to the water. The yacht's tender is stored forward on the main-deck, positioned so to not disrupt the full walk-around deck and outdoor lounge areas.The yacht is trademarked with a low aft deck cockpit featuring sliding glass doors on three sides. Lowering the deck height was quite the feat of engineering, but Spadolini felt it was necessary to maintain the nautical contact that Cavalli had requested.Aiming for utmost privacy, Spadolini made the owner’s suite accessible only by a staircase from the main salon, that also serves as a private lounge when there are no guests on board.The yacht’s bespoke interior concept is trademarked with animal-skin prints for the upholdtery, golden details, strass-covered surfaces and lavish embroidery, reflecting the owner’s strong personality and distinctive features od the Cavalli brand. As a designer, Cavalli preferred to select all the materials, finishes and accessories for the interior himself. Performance wise, Freedom will be capable of reaching a top speed of 40 knots thanks to 3 Rolls-Royce water-jet engines. For other yachts by famous designers, check the 65-metre Giorgio Armani's Main and 50-metre Regina d'Italia Dolce and Gabbana.

Italian shipyard Baglietto has presented 43 m Baglietto Explorer designed by the Italian firm Santa Maria Magnolfi. The vessel was conceived with a view to create a real Explorer Yacht, inspired by work boats, that of warships and, obviously, the world of yachting.The concept represents a modified version of earlier presented project with a helipad. This version is rather designed for an owner who favours fishing or sailing with a small boat. Those ideas have been worked out to satisfy different requests.The yacht will be trademarked with a 58-square-metre upper deck entirely reserved for the owner. Access to the entrance salon may be open to everyone or limited. Furthermore, this version would hosts outside on this deck a 28’ sportfisherman boat as well as a 6-metre rescue tender, besides the enlarged dining area for 12 people. A panoramic area with sofa and table has been placed in the bow area.On the main deck, the large full-beam salon features an almost square layout and has ceiling-high windows on the bulwarks. The aft zone has been redesigned for open back space and a cosy conversation area in the shadow with a panoramic view and easy access to the sea thanks to a transformer system. A winter garden (an area that is considered as “outdoor” but is in fact enclosed by glazed surfaces and air conditioned) works as a transition between the salon and the aft area. This place can also be deployed as a TV room.The lower deck offers four guests cabins. Aft, there is a wine cellar with controlled temperature and humidity and a cold room fully dedicated to the fish storage.An external staircase allows to reach the sundeck, furnished with a sunbed area but featuring a much more minimal style, with teak having been replaced by polished flooring, typical of ice breakers and work boats. On this deck, the bridge house lies designed with military outlines in mind. The bridge house represents a lifting platform and an observation point for catching sight of whales or simply enjoying the views.In general, the interiors feature large glazed surfaces letting in plenty of natural light, vertical elements with metal finishes alternating with the pleasant shades of natural materials. Italian marbles and exotic woods come combined with ancient Moroccan straw mats and Indian silk fabrics; the large display cabinets and the wide shelves have been specifically designed to showcase precious objects gathered from seas across the globe. Baglietto is superyacht builder based in La Spezia, founded in 1854. In 2019, the shipyard has been active on the news, about to deliver the 55-metre vessel which is part of the yard’s well-known T-Line series and the lines of the 40-metre hull revealed.

The world premiere of the 50-metre flagship Race by Riva Yachts took place in Venice earlier today. The yacht was launched in March 2019 as the first model of the Riva Superyachts Division.Built for Italian customer, the yacht exceeds previous Riva flagship Fora (ex. Sol) by 12 metres and measures up to 9 metres in her beam.Alberto Galassi, CEO of Ferretti Group, stated:The largest Riva, the dream of Carlo Riva that came true, a boat of immense beauty, could only make its debut at the Arsenale, which has been for centuries the largest naval factory in the world. The dreams, the skill and the talent that inhabited this space are the same ones that have animated the Riva myth in 177 years of history, up to the birth of this incredible mega yacht. Riva 50 metres is the result of the collaboration between Officina Italiana Design, the studio founded by Mauro Micheli and Sergio Beretta, who exclusively designs the entire Riva range, and the engineering team dedicated to designing the new Riva superyachts with the Ferretti Group Product Strategic Committee.The yacht features a large beach club at the stern, used as both an area for relaxation and a garage able to accommodate a Williams Dieseljet 625 tender. The bow houses a living area as well as a second garage with a hatch that opens to reveal a rescue boat. At the foredeck, there will be two jet-skis, with a carbon davit for easy launching. Additionally, the yacht’s sun deck is completed by a Jacuzzi, a sun pad and an area for dining and relaxing.Across her four decks, Riva 50 will be able to accommodate up to 12 guests in the master suite and a luxurious VIP cabin on the main deck, and another 4 VIP suites on the lower deck, which also hosts 4 cabins for the crew.The next international spot for Riva 50 will be Monaco Yacht Show 2019.

Italian media have reported that the 36.6-metre yacht Evo 120 by Italian builder Tecnomar caught fire in the early hours of Sunday, June 16, resulting in the vessel’s complete destruction. The incident took place in Marina di Carrara, Italy, with no casualties reported.According to media sources, the captain was on-board alone when the fire broke out. He managed to leave the vessel quickly. At around 01 a.m., firefighters, the police and the coast guard arrived to isolate the fire and prevent it from affecting other yachts.Launched 4 weeks ago, the yacht was the second hull from the Tecnomar Evo 120 series, due for imminent delivery to an Asian customer. As it is evident on the images available on the internet, the yacht has partly sunk and has been heavily damaged. The yacht was later towed away to a more remote section of the marina and isolated. Meanwhile, the first hull from the series was launched in 2018, while the third one is currently under construction. Sadly, the news is not the first sad ones of its kind regarding the vessels of the yard, after the 34-metre yacht caught fire in Mykonos in 2017.

Italian yacht builder Columbus Yachts (part of Palumbo Superyachts) has recently launched its current 80-metre flagship Dragon. Following the launch, Palumbo has released the first interior and running images of the yacht with exteriors and naval architecture by Hydro Tec and interiors by Francesco Guida.Dragon features impressive interior volume of over 2,100 GT spread over six decks. The upper deck also offers a 200-square-metre beach club laid at water level, fitted with multiple wellness and spa zones. The design concept is trademarked through large panoramic windows across the main salon and dining room, requested by the owner. The largest of these 40mm-thick panes covers an area of 10 square metres, with its weight of nearly two tonnes. Such windows are yet supported solely by the beams and stiffeners of the superstructure, without extra columns or pillars.The vessel will boast a Jacuzzi and large 7-metre mosaic-lined swimming pool on the sundeck, featured with counter current function. The latter is designed to provide ocean swimming experience when on-board. Cascading between the pool and the shaded hot tub is a waterfall feature from the overhanging mast roof.Furthermore, there is side-loading tender storage laid midships, with capacity for two tenders, with a 9,5-metre custom tender currently constructed by ISA Yachts, that will reflect the mothership’s style. The yacht’s interior hallmarks will include light and dark oak panels, parquet floor made of American walnut, Traventine marbles of moonlight and natural colours, satin-gold door handles and agate backlit surface used for beach club. Furthermore, a personal touch is given through owner-supplied items such as the occasional piece of vintage furniture and fine Persian rugs, or the Barrovier & Toso chandelier in the main saloon.Dragon’s accommodation capacity makes up to 12 guests within four double suites and a VIP-suite. fitted with a private lounge zone, covering full beam. The master suite with panoramic view is situated at the upper-deck, as well as a helipad. As to the crew, the vessel can accommodate up to 19.Powered by a pair of MTU engines, Dragon can boast a maximum speed of 16,5 knots, with comfortable cruising speed of 12 knots under the range of over 6,000 nautical miles.With Dragon scheduled for delivery and international debut at Monaco Yacht Show later this year, the yard has recently presented a 120-metre concept aimed to overdo the rcurrent flagship in terms of LOA. The builder is ready to begin construction of the latter as soon as a customer occurs.