Marking the last step for the so called giga season begun by Italian builder Benetti earlier in 2019, the yard has announced the successful delivery of the 108-metre flagship giga yacht FB275.
Numerous media sources including Robb Report were quick to name Australian billionaire, casino mogul James Packer the yacht’s owner. The same sources report that the vessel has been christened IJE, after the initials of Packer's 3 children.
Launched in February 2019, the 108-metre vessel departed Benetti’s yard in Livorno on July 26. She boasts exterior design and décor by the British RWD studio, while her interiors come from the drawing boards of Benetti’s in-house design team.
With the yacht’s more than 1,000 square metres entirely devoted to outdoor living spaces, the list of amenities on-board comprises an observation deck a large heated swimming pool, on-board cinema and 1.5-metre fire pit.
Two tenders of 14 metres can be stowed on the foredeck, with space for another 10 metre tender in the yacht's lower deck located garage, alongside up to eight Jet Skis.
Adrian Chisnell, Team Principal at RWD, stresses:
The exterior design of FB275 epitomises all that RWD strive for in our designs – elegance, beauty, attention to detail and absolute quality in every surface and sweeping curve. Many years in development, the exterior lines were created to portray a purposeful and powerful stature yet with a timeless flowing silhouette.
FB275 accommodates up to 22 guests on board, tended to by a yacht crew of 29. The Owner’s Deck features its own private al fresco dining and relaxation areas, while on the Main Deck a vast dining table provides the perfect setting for an evening of al fresco fine dining.
With a steel hull, aluminium superstructure and a naval architecture by Pierluigi Ausonio, she features 14.5-metre beam, a draft of 4.4 metres and a gross tonnage of 3,367 tonnes.
Paolo Vitelli, President of Azimut|Benetti Group, highlighted:
FB275: a great success for Benetti, for Livorno, for Italy. Today we completed this delivery 40 days before the due time. We have made the owner, his captain and his team extremely happy and proud of such a real masterpiece.
With FB275 now delivered to her owners, the handover of the 107-metre FB277 will follow shortly, and then the delivery of FB272 will take place in the second half of the year.
Building three 100+ metre superyachts simultaneously at its Italian facilities, Benetti shook the yaching world in spring 2019, launching the three mammoths within 100 days.
The builder is one of the few shipyards in the world with the capabilities to build yachts exceeding 100-metres in length. This is part of a long-term plan for Benetti, as for the first time, an Italian private yard will be a serious competitor in the international 100+ metre luxury yacht market.
As to the assumed owner of the yacht, James Packer sits as Australia's 9th richest man according to Forbes with the net worth of $3 billion. Son of media mogul, Kerry Packer, he became the largest share holder of Crown Resorts, one of Australia's largest casino groups. In 2018, Packer stepped down from its board.
According to the Sydney Morning Herald, the yacht will replace Packer's current 55-meter Amels, EJI. The latter, delivered in 2018, was sold in September 2018 asking €42 million in brand new condition.
Stuff previously reported James Packer to also be the owner of 87-metre explorer yacht Arctic P, a refitted ice-type vessel. Media have previously linked the Australian billionaire to the 50-meter Mangusta, Z as well as the 46-meter Leopard, Z Sydney. Previously, Packer also owned 52-meter Amels, Seahorse built in 1999.
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