The refit of Cantiere delle Marche’s explorer Audace has been finished at the Lusben shipyard in Viareggio. Audace is a full-custom yacht commissioned by Andrea Merloni, former president of Fineldo and Indesit, who recently passed away. After his untimely death, the Merloni family, together with the shipyard, designer, and architect, wanted to carry out all the directives given as a form of respect for the late owner.
Designed by the close collaboration of Merloni, Andrea Pezzini, CEO of Floating Life, and architect Mauro Sculli of the studio that bears his name, Audace has been the subject of important structural work that has completely redefined her spaces and utilization. From the original 42 meters, she has grown to an overall length of 46.6 meters. The stern has been lengthened by 2.4 meters and the bow has been made more aerodynamic and lengthened by 2.2 meters. Thanks to these changes, the strengthening of the generators and other structural improvements, the maximum speed of the yacht has increased from 15.8 to 17 knots, while consumption has been reduced by 20%.
The boat interiors also went through a lot of changes. Two lifts were installed and the engineered emergency staircase now connects the owner's cabin with the lower deck. The flooring of the owner's deck and the upper deck has been redesigned and can now be heated, and the electrical system has been completely renovated. Finally, all the furnishings on the owner's deck have been revised and the palette has shifted from a prevalence of light colors to darker tones, which make the rooms feel even more refined.
Like the interior, the exterior of Audace has been refitted. The stern platform has seen a total makeover of the teak and a robotic telescopic gangway has been installed, with an extension of 8 meters. The yacht was designed to facilitate a mainly outdoor life onboard and the large external living areas that Merloni wanted, which can accommodate a banquet of 60 guests, have remained intact, except for the bar areas, which have been made more professional.
All the works have been designed and followed by the technical studio of Floating Life and the Satura studio.
The refit was completed in 16 months with full compliance to the anti-Covid measures Lusben implemented.
Lusben staff and all the workers involved in the refit of Audace took part in a ceremony in the owner’s memory, accompanied by the sound of the sirens of all boats in the marina. In early May, the yacht will sail directly to the Balearic Islands, Spain, where the late owner spent his holidays and another ceremony will be held in his honor.
Lusben was founded in 1958 in Viareggio. The shipyard has over 60 years of experience in the yacht refit sector.
Credits: Lusben
The twenty-sixth hull of Custom Line Navetta 33 has entered the water at the Ferretti Group Superyacht Yard in Ancona. This elegant displacement superyacht with an overall length of 33 meters and a beam of 7.52 meters entered the water on March 15th in the presence of the owner family from the Americas and all Custom Line’s employees.This model is the result of collaboration between the Strategic Product Committee, which handled the exterior styling, and the Ferretti Group Engineering Department, whose architects and designers created the interiors, with strategic interior design consulting provided by the Custom Line Atelier.The latest addition to the superyacht scene boasts an interior design, featuring pale color tones ranging from beige to various shades of green. Custom Line Atelier's team of architects and the rest of the shipyard's project group worked closely with the owner to fully customize the spaces, creating a seamless and harmonious flow between the interiors and exteriors. The yacht's furnishings were carefully selected according to the owner's wishes, in collaboration with top design brands, and the use of refined materials such as Taj Mahal marble in shades of beige and lacquered wood further enhance the yacht's luxurious feel.The yacht's attention to detail is unparalleled, ensuring an unforgettable cruising experience for guests. Every aspect of the yacht has been carefully considered, from the design of the furnishings to the choice of materials, resulting in a genuinely refined and elegant vessel.The Ferretti Group, led by Chief Executive Officer Alberto Galassi, is now one of the world’s leaders in the construction and sale of luxury yachts and pleasure vessels, with a unique portfolio of brands: Ferretti Yachts, Riva, Pershing, Itama, Mochi Craft, CRN, Custom Line and Wally.Credits: Ferretti Group
March 27, 2023
Ahoy Club has announced the appointment of Katya Hall as Commercial Director, USA, as part of their ongoing expansion in the United States. A highly experienced sales and charter broker with over 15 years in the superyacht industry, Katya will lead the Sales Brokerage, Charter Retail, and Central Agency streams of the business, furthering the brand's growth outside of Australia and Europe.Katya HallEllie Malouf, CEO of Ahoy Club, commented on the new appointment: "Katya's market knowledge, experience, and passion for customer service closely align with our company values. We're excited to have her join us on our journey as we expand our brand globally."Ahoy Club at the Palm Beach International Boat Show 2023 Ahoy Club offers a portfolio of superyachts, megayachts, and villas, combined with personal concierge services, providing unique customer experiences such as access to bucket list events, exclusive offers, and brand partnerships. The company's vision is to create memories that last a lifetime, and with the appointment of Katya Hall, they are confident in delivering exceptional customer service and experiences to clients.73m Coral Ocean is available for charter with Ahoy Club With offices in Sydney, Golfe Juan, Monaco, and soon to be Miami, Ahoy Club continues to establish itself as a leader in the luxury yachting industry, with a commitment to customer satisfaction and innovation.Credits: Ahoy Club
March 27, 2023
Fraser Yachts has sold the Project Virtus XP Hull #01 (53M/173’, Mengi Yay). David Legrand and Alain Auvare from Fraser Monaco represented the seller, while Mengi Yay brought the buyer.The 52.6m yacht boasts features fit for the demands of discerning clients in search of a go-anywhere and elegant vessel, including a helipad, pool deck, master bridge deck, guest main deck, gym, and ample tender storage. This explorer yacht, penned by designer Paolo Dose fromVYD Studio and engineered by Dutch Van Oossanen Naval Architects, combines the Virtus experience with the exhilarating features of the Explorer line.The Mengi Yay Virtus Explorer XP superyacht provides accommodation for up to ten guests across five staterooms, including a master stateroom on the main deck with a king-sized bed and a private foredeck. Nine crew members are on hand to attend to guests' needs.Notable features onboard the Mengi Yay Virtus Explorer XP yacht include a helipad, pool deck, gym, and tender storage. Powered by twin Caterpillar engines, the 498 GT motor yacht has an expected top speed of 16 knots and a cruising speed of 12 knots. Hull #02 is now available for sale and is currently in-build with an expected delivery date of 2025. Mengi Yay Yachts was founded in 1964 in Turkey. Now the company owns one of the largest (19,365 sqm) yards that were specifically designed for the refit and refurbishment of existing craft as well as the manufacturing of the new motor and sailing yachts. Credits: Fraser
March 27, 2023
Aras Kazar once again surprises the public by presenting his new trimaran concept called Wakinyan, which is a Lakota word for "thunder." The word is usually translated as "Thunder Spirits", "Thunder Beings," or "Thunder Birds".The trimaran, which can be easily called a floating bird, is 130 meters long with a 26m beam and total width of 38 meters. The interior offers a soft and gentle color solution. The trimaran has five bedrooms and one master suite. Wakinyan notable features included the pool on the aft, a spa inside. Thanks to the full glass decks the guests will have almost 360 views with lots of natural light for the interior.Wakinyan is not one of those boring slow superyachts, says European designer, she is equipped with all-electric and hydrofoil technology that she can reach a maximum speed of 32 knots. Recently, the вesigner has spoiled us with his futuristic concepts, including 150m Ono and 66m Noy.Credits: Aras Kazar
March 24, 2023
Princess Yachts has introduced the new Princess S80 to the S Class. Inspired by urban living, the S80 provides a sense of contemporary elegance, with a single level main deck, flowing furniture and sophisticated detailed interiors. The 25.43-meter model has been designed by the shipyard's team with the Olesinski and Pininfarina. The Princess S80 yacht follows her predecessor, the S72, which debuted at boot Düsseldorf this January. She features full-length windows along her main deck that extend to her cockpit canopy to provide a sheltered area from the sun. The interior is available in four different wood options. The cockpit can be equipped with seating including adjustable twin upholstered L-shaped seats which can manually slide in-board, outboard and forward facing alongside twin coffee tables and twin aft sun pads which flank the teak-capped stairs leading to the spacious electro-hydraulic bathing platform.The all-new S80 can accommodate eight guests below the deck, including a full-beam owner’s stateroom amidships, via a private lobby area in the lower companion way. Thanks to the twin MAN engines she can reach 34 knots and delivers an excellent driving experience. British yacht builder Princess Yachts was founded in 1965, manufacturing fibreglass yachts ranging from 13 to 40 meters in length. Its parent company is the French luxury group LVMH. Credits: Princess Yachts
March 24, 2023