New & Noteworthy

July 22, 2008 City of Lights Maraya, the 164-foot custom motoryacht recently launched by CRN, is a breakthrough design for the Italian shipyard. The steel-hulled yacht has a contemporary, sleek profile with innovative designs such as a master balcony that folds outward from the master suite to become a private patio on the sea. Maraya’s expansive interior is literally a city of lights. CRN installed more than 600 points of light, using only fiber-optic and LED technology, to highlight the design of the walnut interior, artwork, decorations, and unique fabrics like cream-colored leather chairs and ebony furniture. The 1,000-square-foot main lounge is a yachting ballroom of epic proportions. It is a single, unbroken space, separated only by a 42-inch plasma TV and dining table that seats 12. The rest of the interior, including the owner’s cabin with its private study and five guest staterooms, is also tastefully decorated and artfully lighted. To make the most of the view, Maraya even has a glass elevator that traverses its three covered decks. (www.crn-yacht.com) —Michael Verdon
July 8, 2008 Designer Missile The Pershing 64, launched recently in Milan, is the latest nautical fashion statement from an Italian builder known for introducing bold designs to the performance boating segment. The express yacht, with curvaceous hardtop, reaches 46 knots with its twin 1550-hp MAN engines and Arneson ASD 14L drives. Its more notable assets extend beyond the sleek hull and respectable top speed into the refined interior, where Pershing has given al fresco a new meaning. The long side windows infuse the spacious saloon with natural light, and the panel of rear windows opens electrically, turning interior and exterior into a single open-air lounge. Pershing partnered with Poltrona Frau, the Italian leather furniture maker, to custom-design much of the interior. All seating and leather details, wall and ceiling panels have been exclusively designed for the 64. The designers took great care to match interior colors such as ivory white, heritage black, and chocolate brown to exude an understated elegance. Other noteworthy interior features: A full-beam master suite, with an oversized window in the hull sides, and two large cabins, each with en suite bathrooms and showers, all using the same color scheme as the topsides. –—Michael Verdon
June 17, 2008 Riva Moves the Mille Miglia Out to Sea The Italian boat company Riva pays homage to the Mille Miglia, the legendary classic car race, with a specially designed boat inspired by the vintage automobiles that compete in the race. The Aquariva Mille Miglia (design concept shown), which will be offered at auction a few days prior to the start of the race in Brescia, Italy, in May 2009, is a redesign of the company’s own iconic 33-foot Aquariva boat. The boat accommodates up to eight passengers and is powered by twin 380-mph engines, and it features a driving seat reminiscent of a sports car, red and steel detailing throughout the exterior, and mahogany and maple decks that also mimic a car’s interior. Only one Aquariva Mille Miglia is being produced, but Riva will take orders for up to 10 additional units. (www.riva-yacht.com) ―Alexandra Foster
June 3, 2008 Sensational New Fraser Yacht The M/Y Sensation, Fraser Yacht’s newly finished 164-foot charter boat, is designed for luxury cruising. It features a vista lounge with two large semi-circular sofas and a grand piano, a spiral staircase leading to the upper deck, a formal dining room, and a main lounge furnished with a plasma-screen television and bar for entertaining. A full staff is available to customize any itinerary with available amenities such as first-rate chefs and certified nannies. The M/Y Sensation, able to accommodate up to ten guests in four staterooms and an owner’s suite (complete with central Jacuzzi bath), will charter starting at $350,000 a week. The yacht is also available to purchase for about $41 million. (www.fraseryachts.com) ―Alexandra Foster
May 20, 2008 Pied-a-Terre on the Sea Midnight Express, the Ft. Lauderdale, Florida-based maker of performance-based luxury sports yachts, has taken the idea of a pied-a-terre to sea with its newest boat. The 34-foot Pied-a-Mer is the ideal size for a weekend getaway or overnight trip: It has enough room to sleep two comfortably―plus bunk beds―without compromising outdoor space. The Pied-a-Mer’s greatest luxury, however, is its advanced fuel efficiency. A stepped-hull system allows for a lift in the front of the boat, creating speed with less drag through the water. Perfect for a weekend getaway, the made-to-order twin engine Pied-a-Mer has a top-speed of 60 mph, and prices start at $250,000. (www.midnightboats.com) ―Alexandra Foster
May 6, 2008 La Dolce Vita by Water Any classic boat aficionado will view the Riva Italian speedboats with the same respect as luxury automotive marques like Ferrari or Maserati: It has the same celebrated Italian heritage and dedication to strong, sexy styling. A prime example of its ability to combine sleekness with performance is the 63 Vertigo, which made its U.S. debut during February’s Miami Yacht & Brokerage show. The Vertigo combines an open cockpit with a hardtop, a unique design that allows for shelter in bad weather and full access to the queen-size sun pad on the transom on sunny days. Promoting its social layout, the cockpit sofa, running on two tracks, connects to a large table, transforming the cockpit into an outdoor salon. Add the futuristic, centerline helm station, with next-generation electronics and white leather, power helm seat, and the Vertigo will indeed make your head spin. The bright, contemporary, interior, a mixture of black lacquer, light oak, African wenge, and leather accents, is crafted by Riva’s skilled woodworkers, many of whom are fourth-generation employees at the Italian firm. There is good space below, but really the place to be on this yacht is the cockpit. Rain or shine, it reaches an impressive top end of 38.5 knots with its twin 1360-hp MAN diesels. It’s priced at about $3,550,000. (www.riva-yacht.com) ―Michael Verdon
April 15, 2008 Benetti Happy to Have More Amnesia Amnesia III, the latest custom yacht from Benetti’s shipyards in Livorno, Italy, shares the same name as two previous motoryachts the owner built with Benetti, but at 196 feet in length, it is 30 feet longer than Amnesia II. It also features the latest electronics, VIP salon on the bridge, and technical advances in the steel hull and aluminum superstructure. “I know I put the yard under strain with my challenging requests,” says owner Graham de Zille. “But we had to go further, keeping the best of the previous yachts and moving forward with an up-to-date design. We also wanted to improve its layout.” The five-stateroom interior was designed by Redman Whiteley Dixon, the award-winning British yacht design firm. The light-hued interior is defined by West African anigre wood bulkheads with walnut detailing, and wenge furniture. The owner’s suite has his-and-hers bathrooms, dressing rooms, and a study, and the yacht also has two enormous salons and a massage room. Taking a leaf from the previous Amnesia, the crew quarters and their circulation throughout the yacht are separate from the guests, which should make Amnesia III as popular for chartering as its forefather ship. The yacht accommodates 12 guests and 16 crew, and its twin 1600-hp Caterpillar 3512B diesels give Amnesia a cruise speed of 15 knots and a transoceanic range of 5,000 nautical miles. (011.39.0584.3821, www.benettiyachts.it) ―Michael Verdon
April 1, 2008 King of the Battlewagons In 1960, Richard Bertram revolutionized powerboating by running the first deep-V hull in the Miami-Nassau race. The 31-foot Moppie, which trounced competitors in horrendous sea conditions, ga

July 22, 2008

City of Lights

Maraya, the 164-foot custom motoryacht recently launched by CRN, is a breakthrough design for the Italian shipyard. The steel-hulled yacht has a contemporary, sleek profile with innovative designs such as a master balcony that folds outward from the master suite to become a private patio on the sea. Maraya’s expansive interior is literally a city of lights. CRN installed more than 600 points of light, using only fiber-optic and LED technology, to highlight the design of the walnut interior, artwork, decorations, and unique fabrics like cream-colored leather chairs and ebony furniture. The 1,000-square-foot main lounge is a yachting ballroom of epic proportions. It is a single, unbroken space, separated only by a 42-inch plasma TV and dining table that seats 12. The rest of the interior, including the owner’s cabin with its private study and five guest staterooms, is also tastefully decorated and artfully lighted. To make the most of the view, Maraya even has a glass elevator that traverses its three covered decks. (www.crn-yacht.com)

—Michael Verdon

July 8, 2008

Designer Missile

The Pershing 64, launched recently in Milan, is the latest nautical fashion statement from an Italian builder known for introducing bold designs to the performance boating segment. The express yacht, with curvaceous hardtop, reaches 46 knots with its twin 1550-hp MAN engines and Arneson ASD 14L drives. Its more notable assets extend beyond the sleek hull and respectable top speed into the refined interior, where Pershing has given al fresco a new meaning. The long side windows infuse the spacious saloon with natural light, and the panel of rear windows opens electrically, turning interior and exterior into a single open-air lounge.

Pershing partnered with Poltrona Frau, the Italian leather furniture maker, to custom-design much of the interior. All seating and leather details, wall and ceiling panels have been exclusively designed for the 64. The designers took great care to match interior colors such as ivory white, heritage black, and chocolate brown to exude an understated elegance. Other noteworthy interior features: A full-beam master suite, with an oversized window in the hull sides, and two large cabins, each with en suite bathrooms and showers, all using the same color scheme as the topsides.

–—Michael Verdon

June 17, 2008

Riva Moves the Mille Miglia Out to Sea

The Italian boat company Riva pays homage to the Mille Miglia, the legendary classic car race, with a specially designed boat inspired by the vintage automobiles that compete in the race. The Aquariva Mille Miglia (design concept shown), which will be offered at auction a few days prior to the start of the race in Brescia, Italy, in May 2009, is a redesign of the company’s own iconic 33-foot Aquariva boat. The boat accommodates up to eight passengers and is powered by twin 380-mph engines, and it features a driving seat reminiscent of a sports car, red and steel detailing throughout the exterior, and mahogany and maple decks that also mimic a car’s interior. Only one Aquariva Mille Miglia is being produced, but Riva will take orders for up to 10 additional units. (www.riva-yacht.com)

―Alexandra Foster

June 3, 2008

Sensational New Fraser Yacht

The M/Y Sensation, Fraser Yacht’s newly finished 164-foot charter boat, is designed for luxury cruising. It features a vista lounge with two large semi-circular sofas and a grand piano, a spiral staircase leading to the upper deck, a formal dining room, and a main lounge furnished with a plasma-screen television and bar for entertaining. A full staff is available to customize any itinerary with available amenities such as first-rate chefs and certified nannies. The M/Y Sensation, able to accommodate up to ten guests in four staterooms and an owner’s suite (complete with central Jacuzzi bath), will charter starting at $350,000 a week. The yacht is also available to purchase for about $41 million. (www.fraseryachts.com)

―Alexandra Foster

May 20, 2008

Pied-a-Terre on the Sea

Midnight Express, the Ft. Lauderdale, Florida-based maker of performance-based luxury sports yachts, has taken the idea of a pied-a-terre to sea with its newest boat. The 34-foot Pied-a-Mer is the ideal size for a weekend getaway or overnight trip: It has enough room to sleep two comfortably―plus bunk beds―without compromising outdoor space. The Pied-a-Mer’s greatest luxury, however, is its advanced fuel efficiency. A stepped-hull system allows for a lift in the front of the boat, creating speed with less drag through the water. Perfect for a weekend getaway, the made-to-order twin engine Pied-a-Mer has a top-speed of 60 mph, and prices start at $250,000. (www.midnightboats.com)

―Alexandra Foster

May 6, 2008

La Dolce Vita by Water

Any classic boat aficionado will view the Riva Italian speedboats with the same respect as luxury automotive marques like Ferrari or Maserati: It has the same celebrated Italian heritage and dedication to strong, sexy styling. A prime example of its ability to combine sleekness with performance is the 63 Vertigo, which made its U.S. debut during February’s Miami Yacht & Brokerage show. The Vertigo combines an open cockpit with a hardtop, a unique design that allows for shelter in bad weather and full access to the queen-size sun pad on the transom on sunny days. Promoting its social layout, the cockpit sofa, running on two tracks, connects to a large table, transforming the cockpit into an outdoor salon. Add the futuristic, centerline helm station, with next-generation electronics and white leather, power helm seat, and the Vertigo will indeed make your head spin.

The bright, contemporary, interior, a mixture of black lacquer, light oak, African wenge, and leather accents, is crafted by Riva’s skilled woodworkers, many of whom are fourth-generation employees at the Italian firm. There is good space below, but really the place to be on this yacht is the cockpit. Rain or shine, it reaches an impressive top end of 38.5 knots with its twin 1360-hp MAN diesels. It’s priced at about $3,550,000. (www.riva-yacht.com)

―Michael Verdon

April 15, 2008

Benetti Happy to Have More Amnesia

Amnesia III, the latest custom yacht from Benetti’s shipyards in Livorno, Italy, shares the same name as two previous motoryachts the owner built with Benetti, but at 196 feet in length, it is 30 feet longer than Amnesia II. It also features the latest electronics, VIP salon on the bridge, and technical advances in the steel hull and aluminum superstructure. “I know I put the yard under strain with my challenging requests,” says owner Graham de Zille. “But we had to go further, keeping the best of the previous yachts and moving forward with an up-to-date design. We also wanted to improve its layout.”

The five-stateroom interior was designed by Redman Whiteley Dixon, the award-winning British yacht design firm. The light-hued interior is defined by West African anigre wood bulkheads with walnut detailing, and wenge furniture. The owner’s suite has his-and-hers bathrooms, dressing rooms, and a study, and the yacht also has two enormous salons and a massage room. Taking a leaf from the previous Amnesia, the crew quarters and their circulation throughout the yacht are separate from the guests, which should make Amnesia III as popular for chartering as its forefather ship. The yacht accommodates 12 guests and 16 crew, and its twin 1600-hp Caterpillar 3512B diesels give Amnesia a cruise speed of 15 knots and a transoceanic range of 5,000 nautical miles. (011.39.0584.3821, www.benettiyachts.it)