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[ MEGAYACHT ]

With exterior and interior by LUCA DINI Design & Architecture, the yacht by Columbus Yachts reflects the owner’s precise specifications, which involved a technical and design challenge resolved in a sporty, seductive 50-metre craft. The professional gym next to the owner’s suite is an unusual feature by Paola Bertelli- ph. Alberto Cocchi

volution is the most apt word to describe the concept behind the K2, the new Columbus 50 Sport. For the yard it’s a natural progression from the Columbus 40 Sport, and for the owner it’s the result of a growth process developed through three yachts, all by the Palumbo Superyachts group. The most recent, in fact, was a Columbus 40. The owner, then, was an important repeat client who felt a need for more ample spaces while retaining the build and stylistic criteria of his previous yacht. A series of further requirements including a GT below 500 tonnes, low height, restrained draught and gutsy performance laid the engineering foundations for the K2 project, specifications that posed a significant technical and architectural challenge. The task was carried out by the Columbus yard in collaboration with two studios, LUCA DINI Design & Architecture, responsible for the external lines and interior design, and Hydro Tec, which handled the naval architecture. The result is a three-deck yacht with an extreme stylistic coherence that reflects its owner’s personality and approach to life. “Elegant, smart, aware, demanding but also sporty, travel-loving and open-minded,” says Luca Dini. The aim of this creative and technological effort was to achieve a balance between the yacht’s sporty personality and the requirements of on-board comfort. The interior and exterior layout provides highly versatile social spaces with bars, lounges and dining areas inside and out on both decks. The spaces have a contemporary appeal, and host a series of freestanding elements that promote the versatility desired by the owner, who selected many pieces from the Fendi Casa collection. The entire main deck interiors and exteriors, for example, are furnished by Fendi. Furnishings with clean lines are complemented by elegant, refined touches like sycamore and Tanganyika frisè evoking an art deco smoking-room atmosphere, with chrome and glossy black lacquered metal details and leather and fabric elements adding textural interest. Beautiful cappuccino coloured onyx, white Lasa, alabaster and striking white and grey marble have been chosen for the bathrooms. Their strong, regular cut recalls the appearance of wood. The owner’s suite bath is custom-made in ash. The relationship between natural and artificial light is established by large windows and a system that combines direct and indirect lighting – the sources integrated into the ceilings and the base of the furniture units are complemented by spotlights providing a sharper, cleaner light and a domotics system that makes it possible to adjust the various lighting scenarios. The upper deck is especially interesting, as here the powerful impact of the spacious side walkways open out the entire deck, transforming it into a large single relaxation area with swimming pool forward and an entertaining area in the sky lounge, which enjoys a close connection with the aft outdoor areas, laid out with dining and conversation areas. But the area that best reflects the concept behind the yacht’s layout and highlights the impact of a custom design is on the main deck, forward of the saloon. A large gym was an absolute must for the owner, enabling him to maintain his everyday fitness regime. It also had to be near his suite. Developed in every detail by the design team together with the owner’s personal trainers, it covers an area of 18 square metres and is well-equipped with machines arranged to take full advantage of the available headroom. Intense workouts can end with a relaxing session in the Hamman in the owner’s bathroom. The more traditional lower deck boasts four guest cabins located amidships. At the stern is the beach area, accessed from the main deck cockpit. It features an articulated platform that lifts out onto the water to create an even closer contact with the sea. www.columbusyachts.it

K2 is a 50-metre yacht under 500 GT with aluminium hull and superstructure. Light and high-performance, it can reach 21 knots, and sailing at 12 knots it has a range of 3,000 miles. To side, the upper deck lounge. Opening, the main saloon

Contemporary appeal, light and neutral colours and numerous freestanding elements in the interiors and exteriors. On the main deck, furniture and lamps by Fendi Casa in the cockpit (above) and saloon (top left). The striking 18 square metre gym (left) beside the owner’s cabin

Naval Architecture Sergio Cutolo, CEO Hydro Tec

The K2 has an efficient hull. An analysis of performance at lower speeds showed impressive results, with consumption at around 70 l/h at 10 knots.

he owner wanted a yacht with the same performance and philosophy as his previous model, a Columbus 40 Sport. That was our starting point. From an engineering point of view his brief listed a number of crucial requirements - to remain within a 500 GT weight limit, to have a draught below 2.20 metres to enable the yacht to sail in shallow waters like those of the Bahamas, to have a maximum height of no less than 2.15 metres and to enjoy a top speed of at least 20 knots. We worked hard, for example, to cut structural bulk and maximise internal height with respect to the external volume, which is what determines tonnage. K2 has an excellent range, and its performance exceeds the owner’s demands. As well as topping out at 21 knots, fuel consumption at 10 knots is only 70 l/h. Its hull can reach maximum speed at relatively low power and maintain this efficiency even at very low speeds. This translates into exceptional autonomy. K2 is also extremely quiet and sails with minimal vibration. We worked with the register of shipping and carried out a series of preventative analyses on a structural level to see if there were any situations that could induce resonance and have a negative impact on board-comfort. Every design element has been examined from various points of view – paring down the structural package, checking resonance problems and so on. The yacht sails very well, with a natural trim. We decided on four stabiliser fins – they are relatively small and could be mounted in the engine room and crew area without interfering with spaces dedicated to guests.

An aerial image emphasises the generous upper deck spaces with the aft living area connected to the forward lounge by two wide lateral walkways that open up the deck, transforming it into a single spacious relaxation area

Interior & Exterior Design Luca Dini, LUCA DINI Design & Architecture

esigning the K2’s lines as well as its interior and exterior decor has enabled us to create a very coherent yacht that expresses its owner’s approach to life – he’s a sport-loving man with precise ideas about life, comfort and well-being - a healthy, complete lifestyle. The interiors were to be elegant but still express a masculine presence, with freestanding furniture playing a significant role. This enabled us to create a simple yet well-defined architecture that could also change to adapt to circumstances. The key area of the yacht is the gym. It’s a lovely space, and is professionally equipped, not a common feature in boats of this size. We developed and designed it together with the people who help organise this aspect of his life and we managed to instal the equipment within a space where the available headroom isn’t particularly generous for hosting a gym. The owner asked us to retain the same virile, linear style for the interiors, with a greater emphasis on versatility. He wanted to be able to transform the spaces by joining tables and adding cushions to enlarge the sunpads, for example, rather than having extendable tables and a number of buffets. K2 was an intensely demanding yet extremely fulfilling project that also meant we had to deal the Covid problem. The yacht was completed during the pandemic, so we had to organise the work differently. We usually prefer to have frequent contact with the client, and in fact before lockdown we met him several times to assess various elements together, up to choosing details like tableware and glasses. Still, we managed to maintain the energy needed to complete the yacht in the best possible way, and our greatest source of pride was seeing the owner’s obvious satisfaction at the final result. The ash custom bath in the owner’s suite (left). Cappuccino colour Onyx and white zebra Lasa marbles appear in all the bathrooms. Opposite page, the beach club with partially immersed transformer platform. The freestanding furniture is by Paola Lenti

The Shipyard Gianpaolo Lapenna, General Manager Palumbo Superyachts

rom a technical point of view the overall project was rather complex. We had to harmonise a number of owner specifications and find effective engineering solutions. We sought to create a light craft, and its refined naval architecture enables it to reach a speed of over 20 knots with relatively small engines and to display outstanding sailing qualities. Receiving the skipper’s compliments after only 3-4 days’ sailing was very gratifying. We have, in fact, placed a lot of emphasis on this naval platform and this decision has been justified by the facts. We’ve already sold a second 50-metre model. In contrast to the K2 it will be a sport-fly model with a slightly less aggressive

shape, and it will have hybrid propulsion. The K2 will never go unnoticed, and will immediately be recognised as a benchmark for top-quality production, something we’ve always been known for. It’s clearly a Columbus, and a development of the 40-metre Sport Hybrid with the straight bow that we launched in 2011 and that has now become a style trend. The yacht evolved around a special requirement insisted on by the owner – to have a fully-fledged gym on board. We designed and built the gym in collaboration with his personal trainers – in other words, we involved people who would normally be far removed from the yachting world, and we found that crossover highly stimulating.

A moveable system with a linear, masculine style provides shade for the forward upper deck living area with lounge and spacious sunbeds framing the swimming pool with hydromassage