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SHELL ISSUE - n° 18 - 2019 - € 10
The Art of Sailing
Custom Line Nav
etta 42
QUART ERLY - P.I. 31/03 /2019 Intern ationa l € 10, Spedizione in Abbon Chf 10,50 , UK £ 7,50- Poste Italian amento Postale e S.p.a. - 70% - LO/MI
[ MEGAYACHT ]
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The new Custom Line flagship is a harmonious marriage of classic navetta styling cues with chic, modern good looks. Luca Bombassei is the pen behind the interiors where freestanding furnishings create a free and easy vibe by Paola Bertelli - ph. by Alberto Cocchi
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hey started with the sea. That seems a pretty obvious
his or her yacht. In the case of Four Flowers III, architect Luca
statement, given that we’re talking about a yacht. And
Bombassei was chosen by the owner, a man on his third Ferretti,
yet sometimes even the most obvious can escape us.
to create the atmosphere and spaces of a real home. “A home in the
The sea really is the star of this particular show and
positive sense of the term: nothing extreme or excessively theatrical,”
they, by whom we mean the brains behind the Custom
he says carefully. “Somewhere to enjoy not just during the summer
Line Navetta 42-Four Flowers III, have managed to incorporate and
months but all year round. A boat that can be both a beach house
encapsulate it both inside and outside in a truly enriching way. The
and a villa that can be moved around so that the owner can enjoy the
brains in question are the members of the Ferretti Group’s Strategic
lagoon in Venice in the autumn, for instance, or winter in Morocco…”
Product Committee chaired by none other than Piero Ferrari and the
Bombassei’s masterful use of chrome, materials and finishes has
Engineering Department, who worked closely with studio Zuccon
produced chic modern spaces with an eclectic style that mixes
International Project and Studio Luca Bombassei on both the interior
contemporary art and spare, innovatively-designed furnishings.
and exterior styling.
The colours, materials and furnishings were carefully selected to
The name of the model speaks for itself. “Navetta 42” conjures up
ensure they would never outshine the sea and nature, both of which
images of seafaring at its most all-encompassing. For its new flagship,
are invited inside through large windows and sliding doors that create
Custom Line has worked that concept to produce a refined yacht that
a sense of continuity with the outside world. Hence a palette that
although respectful of tradition, does not hold back on the modernity
includes a sandy beige, flashes of aquamarine and dark, woody hues
and innovation fronts. Both hull and superstructure are clothed soft,
imbues the interiors with a sense of rhythm and personality. The
clean yet very dynamic forms so beautifully balanced that they exude
predominant woods are dark matt walnut and dark oak which contrast
a timeless sophistication and elegance. That said, there are plenty of
expertly with the high gloss lacquered white ceilings that also help reflect both light and sun. Bronzed mirrors alternate with tinted decorative glazing in transition spaces as if to emphasise to guests that they are moving from one “setting” to another. This has been achieved to perfection in the corridor leading from the main saloon to the owner’s suite. It feels like apt preparation for the surprise that awaits first in the owner’s study and then in the double bedroom. Here a floor-to-ceiling glazed panel acts as a divider with bathroom and hides a TV, as well as acting as a backdrop to the astonishing leopard-themed curved dresser by the legendary Italian designer Piero Fornasetti that dominates the room. The décor choices were also heavily influenced by the many artworks aboard. Bombassei created a series of supports could accommodate a constantly evolving collection and placed them in some unexpected parts of the yacht such as the stairwells and the corridor on the lower deck. Once again he has sought to surprise – and he has succeeded. Even in the upper deck saloon,
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modern additions aboard, not least the stylised hard top on the sun
he carved out a more casual, cosy hideout to which guests can slip
deck that has an almost harshly aerodynamic look.
away to read, play cards, etc. He also designed brass, iron and bronze
Four Flowers III is a four-deck semi-displacement yacht with a
shelving to showcase yet more art.
transatlantic range that really will broaden her horizons over the
There is an effortlessly fluid transition from the more formal day
course of her career.
areas on the main deck to the semi-formal ones on the upper deck and
Her 41.8 metres allowed the designers to optimise her spaces and
then, at last, the sun deck. This area is about as relaxed and informal
workflows as well as to deliver impressive volumes that do not impinge
as it gets, thanks to freestanding furnishings by Roda arranged with
on her architectural proportions in the slightest.
a casual, almost random hand, communicating that great sense of
Custom Line’s Navetta 42 is designed for industrial production. That
freedom that only the sea and sun can offer.
said, each individual owner is given the enviable task of customising
www.customline-yacht.com
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The beach club is just shy of 30 square metres. It also provides access to the semi-floodable side garage for the tender. Opening page, the sea feels like it is right inside the saloon on the main deck, thanks to its enormous windows and the custom Minotti rug, which was designed to mimic the reflections of the sea
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Corridors and lobbies with mirrors and smoked glass feel like intermezzos between the various different spaces. Teal dominates the upper deck (above). Sofas and chairs are by Minotti, as is the oval table on the main deck (top right) just beneath a bespoke lamp designed by Luca Bombassei. Below right, the owner’s refined study, the bookcase is by Viabizzuno (the glass and leather shelves run on inset tracks) and the large deck has metal detailing and leather accents
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Fornasetti’s leopard adorns the curved limited-edition dresser that grabs the attention in the 50 square metre suite. Warm Penelope Oggi nubuck is used to trim both furnishings and headrest. The balcony was requested by the owner and glides outwards flush with the cabin floor. Even the carpet is inset so that it is flush with the parquet
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Interior Design Luca Bombassei, Main Partner Luca Bombassei Studio
F
our Flowers III is my first yacht design. Moving between compact spaces and advanced technologies was a very interesting experience. It was a sort of lesson in rigour. An abacus of rules that had to be applied. Creating a sense of harmony with the owner and with the Ferretti yard was absolutely essential to the result. I have to say we worked very well together as a team. The owner wanted to feel at home aboard and maybe that is partly why he chose me as the interior architect. The result is quite a traditional functional arrangement but we worked within that to give the exterior full priority with the idea of making the very most of the views through the yacht’s spectacular windows. We chose to create some dark moments to rest the eyes from so much summer light: you pass through a dark area and then are taken by surprise in the next area. Furniture-wise we went for lots of freestanding elements that epitomise the whole concept of home in a way that the typical fixed furnishings you often see onboard yachts just can’t. This also gave us great freedom and made the spaces more free-flowing. We chose Minotti for the interior furnishings because their style embraced exactly the kind of shapes and softness that we were looking for. We went with Roda for the exterior furniture. The owner also gave us a list
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The freestanding furniture was pivotal to giving the yacht the beach house feel the owner wanted. Above, the large cockpit on the main deck. Left, there is a cosy yet elegant corner in the saloon on the upper deck: artworks are showcased on the gold Calacatta marble table top and the brass, iron and bronze shelves. Below, one of the guest cabins
of his artworks and accessories, and that’s where I found the Fornasetti dresser, for instance. I like using elements that belong to the person that will be taking possession of the place. It brings a bit of their backstory to the project. Dealing with the lighting, however, was far from simple. We wanted warm lights to create a sense of consistency between the built-in LED lighting and the more decorative designer lamps such as the gilded brass leaf floor lamp by Tommaso Barbi. I tried to keep a very light touch, taking a less-ismore approach to avoid overkill because it’s easy to go too far on large yachts. Overall, Four Flowers III is an urban yacht in the most contemporary sense of the term. That might seem paradoxical for a boat, but I like that definition. She is a city boat in the most positive meaning of the term. I think that the Navetta 42 is the best result of the combination of being able to live the sea on a splendid yacht with all of the comforts of a shore-based villa.
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Exterior Design Bernardo Zuccon Designer Partner of Zuccon International Project
Top, the 10-seater al fresco table in the saloon the upper deck and aft, a huge c-shaped sofa, both by Minotti. The forward al fresco lounge (above) is more private and cosy, while the sun deck is very casual indeed and furnished by Rodi
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T
he Navetta 42 is a design experience that further consolidates an idea that took hold first in the Navetta 37 and then the Navetta 33. Now the Navetta 42 goes down a route in which stylistic and functional choices guarantee superb modularity: the lines designed at the outset were very spare and easy to rework for different dimensions without losing the family feeling with the other models. From a market perspective, this is a positive, demonstrating the fact that ideas can be brought to fruition within a commercial and
industrial process. The 42 has some formal details that set her apart from her two smaller sisters and also mark her out as a larger boat. We added some exterior forms that give her a clearer skyline and a more classic character. We were also able to focus more closely on layout details such as the upper deck. There a system of sliding doors opens directly from the saloon on to a walkway that runs unbroken from the aft end to the foremost section. As this is a series product, the layout was designed to satisfy a range of different people. Actually getting to create a market-focused 42-metre is definitely a fascinating challenge these days. Then you have to consider the fact that when you mention the word ‘navetta’ you are venturing into territory with a great tradition. That said, the market needs features that will connect the boat “shell” to the sea. That translates into some serious balancing work and demands a very specific approach to the project. You can’t, for example, just open up more windows or eliminate furniture in a way that will impact the kind of functionality, comfort and storage demanded for long periods at sea. At the design stage, we had to optimise the relationship with the exterior spaces by attempting that kind of “dematerialisation” without straying from the fact that these boats are designed for longer stays aboard than their planing counterparts. People want to sail, consume very little fuel and stay out at sea for long periods on navettas. So you need a lot of stowage space to guarantee they will be as comfortable as possible. People want to sail, consume very little fuel and stay out at sea for long periods on navettas. So you need a lot of stowage space to guarantee they will be as comfortable as possible.
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The Shipyard Karin Paggi, Head of Sales Custom Line
T
he Custom Line Navetta’s owner adores stylistic and technological innovation applied to achieving the very maximum in terms of comfort, safety and navigability. The Navetta 42 is a natural evolution of the Custom Line semi-displacement fleet which offers clients the opportunity to create a bespoke product. Both the interior and exterior furnishings and décor can be personalised, in point of fact. But that isn’t the end of the story. Aboard Four Flowers III, for instance, the owner wanted an opening balcony as part
The 41.8-metre is built from composites and has a 3,000-mile range. It can make a top speed of 16 knots but her easy-going cruising speed of 10 is much more representative of her navetta soul
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of the master suite and we created one in partnership with Fratelli Canalicchio. The balcony has two sections: a glass panel that opens upwards, thanks to a special mechanism and bulwarks that slide outwards with the floor, which is completely flush with the cabin floor. The owner also wanted a lift on the upper deck (but depending on requirements, it can go from the lower to the sundeck) and the bow garage was also enlarged to accommodate either a three-metre tender or a jet ski.
This yacht makes the very most of its generous volumes and focuses on enhancing the liveable areas. The result is optimal flows aboard, absolute privacy for the owner and his guests, and good freedom of movement for the captain and his crew. On a technical level, Four Flowers III is the first Custom Line to go over the 300 GT mark. She also has unparalleled soundproofing and damping that reduces both noise and vibration levels. For instance, the floating floor on the main deck has a sound-absorbing layer to ensure as little engine
room noise as possible makes it to the living quarters. She’s a magnificent yacht and it’s hard to say which area is my favourite. I particularly like the saloon on the upper deck. I think it’s the area people will spend most time in because it is very versatile. You can get to the cockpit from the saloon through a glass door that also turns the area into one large space. There are also opening full-height windows on both sides of the saloon which flood the interior with light and also provide access to the side walkways.
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