THE NEW EXPLORER YACHT
DARWIN CLASS 102’ M/Y ACALA PRESENTED BY CANTIERE DELLE MARCHE
After the success of its three new yachts presented at the first boat show of the 2015-2016 season, the Ancona-based Shipyard confirms its leadership position in the industry and is ready for the Fort Lauderdale premier of its new Explorer Yacht in steel and aluminum, the Darwin Class 102′ M/Y ACALA.
Delivered in Ancona last September, this yacht, along with a Darwin Class 107’ and a Darwin Class 86’ M/Y Stella del Nord, is also a finalist at the next International Superyacht Society Awards in the best powerboat custom vessel category, news which will be announced during the Fort Lauderdale Boat Show.
Built for a Central American client who has significant experience dealing with the most prestigious Northern European shipyards, M/Y ACALA is the result of a close collaboration between the staff at CdM and the ship owner’s team of consultants. It is thanks to this work that the shipyard was able to develop an Explorer Yacht in which the soul of Cantiere delle Marche and the personality and travel plans of the owner find a perfect balance in every detail.
“The unrivalled quality of the engineering, the sturdiness, and the reliability of a CdM Explorer Vessel proved themselves once again” says Vasco Buonpensiere, Sales and Marketing Director of Cantiere delle Marche “when, immediately after delivery, Acala was hit by a huge storm and had to cruise for more than 14 hours in 40- to 50-knot winds and 5- to 6-meter waves, as reported by the Captain in a breathtaking video, with no technical problems at all.”
The video, by the way, shows how comfortably a yacht of only 102 feet can cruise in such conditions.
Ennio Cecchini, CEO and Co-founder of CdM with Vasco Buonpensiere and Gabriele Virgili adds: “If you consider that in the industry it is quite common to hear that a Yacht needs a year to heal teething issues and only then is it ready to cruise seriously and safely… this Acala experience is an incredible statement which confirms CdM’s reputation in terms of the quality and sturdiness of the boats it builds.”
The yacht features many specific customizations, including the lazarette equipped like a real diving station with a nitrox compressor, the five-cabin layout with the master cabin forward, the doors to the two huge sitting areas that can open completely, air conditioning and heating even in the outdoor areas. Also, thanks to the increased space on the swimming platform, the yacht can accommodate two unusually big tenders for a yacht this size: a 20- and a 16-foot.
Great attention was paid to the spaces for the up to seven-man crew and five guest cabins. The interior is the result of a “four hands” cooperation between the famous South American designer Simon Hamui who, having worked with the ship owner on some of his houses and offices, interpreted and adapted his own style to the incredible spaces – and heights – that the yacht offers, and the Italian design Studio PFA, in charge of managing the interior design project, defining the GAP, and planning the layout of the yacht’s spaces.
The color combinations and materials chosen by Simon Hamui derived from the decision to use Liquidambar (or sweetgum wood) paired with leather and gray stone. Liquidambar sets the tone and creates the atmosphere for the interior spaces. It is a very particular wood with bicolor veining that changes in hue from straw yellow to chestnut. The wood veneer strips are always mounted vertically, thus creating the illusion of a sort of indoor “forest” which lends a warm and vibrant tone to the ambience. The furniture is all upholstered in leather of different shades for different rooms. Gray stone (Opera Gray London) is the defining feature of the bathrooms.
The effect is one of high quality, modern and welcoming interiors, in which luxurious colors, fabrics, and leathers have been expertly crafted by skilled artisans who “dressed” the sea vessel as though it were donning a sartorial garment – all of it exquisitely orchestrated by Italian design.
On the lower deck we find the kitchen and the technical areas of the crew quarters in the bow, as well as an ample sitting and eating area with large windows that provide especially generous amounts of sunlight. The sofas and a custom-made dining table complete the furnishings which all have hidden compartments and leather upholstery.
The sky lounge, intended primarily for entertainment, is furnished with an L-shaped sofa, a wide-screen up/down TV, and a desk on the starboard side of the boat. This living area has an especially light and airy feel thanks to the large, sliding glass doors that lead directly to the outside deck where the dining table can comfortably seat twelve.
Also on the upper deck, in the bow, is the large wheelhouse, directly connected to the Captain’s cabin. These two areas are decorated in the same elegant style as the other interiors.
The sundeck is a wide, open-air living space with a bar console, a large sofa, lunch tables, and naturally, a pool surrounded by a sunbathing area.
