Benetti announces two new projects with a virtual press conference
by Benetti 4 Dec 2020 00:11 NZDT
Benetti FB284 © Azimut|Benetti Group
At a virtual press conference held on December 2, Benetti presented two new products: the Motopanfilo 37M in the Class category and the 67-metre Custom yacht FB284.
Azimut|Benetti Group Vice President Giovanna Vitelli seized the opportunity to chart the shipyard's future course, as symbolically described by the two new models, which are different from each other but share the brand's distinctive qualities of innovation, reliability, construction capabilities and heritage enhancement.
At this historic moment, when protecting our health and future requires everyone to stay at a responsible and necessary distance, Benetti decided to organise a virtual press conference to communicate two exciting new projects: the Motopanfilo 37M and the new 67-metre FB284.
In an entirely new but nevertheless stimulating atmosphere, a few months after the presentation of two remarkable yachts like the Oasis 40M and the Diamond 145, Giovanna Vitelli opened the digital conference with a brief greeting and introduced the key factors that will determine the direction taken by Benetti in coming years. The protagonists of the event were the two new products, which were described directly by their designers, accompanied by Benetti Chief Commercial Officer Sebastiano Fanizza and Azimut|Benetti Group Product Marketing and Communication Director Federico Lantero.
The first model presented was the Motopanfilo 37M, a yacht permeated by immense charm that tips its hat to the 1960s Motopanfilo style epitomised by Benetti, but without any sense of nostalgia or vintage intentions. This model's evocative and timeless style was described by Francesco Struglia, the designer of the yacht's exteriors, and Claudio Lazzarini and Carl Pickering from Lazzarini Pickering Architetti, the firm of architects engaged to design the interiors.
The desire to look ahead to a future in which the brand's background of experience and know-how acts as a solid base for innovative style choices and advanced technologies is also clear in FB284, an impressive and commanding 67-metre mega yacht with six decks. Revolving around a new definition of volumes, this new mega yacht concept was presented by her exterior designer Giorgio M. Cassetta.
The interiors are by Benetti's Interior Style Department. Excellent liveability and highly rationalised spaces are the main features of the design, all with a style that emphasises the sense of horizontal movement along the boat's length. FB284 is the evolution of the platform on which Metis, multiple award-winning 63m mega yachts and symbols of the shipyard's renowned construction standards were built, and that is also being used for the construction of yachts FB270, FB274 (both 65 metres) and FB278 "Project Fenestra" (67 metres).
The new Benetti Motopanfilo - A boat suspended in time
Benetti launches the new Motopanfilo, an elegant, modern yacht for today's boatowner, inspired not only by the legendary "navettes" of the Sixties but the glamour, freedom of expression and creativity synonymous with those times.
It is not simply a restyling of one of Benetti's successes of yesteryear, but instead, represents a design for today in every sense, This is a boat that most assuredly speaks the language of the twenty first century whilst echoing the carefree spirit and the design typical of the Sixties, with several nods to Benetti's heritage and iconic boats of that evocative decade.
In an increasingly frenetic world in which everything and everyone appears to hurtle at breakneck speed, with the Motopanfilo, Benetti offers the promise of a return to a more languid era, to a time brimming with tantalising tales of the glamour and exploits of the international jetset.
The Motopanfilo, a 37-metre displacement yacht, encapsulates how to transport classic tradition stylishly and unerringly into the future. Far from merely taking a stroll down memory lane and simply creating a retro revisitation, Benetti, together with Francesco Struglia for the exterior lines and Lazzarini Pickering Architetti for the interiors, have shaken up an old favourite and given it a delightfully fresh and contemporary makeover that includes all that modern technology and techniques can offer. Today's iteration of the Motopanfilo delivers generous, light-filled spaces, almost uninterrupted visual contact with the sea and a series of vast terraces that descend right down to where they touch the surface of the water. But beyond its physical attributes is the charm and sophistication of a bygone era and a gentle, unassuming elegance that transcends fashions and trends.
A glance back to the past to design the future
Motopanfilo is an Italian word that was used in the early Sixties to denote the large motoryachts that very quickly became synonymous with glamour and the jetset lifestyle, and much-coveted objects of desire among socialites, royalty and prominent personalities from the worlds of business and entertainment. Benetti was one of the first shipyards to produce these yachts, launching much-loved models such as the Delfino, the Gabbiano, the Mediterraneo. Before long these boats, typically between 18 and 30 metres, became something of a status symbol and were a popular sight cutting through not only the waters of the Italian and French Rivieras, but fashionable spots the world over, helping propel Benetti to fourth position in the global yacht manufacturers list as early as 1970.
Clients ranged from traditional royalty such as Prince Rainier of Monaco to pop royalty, with David Bowie, according to Janine Allis's biography "The Secrets of my Success", to have hosted a myriad of famous guests on board his Benetti, including Mick Jagger, Robin Williams and Michael Caine.
The design of these boats was extremely clean and linear, with very little in the way of embellishment or decoration. The focus was on a layout that offered owners and guests privacy and elegant, sophisticated interiors. The hull and superstructure were designed as a single volume, connected to each other by one or, in some cases, two perfectly coplanar surfaces, creating an elongated profile that ended in a classic rounded stern. The interiors were typically warm and welcoming, featuring an abundance of wood in both the structure and furniture, together with white sofas and touches of blue, a combination that became something of a hallmark style.
Nods to its glamorous past combine with decidedly twenty-first century features
When it comes to comparison with its Sixties predecessors, the most fundamental difference in the new Motopanfilo is the exterior volume. Francesco Struglia revisited the original midship construction elements that linked the hull and superstructure, and has combined them in a single visually harmonious feature. The exterior silhouette, with its clean-cut lines, boasts austere, elegant and tapering forms, with the boat appearing almost like a beautifully-crafted protective shell that envelops and cossets all those within it.
This concept of the yacht as a sculptural casing that has been meticulously carved to create its contours and protrusions is emphasised by the contemporary-style 45-degree bevelled surfaces. Where once upon a time a cap rail would have provided the finishing flourish in polished wood, here bronze paint is used to create an innovative seamless "ribbon" that defines the bulwark and runs from the main deck to the upper deck overhang.
The fusion of classic and modern-day influences finds its perfect expression in the transom where the lines are completely integrated into the hull volume, in the manner of its iconic Sixties forerunners. There is a twist, however, in the form of a beach club, designed to respond to the expectations of today's boat owners. This entails a slight difference in the overall shape, with the central face of the transom sharply inclined downwards so that once it opens up, there is an ample bathing platform, completely given over to sun lounging, with the garage housing the tender and jet-ski tucked unobtrusively away in the side of the yacht.
For a change of view, guests can adjourn to the Observation Deck, once carved out around the main mast but on the new Motopanfilo positioned above the hard top and conceived as an intimate fourth deck and a truly private retreat, simply made for soaking up the sun by day or relaxing under the stars at night.
The interiors and exterior spaces are by the renowned Lazzarini Pickering architectural firm, which was also behind Benetti's 2004 Sai Ram, the first superyacht to introduce modern interiors at a time when classic styling was still predominant.
In seeking to rediscover and reinterpret many of the traditional elements of the original motopanfilo in the name of a new style of classicism, the designers came up with the concept of the interior as the skeleton of a large whale, with its framework providing a rhythm to the space. From here, the idea evolved to delineating the various spaces through an architectural approach that reimagines traditional beams as structural rib bones and essentially dematerialises the walls. It is left to the vast lateral windows to contain the space, and the effect is one of immense spaciousness and openness, which even the furnishings cannot detract from. Artful use of mirrored surfaces expands the perception of interior space and amplifies the views of the sea and sky outside.
The structural rib bones give order and sense to the interiors, defining the different zones and providing punctuation points to mark the use of different materials and allow for interesting décor and functional interpretations.
In the saloon, where the wooden walls of yesteryear have been almost completely replaced by enormous panes of glass, the tradition of wood and its enduring links with the sea have not been overlooked, but instead of the usual mahogany tones, it is used in a warm, light oat colour on both floors and the gently curved ceilings, heightening the sense of airiness and lightness throughout. Additional nods to seafaring themes can be seen in the touches of white and blue wood, introduced in elegant new hues.
Below deck, the theme of respecting the innate character of each environment can be seen in the choice to not straighten the cabin walls, instead allowing them to follow the gentle, relaxing curve of the hull, while the ubiquitous rib structure is here produced in an inversion of colours and materials. From the lobby a spiral staircase winds its way around a central column that rises through two decks like a spinal cord as it accompanies guests to the sky lounge on the upper deck.
The owner's suite is located in the bow of the main deck while the four comfortable guest cabins, all able to accommodate double beds, are situated on the lower deck where, upon request, a small sauna can be installed.
The displacement hull can reach a maximum speed of 16 to 18 knots, depending on the motor capacity selected.
Welcome to the new Benetti Motopanfilo, a boat designed to take you back to another era, where you are Suspended in Time.
Benetti Motopanfilo 37m technical specifications
- Builder: Benetti Shipyard
- Construction Material: GRP
- Length Overall (LOA): 36.8 m (120'9")
- Maximum beam: 7.8 m (25'3')'
- Maximum draft: 1.96 m (6'5")
- Full load displacement: 230 t approx
- Fuel capacity: 35,000 litres (9,246 US gal.)
- Fresh water capacity: 4,000 litres (1,056 US gal.)
- Main Engines:
- 2 x MAN V12, 1029 kW (1400 hp) @ 2300 rpm
- 2 x MAN V12, 1213 kW (1650 hp) @ 2300 rpm
- Max Speed: 16 / 18 knots
- Cabins: 5 + 4 crew
- Berths: 10 + 7 crew
- Range at 10 knots: 3800 nm approx.
- Naval Architecture: P.L. AUSONIO Naval Architecture
- Exterior Styling and Concept: Francesco Struglia / Benetti
- Interior Design: Lazzarini Pickering Architetti
- Classification: RINA Pleasure
Benetti presents FB284, the new 67-meter custom yacht
Benetti announces the birth of the new FB284, a 67-metre megayacht with six decks. The work of Benetti's in-house engineers, architects and designers, who created the interiors, and Giorgio M. Cassetta, who designed the exteriors and compartmentation, the yacht is the result of meticulous research to redefine new spaces, the concept around which the entire project has been developed to achieve excellent onboard liveability and significant rationalisation of the space available. FB284 is shaped by the evolution of the successful platform used to build Benetti's four most recent mega yachts over 60 metres long, with 7 cabins for guests and 11 cabins for a crew of up to 19.
Benetti's new 67-metre megayacht FB284, laid out on six decks, is born of Benetti and designer Giorgio M. Cassetta's ability to marry stylish design with excellent functionality, the central pillar of the boat's concept. FB284 is for people who love navigation and want to do so while enjoying a refined and elegant design that satisfies aesthetic tastes and a love of beauty, as well as offering the utmost comfort and convenience in all onboard settings. This yacht isn't interested in showy aesthetics, but instead wants to be part of a contemporary scene with a timeless horizon.
On this subject, Benetti Chief Commercial Officer Sebastiano Fanizza makes a point of clarifying that "If it's true that buying a super yacht is an all-engrossing emotional experience, it's impossible not to take account of the Shipyard's key role in supporting the owner in areas where rationality plays a more important role. It's here that we make the difference, offering the design flexibility and construction standards that come from proven, long-term experience. This is the result achieved together with Giorgio M. Cassetta's design for FB284, a ship that's different and makes her owner feel "at home" by expressing strength in the form of extreme onboard liveability, becoming the perfect setting for memorable moments".
This makes it clear how in this project a key role is played not only by style, but also by the functions of the spaces, whose purpose is to improve the quality of time spent on board, an objective that every owner both pursues and needs. Achieving this result was possible because FB284 is a yacht underpinned by consolidated experience. The entire project is based on the evolution of the platform on which the highly successful Metis (63 metres) was built, which is also being used for the construction of yachts FB270, FB274 (both 65 metres) and FB278 "Project Fenestra" (67 metres). Metis in particular has added to the Shipyard's reputation in the category by winning some top international prizes, the most recent being at Boat International's World Superyacht Awards.
The layout of FB284, arranged across six decks, unfolds in the form of extremely functional spaces based on new proportions developed around the strength of past projects.
The exterior styling by Giorgio M. Cassetta highlights the horizontal development of the ship to emphasise her length. The meticulous search for harmonious continuity is put into practice by the almost seamless lateral lines that curves to streamline the mass of the superstructures.
The only elements that intentionally break the continuity of the boat's lines are the bridge wings, whose discontinuity is emphasised by the surrounding surfaces, infusing the design with personality and demonstrating an exquisite combination of form and function.
The styling continues to revisit the design language developed by Benetti, acting as the guiding thread in the quest for an aesthetic in tune with how a big ship moves in the water, achieved by skilfully softening lines that are often only apparently straight. The decks sweep upwards at the stern, creating a sensation of lightness in the superstructure and more height in outdoor areas. The sheer size of this almost 70-metre yacht, emphasised by the clear-cut lines of the iconic vertical bow and the sleek hull, is immediately apparent in her impressive and commanding presence.
The interiors make reference to the evergreen excellence of 'Made in Italy culture', expressed through manufacturing of the finest quality set in a balance of elements that talk to each other. The materials chosen are ambassadors of a stylistic choice in favour of elegant, refined interiors, presenting an understated style that passes the test of time.
The woods used are Curly Maple in a soft colour similar to natural silk and black Macassar Ebony, with orange veining and a classical imprint. The chosen marble is Carrara White, which gives the surfaces a splendid gleam and contrasts well with the unqualified refinement of black Saint Laurent marble.
On the Main Deck, the cockpit is dedicated to guests, who it accommodates on elegant sofas and armchairs. A plate glass partition with a central door that slides open inside the superstructure separates the stern from the particularly long lounge, furnished with spacious sofas and a dining table seating 14. On the same deck are the spacious pantry and the big square-shaped galley preceding the two VIP cabins, both characterised by their windows and ample storage and wardrobe space.
The other four cabins are on the Lower Deck, which doesn't contain the galley as is usually the case on boats this size, freeing up more space for cabins that can accommodate a crew of 17 or, in an alternative configuration, 19. The four officers can therefore each have their own cabin, which is an important factor in terms of crew comfort and therefore more satisfactory service on board. The spacious Beach Club in the stern, representing the ne plus ultra point of contact with the water, is also fitted with a side door. A hammam with a comfortably sized bath and shower are also available for guests to use. Depending on the owner's needs, part of the area can also be fitted out as a gym.
The Upper Deck is dedicated to the owner and their social needs. The master stateroom in the bow has a private study and two separate bathrooms, one with a bath and shower, the other with a bath, and both with very long basin tops. Because of its position on board, the cabin offers a breathtaking view of the bow and the surrounding sea.
Amidship, lot of space is taken up by the pantry, a choice that expresses the desire to put the boat's functionality front and centre. On this deck, a particularly spacious lounge lends itself to moments of relaxation and conversation among guests. Outside, a big dining table seating 14 precedes the sofas, which are arranged to frame the dining area and are the perfect place to enjoy an aperitif. Next to the dining area, the bar with its comfortable stools facing sternwards is perfect for breakfast or a quick snack, as well as being designed for evocative bartending or show cooking experiences.
The Bridge Deck is designed as the party deck. The shaded area can optionally be closed off to form a veranda fitted out according to the owner's needs. The various outdoor lounge areas are served by an impressively sized bar with adjacent storage and pantry areas. On the same deck, the big captain's cabin is positioned next to the ship's command areas. A well-hidden outside stairway leads to the almost 90-square-meter Sun Deck, which offers a spectacular view from the bar. A Jacuzzi is installed in a podium that also does a good job of hiding its volume. The tub is slightly raised to eliminate differences in height during conversations between guests relaxing in the Jacuzzi and others sipping a cocktail while sitting comfortably on the sofa, in a clear example of how the spaces have been thought out to offer maximum ergonomic consistency between all the areas.
The same approach based on advanced volume optimisation has influenced the design of the Under Lower Deck, a sixth deck that delivers some real benefits. Careful rationalisation of the space available space translates into some serious extra areas to use both for technical purposes and storage. These areas make a big difference in terms of quality of life on board, particularly during long cruises.