Here’s a closer look at the concept project that Axis Group Yacht Design created for Benetti as part of its recent Design Innovation Project.
As a reminder, the idea behind the Benetti Design Innovation Project was to get leading and up-and-coming megayacht designers alike to present their visions for the next generation of Benetti yachts. All designs had to be based on Benetti’s proven hull platforms ranging from 164 to 295 feet (50 meters to 90 meters, respectively).
If you’re not familiar with Axis Group Yacht Design, the firm was founded in 1996 by Horacio E. Bozzo, who remains with the firm today. Axis Group Yacht Design has had a hand in many megayachts built by Benetti, Perini Navi, Sanlorenzo, and others as well as a cutter for the U.S. Coast Guard.
Axis Group Yacht Design decided on a 288-foot (88-meter) megayacht that the team named Helios. As Bozzo explains, “The aim of the project was to design a superyacht that in spite of her size still looks like a family yacht.” He adds that sometimes megayachts in this size range tend to look more like mini-cruise ships, with massive superstructures and deck atop of deck. Bozzo wanted Helios to retain distinct pleasure-yacht appeal and strove to keep her lines sleek.
Though it’s hard to see in the renderings, the six-deck Helios has some twists on typical yacht design. The stairs leading to and from the swim platform, for example, aren’t right atop the platform itself. Rather, they’re pushed a bit forward, almost as if they’re side decks that cascade down. Also related to the swim platform, there’s a tiered section of the transom directly above it—somewhat akin to a California deck on a cockpit cruiser.
Otherwise, Helios has features you’d expect to find aboard a modern megayacht. There are accommodations for 12, though two more people can sleep aboard when needed via convertible spaces. Twenty-nine crewmembers are housed aboard as well, making an excellent crew-to-guest ratio for an owner who plans to spend a lot of time cruising or make the megayacht available for charter. Since the Benetti hull platform is already tested, Axis Yacht Design anticipates that Helios would see at least 18-knot speeds and a best-cruise range of 6,000 nautical miles under Caterpillar 3516B power.
Leave a Reply