I wouldn’t have believed it unless I saw the gauge read-outs myself.
While standing in the wheelhouse of Stella di Mare, a Darwin 96 megayacht from Cantiere delle Marche, I learn from the captain that she typically burns about 50 liters (13 gallons) per hour at her most economical speed of 8½ knots. So, this being a sea trial, he engages her twin MTUs and brings her to that speed. I look at the helm: The 96’8″ (29.5-meter) megayacht is burning 44 liters (11.6 gallons).
There are about 15 people, including me, onboard, exploring every inch of Stella di Mare. She’s an explorer yacht whose design and build teams welcome us opening hatches and poking our heads around corners. We are also welcome to request that the captain of Stella di Mare put her through a series of maneuvers. When a few of us want to see fuel burn at full speed, about 13 knots in the chop off Cannes, France, the captain complies. It’s 361 liters (95.4 gallons). This is a megayacht whose fuel capacity is 42,000 liters (11,095 gallons), and whose owner has logged 5,000 miles since delivery in April. (On a side note, Stella di Mare’s captain and crew surely had to be exhausted from that busier-than-planned schedule, which originally was supposed to last a few weeks, but gave no visible hints if they were.)
None of the performance or cruising information regarding Stella di Mare surprises Cantiere delle Marche, or Sergio Cutolo of Hydro Tec, her naval architect. Stella di Mare continues the team’s focus on constructing oceangoing luxury yachts that emphasize “oceangoing.” From her aft-raked pilothouse windows, to her cupro-nickel piping, and to 55-decibel sound levels below decks, which are quieter than normal conversation (60 db-A), the megayacht is meant to tackle conditions comfortably.
In terms of general arrangement, Stella di Mare is similar to another Cantiere delle Marche megayacht, that being Percheron, though longer in length. She’s used by a family that enjoys spending time together, so the saloon is set up to seat them all. Just visible in the upper left portion of the photo is the dining area.
Elm wood was selected by the owner, who worked with Marco Veglia Architetto and Studio Floris & Associati for Stella di Mare’s interior design. Dedicated stowage space is in abundance, as depicted here in the dining area, for both practical and playful items. The latter includes space for bicycles in the lazarette, including a charging station for two of them, as they’re electric. Another nice touch: a wine locker located just inside the aft-deck door.
More family gatherings take place in Stella di Mare’s skylounge. It’s an intimate, cozy room that gets a good deal of use, in proximity to a partly shaded alfresco area aft and walk-around decks leading to a sunpad in front of the wheelhouse. Note the wine locker here, too; the owner makes his own and keeps several bottles onboard, including in yet another wine locker in the crew area.
Stella di Mare’s captain laid out the helm, clad in blue leather, visible just through the opening above the settee in the sky lounge. This opening, plus a small observation settee in the wheelhouse, were added because the owner likes to talk with the captain and watch what’s going on. If and when the owner’s children take interest in navigating, they can join the conversations, too. For now, their personalities are reflected in the multitude of magnets adorning the refrigerator in the main-deck galley.
Stella di Mare has accommodations for eight to ten in the owner’s party and five crew. This VIP guest stateroom, toward the bow, is joined by two twin staterooms that each have pullman berths, all comfortable enough for the journeys the megayacht has made and still has planned. The owner has a full-beam stateroom, also below decks like these are.
The 5,000 miles already under Stella di Mare’s steel hull will be joined by thousands more, as the owner intends to take the yacht to northern polar climes. The megayacht will also spend time in warm-weather destinations, putting a handy shower on her swim platform to good use, too. It’s in keeping with something Cutolo says about Cantiere delle Marche’s Darwin series overall: “On a fast boat, you go from A to B. In between, you’re suffering, you’re cold. But on this boat, you enjoy the ride.”
keith pearce
I was impressed when viewing a CDM for once every thing fits as It should and a very clean set out for the engine room. Not cheap but if you want quality you pay and she will be still afloat for many years to come which of course helps the re-sale price. great vessel !!