The Darwin Class fleet from Cantiere delle Marche is gaining a new member. The second Darwin Class 96 is starting construction soon.
Cantiere delle Marche and the owner, from South America, began discussions at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show in October. Vasco Buonpensiere, sales and marketing director for the builder, says the buyer is quite experienced and knowledgeable. That’s among the reasons why this Darwin Class 96 went from initial discussion to final contract in three months.
You may recall that Stella di Mare, delivered last year, is the first Darwin Class 96. The new 96 bears some styling similarities. Cantiere delle Marche and designer Sergio Cutolo of Hydro Tec did, however, give her larger ports and a sleeker bow.
The owner of this Darwin Class 96 wants to keep some details confidential, particularly about the interior. For now, we know that four guest staterooms will accompany the master, and six crewmembers will be accommodated, too. Because of his yachting background, the owner is quite involved in the interior design.
He’s also quite involved in other aspects of his Darwin Class 96. For example, he and his team have requested twin 680-hp Caterpillar C18 ACERTs versus MTU power. Cantiere delle Marche expects a 4,500-nautical-mile range at 10 knots and a top end of 13 knots. The owner has also spec’d a dive compartment for the lazarette. He’s further specified an Opacmare Transformer hydraulic stern platform. The platform can be customized and serves a variety of functions. For example, it can be used as a swim ladder, a lifting platform, or a passerelle. It can also extend, to the point of tripling its depth on the Darwin Class 96.
Delivery of this second Darwin Class 96 is set for 2015. She’s being built alongside another Darwin Class model, a Darwin Class 86. The first megayachts in Cantiere delle Marche’s Nauta Air series are also under construction. They are the Nauta Air 86 and Nauta Air 90. Delivery dates for the two 86s and the 90 run through next year.
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