Saturday saw Stella di Mare slip into salt water for the first time at Cantiere delle Marche. The 98-foot (30-meter) megayacht marks the launch of the first Darwin Class 96 model and the third Darwin Class overall, joining Cantiere delle Marche’s Percheron in the latter ranks.
The expedition-style Darwin Class is intended for long-range cruising, which the owner of Stella di Mare plans to do in the Med, along the East Coast of the USA, and throughout the Caribbean. It’s interesting to note that while Stella di Mare has crew’s quarters for six, the owner plans to take the wheel himself much of the time. As a result, the wheelhouse is part of the skylounge, open to the seating area where the owner’s extensive family will likely gather on voyages. Of course, to preserve night vision, the helm can be closed off from the skylounge via a sliding screen.
Since Cantiere delle Marche welcomes customization, it collaborated with Stella di Mare’s owner on a few specialized items. One is extra sound and vibration control. Another is additional stowage for the anticipated long voyages. And, rather than dedicate the tender garage strictly to watertoys, Stella di Mare will tote four bicycles, too, with a recharging station present for two of the bikes, being that they’re electric.
Otherwise, Stella di Mare follows much of what Cantiere delle Marche and the design studio Hydro Tec envisioned when creating the Darwin Class series. She features a steel hull and aluminum superstructure, twin MTU diesels rated for heavy-duty use to keep fuel consumption low, and cupro-nickel piping for black and grey water as well as bilge discharge. (Cupro-nickel piping is rarely found on megayachts in this size range, typically reserved for far larger yachts, and used in the commercial sector on a variety of LOAs. Cantiere delle Marche further borrows the Darwin Class’ overall concept of hard-charging durability from the commercial sector.) In terms of performance, Stella di Mare should see a 13½-knot top end.
Inside, all of the spaces are naturally a bit larger than the ones aboard the Darwin Class 86. The owner worked with Marco Veglia Architetto and Studio Floris & Associati to outfit rooms ranging from the master suite to the skylounge with two types of elm and travertine marble. Though images are not yet available, the lower deck is entirely white. Overall, Stella di Maris’ look is modern and streamlined.
The owner will take delivery in the next several weeks and permit Cantiere delle Marche to exhibit the megayacht at the Cannes Boat Show in September.
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