Megayacht News Onboard: Narvalo, by Cantiere delle Marche

At just under 110 feet long, and with a substantial 24’7” beam, Narvalo is the latest and largest yacht yet from Cantiere delle Marche. She’s a Nauta Air 108, a long-range displacement machine in steel and aluminum. The shipyard claims that the 108, part of the Nauta Air series from Nauta Design, has 20 percent more interior volume than the competition. From Narvalo’s capacious engine room to the palatial main-deck master stateroom, it’s easy to see what they mean.

The accommodations layout is efficiently rectilinear. Big windows are a feature of all three decks. They bring commensurate quantities of light into the impressive interior volumes. These include the versatile guest staterooms on Narvalo’s lower deck. The four en suites include two doubles and two convertible twins, the latter with extra Pullman berths.

A particular feature of the 108 is the open transom (above), with removable guardrails. This provides an unimpeded view aft from the cockpit seating. Simultaneously, a set of wide steps leads down to the swim platform. Inside, a comfortable saloon adjoins the formal dining area amidships, served by the galley to port. Contrasting hardwoods and pale oak floors are set off by leather, glass, and polished steel highlights. Furnishings are by Paola Lenti.

The main focus for relaxation aboard Narvalo promises to be the large skylounge. This leads out to an alfresco dining area and wide upper deck for an 18-foot tender and a PWC. The deck additionally has a hydraulic crane to launch them. This stowage option leaves the giant lazarette free to accommodate all the bicycles, canoes, and miscellaneous gear that a long-distance cruising party could ever need.

Twin commercially rated 715-hp Caterpillar C18s give Narvalo a notional maximum speed of 13½ knots. But, yacht owners will be more interested in her 12-knot cruising speed and impressive range. At 9 knots, Narvalo should see more than 5,000 nautical miles. As on previous Cantiere delle Marche yachts, there’s also a huge stowage space on a sub-deck. Forward in the six-berth crew area, it will allow Narvalo to be comfortably provisioned for weeks at sea.

The yacht’s name alludes to one of the owner’s particular interests. A engaging glass sculpture of a narwhal sat on the saloon coffee table during the Cannes Yachting Festival. A resin replica of a narwhal’s distinctive spiral tusk is permanently aboard, too. It forms a sculptural centerpiece (left) to the spectacular, glass-sided stairwell that runs through all three decks amidships.

Here’s more of Narvalo.