If success is sweeter the second time, imagine, then, the emotion that the owner of Elaldrea+ felt upon seeing his latest Benetti launch yesterday. Measuring 160 feet (48.77 meters), she’s a significant step up from his previous megayacht.
Indeed, the predecessor was a Benetti Classic 115, christened Elaldrea. The owner took delivery in 2002. In addition, whereas she was a semi-custom yacht, constructed of fiberglass, the new yacht is entirely custom, with a steel hull.
The owner tapped Horacio Bozzo Design for styling. Working with Benetti’s own naval-architecture department, the head of the eponymous studio gave the megayacht sharp lines, including dramatic bow flare. Inside, the Benetti Style Department, the builder’s in-house design team, collaborated with the owner in outfitting the rooms. Rich woods like Canaletto walnut and Tanganyika complement equally rich velvets and silks. Steel appears as inserts, too, while at least five different marbles appear throughout Elaldrea+ as well.
A primary place where the owner and guests (possibly including charter guests) will gather will be, of course, the beach club. Elaldrea+ features a sauna in here, ideal for relaxing after a hard day’s “work” on the watertoys. The nearly 1,238-square-foot (115-square-meter) flying bridge may rival it for attention, though. Besides containing sunning space, it has a pool and a dining area.
Guests get six staterooms, including two VIPs measuring 269 square feet (25 square meters) apiece. As you’d expect, the master suite occupies excellent floor space, more than double that of the VIPs combined. At anchor, the owner can step out onto a balcony to enjoy the views even more.
Depending on cruising plans, Elaldrea+ will carry eight to 10 crew. Sea trials should confirm a top speed of 14½ knots under MTU power. She should see a 4,000-nautical-mile range with the engines dialed back to 10 knots.
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