Launch day is a cause for celebration, especially for yacht owners. So, when owners choose “Utopia” as part of their yacht’s name, you know their feelings are all the more passionate. The morning of March 10 saw a multitude of emotions at Rossinavi as Utopia IV slipped into the water for the first time.
Feelings were high as the owners, JR and Loren Ridinger, flew from the United States to Italy ahead of the launch. (The Ridingers are co-founders of the marketing company MarketAmerica. JR is additionally CEO of Shop.com, while Loren is vice president.) JR Ridinger took to Instagram to share a video and photos (below) of Utopia IV being readied on the launch ramp. He commented, “This is the materialization of a vision and dream 2 years in the making!”
The Ridingers commissioned the 207-foot (63-meter) Utopia IV to replace a 150-footer they’d owned for a number of years. At the launch, JR Ridinger commented on how impressed he was with the Rossi family, owners of the Rossinavi shipyard. Specifically, he appreciated how they understand engineering and construction. He further appreciated how he could have such a large yacht with a relatively shallow draft and sporty performance. Uncommon for her LOA, Utopia IV draws just 7’2” (2.2 meters), plus reportedly can top out at 33 knots with quadruple MTU engines and waterjets.
Her fast-displacement hull design, from Arrabito Naval Architects, should permit efficient fuel burn throughout the full speed range, too. In fact, Rossinavi says she should cruise at 26 knots under half load. (Best cruise should be 12 knots, yielding more than a 3,300-nautical-mile range.) “We wanted it to feel like a speedboat, with a minimum draft, efficient in its range of navigation, with an intelligent propulsion and completely tailor-made,” Federico Rossi, Rossinavi’s COO, comments. “At the beginning of the design process, we had to consider the relationship between the engine horsepower necessary to achieve certain speeds, and its weight.” He continues, “The overall balance is a particular feature of this boat.”
Team for Design – Enrico Gobbi tailored the styling and interior design around the Riddingers’ ideas. Her sleek lines hint at her speed. Her interior, meanwhile, has a comfortable, contemporary air. Utopia IV is as much for private cruising for 12 as she is for parties with business associates. The 36-foot (11-meter) beam should make guests feel there’s plenty of room to move about. A bar aft on the main deck stands ready to serve, while a handful of lounges cater to conversation.
Further of note, Utopia IV has three pools, and a nearly 754-square-foot (70-square-meter) beach club. Look for her to debut at the fall boat shows.
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