For a decade, Cantiere delle Marche (CdM) has solely focused on explorer yachts—true explorers, with complementary rugged construction. Many of its deliveries have put thousands of miles under their hulls in their first few months on the water. So far, those deliveries belong to two series, Darwin Class and Nauta Air. The Italian shipyard has created a third line, Flexplorer. The idea is to better anticipate and accommodate cruisers’ expedition and entertainment-oriented desires.
A play on words (“flexible explorer”), the Flexplorer line already has one project under construction, Aurelia 29, for delivery in 2020. Notably, CdM had this new line’s concept in mind when the owners of Aurelia 29 came forward. The personality of those owners matches that of the target customer the builder had in mind. For instance, the Flexplorer is for those seeking adventurous global cruising. No yacht-transport ships will ferry them from location to location. In this sense, the new line complements the other CdM series. In addition, it’s for those seeking bucket-list experiences in, say, northern, icy climes as much as the luxurious lifestyle of the South of France, with an added degree of adaptability.
How so? With naval architecture by Hydro Tec, the Flexplorer has 1,238 square feet (115 square meters) of aft-deck space. This, aboard a 129-footer (39.37-meter). It comes partly via fold-down bulwarks. CdM terms it an “Infinity Deck,” for both the sensation of openness as well as the possible uses. For instance, the megayacht can keep a significant-size tender, 28 feet (8.5 meters) and weighing 5,500 pounds (2,500 kilograms), here. An A-frame crane to launch it stows flush into the deck, too. CdM believes this type of crane is safer, eliminating imbalance while loading or offloading. It further developed the crane in house specifically for the Flexplorer. Once the tender is in the water, the deck is free and clear for sunning or parties—or both.
Still on the subject of adaptability, the Flexplorer offers further tender options. CdM and Hydro Tec designed varying installation spots for a removable davit. Lifting capacity for this carbon fiber crane: about 1,100 pounds (500 kilograms). In addition, the megayacht can have a toy cradle that electro-hydraulically emerges from the Infinity Deck. It has built-in drainage, too. For emergency repairs in an onboard workshop or other crew needs, there’s a good-size lazarette.
Creature comforts, of course, come into the equation as well. The Flexplorer can accommodate an owner’s party of 10 to 12, in five cabins (with Pullmans for the larger passenger total). Twenty-eight (8.5 meters) of beam are yours to arrange. The owners of Aurelia 29 will have a skylight-topped gym. As for where you can go, range should be 5,000 nautical miles at 8½ knots under Caterpillar power.
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