Pier Luigi Loro Piana is no stranger to yachting, having enjoyed a number of sailing yachts over the years. His family firm Loro Piana further sponsors regattas. He’s now enjoying the power side of yachting with Masquenada, a 167-foot (51-meter) motoryacht recently relaunched after a months-long refit by Lusben.
Loro Piana acquired the megayacht last year, following a search for a capable global cruiser for his family. Interestingly, Masquenada wasn’t a yacht when she first launched back in 2007. Indeed, she was a workboat. A subsequent buyer had her undergo a conversion into an explorer yacht. Still, Loro Piana wanted significant changes to accommodate his extensive cruising plans.
One of the first orders of business was removing the full stern section. Both the bridge deck and upper deck grew nearly five feet (1.5 meters). The lower aft deck, meanwhile, gained a transformer swim platform for more usable space at anchor. Lusben’s craftspeople and Nauta Design, responsible for restyling, had a challenge on their hands for these changes. Specifically, they didn’t have access to architectural drawings. Therefore, the rebuild and design teams created a 3D scan to start essentially from square one with dimensions and surveyor approval. “Masquenada is now much more sleek and elegant,” comments Mario Pedol of Nauta Design. “In redesigning the stern block, we have managed to improve the contact with the water and the livability of this area.”
Other major changes include reworking the main deck. Previously, the yacht carried a hefty crane, original equipment from her workboat days. Lusben removed it, installing a smaller yet still-capable one in the lazarette. This required rearranging below-decks space for it—plus provided a big benefit for the main deck. The area now has an amazing 2,153 square feet (200 square meters) of freed-up space.
While further work involved sound and vibration attenuation, Masquenada also underwent a decor transformation. Naturally, Loro Piana turned to Misa Poggi, who frequently works with his company. Though photos aren’t available, all soles and overheads changed, as did furnishings and fabrics. Additionally, Poggi changed the layouts for the galley and master suite. In his stateroom, Loro Piana can wake up to views forward over the bow.
Today, Masquenada shows off an entirely grey paint job and teak decks that give the illusion of being single long planks from bow to stern. The latter is a nod to Loro Piana’s love of sailing yachts.
Loro Piana, who attended the launch, says he’s “enormously satisfied” with the teams completing the refit in just months. Time was particularly important to him. He adds, “Now, the project for the immediate future is to embark with my family and sail around the world.”
Lusben lusben.com
Nauta Design nautadesign.com
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