Yacht Papa Joe Premieres, 7th Benetti Diamond 44M Megayacht

Most superyacht launches these days involve large-capacity lifts lowering the craft into the water. Time-honored traditions remain in place at Benetti’s yard in Viareggio, Italy, though, making for exciting experiences. The yacht Papa Joe is the latest to take the age-old launch down the slipway, entering the water transom first on March 16.

“Slipway” is an appropriate name, since the yacht slides down a dedicated area sloping toward the water. In some cases, like at the Benetti yard, the slipway is perpendicular to the water. At other shipyards, meanwhile, the slipway is parallel, which therefore leads to a sideways launch.

Local officials from Viareggio were on hand for the yacht’s ceremony, as was the owner’s management team. The 145-foot (44-meter) Papa Joe is the seventh hull in Benetti’s Diamond 44M series, the largest model in the Benetti Class semi-custom series, too. Following speeches by Sebastiano Fanizza, Benetti’s CCO, and Massimo Casoni, Benetti’s general manager, as well as the captain (below), the yacht released her ropes and entered the water to a flurry of confetti.

Since the yacht Papa Joe is semi-custom, her styling matches that of her predecessors. Inside, she has five staterooms for a party of 12. These include a main-deck master suite, of course, which further has an office area. The layout additionally includes five crew cabins for seven crewmembers and the captain. In keeping with typical practice, the captain’s cabin is adjacent to the wheelhouse. Also in keeping with typical practice, some areas have separate areas for crew and guests. It’s particularly evident on the main deck. Benetti fashioned the rack room for all AV and related electronics to double as a service passageway.

The 471-gross-ton superyacht shows off a home-away-from-home ambience, as the owner requested. It’s an elegant style, too, with rich details. Santos rosewood veneer accents appear oak paneling, for example. Bold pops of color like turquoise in the master suite and burgundy-plum in the saloon highlight various rooms. It continues in the upper deck, where Levanto red marble tops a table.

Among the areas that particularly allow the owner and guests to feel at home is the beach club. It has a sliding smoked-glass door, making it usable even as an enclosed space. A settee and bar keep the setting comfortable and welcoming. Yet another area sure to get a lot of use is the skylounge, featuring a movie screen—though, the settee here lets everyone enjoy the view aft out over the sea as well.

Sea trials should confirm a top speed of 15 knots under MAN power. Since the yacht Papa Joe has an SCR system, her range should be 2,300 nautical miles at 11 knots when it’s on.

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