Yacht Amiga Starts Build for Biking Enthusiast at Cantiere delle Marche

Some yachts are designed around wellness, or outdoor living. The yacht Amiga, whose keel laying just took place at Cantiere delle Marche, is different. The owner’s love of biking was a significant factor. It’s all the more intriguing considering, by his own admission, “I wasn’t always fond of the sea.”

With a rugged exterior aesthetic, including a high bow and angular lines, the project bears design by Giorgio M. Cassetta. She’s part of the builder’s new RAW yacht series, for those seeking autonomous adventures and remote routes. “My team and I have been witnessing for a decade now a growing trend towards more ‘informal,’ travel- and discovery-oriented yachting,” Cassetta says. The RAW series therefore is for “a knowledgeable yachtsman who isn’t afraid to spend four months onboard sleeping in a different creek each night while exploring some remote coasts, and then sail the boat through fashionable rendezvous and lavish parties.” Vasco Buonpensiere, Cantiere delle Marche’s co-founder and CEO, agrees, saying, “We strongly believe in the flexibility of use of our vessels.”

The aesthetics and overall concept attracted the owner of the yacht Amiga. So, too, did the comfortable, flowing living areas inside and out and engineering. Cantiere delle Marche has delivered multiple megayachts that have put thousands of nautical miles under their hulls in short periods. Having a big tender to explore coastlines was yet another priority for the owner, as was stowage for watertoys. Simultaneously, he wanted space to stow multiple bicycles, since biking is a passion. He’s also the previous owner of a pro cycling team. For convenient access, the stowage space is aft, fully enclosed, in the beach area. In his early 50s and fit, “I dreamed of exploring coastlines by bike, even while on holiday,” he explains. Having them aboard a yacht is “the best of both worlds.”

He might not have discovered the world of cruising, though, if he hadn’t met his wife. “It wasn’t until adulthood that I developed a real interest in boating,” he says, adding that mountain sports were his first love. “My beloved wife” introduced him “to the joys of life at sea” about two decades ago. “That discovery completely changed things for me. It opened up a whole new world of adventure.” As his comfort level grew, and as their family grew, the owner and his wife bought larger boats and yachts. “I started caring less about speed and more about quality time with family and friends,” he recalls. “I learned to appreciate long passages, peaceful swims, watersports, and above all, relaxation.”

Even with all of these boats and yachts, however, the owner couldn’t easily take his bike along. Simultaneously, he and his family wanted to travel well beyond the Med. When he learned of Cantiere delle Marche’s Darwin Class series, he immediately liked the take-on-the-seas design and engineering. The no-frills looks didn’t exactly delight his wife straight away, he notes. But, the ability to tailor them, plus layouts, and features, appealed to them all. A visit to the shipyard while the RAW series was in development ended up leading to the contract signing for the yacht Amiga. “We wanted a yacht that reflected who we are,” the owner says. Specifically, they are “an active, young, sporty family.” He continues, “RAW was the perfect fit: large and comfortable, yet unconventional. At around 30 meters, it struck the ideal balance between space, comfort, range, and maneuverability.”

Vasco Buonpensiere echoes this. “Our goal is not to impress with eye-catching features, but to create projects that stay true to their mission,” he emphasizes. That mission is “ensuring comfortable and safe journeys over long distances.”

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