Yacht Octopus Is an Homage to Voyaging, “Full of Color and Surprises”

A custom superyacht inspired by a larger custom project—which has led to even further similar contracts—is in the water at Cantiere delle Marche. A true explorer intending to put her long reach into practice, the fittingly named yacht Octopus isn’t a carbon copy. Rather, she’s a reflection of her owners’ enthusiasm for discovery and adventure, with healthy doses of colorful personality.

Previously referred to as the Deep Blue 115 yacht, this 115-footer (35-meter) draws inspiration from the globetrotting yacht Acala. Delivered three years ago, Acala is an entirely custom 141-footer (43-meter) with a tackle-the-oceans profile and capabilities. That, paired with spaces for cruising and diving in remote regions comfortably, piqued the interest of these clients. They’re highly experienced, “with a great passion for yachts and design with a taste for excellence,” notes Vasco Buonpensiere, Cantiere delle Marche’s co-founder and CEO. A meeting with the shipyard at the Cannes Yachting Festival in 2024 led to signing their first custom long-range project.

Cantiere delle Marche yacht Octopus launch

Fulfilling their desire to go farther, the yacht Octopus should see a range of 5,500 nautical miles at 9 knots. Top speed, meanwhile, is 13½ knots. Buonpensiere asserts that she’s “a vessel replete with cutting-edge technical specifications,” too. Among them, she carries a 15-foot (4.5-meter) tender in a garage, opening to port. Rarely, if ever, does a 115-footer have interior stowage like this, with builders and designers following tradition and keeping toys on deck. Octopus differs not just because of her owners’ request, but also because all parties, including stylist Horacio Bozzo, believed features of larger yachts could work. “Rather than simply scaling down the lines and volumes, we redesigned them to suit the required dimensions,” Bozzo explains.

The same is true for the interior. “A 35-meter yacht is generally considered as ‘medium-sized,’ and its interiors are often treated accordingly,” says Giorgio Cassetta, who worked with the owners. “Octopus begs to differ.” In fact, he explains, “Her interiors are an eclectic homage to the idea of voyaging, and they are full of color and surprises.” More details should emerge in the coming months, but for now he notes she’s replete with organic shapes and exotic materials.

With delivery pending this summer, the yacht Octopus, Buonpensiere says, is “the perfect synthesis of explorer-grade over-engineering and the finest culture of yachting design.” As much as she’sa tailored project, she won’t be alone in having sprung from Acala. Cantiere delle Marche and Horacio Bozzo have spoken with several other yacht owners who liked the design and purpose. They’ve devised subsequent proposals, called the Deep Blue projects. Notably, two Deep Blue 141s are under construction, for delivery in 2027 and 2028, respectively.

Cantiere delle Marche cantieredellemarche.it

Horacio Bozzo Design horaciobozzo.com