Maiora 42 Exuma Yacht Turns Tradition Upside Down, In Several Smart Ways

An old adage in yachting holds that if you have a happy crew, you have happy owners. Comfortable, well-planned crew spaces avoid the issues of high turnover and inconsistent maintenance. Yet, many in yachting would have you believe it’s impossible to provide more floorspace for both guest and crew cabins on anything smaller than 200 feet (approaching 60 meters). The Maiora 42 Exuma yacht series not only proves it’s possible, but also proves the entirety of traditional yacht design can be challenged successfully.

The model name is reminiscent of another Maiora, specifically the Maiora 35 Exuma series. Additionally, the turn of speed is akin to what Maioras overall deliver. Twin Volvo Pentas with IPS units should deliver a 20-knot top speed and 16-knot cruising speed. For a quicker pace, meanwhile, twin MTUs should put the max end close to 30 knots and the cruising speed at 26 knots. These are where the similarities end, however.

Firstly, the four guest staterooms, plus the master, aboard this 139-footer (42.5-meter) are on the main deck. Floor-to-ceiling windows and more generous volumes characterize them. As an option, Maiora can install a glass elevator connecting all three decks, without compromising space. (This includes wheelhouse space, also on the main deck.) Simply put, all of this is unheard of aboard any megayacht other than an entirely custom build in the upper size range. It came down to wanting to better unite owners with their families and friends. Conventional wisdom dictates the saloon and master suite primarily occupy the main deck. But, Maiora realized, separating guests from owners defeats the purpose of cruising. Among other things, too, it forces staterooms to have smaller windows due to being below decks.

According to Giorgio M. Cassetta, responsible for exterior styling, Maiora brought the whole concept of reasonably defying convention to the table. In fact, while the shipyard team challenged him “to create a balance between lightness, interior volume, and generous heights while maintaining a clean and refined look,” design work advanced rapidly because of a meeting of the minds. “The most significant innovation brought by the shipyard was in the layout,” he continues. “We moved the guest cabins to the main deck, dedicating the lower deck to services and leaving the upper deck and sundeck completely free and fully dedicated to the guests.”

By “services,“ Cassetta means everything related to the crew. You’ll find five cabins for nine capable hands, plus a mess large enough for all of them at once. Nearby is a cold room and dry stowage, along with a larger-than-usual laundry. The dumbwaiter is larger as well, since the main galley is on this level. The Maiora 42 Exuma yacht still has enough space left for a dedicated room capable of featuring any number of amenities. It can be a crew gym, for example, or an area for guests—perhaps a sixth stateroom or massage room. Interestingly—and calling to mind the “happy crew, happy owners” adage—crew further have a protected alfresco area on the main deck. It’s for simple breaks during the day or outdoor exercise.

Regardless of their yacht’s LOA, most cruisers spend the majority of their time on the upper deck. But, Maiora felt typical skylounges are simply too small, compromising relaxation. It also correctly noted that typical main saloons are underutilized. The Maiora 42 Exuma yacht has a welcome solution. The upper-deck saloon is quite literally as open a room as you can get. The glass on all four sides opens, with zero obstructions from one end of the deck to the other. Also, side platforms fold down, just as they do on the main deck. With the platforms open, the usable upper-deck space measures 118 by 36 feet (36 by 11 meters). This includes an inviting sunning space fully forward. It features an indulgent circular sunbed, pivoting via remote control to follow the sun. Why should anyone’s tan lines get ruined from shadows when the yacht remains in one position at anchor?

With an 861-square-foot (80-square-meter) sundeck topping things off, the Maiora 42 Exuma yacht series upends a lot of tradition. It opened the door to rethinking interior design, too. Maiora approached the renowned fashion design house Elie Saab, with this resulting in its first yacht project. The company already has divisions for home décor, hospitality, and branded real estate. So, “this evolution was both natural and intentional,” says Elie Saab Jr., CEO of Elie Saab Group. As you’d expect, selections from the Elie Saab Maison collection are available, along with entirely custom furnishings. Marbles, teak soles and ceilings, and all other materials are made in Italy as well. “The 42 Exuma is not just a yacht, it is a bold expression of our vision,” Saab concludes. Namely, the vision is “to craft immersive, elegant spaces where design, precision, and comfort converge.”

“When onboard experience is designed properly, the yacht becomes transparent to the eyes of the owners,” notes Sebastiano Fanizza, CEO of Next Yacht Group (Maiora’s parent company). This, he continues, is the essence of the Maiora 42 Exuma yacht series. More to the point, the goal was “surpassing outdated conventions to embrace a yachting idea that finally puts people, not old logics, at the heart of the project.”