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Celebrating successes
BENETTI’S 63M MEGA YACHT METIS HAS WON THE PRESTIGIOUS WORLD SUPERYACHT AWARD IN THE CATEGORY DISPLACEMENT YACHTS BETWEEN 1,000 AND 1,499T AT THE WORLD SUPERYACHT AWARDS 2020.
ALL PHOTOS COURTESY OF BENETTI.
The interior of Metis was designed by Bannenberg & Rowell in a progressive style.
The judges at Boat International were impressed by the interior architecture, designed in a particularly progressive style by British studio Bannenberg & Rowell, as well as the innovative exteriors and layout by Giorgio M. Cassetta and his team. This success replicates that of the award that Benetti received at the 2019 event for motor yacht Spectre, which was also held by the highly respected yachting magazine Boat International.
Benetti core values
The experienced yacht owners who form the World Superyacht Awards jury recognised in Metis the Italian elegance and excellent quality that are the core values of the Benetti brand. The judges particularly appreciated how Metis’ layout was designed to suit the needs of her owner, while extending the modern design trends, including interiors with such good visibility that they are at one with the surrounding seascapes. The beach club, which directly opens towards the sea via three huge shell doors, was another feature that caught their attention. Motor yacht Metis is a distinctively contemporary 63m custom yacht with impressive volumes expressed in fowing lines and innovative details. The steel hull and aluminium superstructure offer six decks and a maximum beam of 11m. The touch-and-go helipad, the 160m2 master apartment with an exclusive outdoor terrace, and the extensive deck areas are just a few of the yacht’s outstanding features. The 20m2 fy deck gym is the cherry-on-the-pie that Kurt Lehman from Yacht Moments is particularly proud of, since it was his idea and one of the features that truly impressed the judges.
Subtle, yet recognisable
For the interiors, London-based frm Bannenberg & Rowell has introduced a new design approach that embraces an unusual layout, with the beach club, the main saloon on the main deck, and the lounge area on the upper deck that is turned 30 degrees compared to traditional confgurations, revealing new perspectives from which to enjoy the sea view. The architecture developed by the English studio features the extensive use of bleached oak with leather >>
Metis is a distinctively contemporary 63m custom yacht with impressive volumes expressed in fowing lines and innovative details. Benetti’s 63m mega yacht Metis wins the prestigious World Superyacht Award in the category displacement yachts between 1,000 and 1,499t.
inserts and materials including carbon fbre and polished stainless steel. Giovanna Vitelli, Vice President of the Azimut Benetti Group, comments, “I share this award with everyone who has been part of creating this project, which represents the excellence of Benetti’s production and construction capabilities, a statement of ‘Made in Italy’ best industrial and manufacturing capabilities. Proof of the excellent result is this prestigious award, as well as the sale of four yachts based on Metis’ design that were sold to owners from four different continents.” Giorgio M. Cassetta, who was responsible for the exterior design and layout, comments on the style, “Our goal for Metis was to create a set of essential lines that would give the yacht a subtle sensuality and a recognisable character. She is unmistakably a Benetti yacht, with an added boldness and exquisite balance of proportions. Her refned volumes were precisely crafted to highlight three-dimensionality with precision surface contouring, while offering uncompromised lay-out functionality. This makes her a perfect expression of our company’s ethos, and we are grateful to the yard and the project team for a fantastic job together.”
Phygital edition of Benetti Yachtmaster
Another fruitful event for Benetti was the 21st Benetti Yachtmaster, organised in phygital format on 18 and 19 February 2021. Over 250 people, of which 125 captains, visited the event and connected from all over the world to follow a rich programme of meetings, workshops, analyses and the virtual trade show, the online environment in which event partners showcased their products.
Next generation
The theme for this edition of Yachtmaster was next generation yachts characterised by advanced technology and design excellence. The event started off with a welcome speech by Giovanna Vitelli, Vice President of Azimut Benetti, who emphasised the importance of an event like Yachtmaster in the yacht world as it opens up a communication channel between yacht industry professionals and the shipyard. Azimut Benetti Group Marketing Director Benedetta Moreno then spoke about the Shipyard’s history from the Benetti Museum Lounge. Marco Valle, CEO of Azimut Benetti Group, made an appearance at the end of the opening to celebrate the live launch of award-winning yacht Metis.
After many other speakers, all with their own areas of expertise, guests turned their attention to the virtual trade show, discovering the initiative’s partners and the products and technologies that were showcased on the virtual platform. Later that day, it was time for the eagerly awaited owner’s team perspective, which featured custom motor yacht Metis and her Captain, Frank Hesse, who spoke online from the yacht’s bridge about his experiences, career milestones, and life on board, seen through the lens of sustainability. The live stream then moved to the galley of the motor yacht, where award-winning chef Italo Bassi delighted guests with an outstanding demonstration of show cooking. In the afternoon, two workshops led by Benetti investigated retroft-related issues. Two other workshops for stewardesses discussed onboard hospitality and the relaxing effects of tea, with a tasting organised by ‘tea sommelier’ Domenico Gradia.
The morning of 19 February got underway with a yoga session streamed live from the main deck of Luminosity, the 108m giga yacht which is the largest hybrid in the world built in Italy by a private shipyard. Sebastiano Fanizza, Chief Commercial Offcer of Benetti, and Michele Bechelli, Project Manager of Benetti, revealed some of the many secrets of the hybrid propulsion system via a live link from the bridge and engine room. After some interesting discussions on different propulsion systems with several guest speakers, the focus returned to the virtual
trade show and the owner’s team perspective, with guest Clinton White, Captain of motor yacht Masquenada, the yacht currently undergoing a reft at Lusben’s facilities in Livorno. Two workshops followed in the afternoon, after which Azimut Benetti Group R&D Department Engineer Iacopo Senarega demonstrated the group’s continuing desire to contribute to a yachting industry that is respectful of the marine ecosystem. The event was brought to an end with a closing speech by Benedetta Moreno and David Seal, and a live comedy show with Jim Jefferies who interacted with online participants.
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CEO of Azimut Benetti Group Marco Valle celebrates the launch of a new 65m Benetti custom yacht.
