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A Perini Navi yacht is never just a boat: it’s a style. The latest 60m to splash lives up to that promise. Her elegant, timeless exteriors hide interiors meticulously researched and penned by Dante O. Benini & Partners Architects to create a sense of utter spaciousness 38
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by Paola Bertelli - ph. by Giuliano Sargentini
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even because seven is the number of my
The same applies to the dining table which seats six but
grandchildren,” owner Ennio Doris says
can extend to accommodate up to 14. The dining area can
revealing how he chose the name of his new
also be closed off and soundproofed when it is being used
Perini 60m. A passionate yachtsman and owner
for business meetings.
of another Perini, he adds: “We wanted a name
In terms of trims, maple and Canaletto walnut are widely
that expressed the strong bond with my family ... With this
used and alternate with leather, woven and plain, onyx
new yacht we can all sail together, a passion that unites us
and tinted mirrors. Designer brands such as Armani Casa,
and brings us together.” Seven is a superyacht designed
Ivano Redaelli, Giorgetti and Rubelli, Tai Ping feature
around the owner’s extended family which spans three
strongly too. The onboard lighting system is so clever that
generations: parents, children and grandchildren. For
Seven won the Best Lighting category at the 2018 Boat
the third yacht in the 60m series,
International Design and Innovation
the follow-up to Seahawk and
Awards. Perini Navi, thanks to its
Perseus3, the yard worked with
suppliers which include Videoworks,
Ron Holland who delivered the
was able to provide great support in
naval architecture and Dante O.
ensuring Benini’s lighting design was
Benini & Partners Architects for the
orchestrated to perfection. The results
interiors. The Milan-based studio is
are extraordinary and have produced the
famous for its edgy designs so it is
ideal blend of direct, indirect and back
hardly surprising that the first thing
lighting. The result is that all the various
Benini did was to pen a lower deck
elements are brilliantly balanced and the
arrangement that doesn’t often crop
effect is incredibly natural. The starting
up on a superyacht. There are two
point, however, set the bar high as the
master staterooms, for starters,
aim was to recreate the natural interplay
both full-beam and given the same
of light and shade produced by sunlight.
importance despite being different
Like the other Perini 60ms, Seven was
in style. The total interior guest room aboard is 259 square
designed to skate under the 500 GT mark which was
metres but to make the very most of the space on the lower
invaluable when it came to containing volumes and
deck, Benini used areas that are normally ignored and
slenderising the exterior design and lending it an ultra-
happily left the curve of the hull visible at certain points,
sleek look. It also produced 151 square metres of al fresco
which adds to the nautical stamp of the project.
space. The compact deckhouse, for instance, freed up
A neutral colour palette that melds seamlessly into the
enough room for a genuinely expansive forward cockpit.
background was deliberately chosen for the soft, rounded
Another impressive area is the enormous fly. Back down
furnishings, again to open up the space. This is never more
on the main deck, the cockpit, where the dining area is
the case than in the main saloon where sinuous crescent-
backed onto by a sun pad section, connects guests directly
shaped sofas are at the centre of the room and follow the
to the sea when the transom is opened out while the large
curve of the dark glass ovoid overhead which itself mirrors
central stairs is another elegant link.
Seven’s sleek hull forms and enhances the sense of space.
www.perininavi.it
Two Panamax masts of 62 and 51 metres-plus spread 2,100 square metres of sail. Perini Navi’s 62nd yacht is a sleek 60m aluminium ketch. Opening page, the al fresco dining area on the main deck with the onyx, steel, teak, black glass and leathertrimmed bar to the right, designed as a light, slenderlined bridge
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The Owner Ennio Doris
I can enjoy my family with Seven In this exclusive interview, Ennio Doris, chairman and founder of Banca Mediolanum, tells The ONE Yacht and Design about his love of the sea, travel and the human warmth he encounters in each new port. He also talks about his new Perini Navi ketch which was designed to bring his family together by Désirée Sormani
M
r Doris, how would you describe your relationship with the sea? What do boats mean to you? Are they a dream come true or a status symbol? Neither. My first encounter with the sea by boat came about quite by chance: Silvio Berlusconi loaned me his ketch, Principessa Vaivia, to help me complete and supervise the renovation work on my villa in Porto Rotondo in Sardinia. I had no experience with boats at all apart from a Tyrrhenian cruise with the family on a 33-metre charter. But I just fell completely in love when I started using Principessa Vaivia. I like nature: the whole experience of being under sail, hearing the silence, the wind, the swish of the water. I decided to buy her and made Berlusconi an offer as he had bought Rupert Murdoch’s boat Morning Glory in the meantime. My wife didn’t agree at all with that but then she ended up falling even more heavily than I had. Because when you are on a boat, you really can’t think about anything else. What does having a boat do for you? We have a villa in Sardinia with a lovely beach nearby. But the boat gives us the same kind of comfort and convenience plus the possibility of sailing to an endless list of new places to experience new customs and ways of life. Most of all though, a boat lets you cut yourself off from the world and get into contact with nature.
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Priceless experiences. What are your favourite places? We visited the Caribbean aboard Morning Glory and it was gorgeous but I am very attached to my country and sea around it. I like the Adriatic even though the sea is better on the side opposite Italy. There is a huge number of islands that form small internal seas and sailing is really chilled. I also adore Greece. But you just can’t match Italy for sheer variety. We have some real gems and I remember each and every one very clearly. Lipari has the most delicious Louvar fish rolls while the “Taverna Anema e Core” on the island of Capri has the wildest dancing. It’s extraordinary. I like to savour the beauty of the sea, traditions and people. Why did you go back to Perini Navi for your new boat? When I first stepped aboard Principessa Vaivia (a Perini), I realised that this was the best way to sail. I love Perini yachts because they marry noise-free sailing with the comfort of a motorboat. I have also got to know Fabio Perini: he’s a genius. His automatic sailing boats are absolutely unique. There’s nothing like them anywhere in the world. Do you ever take the helm yourself? No, no… I don’t touch a thing. I like being carried along without having to make decisions. I am already at the helm in my office. I
work 11 and a half months of the year: I’m an entrepreneur and, as such. I hardly ever rest so once I am aboard, all I want to think about is relaxing. Why did you chooose Dante Benini’s studio? We organised an event for Mediolanum’s clients in Padua and Benini was one of the speakers. Dante was showing us his work – everything from skyscrapers to bridges. He also showed us his boats. You can see the passion behind his work in every single one of his projects. It was love at first sight. It’s a big leap from a 42m to a 60m... It’s true - it was a huge leap. Principessa Vaivia spread 600 square metres of sail but Seven spreads around 2,100 and even her hull is four metres wider. Again it all happened by chance: we weren’t thinking about changing. Fabio Perini suggested a yacht that was already building, and my son and I decided it was a good idea because it would allow us all be together in one spot. So you take all the family sailing, including your seven grandchildren? How did that influence the interior design? It had a major impact. Every one of us has different needs because there are different generations aboard: from my little 8 year old grandson to me – and I’m 78! We all had input into the interior design but my son Massimo and my wife did most of the work. It was very important for my wife in particular that the boat be elegant and simple. Which is very much Dante’s style too. Massimo has more modern tastes and talked to the architect about what he wanted. The result is just the right balance between the two generations. My son also loves sailing smaller boats and my grandson water-skis. So we have a Laser, jet skis and a gym area aboard to keep everyone happy. So what did you ask for? I like the treadmill for a bit of exercise aboard. I can’t sunbathe – I swim early in the morning and late in the evening. I put two treadmills and an exercise bike in a shaded area aft. So when Seven is at anchor I can have my little stroll in the shade. I also asked for a sofa I could read on. What is your favourite thing about Seven’s design? And your least favourite? The automatic genoa system created by Perini which wasn’t part of the original plan. It’s a complete first and was subsequently requested by another owner. This boat has one defect: as she is a 60m, you’re a bit further from the sea. Heeling close-hauled aboard Principessa Vaivia, you could touch the water with a finger. What does Seven represent to you? She represents my family. The fact that we really all get together for a few days every year. And that I can enjoy the
Boats offer us the comfort of a villa combined with the ability to get to an endless different places. Most of all though, a boat lets you cut yourself off from the world and get into contact with nature. And that is priceless
most important thing in my life as a result. Where do you feel best aboard? With Principessa Vaivia, it was the stern. But aboard Seven, the foredeck will be brilliant too: there’s even a space for having lunch or dinner. It will always be nice and airy even when you’re not underway, too. Under the sails and in the shade. I think it’s a spot I’ll be using a lot. Seven: is the name just a reference to the number of grandchildren you have or is it for good luck? Both. It’s a coincidence. Seven is a Biblical number and a lucky number too. I believe in God-incidences. My life has been full of lucky Godincidences.
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The crescent-shaped leather sofas dominate the centre of the saloon. They were custom-made by Giorgetti for Seven’s very tall owner, Ennio Doris, who stands over 6’ 3”. The angle of the seat back adapts to the weight and stature of the person sitting on the sofa. The rug was made by Stepevi to a design by the Studio Benini which also created the coffee table
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Meticulous attention to detail abounds. Left, a close-up of the solid teak used for the bar and, beside it, one of the two vertical cylinders topped by removable trays. “Non-colour� is the subtle star of the furnishings show, a refined mix of whites and beiges helps expand the sense of space. Lighting too plays a pivotal role both in the day quarters, not least the dining area (below), and the accommodations (opposite page)
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Concept and Exterior Designer Franco Romani, Head of Design
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even is the third 60m built by Perini Navi and a fourth is already in build now. The 60 family followed up the hugely successful 56 series of which 10 were launched. It was born of a desire to create something new, something bigger but still under 500 GT mark. It was a tough challenge but the result is a spectacular boat, an evolution of the 56 but more powerful with a deeper keel (sliding – extending from 4.3 to 12.3 metres). She’s also a more slender, sportier yacht with a compact deckhouse. There is a big emphasis on exterior space and having a smaller deckhouse freed up the space for a
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magnificent forward cockpit that is absolutely my favourite place aboard. Very few yachts have one anything like as beautiful. But the big aft cockpit and signature Perini fly bridge are just as good. Seven fully respects the classic Perini Navi aesthetic canons: she’s a timeless yacht, a real thoroughbred. Truly eternal. She was designed with an unusual sail plan spread on two aluminium masts with spreaders that are carbon like the rest of the rig. The steering console is on the fly with all the naval functions and sail plan controlled from there. There is a second
Seven’s sleekly elegant lines are underscored by a relatively compact superstructure. The Perini Navi 60m family was designed to guarantee ultracomfortable bluewater cruising and impressive performance in a yacht of under 500 GT. The naval architecture is by Ron Holland
helm station indoors forward of the main saloon that offers full control of the boat, part from the sail system. When Ennio Doris chose this 60m, the hull was almost completed. He saw it and liked it because it was perfect for the kind of family use he had in mind. He only asked for a few exterior modifications. For example, he wanted the sun pads in the forward cockpit replaced by a large dining area. He also asked for lots of sun canopies everywhere. Lastly, rather than having two tenders, he opted for just one and used the resulting free space for a whole slew of toys that his family would enjoy.
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Interior Designer Dante O. Benini, founder of Dante O. Benini & Partners Architects
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even’s owner Ennio Doris and I got to know each other by chance at a conference. I had the opportunity to talk about my work there and a while later got a call. It was the perfect relationship: we understood each other instantly and everything went very smoothly. His brief was clear: he wanted a boat for his family. Not something to show off. The family took a very active part in the deciding the style of the yacht, following the development process every step of the way, including selecting the woods and décor. Seven is a 60m with 60,000 details. Nothing was left to chance. She was researched right down to the very last detail. Almost obsessively so. But we were given carte blanche in our work. We were responsible for everything, including the layout of the interior spaces. We revolutionised the existing layout for the 60m ketch platform. We are architects but we don’t do boats so we started with the layout. We managed to create efficient, liveable spaces, particularly on the
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lower deck, far superior to other craft of similar dimensions. We are used to striving for efficiency to the square metre – efficiency is a growing focus in the office and real estate worlds. Generally speaking, we’re real colour advocates. We created three very colourful towers in Moscow. But this design demanded neutrals, such as beiges, whites. In a boat that is 60 metres long and 2.02 high, you can’t perceive its volume and spaces when you walk in so that means evanescent colours have to be used. We used a particular type of upholstery that also had an evanescent quality so that when the light went on, its pattern created an optical effect that extended the perspective. Also in there are special LEDs that you don’t see when they’re on and which also amplify the spaces. The aim was to give the illusion of space even when there wasn’t any. We managed to look beyond the normal with this boat – we designed it to be lived by three generations: father, children and grandchildren. It’s a real game-changer.
“We work mainly from sketches….we do a lot of drawing and we do it well…,” explains Dante O. Benini (left in photo with partner Luca Gonzo). At the development stage, the drawings are done by overlapping sheets of paper or sketches on the basic plan, just as Carlo Scarpa, with whom Benini trained, used to do
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The Shipyard LambertoTacoli, CEO Perini Navi
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unique Italian brand, new Italian partners, an Italian owner, an Italian builder, an Italian flag, and an Italian Captain with an Italian crew: my baptism of fire at Perini Navi is a delivery that is outrageously Italian! And I could not have hoped for more because I truly believe that Perini Navi is the embodiment of Italian excellence. Seven is a family yacht for a second-time Perini Navi owner. It has all the features of what it means to be Perini, as it will sail around the world in comfort and safety with the owners’ family aboard, and in the simple luxurious style that is the hallmark of the brand. My first surprise at Perini Navi, following my appointment last May, was to discover how extraordinary the relationship between the company and its select group of owners is: passionate, competent, enthusiastic and extremely loyal. I thank the owner for his trust, his patience and his wisdom during the entire building process. Even though I arrived only a few months before the launch party, I learnt a lot from this experience and I’m extremely proud of the opportunity to work with this family on their wonderful yacht. Seven is the third of our 60m series, with a fourth under construction for a US owner. She is a comfortable, fast cruising yacht with an ocean-going spirit and a ground-breaking new Perini Navi sail handling system that includes a totally automated gennaker. Incredible! The new Perini Navi sail handling system featured on Seven provides 20-second automatic tacking – speeds that not even the most professional racing crew can achieve on a yacht of this size. Even the gennaker is handled by a brand new technology. The interior design of the yacht was conceived by Dante O. Benini and immediately very deservedly won the Boat International Design Award for lighting: a rare achievement for an Italian builder with an Italian architect. But the lighting on Seven really is innovative and unique, as it constantly shifts and changes like the weather, providing different tones and atmospheres for each different moment of the day - or night.
Seven splashed last summer. Her automated handling system, developed entirely in-house by Perini Navi, delivers razor-sharp manoeuvres for a yacht of this size: an automatic, for example, takes an astonishing 20 seconds
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