Creative Minds: Crn

CRN, an established yard that’s part of the Ferretti Group and is a star ambassador of Made in Italy throughout the world, was founded in 1963 in Ancona (Italy). It handles the design and construction of fully-custom aluminium and steel and aluminium yachts between 45 and 95 metres in length. The Ancona yard covers over 80,000 square metres and features a large private marina looking onto the Adriatic Sea. Opposite page, launching the 74-metre Cloud 9.

Left, Stefano de Vivo, Chief Commercial Officer Ferretti Group and CRN Executive Board Member. Above, the Ancona yard. The 62-metre steel and aluminium fully-custom megayacht CRN 137 has been awarded IMO Tier III certification (above and left, designed by Nuvolari Lenard, right) specifying that motor yachts above 500 GT (gross tonnage) must reduce the 70 % amount of harmful nitrogen oxides (NOx) emitted in exhaust gases.

Over 200 craft launched in a period of 57 years is quite an achievement. Even more so when they’re all different. Since 1963 the CRN yard, historical brand of the Ferretti Group, has provided yachts to please passionate international yachtsmen and women with vessels designed and built to fit their specifications. The innovations and technology featured by many of these yachts have helped usher in a new era, as CRN has been a trailblazer in design and engineering solutions. From its foundation in the 1960s it has proved to be a great innovator and pleasure craft builder. One example is the iconic F100 (1983), a yacht designed for businessman Gianni Agnelli, which began the fashion for explorer yachts in the international pleasure sailing sector, or more recently J’Ade (2012) was the first model with a dedicated naval design where a technical area is converted into a living area for the family and guests with floodable interior garage. In 2005 Ability introduced the open stern and marked a turning point in terms of design and on-board life for large yachts with a balcony that could also be used while under way. The first beach club featured on the 60-metre Blue Eyes (2009) and the first automatic terrace overlooking the sea. The Atlante (2015) is an out-of-the-box yacht with grilles that open and close to create multi-use areas. Its distinctive bulkiness introduced a trend for imposing shapes. “CRN doesn’t build yachts to surprise or amaze”, says Stefano de Vivo, CRN Chief Commercial Officer Ferretti Group and CRN Executive Board Member. “We have great responsibilities as yacht builders, we want to give shape to owners’ desires, designing and making objects that please the eye that fit in smoothly with the natural surroundings and that can be experienced for long cruises. For that we bring in internationally-renowned yacht designers”. The list of designers who have worked with CRN includes Zuccon International Project, which has participated in many projects, plus Nuvolari Lenard, Francesco Paszkowski Design, Vallicelli Design and Omega Architects. “We’re also working with Harrison Eidsgaard, a London studio that collaborated with us on the 86-metre Explorer Yacht project”, says de Vivo. “Owners choose us because they know that with us their megayacht will be a unique example, and because we’re flexible and receptive to all requests. The final result, though, must also emphasise safety and comfort above all”. Fully custom in layout, exteriors and interiors. “We’ve followed trends of all types in the interiors, too, from the minimalism of the 2010s, a reaction to the opulence of the 1900s-2000s, to hyper-minimalist models. Some of our yachts have also been showcases for Italian furnishing. Our recent constructions, on the other hand, are elegant megayahcts built using select materials and finishings. They are intimate and increasingly reflect the tastes of clients who seeks to live the yacht in freedom and in total privacy with their family”, de Vivo continues. “I think what we’ve seen in recent years on CRN yachts sets the trend of how yachts will look in the post Covid-19 era – large volumes with spaces created especially for a range

The 78m Slipstream is clothed in clean lines that are raked in certain areas to lower her proportions and bring occupants closer to the sea. Her beach area is a circular indooroutdoor affair, thanks to open-out platforms. A large six-metre pool on the swim platform is another new addition. Below left, the interior of the beach area with the Nemo Lounge and its underwater views, right

Above, the M/Y 138, exteriors by Omega Architects with straight bow and crisp lines. The spacious

interiors are designed by Pulina Exclusive Interiors (here, the lounge and dining areas)

A sketch of the CRN M/Y 139, a 72-metre yacht with exteriors by Vallicelli Design and interiors by Nuvolari Lenard. It has a classic look and huge interior volumes. Of note, the spectacular swimming pool, an unprecedented feature on board a 70-metre craft.

The design for the new 86-metre Explorer Yacht by the Harrison Eidsgaard studio with attractive sinuous lines. This megayacht is one of the design concepts ready to be customised to match the

owner’s requirements. Bottom, She, a superclassic project from Vallicelli Design.

of intelligent uses, large exterior areas and rationalisation of the beach area so it can also be used in port. All in all we’re talking about yachts that are more practical and enduring. In this period we’ve seen owners going to sea in order to feel safe. A yacht is the safest island you can find”. CRN currently has a number of builds under way – the CRN M/Y 138, CRN M/Y 139 and CRN M/Y 141. The 138 is a 62-metre steel and aluminium yacht set for delivery in 2021. Its exteriors are by Omega Architects with straight bow and crisp, sleek lines combined with generous interior spaces by Pulina Exclusive Interiors, with a spectacular owner’s cabin overlooking the sea forward. The 72-metre 139 is a floating palace set for delivery in 2022. Its exteriors are designed by Andrea Vallicelli and Alessandro Nazareth, with interiors by Nuvolari Lenard. It has a classic

look with huge volumes and an enormous swimming pool that’s 10 metres long, 4 metres wide and 1.50 metres deep. This adds 60 tonnes to the bow area, altering the yacht’s centre of gravity. The 141 is a full-aluminium 62-metre model, a real missile. The owner requested a minimum cruising speed of 21½ knots. It’ll be fast yacht with a unique design. “We’ve also just delivered the 62-metre steel and aluminium 137 yacht made in collaboration with Nuvolari Lenard. It has a very unusual design”, says de Vivo. “It’s a sort of spaceship with reverse bow, different from past layouts. It also has a spoiler the skipper can extend to block spray from the bows. And finally, the CRN 142 52 metre yacht by Omega Architects, with interiors by Massari Design: an all-alumium build with a low, sleek profile reflecting its sporty personality”. Dreams becoming reality.