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All of the remaining
accommodations are on the lower deck. Identical twin-berth staterooms
are accessed by a stairway off the entrance foyer, which also leads to
the upper deck. Each room has an en suite head aft, separating it from
the amidships engine room. Another stairway in the saloon leads down to
the full-beam VIP. Only about 20 percent smaller than the master, this
private room is on the after side of the engine and forward of the garage.
Its head and large walk-in closet are both forward, again to insulate
the sleeping space from the machinery space. A double settee with table,
from which there’s a comfortable view of the flat-screen TV, lies
to port, while a small desk/vanity occupies the starboard side.
Vitelli has frequently
mentioned the importance of caring for crew, and that philosophy is reflected
in a considerable area forward of the two guest staterooms given over
to comfortable crew quarters, including no fewer than three single-berth
staterooms with en suite heads. The area is accessed by yet a third stairway,
this thoughtfully leading to the forward port-side deck and main galley,
so that crew can come and go without disturbing the owners and guests.
At the foot of these stairs, abaft the crew staterooms, is a sizable lounge
and well-equipped demi galley. Some food preparation may be done here,
but the main galley is better equipped for major meals, not only in terms
of appliances but also of layout. It lays fore-to-aft, with its forward
door leading to the side deck and crew stairway and its aft door opening
onto the dining area, which is separated from the saloon by a mahogany
credenza. Even better, it has a dumbwaiter that allows for easy transport
of food and beverages to the semienclosed upper deck.
At the top end of the
dumbwaiter is a configuration found on many Benettis and which Vitelli
has apparently borrowed for the Tradition. Here on the expansive teak-soled
third deck is a large pantry with ‘fridge and sink. The pilothouse,
which includes a comfortable viewing lounge for guests, is forward and
a half-deck (three steps) down and can be accessed from the stairway leading
to the foyer. Walk aft from the pantry through a glass door, and you come
to an alfresco dining area with an eight-person table and stand-alone
wet bar with built-in stools. Three steps up on either side lead to the
flying bridge with centerline helm and large lounge that’s fully
exposed to the sun but thankfully protected from wind and offers spectacular
views. The other prime sunning space is back down on the third deck, aft
of the covered area, where there’s a large L-shape lounge with two
more small tables. Aft of that is athwartships tender stowage, a davit,
and port and starboard liferafts. (Traditions are ABS-classed and set
up for MCA.) In the aft starboard corner is another staircase that leads
down to the covered cockpit, which has its own table and lounge, just
forward of which is a door leading to the engine room.
Vitelli has a long history
of offering boats with garages, on both Benettis and Azimuts, so it’s
no surprise to learn that the Tradition has one beneath her cockpit that
can handle a RIB and a couple of PWCs or mopeds, or one large tender.
On his yacht Vitelli has opted for the latter, a 12-foot diesel-powered
waterjet. There’s also plenty of room here for the standard davit
plus a variety of swim and dive equipment, sure to be needed given the
fact that essentially the entire transom folds flat to create a giant
swim platform, another Azimut-Benetti trademark.
Indeed the Tradition
bristles with features seen before on Benettis and Azimuts, and to that
extent she might just as well be called the Evolution. But considering
the passionate involvement by the company’s CEO, perhaps an even
more appropriate name might have been Intensity.
Benetti Phone:
(39) 0584 3821. www.benettiyachts.it.
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