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Another
big part of the appeal inside is the above-mentioned expanse of windows.
François Zuretti, who has collaborated with Benetti on the entire
Classic line as well as a few of its larger megayachts, arranged a few
of the rooms on the main deck and upper deck to take advantage of the
panoramic views. The main saloon, for example, where guests can gather
on sofas and armchairs and are surrounded by expertly crafted and glossed
cherrywood and maple burl, permits everyone to enjoy the view to either
side whether standing or sitting, since the windows are deep. Sliding
glass doors aft and additional deep windows to either side of them bring
more of the outside in. In similar fashion, the sky lounge features a
variety of sofas and armchairs that let guests benefit from the expanse
of windows there, plus sliding doors that yield entrance to a large enclosed
veranda.
But
the best treatment is reserved for the owner’s suite, fully forward
on the main deck. The bed sits upon a rotating platform, allowing the
owners to choose which view they want to take in from a 180-degree curved
wall of glass. (Should the vistas prove too tempting to enjoy from the
air-conditioned space, the suite opens onto a private terrace with a Jacuzzi
tub plus a settee and table for private meals.)
Whether
the owners wish to access the third deck or the guests wish to reach their
below-deck staterooms (two double-bedded VIP cabins and two twin cabins),
they can use the elevator, a feature that’s increasingly popular
on yachts of Patricia’s size and larger. The combination
of an all-glass cab and a skylight at the top of the shaft (which doubles
as an etched glass table on the sundeck) allow natural light to filter
through.
The
sundeck itself is divided into three areas. The aft section is dedicated
to sunbathing due to its large sunpads and Jacuzzi. The midship space
contains a bar, barbecue, and dining table, and the section fully forward
features windscreens that let guests enjoy a day’s journey without
becoming windblown; these windscreens are collapsible should anyone desire
a bigger breeze.
In paying
attention to the desires of owners and guests, Benetti did not overlook
the crew. Any owner who has seen his share of crew turnover due to poorly
designed crew accommodations and access areas will appreciate the way
Patricia is laid out. Cherrywood adorns the crew mess, a relaxation
area, two double cabins, and a chief engineer’s cabin, the latter
three cabins each having their own bath. (The captain’s cabin is
aft of the wheelhouse.) A ladder yields access to what Benetti calls the
“under lower deck,” a small section below the crew area that
contains another crew cabin, laundry facilities, plus refrigeration rooms
and supplemental stowage. This under lower deck yields access to a corridor
that passes below the guest cabins and exits into the engine room, which
has a control room.
With
its Vision line in full production, Benetti is looking yet again to the
future of both its yard and the desires of yacht buyers. It recently announced
plans for a 30-meter semicustom fiberglass line called “Tradition,”
which combines a displacement hull form and classic styling with innovative
features like the two-door transom layout found on Patricia, in
which one door permits the launch of the crew tender and a separate door
permits the launch of the guest tender. Judging from those features and
the continuing sales of the other semicustom lines it offers, “Tradition”
will likely become a promise, not just a moniker.
Allied
Richard Bertram Phone: (305) 633-9761. Fax: (305) 633-9071. www.benettiyachts.it.
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