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STUDY

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STUDY

CATS ARE ALL GRAY IN THE DARKIt’s quite a jump from an Azimut 68S to a 154’ semi-custom build, but having a very clear idea of what he wanted to

use his yacht for Panthera’s owner set his trusted aide to the task of designing and building him a sizeable day boat.

The result is as surprising as it is impressive… as we discovered during a visit aboard in Ibiza.

By: Michael & Frances HoworthMY PANTHERA BENETTI 155’

MY PANTHERA BENETTI 155’

> SPECIFICATIONSLOA: 154’2” (47.00M)LWL: 138’3” (42.15M)BEAM: 28’9” (8.80M)DRAFT: 8’6” (2.60M)DISPLACEMENT (FULL LOAD): 364 TONSDISPLACEMENT (HALF LOAD): 340 TONSGROSS TONNAGE: 492 GTFUEL CAPACITY: 14,530 US GAL (55,000L)WATER CAPACITY: 3,170 US GAL (12,000L)BLACK/GREY WATER: 1,749 US GAL (1,749L)GUEST ACCOMM: 10 IN FIVE CABINSCREW ACCOMM: 9 IN FIVE CABINSMAIN ENGINES: 2X MTU 16V 4000 M73LPOWER: 2,880KW @ 2,050RPM

PROPULSION: STRAIGHT SHAFT/5-BLADE PROPSGENERATORS: 2X 105KW NORTHERN LIGHTSSTABILIZERS: AT ANCHOR FINSBOW THRUSTER: 90KW BY NAIADMAX SPEED: 24-KNOTSCRUISING (85% RPM): 22-KNOTSRANGE @ 22-KNOTS: 1,140NMRANGE @ 12-KNOTS: 3,400NMCLASS: ABS + A1 COMMERCIAL YACHTING SERVICE +AMSFLAG: CAYMAN ISLANDSBUILDER: AZIMUT BENETTI SPANAVAL ARCHITECTURE: AZIMUT BENETTI SPAEXTERIOR DESIGN: AZIMUT BENETTI SPAINTERIOR DESIGN: OWNER’S TEAM/AZIMUT BENETTI SPA

Building any new superyacht requireslashings of inspiration and plenty ofimagination. When it came to buildingPanthera, the inspiration was in factImagination herself. The 155’ Imagination wasthe first in the line of the new Benetti 500series, constructed for a Greek owner in 2010

who desired a large fast displacement yacht with plenty of space tofacilitate his physical disabilities. That hugely successful yachtremains much loved by her owner who generally keeps her mooredin one of the marinas near Athens.When the German aristocrat Wilhelm Von Finck sought to upgradefrom his Azimut 86S to a very much larger superyacht version of thesame thing, he naturally turned to Benetti. His requirements calledfor a fast, stable platform that he could home base in Ibiza and usefor his five-or-so week summer vacations in the Balearics Islandseach year. The Azimut 86 had been used in the role of a day boat,cruising the coast until the owner and his guests would choose apleasant anchorage in which to while away the day, before returninghome to the marina each evening.  In short a day boat that couldcarry jet skis and provide the perfect venue for lunchtime parties.There was no requirement for long range, nor even the need of atender, with the owner preferring to use the launch services providedby his favored restaurants in the bays where he anchored.The Benetti 500 Imagination offered the perfect starting point. It wasnot long before Cornelsen & Partner, a German based firm of NavalArchitects and the appointed project managers were sent to Greeceto inspect her. They did so with a view to drawing up the

specification for FB502, the superyacht that would in timebecome Panthera. History, family trust and loyalty played animportant role in securing the assignment for the projectmanagement team. The firm Cornelsen & Partner was founded in2011 by long-time project manager Jens Cornelsen teaming upwith Max Riedl. Cornelsen had cut his teeth handling the buildand refits of large sailing boats; the likes of the serial Foftein andBorkumriff yachts. It was Borkumriff that provided the connection for this latestassignment. The 101’ (31m) schooner Borkumriff II built in 1980is perhaps the starting point of our story. The original owner ofthe yacht was Baron William Von Fink and after his death in1992 the yacht passed to his widow, who most recently builtBorkumriff IV. These were the parents of Wilhelm Von Finckwho commissioned Panthera.Another important member of the Panthera team was NadineBillal who began working for the owner eight years ago, initially

B

Designed with a very clearunderstanding of the owner's taste

and intended use of the yacht, MYPanthera's predominantly

silver/grey palette is accented bydramatic splashes of color in

surprising places to delightful effect.

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MY PANTHERA BENETTI 155’

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as his personal assistant handling his private affairs. Slowly her jobevolved to the point where she took on the role of refurbishing hishomes and apartments around the world. It was a charge that shewas good at and enjoyed, and so she was the natural choice when itcame to appointing her into the new role of owner’s representative.Nadine came to the job with a mind uncluttered by superyachtconventions. Indeed at the time of her first visit she had never evenbeen on board a yacht of over 100’.  In her mind she saw the spaceas the perfect place to create a New York style loft apartment.  Drawing on inspiration from photographs published in superyachtmagazines, Nadine sketched out plans and drew up designs forwhat she knew her boss would like. Such a radical departure fromthe norm at first did not go down smoothly with the well-established and very successful interior design team at Benetti inLivorno. In fact it might be correct, if a little over dramatic, tosuggest both parties drew up battle plans for a war of ideas thatwould see very little in the way of compromise. Nadine Billal felt aninterior with cool and stylish loose furniture would give morefreedom, Benetti felt she was jeopardizing the yacht’s resale valueby straying too far from their favored more integrated interior. Billal said “They kept telling me that it was not common for yachts,and that my concept was too edgy, but in the end we found a goodsolution working together. I had to be firm with them to get what Iwanted, but had to be practical at the same time. I went to visitImagination, the first of this series of yacht when she was out in

Elements like a Golden Gun lamp by Philippe Starckin the master stateroom, and the tear drop Gessitaps and Bisazza mosaics in the en-suite, all add

considerable humor to Panthera's unqiue character.

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MY PANTHERA BENETTI 155’

MOST YACHTS INCLUDE FIXED CABINETRY, BUT PANTHERABREAKS WITH TRADITION BY INCLUDING FREESTANDINGFURNITURE... A SUBJECT OF PASSIONATE DISCUSSIONBETWEEN THE OWNER'S REPRESENTATIVE AND THESHIPYARD, WHO WERE MINDFUL OF RESALE VALUE.

Athens. I had no real idea of what to expect when I flew out andhave learned so much since. From having no real knowledge ofyachts when I started, to the point that I felt very much at home inthe shipyard during the final stages of the build. Having the abilityto call for and study 3D image renderings for all changes Ispecified was essential.”In the end, the old adage of the customer is always right proved tobe the saving factor and apart from a few ideas vetoed by concernsover vessel safety, Nadine Billal handed over to the owner asuperyacht of her own unique and personal inspiration thatfollowed her knowledge of the owner’s taste. The end result is astunning blend of refreshing ideas coupled with lifestylepracticalities that revolve around the way the yacht is to be used,rather than convention. Panthera is this refreshing in style, brightand airy and–utilizing loose rather than fitted furniture–is verydefinitely not your average superyacht!Grey is the base color of the whole design of Panthera, from hersilver metallic hull, grey caulked decks to her grey themed interior.Patches of bright color highlight the interior with unexpectedlyvivid cushions, chairs and bulkheads. The use of vibrant colors iscontinued inside a locker here or space there, indeed the conceptplays in your mind to the point you have to open every drawer andcupboard just to find the secret surprise Billal has concocted foryour visual stimulation. It is a clever and hugely effectivetechnique. Thus the grey is far from dull, the result is cool andelegant and unexpected bursts of hidden color are as invigoratingas a rainbow on a rainy day.

The Owner’s love of Armani styling is clear with much of thefurniture, fabrics and fittings from the design house, supplementedby those made in-house by Benetti to compliment the Armanipieces. The other theme throughout the yacht is the use of limitededition Lumas photographs of models as artwork on the walls,they’re primarily black and white, though some, like the yacht,provide an unexpected burst of color.Accessing the main deck saloon via the aft deck has the immediateimpression of an entrance to an apartment rather than a yacht. Tostarboard two bright red chairs enhance the feel of a lobby, whilethe glass fronted grey color scheme of the two freestandingcupboard units hide the first of the secret surprises, a bright redinterior. It is the use of contrasting textures and materials thatmake this yacht stand out from the crowd. Marble flooring in thelobby transitions into a dark colored lapi wood by Italian woodenfloor specialists Tabu for the rest of main saloon and dinning area.Laid across the beam in an unusual diamond pattern the effect isvisually quite stunning.“I had to search hard to find the right woods to use because Iwanted a textured finish not just lacquered one,” Nadine tells us.

Large picture windows framepanormaic views that guests can

enjoy from their raised berths.

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MY PANTHERA BENETTI 155’

TIME WITH…NADINE BILLALOWNER’S REPRESENTATIVE

For some owners, the interior design of abrand new superyacht is a crucial part ofthe building process. For the owner ofPanthera however it was phase he could anddid willingly afford to pass onto others inhis employ. Nadine Billal joined his staffsome eight years ago and currently holdsthe title of Asset Manager. She has over theyears been responsible for all his real estateassets in Germany and wider Europe.During that time she has remodeled two ofhis existing properties and beenresponsible for the way the Azimut 86 wasfurnished.

Where did your inspirationfrom interior design spring from?“When I was a young girl my parents builthouses I was always interested inarchitecture and interior, pouring over theplans the architects sent to them. I wouldaccompany my mother when she visitedinterior stores as part of her work and Iloved that aspect of the process. So while Ihave no formal training in interior design Iam still really interested in the subject.Eight years ago I joined the boss as hispersonal life PA and the job has evolved aswe have grown together. Inevitably theinterior design of his homes and officesbecame part of my job description as AssetManager, it is an aspect of my work that Itake very responsibly. I always inputdirectly with the architects, I work withthem and like them to share myenthusiasm for design, to see things theway I envision them.

So how intimidating wasit attempting a yacht interior?I do not have a background in boating, but

maybe decorating the smaller Azimutled to me not being daunted by theundertaking of Panthera. It was decidedearly on that there was no real interestin hiring a big name to put a signatureon an interior, especially when wealready knew in our own minds what theinterior of the new yacht would looklike. Benetti have a very good set upwhen it comes to interiors, they knowwhat can be done and what cannot.They have the experience and thepractical knowledge. I on the other handwas the person who had to keep theproject on track and make sure it allturned out how I knew in my heart itshould.

What were the compromisesthat you had to make?Sure, occasionally I had to compromiseand take heed of practical restraints butnot often. There was one occasion whenI had conceived that the bunks in thecabins should appear to float above thedeck. There was nothing wrong withwhat I had drawn but I had to concedethat my design, pretty that is was,precluded the easy storage of spare bedlinens in the cabins and this factorwould make the working life of the crewa little more difficult. So I waspersuaded to alter my opinion. Mostlyhowever Panthera is how I very firstenvisioned her.

What was your goalwith the interior design?I had always set out to create arefreshingly simple design that wouldstand the test of time. I wanted her to be

modern yet cozy, have a harmonious blendof open space and fabrics and look muchmore like a New York loft than a yachtclub. I think we have achieved that goal.The boat is designed to be fun in use andthat was a key consideration when it cameto our choosing how many cabins sheshould have. Given that she acts more as aday boat than a blue water cruising yachtshe did not need so many cabins. I was asa result able to allocate more space tocreate a spectacular VIP suite and astunning master stateroom.

What elements and highlightsstand out for yourself?I am particularly proud of the way we havelaid out the parquet floor in the mainsalon. It is a sort of diamond shape thatcreates the impression of space and drawsthe eye, but my own personal favoritespace has to be the area that surrounds theJacuzzi on the sun deck. Sitting there,enjoying a sun-downer, looking across aquite anchorage as the sun slips slowlyunder the horizon is my idea of heaven.Perhaps my favorite cabin is the VIP onthe upper deck. I love light and those greatbig windows let it flood into the yacht but Iwould be just as happy in any of thecabins, honestly because I like them all.

And your experiencewith the build team…?Working with the team at Benetti andalongside Max Riedl of Cornelsen &Partner was an enlightening experience,one that taught me a great deal. I hope it isnot the last occasion on which I share thejoy of doing so. After all the pasta in Italyis a great attraction as well!

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Wood plays an important part in the overall feel of luxury, nothinghas been randomly chosen in the hope that it will mix and match.For example, the same wood was used for both the trays that sit onthe tabletops and the wall liners.Like any well designed open plan apartment, the main saloon anddinning room flow easily one into another. The sofas lying formallyalong the port and starboard sides of main saloon could make thearea seem stiff, but the bright scatter cushions shout informal. Thedinning area is also a mix of formal and informal with two electricblue chairs adding a note of surprise to the grey of the rest of B&BItalia chairs and the large, ten-person Armani Casa dining table.Benetti has created the low unit place athwart ship to subtlypartition the seating area from the dinning room. German Mono cutlery finished in a dark grey graphite coloredstainless steel has been chosen as a contrast and compliments thesimple flowing lines of white tableware from Deva Mikko and thegrey of the table itself. When not laid the table is adorned with two

OPTING FOR JUSTTHREE GUESTCABINS ON THEACOMMODATIONDECK PROVIDESSPACE FOR AGENEROUS FULL-BEAM VIP SUITE...

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beautifully crafted panthers by Lalique, which not only explains thename of the yacht but confirms the love the owner has for thesestealthy big cats. Perhaps our favorite place on the yacht is one of the smallest roomsaboard, the powder room or day head on the main deck. A hugemosaic butterfly on the wall is unexpectedly feminine butredeemed by being black and white, however the piece de laresistance is the wonderful Gessi tap for the basin, a pipe thatstretches from the ceiling and ends in a drop as a spot at the tip. Entering the master suite it is no surprise to find an iMac gracingthe owner’s desk in the study area. No one enjoying this style ofyacht would be happy to accept less than an iconic Applecomputer. The Phillipe Starck table lamp in a gold gun design wasa surprise, though with all the hidden gems throughout this yacht itshould have been almost expected. From the study, with its walk-indressing room to port, steps lead up to the Owner’s en-suite and onto the cabin. Black and white, Yin and Yang best describe themaster bathroom; black dominates the entrance area, then whitearound the washbasin highlighted with a dark sink and more teardrop Gessi taps, and finally moving into a huge dark walk inshower area with marvelous swirling Bisazza mosaics and a bigwindow preventing it feeling in any way gloomy.The full beam forward cabin is flooded with light from both sidesand full-length floor to ceiling picture windows facing forward. At

the insistence of ABS Class authorities, a heavily engineeredpantograph door replaces the sliding patio style that the owner wouldhave preferred and leads out onto the foredeck. With spectacular viewtowards the bow the private exterior lounge ensures maximumprivacy for the Owner when at anchor or stern-to in port. The bedroom, whilst very much following the theme of the yacht, hasa strong 70s feel as a result of the swirling greys of the long shaggyKymo carpet and the wide low bed. Open the dressing table inset tostarboard and the calm colors of the cabin are enlivened by the brightpink interior, Nadine Billal has been at it again.The last area on the main deck is dedication to food preparation andservice; the gleaming galley set to port and leading out to the dinningarea. Compact and well-equipped with commercial equipment, thegalley is light and lustrous with stainless steel and white pearledlacquer finish… it almost feels it should be left in its pristinecondition, unsullied by the chefs.

MY PANTHERA BENETTI 155’

From a performance point of view, Panthera isfaithful to her name, sleek, lightweight and

fast. She achieves 24-knots at full speed and a3,400nm range at economical cruise.

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The main stairs down to the lower deck lead to two compactdouble-berthed cabins and a VIP cabin amidships, mirroring thedesign and materials of the master suite but with their own specialtouches to brighten the overall grey and neutral color scheme. Eachprivate ensuite has the unusual Gessi fittings and dramaticallydifferent Bisazza mosaics in the large shower areas. The full beamVIP has a large double berth, which unlike the low one in themaster suite, has storage underneath, a valuable commodity on anyyacht. It comes as no surprise now that the dressing table andcupboard hide a bright shocking red interior matching the stooland cushions on the bed. Towards the bow and with a separateentrance, there are four twin-bed cabins for the crew. Themechanical room is astern of the VIP cabin; and even further asternis the garage which accommodates both a tender and jet ski, with alarge door opening onto a marvelous stern swimming platformproviding over 100sqft for beach chairs, shower, and a highlyoriginal custom-designed trampoline. The upper deck is home to a second VIP cabin, the captain’s cabin,and a simply equipped navigation bridge that has all the essentials

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MY PANTHERA BENETTI 155’

TIME WITH…MAX RIEDLPROJECT MANAGER,CORNELSEN & PARTNER

You’ve worked on some excitingprojects Max, give us a brief history…I was a former navigator on destroyers inthe German Navy and studied navalarchitecture in Hamburg before workingclosely with Frank Neubelt of Newcruisefor 4-years. I was therefore associated withsignificant projects like 777, Siren, Lunabefore joining Blohm+Voss where, asProject Manager I was responsible for thecomplete exterior and outfitting of the 531’(162m) Eclipse for 4-years. I beganworking with Jens Cornelsen of Cornelsen& Partner in December 2011 and became afull partner in the firm during 2013.

At what stage did youbecome involved in Panthera?I joined the project in December 2011when the hull was 80 percent completedin bare aluminum and a firstsuperstructure section was about to bewelded onto it. We saw very little of theyacht’s owner during the building process.Our main point of contact throughout wasNadine Billal who had been established asthe owner’s representative. My firmadvised her in all aspects of thedevelopment of the yacht, which includedanswering design questions she had,preparing and explaining options she wasfaced with in building what is essentially asemi-custom yacht. We looked after theproject management, building processand all technical aspects.

Panthera’s not your traditional Benetti…That Panthera is a true Benetti isunquestionable, but I think the combinationof her silver metallic paint, grey deckcaulking and polished stainless steel deckparts gives her a cool, modern and stylishlook that sets her apart from other Benettiyachts. The yacht was built at the yardoperated by Pisa Super Yachts, who are anexclusive partner of Benetti. This affordedus good transparency and control of theprocesses because it is a rather smallshipyard, with a fast and responsivestructure. A relatively small shipyard can ofcourse also have down sides for a project ofthis size, but in the case of Panthera wewere very satisfied at the end with theresults the shipyard achieved.

The exterior design andlivery is very distinctive…Both class and flag placed some restrictionson the heights of bulwarks and rails yetdespite this, we still managed to maintain asleek profile and the exterior design wasfixed more or less at the time of the contractsigning, so we were not given theopportunity to alter the actual exterior linesof hull and superstructure much.Nevertheless the visibility from the bridgeis one aspect that has suffered from thisdesign. We minimized this effect as muchas possible by rearranging equipment,moving it from the superstructure to themast to let the yacht appear as clean as

possible. Here and there we have usedsome small optical tricks to optimize herclean look. I think using silver metallicpaint helps show every surface anglechange during daylight and it does so in adifferent shade of silver which helpsenhance her visual appearance withoutmaking her look massive. It is for sure oneof the decisions that influenced the lookof the yacht most.

Were there any particular engineeringchallenges in this build?We encountered no real engineeringchallenges during construction, mostlybecause what few there had been hadbeen eliminated during the build of hull#1. We visited Imagination the first hull atthe very beginning of the creation ofPanthera to identify potential forimprovements, which finally made theirway into her design and details. That said,the Classification society, worried by theconsequence of seas breaking over thebow had changed their minds over the useon Imagination of a sliding glass doorforward onto the foredeck. Benetti thendeveloped a beautiful and superbly strongstainless steel pantograph door that wonthe approval of Class and has become ahighlight of the yachts exterior design.Locking down with 6 cylinders, it looksand sounds like it could be part of aJames Bond movie set when in use and is,I think, truly impressive.”

Panthera's strong silver leitmotif continueseven through the caulking of the teak deck, ascan be seen here on the upper deck's aft terrace.

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and none of the frills. It is the upper deck sky lounge howeverthat is one of the Panthera’s really rather special areas and onethat packs in the most surprises. Think sixties-style disco cluband add a classy smut of Reeperbahn and this may go somewayto explaining the orange fur lined walls. By day the space is afully equipped media room, with sofas by German brandTommy M and a maxi sized 46-inch movie screen. By night theroom can be transformed into a discotheque, complete withstrobe lights, smoke machines, RGB LEDs and is completdewith a cutting edge stereo sound system. There’s even a high-end vintage turntable for vinyl records at 33 and 45 rpm. We arenot sure if we should mention the floor to ceiling poles, whichare perfect for…well need we go on? Clearly they offendedsomeone at the yard, they are airbrushed out of the officiallyreleased photographs. Outside on the same deck, astern of thesky lounge, is a large covered area with couches and loungers,while up above the sundeck offers guests a large sunpad, acorner bar, and awnings at both the forward and after end of thepool for maximum flexibility. Panthers maybe black in theirwild feline habitat but Nadine Billal’s vision was for an all-gray

THE UPPER SALONIS A DESIGNATEDPARTY ZONE ATNIGHT, COMPLETEWITH RGB LIGHTING,SMOKE MACHINE,STROBE LIGHTS,A CUTTING EDGEAV-SYSTEM ANDVERTICAL SELF-EXPRESSIONAPPARATUS...

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MY PANTHERA BENETTI 155’

FROM THE BRIDGE…CPT. ALEX GREENSONPANTHERA’S CAPTAIN

We hear your route to the captain’schair was an interesting one, startingas a chef rather than deckhand?It was fairly unique. I joined Quo Vadis, a100’ Broward motor yacht in Newport R.I.and immediately sailed for Hyannis Port,the summer home of the Kennedys. Littledid I realise at the time I might meet thefamous family. Imagine my surprise whennext morning, we picked them up as charterguests! John F. Kennedy Jr., his Aunt Ethel,and a number of other members of theillustrious family became the first to eat myfood cooked in that yacht’s little galley.

Quite a first day! So whichyacht was your first command?I got my first Captain’s job when I was 33,commanding the 100’ Camper andNicholson ketch, Aile Blanche. She was amagnificent vessel designed by CharlesErnest Nicholson for a man called ReneCambastet and was first launched atGosport in the UK during 1939. Constructedin white oak and teak on steel frames, shehad the powerful lines of the classic and thegood handling properties of real lady of thesea. Since those early days some 24-yearsago I have had the privilege of working onboard some of the most beautiful yachts inthe world including the schooner America,and yachts Tiziana, Walkabout, Artemis,and Liberty.”

Some real classics, so have youpreviously been involved in a new build?My career in yachting has taken me all over

the world and during that time I have beenlucky enough to supervise the constructionof several yachts. This is my third, but myfirst for this owner. He is close to my age,and we get along together very well. I firstbecame involved with Panthera when JensCornelsen contacted me in December 2011,and asked if I would be interested in acaptaining a new build 47m, being built atthe Benetti Shipyard. He explained that atthe same time I would assume theresponsibility of the owners Azimut 86S,which would return to her builders once thenew yacht was handed over in 2013. Shortlyafter an interview with Nadine Billal Ibegan working for the company.

How was the build experience?I thoroughly enjoyed the building process.The job is great, and living in Ibiza is ideal.Recently I attended the Benetti YachtMaster, where I met and talked with othercaptains. Most of the captains that I spoketo told me how lucky I am. The owner plansto use the yacht for 5-weeks a year. Thecruising plan does not change much fromhis yearly routine of the smaller yacht. Helikes to use his yachts more as day boatsand specifically for going to the beach.

It’s an unusual use for sucha large yacht, what is a typical day?The daily routine consists of him calling mein the morning. When he calls me, we talkabout the weather, how many people he willbring on board, and we discuss whichanchorage he wants to go to. It doesn’t

change much from day to day. We often goto Formentera, or we anchor off of the BlueMarlin. Usually our anchorages are withinan hour’s motoring from the Marina in Ibizawhere we have a permanent berth. This yearwe may go as far afield as Mallorca.  

She’s a distinctive yacht, whatappears to garner the most attention?The yacht is getting a lot of attention fromthose visiting the marina as Panthera isbrand new, and her design and color attractattention. Her interior design is unique andvery fitting for her life here in Ibiza. Thereaction of the owner and his guests hasbeen very positive. Everyone enjoys beingon board her. The disco facilities appear tobe a primary attraction and it is fun to see itin full swing, with smoke machine floodingthe dance floor with the atmospheric smokeOne attraction, to say the least, are thedancing poles, but they rarely get used.Hopefully that will change this year.

In practical terms, what has impressed ordisappointed you most about Panthera?It has to be the ability for crew and gueststo circulate around the yacht withoutinterfering with each other that is mostimpressive. The movement and spaces arevery well thought out. The crew can do whatthey need to do, without ever beinginvasive. The guests are aware the crew ison-hand to wait on them but seldom seethem arrive or depart. It’s a nice feature andone that fits in well with good superyachtoperating techniques.

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hull. When she saw the renderings however she realized she hadgiven the yacht the look of a warship, where the only missingelements were the guns and the hull numbering. Thought thenturned to a customized silver color from DuPont, which possessesmetallic qualities. The choice works well and complements the useof the gray deck caulking that has been used on the teak decksinstead of the more traditional black. Project Manager Max Riedlwas however quite definite about his choice of paint supplier. Hesaid, “Having had a poor relationship with a paint manufacturerduring the build of Eclipse we chose to involve DuPont marine. Wehave found their all-silver coating to be superb, indeed contrary topopular belief that metallic paints are hard to repair we have hadproof positive in the operation of Panthera that with this DuPontcoating the exact opposite is true.”From a performance point of view, Panthera is faithful to her name,sleek, lightweight and fast. While at 155’ in length, the yacht’saluminum construction means it only displaces 340 tons, a featurewhich, when combined with the narrow and elongated semi-displacement hull, delivers a superior performance even at the costof losing space below the waterline. The yacht has a maximumspeed of 24-knots with a fuel consumption of 360Gph, a 22-knotcruising speed, and a range of 3,400 miles at the more economicalspeed of 12-knots.Refined yet never opulent Panthera is perhaps the most luxuriousof day boats. She has been designed as a very private yacht forfamily use only and charters at this stage are not even beingconsidered. Benetti architects, along with family advisors andprofessional project management, have worked very closely withthe Owner to clearly create and follow the vision laid down at theoutset. Their work together was largely one of subtraction, ofeliminating excesses and ostentation. The result is a superyachtwith style and beauty under an aura of pure simplicity. She hasbecome something far beyond a merely fashionable plaything. I

TO MEET ABS CLASSREQUIREMENTSBENETTI CONSTRUCTEDHEAVY PANTOGRAPHFORWARD DOORS FORTHE OWNER'S SUITE,THEY PROVIDE FLOORTO CEILING LIGHT ANDACCESS TO THE PRIVATESOLARIUM ABOVE.

Benetti 58m

ILLUSION V

MOTOR YACHT

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Illusion V, one of the newest motor yachts from Benetti, lives up to its name in every respect. Her luxury and technical sophistication seem beyond the realm of possibility. With enough time and effort, Benetti has managed to build one of the world’s most impressive yachts. The exterior design from Green and Mingarelli makes her a beauty at any distance. While she may look like an illusion that’s too good to be true, the owner and his guests get to enjoy every detail in the real world.

Making Fantasy a Reality

Green and Mingarelli worked tirelessly to build an interior design that would stand out from other 58-meter motor yachts. That’s a difficult challenge considering that there are many wonderful yachts navigating the oceans. The owner also asked for the design team to pay as much attention to the crew areas as areas for guests.

The designers developed an extraordinary concept that unifies the interior and exterior areas of Illusion V. Rose emblems dominate the interior theme. Roses appear on any imaginable surface, including leather panels, woodwork, stone, and fabrics. Lalique crystal inlays make the emblems beautiful against any surface. As guests leisurely explore the yacht, they will find the rose emblems in surprising spots. Even the bathrooms have rose faucets made of gold.

Life Aboard Illusion V

Illusion V has six cabins that can accommodate up to 12 guests. Separate quarters offer plenty of space for 13 crew members to live and work comfortably.

The owner’s suite creates a private space where the owner and his closest guests can enjoy ocean views from large windows while lounging on custom chairs. The suite has a separate area used as a private lounge. It quickly converts into a private movie theater.

A VIP suite offers nearly the same level of luxury. It doesn’t have a personal movie theater, but it does give special guests plenty of room and large hull portholes that offer a magical view of the ocean.

Illusion V also has three twin cabins, one double cabin, and a pullman. All of these are well-appointed living areas with unique characteristics.

Perhaps most importantly, Illusion V shelters guests from annoying sounds. The owner’s suite does not receive any unnecessary noise, even during travel. The rest of Illusion V makes use of noise-reduction technology that makes her the perfect respite from the outside world’s chaos. Inside the ship, guests could easily believe the illusion that they exist separately from the noisy world.

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