Creating a modern yacht in the classic style makes good use of codecasa’s long history in yachting and shipbuilding.
Creating a modern yacht in the classic style makes good use of codecasa’s long history in yachting and shipbuilding.
THE HISTORIC ITALIAN SHIPYARD CODECASA presented its Vintage series in 2011 with the first 42 metre now sailing with the name Magari. Two years later another Vintage 42m was delivered, but as usual for Codecasa, with many differences as befits a proper custom yacht.
Codecasa recently launched another classic-style yacht – the first Vintage 50m named Gazzella that was previously known as construction C121.
Creating a Vintage yacht in the classic style makes good use of the shipyard’s long history in yachting and shipbuilding – top quality, high levels of craftsmanship and state-of-the-art technology to produce any elements on board.
Cantieri Navali Codecasa S.p.A. started in 1825 in the same place where it is found today, Viareggio, thanks to the founder Giovanni Battista Codecasa. Even today, the company belongs to the same family.
Generation by generation Codecasa evolved from a single shipyard to become a group of shipyards specialising in yachting, rescue and surveillance vessel production for military and civilian corps. Until now Codecasa has produced full-displacement yachts and planing yachts in steel-aluminium or aluminium-aluminium.
The Vintage 50m Gazzella is the latest very important yacht made by Codecasa. Others include the Fast 50m, the impressive 51m Aldabra delivered in 2011, the 65m Family Day of 2010, the 65m Main launched in 2008 for a well-known Italian stylist Giorgio Armani and many others that illustrate the wonderful history of this Italian shipyard.
The exterior shapes of some ships are similar, but they are totally different yachts in terms of specific technical solutions or interior layout, because every Codecasa built is a totally custom yacht.
For example the two Vintage 42m yachts have the same exterior style but are two very different yachts, for owners with different needs and tastes
. Following on the success of the 42m, the 50m Gazzella is around 8m longer and the increase in volume and exterior spaces dedicated to relaxation is remarkable. This allows the guests, and of course the Owner, to enjoy privacy and different areas for relaxation in the open air or inside.
Gazzella’s Owner chose white for the hull and the superstructure. Thanks to this choice, any part of the exterior design is exalted in details and the result is a clean design based on the equilibrium between past and present. The design enables Gazzella to be classic, as a Vintage series has to be, and yet modern with sharp lines such as the vertical bow.
What’s very noticeable when entering the large saloon on the main deck is the wealth of furnishings and décor, where a strong presence of mahogany and precious marbles, onyx or finest decorated moquette make this area very welcoming.
The main saloon is composed of a relaxation and conversation area with two big sofas, four red and gold armchairs, a smoking table in mahogany with gold finishes, and a 65-inch TV.
This area benefits from the important natural light coming in through the big glass surfaces of the superstructure, and the perception of space is emphasised by letting the eye look through the saloon and dining area as if a large single area surrounded by glass.
The dining area can accommodate 12 people in a luxurious and warm atmosphere. On the same deck there is a pantry and fully equipped kitchen, allowing the crew to work in safety and comfort.
Towards the bow is the main hall, with delicate looking works of decorated marble on the floor and the main stair connecting all the decks, from the sundeck to the guest area on the lower deck.
An elevator for four people connects all the decks from the lower deck to the sundeck, offering Owner and guests the perfect connection between one area and another.
Toward the bow area is the VIP cabin on the main deck, where gold and red décor are adopted. On the same deck is the huge Owner’s suite with private office, vanity area and two bathrooms connected by a central shower and realised in honey onyx. Also in this area Gazzella offer a big amount of natural light from the big windows all around.
The lower deck has four guest cabins, two double and two twins, each with private bath. The crew area is realised to offers the right space and accommodation for very long cruise, where comfort at work and during relaxation time is very well balanced.
Gazzella does more than just following the LY3 rules that require a minimum amount of space for crew and details to ensure the right quality of life aboard.
Indeed the crew spaces are very well decorated, equipped with entertainment equipment, and offer the right amount of space and privacy. There are different circuits for Owner/guests and crew, allowing the crew to work without interfering with the privacy of the Owner and guests.
The upper deck is equipped with a large and cozy skylounge, a second informal saloon more intimate than the one on the main deck. Here there is a 65in flat TV, sofas, a breakfast area with table and chairs, and a bar. Here the dominant colour is blue on the marble, on the floor, on the table and the bar.
On the same deck there is a day toilet, the Captain’s office with direct connection to his cabin, a pantry and the classically styled but very modern helm station. Here the Captain has total control of the yacht thanks to a monitor that allows him to take control of any systems on board, but also control the navigation with integrated systems that provide a view of what’s happening on the horizon.
As mentioned before, there are several areas outside dedicated to relaxing on different decks that allow people on board, mainly the Owner of course, privacy when needed. From the bow to the stern each deck offers different areas for privacy – one of the elements that make this yacht perfect for very long cruises with guests who are not family or close friends.
Gazzella shows its classicism in shape, but not in construction technology and detailed study of ergonomics, or in space management and systems for entertainment, safety and navigation.
For the engines, the shipyard selected two Caterpillar 3512C with 2,365hp each at 1,800rpm. Gazella can sail at the maximum speed of 17.5 knots at light displacement, or count on a range of 5,000 nautical miles at the economical cruising speed of 12 knots.
After spending time aboard a Codecasa yacht, it’s clear that the shipyard can realise technical areas in a perfect way in terms of systems management project and quality expressed with extreme attention to details, as well as aesthetics.
This kind of ability can be found in some other shipyards, but this is not a common way to proceed, especially because the Owner probably will never visit these technical areas. But in any case, the real differences are in the perfect system allocation and the general finishing with highquality materials.
This is another element that reveals something about the care that the shipyard offers to the crew. Spend time in a machine room made by Codecasa and the feeling is a total naval atmosphere mixed with the highest level of yachting care, something that is appreciated very much on such a yacht.
The first 50m Vintage Gazzella is the latest example of what Codecasa can do for clients, with some repetition of themes carried over from previous decades.
