THE LATEST OFFERING FROM CRN IS AN EXTRAORDINARY AND INNOVATIVE JEWEL IN THE ITALIAN BUILDER’S CROWN.
THE LATEST OFFERING FROM CRN IS AN EXTRAORDINARY AND INNOVATIVE JEWEL IN THE ITALIAN BUILDER’S CROWN.
“IT DOES NOT SOUND VERY YACHT-LIKE!” says designer Dan Lenard of Nuvolari Lenard, looking at the notes he took during his first meeting with the Owner of the 55-metre CRN yacht we now know as Atlante. “No portholes, no rounded corners. Give me straight, give me angles – make her look like a military vessel.”
The Owner, an accomplished yachtsman credited with experience owning sizeable motor sailing yachts, was very precise in what he wanted and the team at Novolari Lenard knew they had a challenge on their hands.
Not only did they rise to that task, they have in many ways surpassed themselves in creating this 55-metre mean machine that despite her butch look is every bit a lady of the sea. Atlante is ground breaking in her appearance and follows in the mould of others that have sailed before her with designs akin to navy vessels. Skat from Espen Øino, A by Philippe Starke and those built by
Riza Tanzu in Turkey are just some of the more recognisable names.
“We drew the lines to make her appear aggressive on the water, but at the same time, we had to ensure she was in proportion to her length and function,” says Lenard.
With her gunmetal grey hull, matte black superstructure, and tinted window glazing, Atlante is a formidable figure on the water. As a result, this high-impact yacht with her determined military look is at one with the sea. Novolari Lenard came up with original solutions – such as her a non-traditional bow and side doors on the main deck – and used them to great effect that can only be described as a wow factor.
Italian by design and Italian by build, CRN hull #134 is better known as Atlante and a product of the shipyard in Ancona. Part of the Ferretti Group, CRN specialises in building custom yachts between 50 and 90 metres. The impressive forward order book shows it will launch a 74m hull #131 in 2016, a 46m in 2017 and also a 77m yacht in 2017.
“Launching a new yacht is always a moment of great pride for the entire shipyard,” says CRN Chairman and CEO Lamberto Tacoli. “High emotions go hand in hand with the satisfaction of knowing that each and every one of our products is going to represent our brand and our concept of Made-in-Italy Yachting will be across the world’s oceans.
“Atlanta is an extraordinary jewel in our crown and a very innovative one that we can truly be proud of. We are deeply grateful to the Owner for choosing us to build such an extraordinary yacht with us. Equally we are just as thankful that the incredible creativity of the design firm of Nuvolari Lenard has allowed our workers and subcontractors involved in this project from its very beginning to its final completion to feel justifiably proud of what they have created.”
Spread across five decks, the innovative design solutions used by the designers to soften the yacht’s aggressive styling have made good use of her 10.2-metre beam and helped break down the usual barriers between indoor and outdoor living. Here they have been helped by the Parisian design house Gilles and Boissier, which is responsible for the interior design.
Rich, somewhat masculine colour schemes featuring darker tones to match with the shades on her hull and superstructure have been used throughout. Different tones of Carrara and Verona marble mix of light colours veined with darker hues are offset with the use of woods the likes of smoked oak, brushed fir, black and larch, exude a luxurious yet formal elegance.
It is an interior designed to impart a strong sense of intimacy. Every detail has been carefully studied and worked on to guarantee the Owner the absolute privacy he requested.
The Owner’s suite on the main deck is contemporary and elegant in its styling. The décor makes good use of brushed silver and woods such as brown fir, brushed black oak, eucalyptus for the desk and coffee table. The effect is set off nicely with the innovative and pleasing use of inset leather panels.
The full-beam master stateroom features an innovative yet alternative solution to the traditional Owner’s office. This one employs a sliding desk and a leather table, which also slides along rails parallel to the sofa positioned along the right-hand wall.
Forward of the king size double bed is the full-beam bathroom with two entrances, one for him and one for her. Created using dark grey Carnico marble, the room features a central shower cabin whose walls are made from a grey-veined white Calacatta Vagli marble.
Four VIP cabins on the lower deck complete the accommodation for 12 guests and are equally impressive with their rich, refined and relaxed environment. All feature en-suite facilities as well as custom-made sofas and tables with various styles of lamps created by the French fashion house Pouenat that help create a calming, comfortable space for guests to enjoy in privacy.
Forward on the same lower deck is where a crew of 13 is accommodated. They have discreet yet direct access using separate stairs from the main deck to the crew mess that has dedicated access for taking on provisions using a storing hatch on the port side. On the opposite side of the mess is the Captain’s cabin, and beyond this, six more double crew cabins.
The main saloon is testament to the good taste of the Owner. Dark smoked oak and a light décor give it a warm and welcoming effect. Everything here from furniture to the decorative lightings has been custom made to the designs of Gilles and Boissier. Tables featuring fabric, wood and marble have metal legs. Soft sofas with rosewood frames are finished in a light Loro Piana fabric. This is where you’ll find the yacht’s only internal dining area, which has two up-and-down tables that give the area flexibility.
The living area is divided into two by sliding glass doors towards the stern. This guarantees maximum privacy for the Owner and guests from the outside, while allowing them to remain in direct contact with the sea. Tai Ping rugs and carpets complement the dark oak parquet decking with its marble edging. Large vertical windows provide suggestive light and reflections. It is an area that invites you to relax, and that makes it more difficult to leave.
But leave you must if you want to enter the lobby, featuring once again the same smoked oak and catch the lift to the upper deck. If you prefer to walk, a white Carrara marble staircase links this deck to the guest cabins on the lower deck, and to both the upper deck and sundeck.
This yacht has a lot of open space for relaxation. Right forward is the foredeck that allows for touch-and-go helicopters of up to three tonnes to land. It’s a great spot from which to watch the dolphins as they play in the ship’s bow wave, and it is only when you are up here that your realise the area is flush and completely hides the mooring and anchoring deck below.
The foredeck also provides an intimate relaxation zone composed of a sunbathing area with an electrically manoeuvrable sunshade, and a stunning swimming pool right forward facing out onto the sea ahead.
Perhaps the most impressive feature of the yacht is the one you see first when boarding. Access is generally provided directly on the lower deck from the beach club. It is a large area decked out using the same light brushed fir and teak woods. Equipped with a solarium, sunbathing area and custom-made tables it becomes at one with the sea with the use of two symmetrical areas that open out onto the water, each with a balcony.
The starboard side is devoted to relaxation, with a massage bed and Turkish bath, while to port the keyword is fitness, with a Technogym stacked full of equipment. Discreetly tucked away is a door that gives yacht crew access to the engine room.
From the beach club, along a striking staircase lined with grey Carnico marble and teak you pass through a watertight glass and steel hatch to join the main deck. This has been designated a multi-purpose area that can transform from a technical area when at sea into a living space once the tenders have been launched.
Once that happens the deck becomes a convivial daytime area that is natural continuation of the beach club. At night, the area switches to become large, comfortable home theatre or even a party area.
This innovative closed stern solution provides safe access to the sea using the two side hatches. Each opens upwards mechanically, allowing the two custom tenders to be lowered into the water using the cranes built into the deckhead.
Yet another innovation is the clever and user-friendly entertainment system developed in partnership with the Italian company Videoworks that is completely integrated and controlled using iPads and iPhones, which are scattered around the yacht for guest use.
Twin Caterpillar 3512C engines that develop 1,230kW at 1,800rpm drive the full-displacement yacht to a maximum speed of 15 knots, but she is happiest best at her cruising speed of 14 knots.
CRN made no compromises in completing this project. It has shown once again its versatility in being able to offer the customer personalised design solutions and set up a competent dialogue with the most important names in the world of international design.
Atlante’s owner was very involved with the whole design and construction process; he had a clear vision of exactly what he wanted, and got just that. CRN has delivered unique superyacht that, no matter how you look at it, fulfils the brief from every angle.
