VENICE WALTZ

JAMES BOND was the name on many people’s lips at the MCY 96 worpremiere, as men in black tie and beautifully dressed women weaved across the Venetian Lagoon in wooden water taxis before disembarkinin a discreet garage at an historic island church.

Bond, a lover of beautiful backdrops, has visited Venice in three movies, with Sean Connery (From Russia with Love, 1963), Roger Moo(Moonraker, 1979) and Daniel Craig (Casino Royale, 2006) all cruising its iconic canals. Harrison Ford’s Indiana Jones and Mark Wahlberg anhis crew from The Italian Job remake have chased and raced across the island.

In 2014, a tuxedo-wearing George Clooney looked the epitome of cool as he and his star-studded guests rode vintage water taxis for the actor’s wedding ceremony in Venice, reaffirming the canal-crossed city as a hub of showbiz sexiness.

This summer, style and beauty were among key words at the ‘revealof the MCY 96, Monte Carlo Yachts’ seventh new model in eight years. The 29m motoryacht was also the Italian yard’s third to be presented in Venice – following the fledgling 76 in 2010 and the flagship 105 two years ago – and was set to show at Cannes, Genoa and Monaco in September.

The event had started with a mid-afternoon press conference at the gothic Palazzo Giustinian, where MCY President Carla Demaria and Managing Director Fabrizio Iarrera, and the design duo of Dan Lenard and Venice-based Carlo Nuvolari all made passionate speeches. Spirits were high as MCY confirmed three orders before the first hull had been showcased.

However, the main event – at which the leading lady, Mia, was unveiled – was in the evening at San Giorgio Maggiore, a stunning church set on a small island just a few hundred metres across the water from San Marco, Venice’s main hub.

Top: Dan Lenard (Nuvolari-Lenard), Mia’s owners, Madame Roux (Beneteau Group), Carla Demaria and Fabrizio Iarrera (Monte Carlo Yachts), and Carlo Nuvolari (Nuvolari-Lenard).

Happy wife, happy life

After Mia – Italian for ‘mine’ – docked in front of an enraptured crowd, the owners boarded their new baby for the first time in the company of Demaria and other VIPs.

Barbara Baldissara, Monte Carlo Yachts’ Design Manager, admitted that the owners – the wife in particular – had been increasingly eager to see the yacht, which will be based in the Mediterranean.

“The project was developed mainly with the wife of the owner. She had come to the yard a couple of months before the premiere, but would have had no idea what it would look like when it was finished. It was at an advanced stage, but much of it was covered up to protect it,” Baldissara said.

“So, at the dinner she was particularly excited and couldn’t stand to wait any more to see the yacht! When Mia was then presented, she went onboard first with Carla Demaria and that was the first time she had seen it. Carla asked her if she was happy and her eyes were sparkling, and it was a great pleasure for us to see that she was really happy.”

Built in Monfalcone, less than two hours’ drive from Venice, the 96 is the yard’s second-largest yacht and expands a portfolio that also features the 65 (2011), 76 (2010), 80 (2016), 86 (2013) and 105 (2015).

The newcomer is most like a junior version of the 105, but is distinguished from afar by the smile-shaped glazing cut into the top of the bulwarks to provide views for the master cabin.

“The 96 has similar exterior lines and similar volumes to the 105, so is different from our smaller boats,” Baldissara said. “At the same time, it’s different to the 105 because it’s obviously a little bit smaller.”

After boarding at the swim platform, five stairs on each side take you up to the airy aft cockpit, which is dominated by a large sofa, table and loose chairs, and has a teak-covered deck.

The saloon is accessed via three sliding glass doors, which can all be pushed to the side to create an enormous opening. Once inside, you’re immediately aware of the large space and abundant natural light, aided by Mia’s use of light colours.

An L-shaped sofa and large coffee table sit starboard, while portside is a tall fridge within easy reach of the aft deck and a long cabinet that includes the pop-up television.

Each side features two large windows and then a series of three glass doors – electrically opened, manually moved – that offer access to the side decks and a fold-down balcony, which is a nice hangout area after dinner. Electrical blinds can soften the light when required.

The saloon also sets the scene for the consistent use of light tones – beige, grey, white and light woods – throughout the interior.

Masterful bedroom

Moving forward though the starboard hallway and past the stairs to the lower deck, you arrive at the full-beam master suite, which has a 2m headroom throughout. This is one of the yacht’s standout rooms and is lit up by large windows on either side and from above by a magnificent skylight, a winning feature.

Upon entering the cabin, you pass a beautifully designed bookcase, which sits on top of drawers that double as a bedside cabinet, while a vanity table sits below the starboard windows.

As well as a large forward-facing bed, the room has a long sofabed to port in an area that would usually be offered with either a sofa or two chairs and a table, as a breakfast area. However, Monte Carlo Yachts prides itself on customisation, so a desk, gym equipment or other options can also be considered.

Forward is a nicely framed television flanked by two similarly framed doors – portside to the en-suite bathroom and starboard to the beautiful walk-in dressing room, well kitted out with drawers, shelves and hooks and hanging space.

“The owner’s cabin is nearly full beam except for the side decks, so we were able to have very big windows and a lot of space and storage,” Baldissara said.

“For the 96 and 105, the owner’s cabins can be compared with much bigger yachts. The owner’s cabin on the 105 is similar to yachts about 116ft or 120ft. For the 96, the main competitor is our own 105!” Mia has four guest cabins on the lower deck, where the hallway leads aft to two identical VIP cabins. Both have forward-facing double beds, television, bedside table, vanity table, large portholes for natural light, plenty of storage and comfortable en-suites aft, while Hermes is used to dress the front of the tall cupboards. Armani pillows and décor are also used.

Forward are two smaller twin cabins with single beds that are able to be joined to make a double, while a bunk can be fitted to provide a third bed. The portside cabin has the beds facing aft, while the beds face forward in the starboard version.

The great outdoors

The foredeck and the fantastic flybridge both provide comfortable outdoor areas and both are accessed from the cockpit.

Walking along the side decks, two stairs lead up to the level of the master suite and a further three take you to the foredeck, which comprises a triangle of sofas and a huge sunbathing area in front of the main helm station.

The flybridge is accessed by starboard stairs from the aft cockpit and Mia features a loose arrangement of low sofas aft, a fantastic bar and barbecue set-up to port, and lots more seating up front including a large C-shaped sofa around a foldable table.

The flybridge, especially, offers plenty of room for customisation and the second hull, for a French owner in the US, will feature a jacuzzi to port, although much of the interior layout will remain similar to Mia.

There’s bench seating at the portside helm station and similar seating to starboard, while this area also provides access down three large steps to an impressive wheelhouse, which has a raised cushioned area starboard side of the main control panel.

Portside stairs lead down to the main deck and then to the lowerdeck crew area, which is dominated by a pristine, white galley that’s well equipped and includes a television and comfortable dining area with foldable table.

The three crew cabins comprise an en-suite cabin to starboard and two forward cabins with bunk beds that share facilities accessed by forward stairs.

MCY’s customisation extends to certification. The 96 complies with RINA Pleasure or RINA Charter Class certifications, and upon request can also be certified CE-A, to be utilised as a pleasure boat or according to MCA MGN 280. Such options represent significant added value for owners and offer flexibility depending on where and how they want to use it.

And the first MCY 96 in Asia isn’t too far away. The third hull, sold by Simpson Marine, is destined to arrive in Thailand in late 2018 for owners who attended the launch of Mia and followed up by visiting the nearby Nuvolari-Lenard office to discuss the design of their dream boat.

Top: Mia will show at Europe’s biggest shows in September.