Superyacht
YOU ONLY LIVE ONCE
Avid fans of super spy James Bond, and sports cars from the ’50s and ’60s, the experienced owners of three previous Benetti superyachts returned to the shipyard for their fourth, the 69-metre Spectre.
Mo Khatib
For 007 fans, SPECTRE conjures up memories of evil genius Blofeld’s volcano base which was destroyed by Sean Connery in You Only Live Twice. But for John and Jeanette Staluppi, it means so much more, as Spectre is the name of their fourth Benetti superyacht.
ADRENALINE AND SPEED
When Staluppi first met the designer Giorgio M. Cassetta, he explained that he wanted Spectre to give him the same exhilaration as a car on a racetrack. Not an easy task, considering the superyacht’s displacement hull. Nevertheless, Cassetta was able to do a sterling job, mimicking a sportscar with her long ‘bonnet’ and aggressive supercoupé styling. Spectre’s exterior turned out to be sporty and dynamic, but at the same time, she’s still obviously a Benetti.
Interestingly, Spectre not only looks sleek, but thanks to the contribution and unique developments of the Dutch company Mulder Design, she performs as well as she looks. Responsible for the naval architecture, Mulder’s engineers significantly reduced the weight of the superyacht to give her a performance edge. Where possible, the bulkheads were replaced with aluminum and other lightweight materials. This made it possible to create a hull that can now be rightly called a high-speed displacement type. The results of this can be seen in the cruise speed, which is as high as 20 knots, compared to the 14–15 knots cruise speed of similar yachts. Range wise, the Benetti can cover 6,500 nautical miles, economically, at 12 knots.
Spectre also uses Total Ride Control technology, which was originally developed for commercial and military ships.
Spectre also uses Total Ride Control technology, which was originally developed for commercial and military ships by Naiad Dynamics. It provides a significant increase in stability during navigation and a reduction in all types of pitching thanks to two roll stabilising fins, two forward pitch control canards and three independently controlled stern interceptor blades. Simply put, the use of this system allows guests to relax on board, in comfort, during almost any crossing. Mulder Design has completely adapted the Total Ride Control for installation on board Spectre, the first time for a superyacht of this type.
Two MTU 12V 4000 M93L turbo diesels power the 69-metre vessel, enabling her to reach a maximum speed of 21.2 knots, which is 30% higher than the top speed of a traditional displacement yacht.
INTERIOR SPACES
The feeling of free space and unsurpassed comfort was the second requirement of Staluppi. He wanted to truly enjoy being on board in every area of the yacht – whether sipping a cup of tea in the cockpit on the main deck, or watching a football match in the upper deck cabin. Benetti’s Interior Style Department created the perfect atmosphere, with the Owners taking an active role in selecting the liberty style furniture.
MAIN DECK
The main deck is distinguished by a large open cockpit that flows smoothly forward and features spacious sofas and armchairs. The multifunctional space is well suited for quiet, cosy family evenings, as well as for more formal receptions.
The entrance area with its chairs and tables allows you to stop for a drink from one of the four cabinets either side of the lounge, and then proceed to the sofa area or dining room. The huge U-shaped cream toned sofa appears to enclose its guests, allowing you to enjoy the contemplation of the incredible engravings on the glass surfaces, or the numerous objects of art.
In general, the interior’s atmosphere refers to the days of traditional art deco boutiques. Any piece of furniture, whether it’s window design, floor covering, or fabric, is literally saturated with the feel of Paris in the 1920s.
The abundance of polished walnut does not feel old-fashioned though. Neither do the walls, floor and ceiling, which are finished in beige tones. Contrasting floral motifs from dark marble form intricate patterns on white Statuario.
At the Benetti’s bow you’ll find a spacious full beam VIP suite, which, in essence, is the Owner’s second cabin.
GUEST ACCOMMODATION
When designing Spectre, the most difficult thing was to find a balance between guest comfort and allocating the necessary space for technical compartments. The answer was to locate guest cabins across three decks, all of which are connected by a spiral staircase and a cylindrical glass elevator.
The two twin cabins on the lower deck are designed not only for guests, but can also be adapted for other purposes, such as an additional massage room, or suite for a nanny or personal trainer. A key feature in the layout of the lower deck was the desire to reserve as much storage and crew space as possible, guaranteeing them a level of comfort that you rarely see on yachts of this size.
On the main deck there are two cabins featuring king size beds ensuite bathrooms, and substantial wardrobes. At the Benetti’s bow you’ll find a spacious full beam VIP suite, which, in essence, is the Owner’s second cabin. Here, there are two bathrooms, with a shower ‘for him’ and ‘for her’ with a bath. These are complemented by two separate closets, a sofa and an office area near the windows.
The master apartment on Spectre is located one level higher and occupies the lion’s share of the upper deck’s bow area. The bedroom is of a circular shape, with the furniture following a semicircular outline. Forward is a private terrace with a Jacuzzi and lounge, with access to the touch-and-go helipad.
ENTERTAINMENT
A beach club consisting of a spacious fixed platform and a lounge, which is separated by a glass door, will allow you to feel the closeness of the sea aboard the Benetti. A large garage adjoins the beach club, where Spectre’s two tenders are housed, as well as two jet skis. These are deployed through the side doors, so no need to disturb the beach club’s guests.
The spa zone in the central part of the lower deck not only invites guests to relax in the hammam, massage room or work out in the gym (which features a folding terrace at water level), but also serves as a buffer between the engine room and the living spaces.
The upper deck is devoted to relaxation too, with the 110 metre-square area featuring a 7-metre dining table for 12 people. On either side of it are buffet areas, supplemented by sofas that are divided into two symmetrical spaces.
Within the 90 metre-square panoramic lounge area you will find a piano, a 75-inch TV and an L-shaped sofa. So, it’s up to the Owner and guest to decide whether it is utilised as a music, or cinema room.
For the sundeck, the Owner wanted it equipped with a pool flanked by two sunpads, plus a bar and a lounge area. There is also a place for an informal outdoor dining area, where a buffet with a grill and a pizza oven is provided.
A hardtop rises above the dining area, which has a sliding awning, which can be adjusted to let in as much, or as little sunlight as desired.
TECHNOLOGY
The third requirement of Staluppi was the active inclusion of new technologies. For example, the Videoworks audio-video system has a separate hardware room featuring seven server racks. Each cabin features a TV, speakers and iPad, with the signal carried via fibre optics.
The wheelhouse’s panoramic glazing gives the captain a good view of the surrounding seascape and at his fingertips is a high-tech control panel from Team Italia featuring the latest I-Bridge technology. Utilising 32-inch folding touch screens, the I-Bridge controls and monitors Spectre’s systems. In addition to standard monitoring functions, it is also possible to use remote diagnostics and monitoring.
| Benetti Spectre Specifications | |
|---|---|
| LOA: | 69.3m |
| Beam: | 11.7m |
| Draught: | 3.2m |
| Naval architecture: | Mulder Design |
| Exterior design: | Giorgio M. Cassetta |
| Interior design: | Benetti Style Department |
| Displacement: | 1,000 tons |
| Fuel cap: | 120,000 ltr |
| Water cap: | 18,000 ltr |
| Cabins: | 6 |
| Guests: | 12 |
| Engines: | MTU 2,580kW |
| Max speed: | 21.2 kn |
| Range: | 6,500 nm @ 12 kn |
CONCLUSION
Looking at Benetti’s Spectre you can easily understand the 750,000 hours of work that went into creating this 69-metre superyacht. A sporty exterior, elegant interior and cutting edge technology make Spectre stand out amongst her floating peers.
