Ferretti 800, form and function

NEWS	PHOTOGALLERY

Synthesis. Just one word, but it sums up the design philosophy of the new Ferretti 800. A simplification? Not at all. A more careful analysis will reveal that the latest offering from Ferretti Yachts unveils a new way of thinking about and experiencing yachts. "The 800 is the junction of three distinct strands of thought – my idea of a yacht, Norberto Ferretti’s view of its structure and what we believe the client wants," says Giovanni Zuccon, who headed the project. It’s a process of synthesis that becomes clear in the way the layout of this 24-metre craft unfolds.

The key concept of this evolution is the usability of the living spaces. The deck, living area and galley become a single space, the focus of on-board life."We wanted to borrow elements of what’s been happening in the domestic context for the yacht. In homes, the kitchen has been transformed from a service area into a place for social interaction," Zuccon continues. The forward area becomes the focus of on-board movement. It’s the location of the bridge deck adjoining the living and the crew quarters, with the galley in between. Designed by Ernestomeda, one of the most high-end groups in the sector, it’s on a lower level and forms the ideal division between the service area and the guest zone. It may seem simplistic to put it this way, but this choice is backed by a design impulse and a huge research effort that allows the 800 to become the first in a new generation of yachts. But revolution is a less exact description than evolution.

"While this motoryacht retains the typical Ferretti yacht style, it’s the result of a simplification process that has led to a progressive elimination of redundant elements," says Zuccon. "We’re evolving in the direction of an emphasis on the essential that must underpin the design, and the 800 is the most intense expression of this, given a maritime interpretation," the architect concludes. But this doesn’t mean compromising on comfort. Although the living area extends across a single surface, it highlights two spaces. The lounge space features sofas along the lines of the walls and a low Flexform table. It adjoins the dining area, which centres on the rectangular table with lacquered frame and glass top. It’s surrounded by eight steel-frame chairs with leather seats.

The sleeping area makes use of a tried and tested configuration – the owner’s cabin extends full beam, and is located aft. The emphasis on comfort has been turned up to a maximum, starting with the soundproofing. Acoustic comfort is made possible by the positioning of the fibreglass tanks, located between owner’s cabin and engine room. This solution provides effective muffling of sound and vibration, especially when under way. Another three cabins, two VIPs and one twin, complete the accommodation, all with en-suite bathroom. The innovative drive isn’t limited to a search for a new stylistic and architectural language. The Ferretti 800 is, above all, a platform that combines design with technical and engineering elements. This is a development of the work by Andrea Frabetti’s AYT (Advanced Yacht Technology). "The evaluation of a yacht often begins with the overall length. In the case of the 800, which still belongs to the pleasure craft category, this criterion takes on a relative value," Frabetti adds.

One look at the hull length of this model makes it clear – an uninterrupted line from the bows to the far stern with not a single centimetre wasted. In other words, that means many more spaces compared to the number offered by boats in the same market sector.

And then there’s consumption. "Here, too," Frabetti says, "We have to start from the realisation that assessments wrongly refer to litres per hour. It would be more correct to speak of litres per mile, an element that better highlights the true efficiency of hull and engines. In any case, at a transfer speed, around 10 knots, the Ferretti 800 achieves less than half the consumption registered at cruising speed. This figure is relevant if the owner intends using the yacht for long periods."

And there’s more. The development work for the 800 took into account one element that’s often ignored – shorter turnaround times in case of repairs or accidents. From the engines upwards, every component has been designed so that it can be dismantled and replaced easily and quickly using a predefined method.

Matteo Zaccagnino