Turquoise simplicity

It takes its colour, a gorgeous emerald blue, from the colours of the waves its long, fluid body rides at speeds of up to 47 knots thanks to four big 850 hp Seatek engines. And stylist Paolo Pininfarina has described its interior design as “open plan”. We’re talking about the G70’ Primatist, the latest stunning creation from Bruno Abbate. But this is no ordinary Primatist: it is the sum of both its builder’s/owner’s desires turned into reality. And at a 70’ length, it marks a new milestone for the Lake Como yard. Unveiled at Rapallo last July, the G70’ Primatist is a matter of personal pride for Paolo Pininfarina who worked on the project with the Pininfarina Extra team. “It’s the first but not the last,” he says of the collaboration with the yard before clamming up. Pininfarina worked on the development of the new craft, a dream shared by Bruno Abbate and his son Marco since 2003. It first saw the light of day as an innovative, thought-provoking model. “We had great freedom in the work and all credit for that goes to Bruno Abbate,” says Pininfarina. “Our model was a real challenge.” The essence of the G70’ lies in the fluidity of its design. There are no functional elements showing and the bow is made even more aerodynamic by the two wings that open to facilitate anchoring and docking yet close underway to give the hull a compact look. Just forward of the big aft sun pad we find a dinette and steering position (white leather trim and bright furnishings), partially shaded by the hydraulic retractable Aerotop Evolution, first showcased four years ago by the yard. The steering position is inspired by those found aboard racing hulls, another family tradition. To port steps lead down to a bright galley and to starboard a second set lead to the saloon. The first surprise is how warm and full of light the interiors are. Trimmed with luxury fabrics and innovative bamboo, they also boast leather floors. “I only made minimal changes to the interiors,” comments Pininfarina who, after the initial contact, took part in the final phase of the design. “They were already perfect.” The saloon is spacious and welcoming with the port side devoted to a Bang & Olufsen entertainment system. The second surprise comes from the absence of a corridor leading to the master stateroom which lies aft and is separated from the saloon by just a couple of steps. The overall effect is one of space, space and more space. The guest cabin lies forward of the saloon. It was quite a courageous decision then to design a 70’ with just two guest cabins. Pininfarina disagrees. “I’d see it more as a real luxury,” he smiles. The G70’s other big selling point is, of course, its performance which comes via four big Seateks which, like the rest of the boat’s components and mechanics, are manufactured in Italy, a fact of which Bruno Abbate is justifiably proud.
(Yacht Capital, n.10/2005)