Rhapsody in blue
PRE-BOARDING
I’m standing dockside on Quai des Etas-Unis with my old friend Giovanni Bogetto, the Benetti Yachts representative. Normally a quiet and reserved man, he seems eager to get me on board Benetti’s Seasense; the superyacht that currently all I can see of, true to form, are the garage door and passerelle, but strangely, no aft deck lounge. Instead, the focal point of the 67-metre Benetti is the large Seasense lettering on the transom, flanked by two staircases and what appears to be two, blue umbrellas up on deck. Before Giovanni bursts with pent up emotion, we head along the passerelle and on to what I was expecting to be Seasense’s aft deck lounge…
Dutch design
Although not obvious from dockside, Seasense’s does not have a traditional silhouette. Designed by Dutch designer Cor D Rover, the custom-built superyacht has a masculine presence, and forward, the business like foredeck, which houses a davit and a number of PWCs is almost militaristic in its form. All that’s missing is a brace of Aster 15 surface-to air missiles, but heading aft, the amidships design is classic Cor D Rover, with high, narrow side windows and bold clean lines that flow into the Seasence’s defining feature, the extended aft deck, that designerRover describes as the ‘Benetti Beach Club’.
As I follow Giovanni on board, it quickly becomes obvious why he’s so excited. Stretching out in front of us is arguably the finest aft deck lounge on any sub-70-metre yacht on the water. Rover’s ‘Benetti Beach Club’ is exactly that, an umbrella-lined main deck with a ten-by-four-metre swimming pool at its heart. For the first few seconds, it’s difficult to take the view in. Strangely, it doesn’t feel like you’re on a superyacht at all and it certainly doesn’t look like one.
Aft is an eight-seat sofa shaded by the first of the blue umbrellas, with 12 sunbeds shaded from the sun and prying eyes by a further raft of umbrellas and eight, slatted wooden screens. It reminds of M/Y Luna’s swimming pool area, but even the 115-metre superyacht can’t match the Benetti for atmosphere. There’s only Giovanni and myself on board, but it’s not hard to imagine the beach club full of relaxed guests enjoying the facilities, which appear to carry deep into the Area-designed interior.
Just forward of the swimming pool is a lounge with three sofas, served by a bar to port and sealed off from the dining area by a glass screen. However, the outdoor area doesn’t have to end here, as the screens are designed to slide open, meaning the 10 guests at the table can enjoy al fresco dining.
Technically, this is the aft deck dining table, but it’s approximately 17-metres further forward than ‘normal’. But then again, this isn’t a normal yacht, not by any stretch of the imagination.
NO MAIN SALON
As we head forward and into Seasense’s interior, the first area we come across is the owner’s TV room. Again, resplendent in blue, it’s a cosy affair with the sofa and chairs surrounding a Panasonic TH-98LQ70L screen, all 90-inches of it.
Benetti named the VIP foyer the Grand Entrance, which with its circular staircase, elevator and a change of flooring from woods to Antartide marble, is somewhat apt. The first of the guests’ VIP cabins is located starboard, and with it, a change of colourway, with red making a somewhat surprise arrival.
At the end of the guest corridor is the owner’s lobby; a private area with his and hers walk-in wardrobes and dressing rooms to port, with the owner’s stateroom forward. Again the layout goes against the grain, with the forward bed facing aft. The toilet and bathroom are also located aft of the stateroom and hanging from the extremely spacious ceiling is a huge chandelier-cum-sculpture that was commissioned specifically for Seasense.
BE MY GUEST
Heading down the central staircase we emerge into the circular guest lobby and the four VIP cabins. Forward are the two twins, which are subtly coloured and return to the blue theme, with the slightly larger double cabins aft. Here, Area has mirrored the layout of each cabin, but coloured the portside room in blue and the starboard room red. These are not soft colourways either, with both lodgings remaining fixed in the retina long after you’ve headed back in the lift up to the skylounge.
With the main deck dining area having a distinctly informal feel, you’ll have to wait to display your best evening wear over dinner around the 12-seat circular dining table. This can be separated from the rest of the skylounge with a curtain, and although it is more formal, with an office area and conversation-inducing sofas and chairs, the blue colour scheme keeps it from being overly ceremonial.
Forward is the service corridor that leads to the captain’s quarters and the wheelhouse. Often, it’s pleasant for guests to head here to watch the captain manoeuvre out of port, something Benetti had in mind when it added a sitting area and table located starboard.
Aft is the outdoor lounge, with its loose central furniture surrounded by a number of very blue sunpads. It’s from here that we head up to the sun deck.
“Technically, this is the aft deck dining table, but it’s approximately 17-metres further forward than ‘normal’. But then again, this isn’t a normal yacht, not by any stretch of the imagination.”
LIFT AND RELAX
The last of Seasense’s decks is split into three areas: two for relaxing and one for completely the opposite. Aft is another blue and white lounge area, fitted with loose furniture, should the owner wish to turn it into a dance floor. If the crew do clear it for a boogie, then the extensive bar comes into play and if the sundeck gets too sunny, an awning can be erected in minutes to turn it into a shade deck.
Amidships is an air-conditioned gym, which surrounds the elevator and is filled with every conceivable loose weight, bench and fitness machine that your beach body could require. It’s a cleverly designed layout, as once you finish your workout/yoga/Pilates you can jump into the forward Jacuzzi for a muscle relaxing de-stress.
With our Seasense visit nearing an end, we head down to the swim platform. With such a huge beach club just a step up the staircases, there is no need for an elaborate party set-up at the stern, so the Benetti’s beach club simply features some ladders leading onto the sea and a shower. All you need really.
CONCLUSION
Seasense is unlike any other yacht on the water. The closest in style she comes to is M/Y Luna, however no superyacht I’ve boarded has such charm, charisma and happy vibes as this. She exudes happiness, with the Benetti Beach Club making her feel like a floating resort, but one that is beyond exclusive.
Apart from her lower deck guest cabins, Seasense’s layout doesn’t shout ‘yacht’, with the extended main deck creating one of the most original entertainment areas in the business. The owner, working closely with the shipyard and designers, has built a truly next generation superyacht; and if this is the way the industry’s heading, we’re in for a exciting future.
