SeaFalcon

At 60m SeaFalcon is the latest design to come from Mondomarine, created by Luiz de Basto and premiered at the 2015 Monaco Yacht Show on board Mondomarine's latest launch Serenity. The announcement coincides with the shipyard’s 100th anniversary, with SeaFalcon representing what the shipyard believes will be the next generation of sport yachts.

“I met Luiz in Miami a year ago and we had good chemistry right from the start. We like to work with friends and those who have a passion for what they do, which Luiz does, and so it was easy to work together. I think this is a stunning and spacious boat, and it is something new for us as we’ve not done a sports boat like this before,” explained Roberto Zambrini, chief executive officer at Mondomarine. “I appreciate the opportunity to collaborate with Mondomarine on this 60m platform, which can achieve up to 28 knots when fitted with the higher package, making it a very sporty boat, which was the whole idea,” added Luiz de Basto. “We wanted to create something with flowing lines and details that make the project stand out, and would be in touch with nature.”

The designer explained that the aim was to create an aggressive looking yacht with a touch of elegance, which has been achieved with soft elongated lines that flow aft from the vertical bow. While there are links in profile to De Basto’s smaller Onyx 41 project, the scale and focus of SeaFalcon takes the styling and design solutions to another level. However, what unites these projects is their balanced proportions — something De Basto understands well. “Even if you are good with details, if your proportions are off the whole design won’t work,” he said.

The lower deck is home to guest accommodation amidships and crew forward, with a tender garage and beach club located aft of the engine room. The beach club includes a bar and lounge area, which is extended when the stern hatch is lowered. The owner’s suite is located forward on the main deck, with the main salon and dining area aft. The supporting arch, which extends from the end of the main deck to amidships (finished in Tuscan red) makes it possible to include a six-metre wide gap on either side of the salon without the need for supporting pillars. “This space without supports is hard enough to achieve in a house, let alone a boat,” said the designer. This space is protected from the elements thanks to three two-metre glass doors that retract into the superstructure forward.

In response to our question regarding the structural implications of including such a wide gap in the superstructure, Zambrini was keen to stress the work that goes into the engineering of all their projects. “When we launch a model, we take a close look at the engineering and study every little detail to find the right structural solutions,” he said. “As such this idea poses no risk for us as we have conducted all the relevant studies. One of the strongest points of our company is in our engineering — it is very thorough.”

When the doors are retracted, guests can enjoy a greater feeling of space especially when the bulwarks either side have been folded down. The layout makes the most of the 10m beam while keeping access to crew and guest areas separate. Forward of the vessel is a social area, which can also be used as a touch-and-go helipad. “This is why the handrails don’t extend all the way to the front and around the bow,” said de Basto.

Another subtle design feature on SeaFalcon is the inclusion of a skylight on the sundeck in the shape of the Campanula bellflower, which is found in Mondomarine's logo. While another interesting feature is found in the flybridge in the form of a floating white panel, which sits within the long windshield and connects to the dashboard of the flybridge.

SeaFalcon is one of five new designs to be announced by Mondomarine, which has a busy 12 months ahead. “We are currently building five prototypes from scratch from 40m to 60m,” said Zambrini. “The 60m is the biggest alloy constructed superyacht in Italy, but each model offers something unique. For instance, take this boat [Serenity], she is a 42m and is 490gt — she has a new hull and the performance is fantastic, with little vibration and noise.”

The Italian shipyard expects to deliver its first new 60m yacht next year in time for the Monaco Yacht Show, with the M40 Explorer and M54 expected in spring 2017.