TECHNICAL DATA
LOA: 43.10 m
LWL: 40.35 m
Maximum beam: 8.60 m
Depth: 2.50 m
Displacement: 410 t
Gross tonnage: 499 GRT
Engines: 2 x 1000 HP Caterpillar C32 Acert Heavy Duty
Top speed: 14 knots
Cruising speed: 12 knots – Range @ 10 knots: 5,000 miles
Bowthruster: 85 kW
Gen sets: 2 Kohler 80 kW + 1 Kohler 55 kW
Fuel tank: 62,400 l
Water tank: 11,100 l
Exterior design: Horacio Bozzo Design
Naval architecture: Sergio Cutolo / Hydrotec
Interior design: Simon Hamui
Building material: Steel and aluminium alloy
Superyacht 76 – Winter 2022-2023
Closer and closer to adventure yachts, explorers are also growing in size. Cantiere delle Marcher, unquestioned leader in the field, has now exceeded the 40-metre limit still keeping below the other crucial threshold, 500GRT. The yard unveiled Acala at the latest Yacht Show in Munich, a perfect mixture of power, sophisticated elegance and oceanic range. Truly an oceanic yacht, Acala was designed by Horacio Bozzo and and Mexican architect Simon Hamui. Her naval architecture was penned by Sergio Cutolo/Hydrotech.
Acala was simply showing off at the latest Yacht Show in Munich. She is a full custom explorer yacht, whose expert owner has had, over the years, yachts built by outstanding yards like Feadship, Lurssen, Blohm + Voss. His previously owned Darwin 102, also built by Cantiere delle Marche, was his chance to sail across the oceans, Atlantic as well as Pacific, and reach unspoilt beauty spots. And her positives were so impressive, both for comfort and safety, that the owner decided to have a larger yacht built by the same yard. In this latter case, however, he specifically asked the CDM for a full custom Explorer, entirely modelled on his requests. Both externally and internally.
“This ship was an important step for the yard – says CEO Vasco Buonpensiere. We are so proud of this owner appreciating us, it shows and confirms how earnestness and competence always give good results. It is our job, we are keen on this. Mutual trust was essential for this complex project to turn out at its best. It took us nearly one year to simply define technical specifications. And the result of this effort was twofold: the 43-metre’s perfectly defined features, and a smooth construction process that basically never stopped until launching. This even allows us to joke, we often tell each other we have built the smallest 80-metre ever!”
Acala kicks off a cooperation with Horacio Bozzo Design, who penned the yacht’s sober and elegant lines. “Our purpose was to completely fulfill the owner’s wishes, which his previous experience had made so clear and neat-says Horacio. Working for such a demanding person was much of a challenge for us; pleasing him, our greatest pleasure. It all started off as a blank sheet, we ended up shaping a perfect yacht for the owner and his family”.
Her imposing yet elegant profile combines perfectly arranged volumes with no excesses, by matching the hull’s half wide body mass with a light superstructure dominated by wide full-height windows. The moderately soaring prow perfectly embodies the Explorer’s spirit, with reasonably large and regularly set windows to lighten the mass of the hull. Their sober design never disturbs the observer, while they perfectly carry out their task to light up the interior.
The whole thing provides timeless elegance, one that won’t be touched by fashion’s changing course. The main deck large windows, whose frames do not merge with the superstructure, certainly stand out as an impressive stylistic element; so does the deck-marking line on the upper bridge, which clearly separates hull and superstructure to furtherly lighten the side visual perception.
Every single shape and line flows into a harmonious geometry and creates generous volumes inside, both for guests and crew. As per owner’s request, who is planning to resume and increase his sailing to remote destinations. Acala’s six-cabin internal layout is unquestionably unique, and stems, again, from the owner’s needs. Four of these are on the main deck, including the large starboard owner’s suite: oil-finished aged eucalyptus, leather upholstery and smooth quartzite support surface contribute to its luxury ambience, Crystal quartzite was chosen for basin and shower box.
Three vip cabins host the owner’s family, the remaining two are actually found on the lower deck. All guest cabins are decorated with oil-finished grey ash and sucupira, tropical wood, leather upholstery, smooth Cielo quartzite and beige Vermont marble. The main deck living room is relatively small, yet it opens up on the huge cockpit you expect of an Explorer: the latter includes lunch and conversation area, a pool and large open space to lie in the sun.
The upper deck is home to a large panoramic skylounge, also featuring a chatting area with its L-shaped couch and a formal dining room for twelve people, ending up in an oval chatting area outlined by two semi-circular couches. Partially shaded by the hard top, the Sun deck is home to an open-air dining area, living areas around, a café and an additional swimming pool with sunbathing area.
For a quicker service, a dumbwaiter vertically connects the three decks with the kitchen on the lower one. Horacio skillfully designed the hard top on the sun deck as a sole structure, integrating the mast and supported by two flanks whose sweet and curved lines vaguely recall a funnel profile. The good old times…
Acala’s interiors are Mexican architect Simon Hamui’s job, the owner’s trusted designer. He was able to spread finest luxury all around, pure elegance which never turns heavy or flashy. Precious materials were simply and naturally laid around, so as to make you feel perfectly at ease in any attire: denim and shirt, as well as tie and suit.
Acala also benefits from the renowned Cutolo-penned naval architecture. His studio HydroTec was also in charge of the Darwin Class, RJ, Flexplorers, Nauta drafted Nauta Air, as well as several one off Cantiere delle Marche has built over the years. The project provides unique seakeeping along with flawless comfort and oceanic range. Like all other CDM built yachts, Akala is made of a steel hull and alluminium superstructure.
She 43,10 metres long, 8,60 wide, her gross tonnage does not exceed 499gt; thanks to clean hull lines, her 62.400-litre fuel tanks and low fuel consumption of her two 746kw/1000hp Caterpillar C32 engines, she boasts a 5000nm range at 10 knots. For those who like figures, maximum speed is 14 knots and cruising speed 12 knots. But she takes you farther at 10…
The engine room, CDM’s feather on the cap, is unparalleled for spaciousness and functionality. All machines and equipment are easily accessed for ordinary and extra-ordinary maintenance. As an Explorer Yacht, Acala needs a perfect engine room and superfluous equipment for her autonomy: not always do emergencies occur where assistance can be obtained, and the crew should always be allowed to fix as many failures as possible. A large storage room accommodates water toys and all necessary equipment for underwater exploration, the owner’s favourite sport.
The tender is on the upper deck, prow, as it normally happens with lifeboats. It has its own crane for handling. The crew and service areas are surprisingly wide, spacious, functional and perfectly equipped, as required by the owner. The crew can count on five cabins and a very comfortable dinette, bordering the kitchen and other service rooms. The Captain, as for him, has his own room on the upper deck next to the bridge.
“The decision to dedicate one slot yearly to fully custom yachts has turned out winning, as it contributes to the yard’s development and growth-says CDM President Cecchini. Building this kind of yachts is a great opportunity for our team to grow as it forces us to leave our “comfort zone”. Being chosen for the second time by such an expert owner, whose yachts were built by the highest-end European yards, proves that our competence and quality are second to none”.
For further information: Cantiere delle Marche; Via E. Mattei 36, 60125 Ancona; tel. +39 071 206705; www.cantieredellemarche.it – [email protected]
by Roberto Franzoni