The sea trial was pubblished on Superyacht 50 – Summer 2016
Thanks to cutting edge and experimental choices as well as a very original stylistic personality CRN enters a new dimension with Atlante.
CRN’s technical department handled project design work, the exteriors were drawn up by Studio Nuvolari Lenard and Studio Gilles & Boissier contributed with the interior design work. Their combined efforts produced this lovely 55 metre long and 11 metre wide motor yacht which stands out for its strong stylistic features which recall military ships. So, clear cut, linear and chiselled like lines take the lion’s share with pointed edges and innovative solutions, however with dedicated care for stylistic and aesthetic details of the interiors, for these are: Atlante’s distinguishing traits.
Atlante’s owner wanted his yacht to underscore a strong masculine imprint borrowed from a timeless sports car brand. To satisfy this request CRN came up with a yacht you’ve never seen before which breaks away from classic universally accepted lines that up until now CRN has been deploying with much appreciated skill with no half measures while showing versatile capacities in personalising and in dialoguing fruitfully with the ‘gurus’ of today’s yacht design.
Among other stylistic oddities and eccentricities requested by the owner who was personally involved right from the initial construction phases, innovative trapezoidal polished stainless grab rails cannot but be noticed.
These trapezoid shapes clearly recall diamond tops and create an evocative play of beaming light when hit by natural light as do all highly polished metals, steel and burnished brass finishes too which are also present in several areas. Another request made of the yard was to have ‘clutter free’ spaces which triggered off clever solutions like concealing mooring gear and tackle as well as safety equipment in functional aesthetically integrated built-in niches and lockers which were conceived, right from the yacht’s project design.
The interior layout was object of considerable study and great detail to guarantee absolute privacy in the owner’s quarters. An intimate atmosphere is also highlighted by the chromatic play of colour schemes which dominate several areas: the dark blue of the hull sides and of the superstructure is repeated inside where different grading of Carrara and Verona Marble – which go from lighter to darker colours including a veined and mottled variety – blend harmoniously with tinted oak knowingly combined time after time with brushed spruce pine, black oak and larch. Atlante features a picturesque boarding procedure in fact the main access is directly via the lower deck past the beach club area which is remarkably large and equipped with chairs, chaise longues and more where teak is the dominant material followed by brushed bright pine wood.
The beach club area also sports a sun bathing spot equipped with sun pads and custom made tables. Two symmetric zones open out facing the stern each with a folding balcony overlooking the water. The one on starboard side is clearly more convivial and inspires relaxation. It is equipped with massage facilities and a Turkish bath. The one on port side is dedicated to fitness and is equipped with Technogym gear.
The lower deck houses four guest cabins which connect directly to the main deck. They sport different layouts but feature the same tinted oak essences and brushed white fir, white and grey striped marble, Calacatta marble and dark grey Carnico marble from Verona, custom made settees, tables and various types of lamps made by Pouenat in France were included in the project designed by studio Gilles & Boissier. The crew which numbers 13 has dedicated lodgings in the bow area of the lower deck.
This is accessed by a service stairway directly from the main deck which leads to the mess room/dinette. There’s a separate entrance in the form of a large hatch on port side through which ship stores are embarked. The captain’s cabin is situated opposite the dinette and the other six cabins further forward in the bow. Access to the main deck from the beach club is by way of a lovely Carnico grey marble and teak stairway.
The main deck oozes with special stylistic innovations. There’s a polyvalent area which changes from a technical one into a living room a convivial area by day with a natural follow up to the beach club below, or it can double as theatre from which to watch films or into an open air space in which to party. The garage can host up to three tenders: a limo type tender, a walk around model and another custom built 5 metre RIB. Two lateral openings which open mechanically from bottom up are in the stern from which to launch the tenders with two davits attached to the ceiling since the innovative transom of the yacht is not meant to open.
Sliding cut glass sliding doors access the main saloon, an iconic taste of the owner’s and the real inspirational element also thanks to his choice concerning tinted dark oak contrasting with light coloured decor which creates a welcoming feeling. The furniture and lamps are all designed by Gilles & Boissier: wood framed marble tables on metal legs and sofas sporting rosewood and Loro Piana light woven fabric.
The two stern sides of the saloon feature a pair of cut glass and tinted sliding doors which guarantee maximum privacy from outside to the owner and his guests while maintaining direct visual contact with the surroundings through ample vertical glass panels which can generate an evocative play of light when hit by the sun’s rays .
The indoor dining area is situated in the main saloon, it is made up of two tables which can double as dining or coffee tables, so as to extend this area in a living area as well which sports an encased Taiping carpet under the tables which is contoured by dark oak parquet with a marble line acting as a frame to the whole. The lobby which is situated in the bow area is furnished in tinted oak where the lift connecting the four decks stands in the middle of a sweeping Carrara light marble staircase which seems to wrap itself around the lift as it rises up to each deck.
The passageway to starboard hosts a day head in Calacatta marble and Assamela teakwood. To port we find a door leading to a professional galley, pantry and stairs that go down to the lower deck leading to the crew’s quarters.
Proceeding from the lobby along a comfortable passageway we access the owner’s quarters furnished with contemporary elegance which stands out for the essentialness of its forms and colour schemes. This area contains all of the yacht’s aesthetical essence: every essence and fabric deployed from fir, to whitened or browned spruce, to dark brushed oak to eucalyptus used for the desk and coffee tables, to skin panels.
The owner’s private lodgings run full beam across and open out to starboard with an innovative solution as an alternative to a study. It is made up of a sliding table on rails, and a sliding leather footstool also on rails which run parallel to the sofa that is positioned along the whole of the starboard side. A desk and a flat television screen on the wall in front of the double bed and a settee complete the decor in the owner’s suite.
In the bow there’s a large full beam bathroom with two separate entrances leading to his/her zone which are a triumph of lovely stone work for the eye to see and Carnico dark grey veined marble, where the central shower stall sports a white marble base with grey Calacatta marble stripes. The upper deck is an experience in itself. The external zone in the stern comprises entrance number two as an alternative to the official one from the beach club which is used when quays are specially high. A work of complex hydraulic art in stainless and solid teakwood re-directs guests to board onto the spacious cockpit situated on the upper deck which features unique ornaments and furniture made exclusively for Atlante: dark teak sofas and Perennials’ light fabrics which confer elegance and synergy to the spaces they occupy.
Here you’ll find up & down tables in black oak with contrasting polished steel frames for dinners and lunches with matching removable film set type chairs. A cut glass see through sliding panel which sports an opening of more than six metres leads to the saloon on the upper deck which features a symmetrical arrangement of the furniture with at centre a beautifully designed low table in solid wood which acts as a dividing element to the area. To the sides ‘L’ shaped sofas, small tables with eucalyptus and rosewood tops and lamps have all been expressly made for Atlante. The large vertical window like panels in the sides are highly visible and transfer extraordinary natural light to the interiors; thanks also to the fact they’re stepped into the sides and the ledges have been decked out with leather padding on which to sit while enjoying the view.
The flooring is also in dark oak parquet with bordering marble lining along the perimeter. A natural fibre carpet covers the whole of the saloon’s surface area while the ceiling is in larch as the bulkheads. The lobby on the upper deck sports a pair of floor to ceiling window like panels which brighten up the interiors and a French artists work of art. A continuous passageway running from stern to bow leads toward the helm controls station completed with Telemar displays and five interchangeable touch screens. Further forward along the deck beyond the helm controls station there’s a full beam lounge in teak, below which is the owner’s suite. The only piece of furniture in the elegant, linear and innovative lounge is an up & down table installed opposite the helm controls station with a number of chairs around it all of which can disappear at the push of a button into the flush deck.
The Bimini’s structure which pulls the sun awning tight to stop it flapping is in polished black carbon with built in lights placed at each side of the table. Every part of this very lightweight structure is easily removable. Another significant novelty is a large hatch which opens out from the flush deck and leads to the technical ‘mooring’ area of the bow which is normally hidden and utterly out of sight.
The considerable bow area converts into a touch & go helipad which can be deployed for a maximum load of three tons once the stanchions contouring the perimeter have been removed as a safety precaution. A telescopic carbon turret extends out of the deck with the required navigation light by night and is situated in the extreme bow end. The sundeck can be accessed from the stern end of the upper deck via a splendid polished steel framed stairway with teak and cut glass railing. This little paradise is the ideal place for tan fans.
The aft zone of this area is equipped with sofas and fold away low specially made tables. Further forward toward the bow there are sun beds on which to relax, an electrically operated sun awning and a small pool overlooking the sea below. The pool contains a few elements which characterize the yacht such as the trapezoidal polished steel grab-rails, diamond shaped cut glass and metal finishing touches. A yacht so aesthetically advanced, deserves an equally advanced domotic installation which has been developed with Videoworks. I-pads and I-phones are distributed throughout the yacht to monitor and control the integral in-built system.
Atlante is powered by a pair of Caterpillar engines 3512C 1,230 KW at 1,800 rpm. With these engines top speed is 15 knots for a cruising one of 14. At econ speed between 10 to 12 knots the yacht’s range increases to 4,200 to 5,000 miles accordingly which means Atlante can cross from the Mediterranean sea to Caribbean cruising grounds without having to refuel
For futher information: CRN
Text by Roberto Franzoni
Photos by Maurizio Paradisi