The sea trial was pubblished on Superyacht 41 – Spring 2014
CRN’s “Chopi Chopi” is no doubt the largest yacht ever built by this renowned Italian shipyard. With an LOA of 80 metres, it was no easy accomplishment.
During the golden years prior to the latest recession this Ancona based yard was growing significantly signing contracts for the construction of various over 70 metre yachts. Zuccon International Project team, the company’s project partner who had been in Gruppo Ferretti which incidentally has owned CRN, for many years, came up with a series of superyacht concepts with which to attract the company’s international clients. Among these there was one which later became “Chopi Chopi”.
Financial post-recession complexities slowed production for what was project Number 129 prior to launch date, but tenaciousness, dedication and 660,000 man hours contributed to the final outcome. The superyacht was officially presented at the Monaco Yacht Show in the autumn of 2013 and at the International Genoa Boat show immediately after where “Chopi Chopi” took the lion’s share as flag ship becoming proof of the yard’s worth, her designers’s and something to be really proud of for her owner.
Luxury is there undoubtedly but without over killing, its leading concept being harmony and this becomes apparent in every detail. Gianni Zuccon chief designer of Zuccon International Project proceeded to explain – “We’d met a client that we was looking for a large yacht and we showed him a project for a 72 metre which contained all the features we thought could satisfy his wishes in terms of both dimension and style. The essence of the matter was that the owner wanted a privately owned yacht in which to spend long holidays with his large family. We soon discovered he needed more space which translated in more volume.
Therefore we worked on the original concept, we added extra volume and a few metres to the overall length while maintaining a good proportional ratio between superstructure and length overall”. The exterior design fully reflects the timeless elegance the yacht portrays, just as the owner required. Furthermore it maintains that special feature which immediately underscores every yacht styled by Zuccon International Project.
“We optimised our proposals and blended them into the owner’s requests concerning the interior layout and the exterior appearance of the yacht. It’s been a really gratifying experience on both a professional plane and also a personal one – adds Gianni Zuccon – and “Chopi Chopi” rewards our long proven experience in superyacht project designing and gratifies the owner’s own notable experience as yacht owner”.
Seen from outside “Chopi Chopi” manages to be elegant conveying gracefulness despite her imposing size, while a serene sense of tranquillity pervades in a welcoming atmosphere which captures guests as soon as one sets foot on board. Several different fundamental factors have gone into the making of such success. Above all it’s fair to say that the owner knew precisely what he wanted from the beginning and maintained a positive attitude and dynamic synergy with CRN management and the design teams detailed to the interiors and exteriors.
And Gianni Zuccon of course as many well know has worked extensively with Gruppo Ferretti, and has drawn up 10 large custom yachts and 14 semi custom ones since 2006 for CRN. Laura Sessa interior designer for “Chopi Chopi” worked consistently with the owner’s family and had also experienced working with them on other occasions and knew their tastes and her remarkable ability in sketching out every detail of the interiors transported some of her personality into the project. “Chopi Chopi” is much more than a superyacht in every inch of her 80 metres and for the external styling carried out by the design teams. Quoting Gianni Zuccon’s words “ Our objective has always been to blend a personal touch into every project – and this yacht is a ship, a beautiful ship which conveys a feeling of safety and reliability. Her silhouette which develops over various levels surely sports special features, but none stand out ostensibly. To us harmony between aesthetical elegance and functionality is a must and “Chopi Chopi” personifies all this remarkably”.
There are five decks, and a lower deck which houses technical service areas for a total of 1,900 square metres. The yacht is destined for private use only and has been built to offer the owner and all his family all the space and comfort that is customary for them. The main deck comprises a large stern saloon and five guest cabins forward in the bow area. One of these is a sumptuous Vip full beam suite comprising a terrace set inside part of one of the topsides. The upper deck has been designed to be used during the daytime much like the large saloon situated in the stern area, the bar is situated amidships and a grand dining area capable of seating eighteen completes the picture at centre. An extraordinary circular shaped helm controls station set forward in the bow area is a marvel of technology underscored by Team Italia’s i-Bridge system.
Traditional navigation aids and gauges are all practically hidden from sight aside from the required standard compulsory items. “Chopi Chopi” sports a 42 inch touch screen which was specially devised for the yacht by Team Italia. A flat top like a gigantic tablet displays electronic charts, internet connection and fulfils the same functions as a computer would. Every nav. control system, command and communication runs off monitors and touch screen panels from this innovative helm controls station.
The area dedicated to the owner’s apartment measuring 200 square metres is situated along the whole of the fourth deck. A private terrace astern can be deployed as a touch and go helipad not exceeding three tons dead weight, thereby ensuring total privacy.
Laura Sessa designed the interior decor, after having done the same for Dutch Amels and Feadship yards as well as having been involved in accomplishing the interior decor of Flavio Briatore’s yacht Force Blue. Laura Sessa says “I had already designed the interiors for the owner’s preceding yacht an Amels 52 metre Lady Nag Nag, so I already had an idea about the style he likes and I translated his wishes into comfortable, luxurious interiors which are nevertheless still simple. An elegant understatement perhaps, since the yacht is one of the family’s favourite places in which to gather.
I came up with the project designs for the interiors with the owner’s family right in front of my eyes. The owner’s sons and daughter have their own private areas on board and their cabins have been decorated in the colours they chose”. Maple wood takes the lion’s share, plain or painted over and every cabin sports a different colour: blue, violet, orange, white, brown, and celadon green which is typical of Chinese porcelain.
Laura Sessa adds “brightly determining colour schemes, which stand out specially in the details from cushions to curtains, from table lamps – mainly by Hervé Van der Straeten, to door handles, wardrobe doors, chests of drawers and all are with matching colours in every cabin, every single detail on “Chopi Chopi” has been made to suit the owner from large scale aspects such as the division and allotment of different spaces right up to the wood essences, and material chosen for bedding, crockery, and cushions which I all designed personally as well as headboards for beds to curtain accessories. We tried to confer a sense of chromatic continuity throughout the interior decor aided by ample use of natural fabrics enriched with pastel colour schemes while all bathrooms and day heads are lined with cream Perlatino Europa marble”.
Hervé Van der Straeten furniture, built to Laura Sessa’s designs recall Art Déco atmosphere, in the main saloon and on the upper deck too, where both areas are brightened by natural light passing through two open floor to ceiling doors on both sides of each area. The huge dining table seating 18 when extended, which is also by Van der Straeten is situated on the upper deck, but once the central section is removed the table is transformed into two separate round ones. One of the high ranking priorities was to ensure that a pleasant time could be spent in the open, in fact a wonderful beach club with sauna, Turkish baths and massage parlour annexed to it, lead directly to the main saloon from an interior stairway situated amidships, thus efficiently linking interior spaces to marine environment. Half of the lower deck’s aft portion houses technical and service areas, including a garage and engine room while the forward portion hosts the crew’s quarters with large comfortable well furnished cabins.
About 30 people are employed to handle the yacht and to look after 12 guests. “Chopi Chopi” has been built on a ship’s naval and tested platform, it is powered with conventional in line shaft drives to obtain the best performance possible over long distances. Much care has gone into soundproofing and vibration dampening, with thick layers of rock wool and rubber bases installed under the flooring to ensure low noise levels while cruising: 60 decibel in the main saloon and 55 in the guest cabins. Ferdinando Pilli head of CRN’s technical department and responsible for the yacht’s engineering says with regard to the yacht’s power house: ““Chopi Chopi” was designed to be propelled at all kinds of levels.
We’ve streamlined the hull and have carried out extensive studies concerning the naval architecture of the yacht which have led to a better performing hull with less required power for the same performance which translates into a top speed of 16 knots with two 3516B-C Caterpillar engines producing 1,640 KW at 1,600 rpm in spite of the considerable size of the yacht”. “Chopi Chopi” is a true ocean going superyacht built by and for people who know what they’re after and who’ve had the courage and farsightedness to see the project through notwithstanding financial setbacks due to the specific recession.
The owner found the right team in Gianni Zuccon and in Laura Sessa with whom to interpret his passion with their great sense of style while CRN has consolidated its elevated standards, with this extraordinary project. February last we met up with “Chopi Chopi” in Saint Barth in the Caribbean a very popular rendez- vous for international jet setters, the Gotha in luxury yachting and Captain Richard Hodgson during the Genoa International Boat show had confirmed to us that the crossing of the Atlantic had been uneventful, straightforward and problem free while the family was enjoying warm, pleasant sun shine at 17° latitude north of the equator and the yacht was lying to an anchor in a gentle trade wind breeze of 15 knots. A perfect setting which best describes the spirit which accompanies “Chopi Chopi” in her favourite cruising grounds.
For further information: CRN
by Roberto Franzoni
TECHNICAL DATA
LOA: 80.00 m – LWL: 71.40 m – Beam: 13.50 m – Draught: 3.40 m – Displacement: 1,800 T – Gross tons: 2,363 GRT – Fuel tank capacity: 300,000 litres – Water tank capacity: 45,000 litres – Daily water production capacity: 40,000 litres – Engines: 2 x 1640 kW@1600 g/min Caterpillar 3516B-C – Top speed: 16 knots – Cruising speed: 15 knots – Range at 12 knots: 6,000 nm – Tender: Dariel Limo 9.5 m, Dariel Ribo 7 m, Riva Iseo 8.5 m + 1 rescue boat Solas Narwhal 4.2 m – Paints: Awlgrip – Guests: 12 – Crew: 31 – Class: Lloyd’s Register of Shipping LR Malta Cross 100 – A1 – SSC – YACHT (P), MONO, G6, Malta Cross LMC, UMS MCA LY2 compliance – Naval architecture: CRN Engineering – Exterior design: Zuccon International Project – Interior design: Laura Sessa – Construction: CRN S.p.A. (Ferretti Group)
Everywhere you are, READ!
TECHNICAL DATA
LOA: 80.00 m – LWL: 71.40 m – Beam: 13.50 m – Draught: 3.40 m – Displacement: 1,800 T – Gross tons: 2,363 GRT – Fuel tank capacity: 300,000 litres – Water tank capacity: 45,000 litres – Daily water production capacity: 40,000 litres – Engines: 2 x 1640 kW@1600 g/min Caterpillar 3516B-C – Top speed: 16 knots – Cruising speed: 15 knots – Range at 12 knots: 6,000 nm – Tender: Dariel Limo 9.5 m, Dariel Ribo 7 m, Riva Iseo 8.5 m + 1 rescue boat Solas Narwhal 4.2 m – Paints: Awlgrip – Guests: 12 – Crew: 31 – Class: Lloyd’s Register of Shipping LR Malta Cross 100 – A1 – SSC – YACHT (P), MONO, G6, Malta Cross LMC, UMS MCA LY2 compliance – Naval architecture: CRN Engineering – Exterior design: Zuccon International Project – Interior design: Laura Sessa – Construction: CRN S.p.A. (Ferretti Group)
Everywhere you are, READ!
The sea trial was pubblished on Superyacht 41 – Spring 2014
CRN’s “Chopi Chopi” is no doubt the largest yacht ever built by this renowned Italian shipyard. With an LOA of 80 metres, it was no easy accomplishment.
During the golden years prior to the latest recession this Ancona based yard was growing significantly signing contracts for the construction of various over 70 metre yachts. Zuccon International Project team, the company’s project partner who had been in Gruppo Ferretti which incidentally has owned CRN, for many years, came up with a series of superyacht concepts with which to attract the company’s international clients. Among these there was one which later became “Chopi Chopi”.
Financial post-recession complexities slowed production for what was project Number 129 prior to launch date, but tenaciousness, dedication and 660,000 man hours contributed to the final outcome. The superyacht was officially presented at the Monaco Yacht Show in the autumn of 2013 and at the International Genoa Boat show immediately after where “Chopi Chopi” took the lion’s share as flag ship becoming proof of the yard’s worth, her designers’s and something to be really proud of for her owner.
Luxury is there undoubtedly but without over killing, its leading concept being harmony and this becomes apparent in every detail. Gianni Zuccon chief designer of Zuccon International Project proceeded to explain – “We’d met a client that we was looking for a large yacht and we showed him a project for a 72 metre which contained all the features we thought could satisfy his wishes in terms of both dimension and style. The essence of the matter was that the owner wanted a privately owned yacht in which to spend long holidays with his large family. We soon discovered he needed more space which translated in more volume.
Therefore we worked on the original concept, we added extra volume and a few metres to the overall length while maintaining a good proportional ratio between superstructure and length overall”. The exterior design fully reflects the timeless elegance the yacht portrays, just as the owner required. Furthermore it maintains that special feature which immediately underscores every yacht styled by Zuccon International Project.
“We optimised our proposals and blended them into the owner’s requests concerning the interior layout and the exterior appearance of the yacht. It’s been a really gratifying experience on both a professional plane and also a personal one – adds Gianni Zuccon – and “Chopi Chopi” rewards our long proven experience in superyacht project designing and gratifies the owner’s own notable experience as yacht owner”.
Seen from outside “Chopi Chopi” manages to be elegant conveying gracefulness despite her imposing size, while a serene sense of tranquillity pervades in a welcoming atmosphere which captures guests as soon as one sets foot on board. Several different fundamental factors have gone into the making of such success. Above all it’s fair to say that the owner knew precisely what he wanted from the beginning and maintained a positive attitude and dynamic synergy with CRN management and the design teams detailed to the interiors and exteriors.
And Gianni Zuccon of course as many well know has worked extensively with Gruppo Ferretti, and has drawn up 10 large custom yachts and 14 semi custom ones since 2006 for CRN. Laura Sessa interior designer for “Chopi Chopi” worked consistently with the owner’s family and had also experienced working with them on other occasions and knew their tastes and her remarkable ability in sketching out every detail of the interiors transported some of her personality into the project. “Chopi Chopi” is much more than a superyacht in every inch of her 80 metres and for the external styling carried out by the design teams. Quoting Gianni Zuccon’s words “ Our objective has always been to blend a personal touch into every project – and this yacht is a ship, a beautiful ship which conveys a feeling of safety and reliability. Her silhouette which develops over various levels surely sports special features, but none stand out ostensibly. To us harmony between aesthetical elegance and functionality is a must and “Chopi Chopi” personifies all this remarkably”.
There are five decks, and a lower deck which houses technical service areas for a total of 1,900 square metres. The yacht is destined for private use only and has been built to offer the owner and all his family all the space and comfort that is customary for them. The main deck comprises a large stern saloon and five guest cabins forward in the bow area. One of these is a sumptuous Vip full beam suite comprising a terrace set inside part of one of the topsides. The upper deck has been designed to be used during the daytime much like the large saloon situated in the stern area, the bar is situated amidships and a grand dining area capable of seating eighteen completes the picture at centre. An extraordinary circular shaped helm controls station set forward in the bow area is a marvel of technology underscored by Team Italia’s i-Bridge system.
Traditional navigation aids and gauges are all practically hidden from sight aside from the required standard compulsory items. “Chopi Chopi” sports a 42 inch touch screen which was specially devised for the yacht by Team Italia. A flat top like a gigantic tablet displays electronic charts, internet connection and fulfils the same functions as a computer would. Every nav. control system, command and communication runs off monitors and touch screen panels from this innovative helm controls station.
The area dedicated to the owner’s apartment measuring 200 square metres is situated along the whole of the fourth deck. A private terrace astern can be deployed as a touch and go helipad not exceeding three tons dead weight, thereby ensuring total privacy.
Laura Sessa designed the interior decor, after having done the same for Dutch Amels and Feadship yards as well as having been involved in accomplishing the interior decor of Flavio Briatore’s yacht Force Blue. Laura Sessa says “I had already designed the interiors for the owner’s preceding yacht an Amels 52 metre Lady Nag Nag, so I already had an idea about the style he likes and I translated his wishes into comfortable, luxurious interiors which are nevertheless still simple. An elegant understatement perhaps, since the yacht is one of the family’s favourite places in which to gather.
I came up with the project designs for the interiors with the owner’s family right in front of my eyes. The owner’s sons and daughter have their own private areas on board and their cabins have been decorated in the colours they chose”. Maple wood takes the lion’s share, plain or painted over and every cabin sports a different colour: blue, violet, orange, white, brown, and celadon green which is typical of Chinese porcelain.
Laura Sessa adds “brightly determining colour schemes, which stand out specially in the details from cushions to curtains, from table lamps – mainly by Hervé Van der Straeten, to door handles, wardrobe doors, chests of drawers and all are with matching colours in every cabin, every single detail on “Chopi Chopi” has been made to suit the owner from large scale aspects such as the division and allotment of different spaces right up to the wood essences, and material chosen for bedding, crockery, and cushions which I all designed personally as well as headboards for beds to curtain accessories. We tried to confer a sense of chromatic continuity throughout the interior decor aided by ample use of natural fabrics enriched with pastel colour schemes while all bathrooms and day heads are lined with cream Perlatino Europa marble”.
Hervé Van der Straeten furniture, built to Laura Sessa’s designs recall Art Déco atmosphere, in the main saloon and on the upper deck too, where both areas are brightened by natural light passing through two open floor to ceiling doors on both sides of each area. The huge dining table seating 18 when extended, which is also by Van der Straeten is situated on the upper deck, but once the central section is removed the table is transformed into two separate round ones. One of the high ranking priorities was to ensure that a pleasant time could be spent in the open, in fact a wonderful beach club with sauna, Turkish baths and massage parlour annexed to it, lead directly to the main saloon from an interior stairway situated amidships, thus efficiently linking interior spaces to marine environment. Half of the lower deck’s aft portion houses technical and service areas, including a garage and engine room while the forward portion hosts the crew’s quarters with large comfortable well furnished cabins.
About 30 people are employed to handle the yacht and to look after 12 guests. “Chopi Chopi” has been built on a ship’s naval and tested platform, it is powered with conventional in line shaft drives to obtain the best performance possible over long distances. Much care has gone into soundproofing and vibration dampening, with thick layers of rock wool and rubber bases installed under the flooring to ensure low noise levels while cruising: 60 decibel in the main saloon and 55 in the guest cabins. Ferdinando Pilli head of CRN’s technical department and responsible for the yacht’s engineering says with regard to the yacht’s power house: ““Chopi Chopi” was designed to be propelled at all kinds of levels.
We’ve streamlined the hull and have carried out extensive studies concerning the naval architecture of the yacht which have led to a better performing hull with less required power for the same performance which translates into a top speed of 16 knots with two 3516B-C Caterpillar engines producing 1,640 KW at 1,600 rpm in spite of the considerable size of the yacht”. “Chopi Chopi” is a true ocean going superyacht built by and for people who know what they’re after and who’ve had the courage and farsightedness to see the project through notwithstanding financial setbacks due to the specific recession.
The owner found the right team in Gianni Zuccon and in Laura Sessa with whom to interpret his passion with their great sense of style while CRN has consolidated its elevated standards, with this extraordinary project. February last we met up with “Chopi Chopi” in Saint Barth in the Caribbean a very popular rendez- vous for international jet setters, the Gotha in luxury yachting and Captain Richard Hodgson during the Genoa International Boat show had confirmed to us that the crossing of the Atlantic had been uneventful, straightforward and problem free while the family was enjoying warm, pleasant sun shine at 17° latitude north of the equator and the yacht was lying to an anchor in a gentle trade wind breeze of 15 knots. A perfect setting which best describes the spirit which accompanies “Chopi Chopi” in her favourite cruising grounds.
For further information: CRN
by Roberto Franzoni
