When the name Mangusta is mentioned, many owners and other superyacht connoisseurs immediately conjure up stereotypical images: of fast, sleek yachts up to 50 metres long, pulling a huge roostertail behind them and the owner and his usually (very) pretty companions whooping on their foredecks. These scenes are set off Ibiza or Saint-Tropez, and they are pretty much right.
And while the Mangusta shipyard Overmarine is finding new enthusiasts for these often not entirely economical gliders every year, its marketing is currently tapping into a new customer segment: the Italians, who previously focussed on maximum speeds of at least 30 knots, have actually launched their first displacement boat. The Mangusta Oceano 42, built near Pisa airport, can only travel at up to 15 knots. So you can also go slowly.
Overmarine CEO Maurizio Balducci, who owns the shipyard with his family, told BOOTE EXCLUSIV a few years before the launch: "Our brand DNA is clear, but we need to develop it further. We have to think about older owners and the development of more efficient formats."
The sale of a second Oceano yacht before the first one has even been delivered shows that he has not taken too great a risk with the development of the new line and the expansion of the Pisa site. More may follow after the latest trade fair appearances in Cannes and Monaco.
Maurizio Balducci placed the design of the 42-metre displacement yacht in the hands of Alberto Mancini. The up-and-coming designer from Trieste, whose clients also include Magnum Marine and Baglietto, skilfully took up the lines of the fast Mangustas, drew inspiration from various automotive designers and created a mix of several concave and convex surfaces. "The Oceano 42
is unmistakably a Mangusta," says Maurizio Balducci. The lifestyle that the brand has always embodied is reflected; the balance between the superstructure and exterior surfaces is perfect.
However, the first order for the yacht has a somewhat unusual history. As the owner's origins are not to be disclosed, it is implied that he worked for a Mangusta broker east of Monte-Carlos. He was actually interested in a much smaller yacht, then he saw the brochure for the Oceano 42 lying on the table. He leafed through it, marvelled and quickly let the broker know that he would like to order just such a yacht.
BOOTE EXCLUSIV went on deck several times during the construction and delivery phases, but the yacht was not properly decorated until its world premiere at the Yachting Festival in Cannes. The beach club, i.e. the folded-out stern, is used to get on board. The windows in the tailgate are noticeable after just a few steps. At anchor, they provide an unobstructed view of the water, while underway they illuminate the interior, which is further enhanced by two skylights cut into each aft deck above, allowing daylight to reach the lower deck not only from aft, but also from the sundeck.
Adjacent to the beach club is the engine room with two 1080-kilowatt MTU diesels, behind which the guests sleep. The shipyard has placed the tender, which is usually parked here, in the foredeck. It is lowered into the water via a side hatch.
"Light and space" is probably the best way to describe the interior concept of the Oceano 42. It is very clear in the saloon. Floor-to-ceiling windows and an equally glazed bulwark flood the room with daylight, as the interior does without sideboards. Sliding doors open at the height of the dining area for eight guests, allowing a light breeze to blow over the table. Brown and cream tones radiate cosiness. They are the predominant lounge colours. Alberto Mancini, who was also responsible for the interior design, chose dark-stained oak for the floor and had the ceiling covered with silk and Alcantara. The two bronze sculptures by Gianfranco Meggiato, an Italian artist from Venice, whose complex works have already been on display at the Biennale and whose "Sphere Enigma" has been represented at Port Hercules in Monaco for several years, are also striking. Ahead, the path leads from the saloon into a small lobby, which is followed here on the main deck by the master suite, as is usual on most yachts of this size. In this area, Mancini designed the Oceano 42 as a so-called "widebody" format. There are no running decks on the outside, allowing the owner to utilise the entire width of the hull.
Before entering, it is important to put soft overcoats on your socks. The carpet is said to be extremely sensitive - a brilliant white work of art made from the fibres of bamboo leaves! Did the owner do himself a favour? However, the material and workmanship of the carpet feel very good and of high quality.
Another highlight of the cabin is on the starboard side. At the touch of a button, a balcony folds down here, which the owner and his companions can use for breakfast, a sundowner or simply to get some fresh air at anchor. In the bathroom, Overmarine used Eramosa limestone from Canada, which is rarely seen on yachts and whose brown colour is more reminiscent of wood than stone. It must be an interesting experience to shower here, as several skylights radiate turquoise-coloured light into the room. They are set into the floor of the infinity pool, which is located on the upper deck in the bow area. We will explore it later.
First, we head back to the lobby and from there to the lower deck, where guests or family members sleep in four cabins. While the size of the accommodation is almost identical, each cabin has a different theme based on the owner's favourite holiday destinations. "Bodrum" shimmers in various shades of blue and turquoise, reminiscent of the colour of the sea off the Turkish seaside resort. The Bisazza mosaic in the bathroom and the wall panelling made of dyed cowhide also pick up on this theme. In the "Mauritius" cabin, a dark green planted bed hangs on the wall. The owner had the "Saint-Tropez" decorated with stylised motifs from the classic regatta "Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez". It is adorned with a floor reminiscent of the teak deck of a sailing yacht. Cabin number four is called "Bergama" and only needs a little explanation if you don't mention the old name of the town. Bergama used to be called Pergamon, is located around 80 kilometres from Izmir and is considered a world city of antiquity. So it certainly fits into the conglomerate on the lower deck.
Once again through the lobby, the tour of the Oceano leads to the upper deck. In the saloon or so-called skylounge, it becomes clear that the owner appears to be a cineaste. The room behind the bridge is completely furnished as a cinema. Three sofas, which were specially made for this Oceano 42, are grouped in front of a TV with a respectable diagonal screen. Several stools and side tables can be placed in between, and the sofas themselves can also be arranged according to the audience constellation. Aft there is another dining area for eight on deck, and in the bow there is another entertainment feature that is unrivalled on a yacht of this size. Alberto Mancini had an infinity pool installed here, into which you can practically roll directly from the sun lounger. It is so shallow at the top that even the youngest children won't dive in. The water depth increases towards the bow. Glazing allows you to look out over the stem. One floor up, the sundeck with sun loungers, sofa area and third dining area completes the peaceful concept of the Oceano 42. It looks like she fulfils all the requirements for a serious player in the 40-metre class.
