Baglietto T52: Tracking down the secret of the shipyard and designer's success

Martin Hager

, Clare Mahon

· 29.10.2023

Clear shapes: Francesco Paszkowski designed the masculine exterior of the 450-tonne vessel, which is equipped with a diesel-electric hybrid drive as standard. The range in eco mode is 7600 nautical miles

Terrace paradise: Choosing the right sun lounger on board the T52 should be difficult. Glass railings on the upper deck and sundeck provide a panoramic view.

Privacy in the bow: Especially for Roman Catholic berths, the huge lounge area in front of the master suite is the quietest place on board.

Heavenly views: sun loungers complement the spa area on the Sundeck

The bathing platform offers maximum closeness to nature

12 Images

Photo: Maurizio Paradisi

With the T52, Baglietto presents its new best-selling model, which recently celebrated its world premiere and has already been ordered eight times. BOOTE EXCLUSIV reveals the secret of success of the shipyard and the designers Francesco Paszkowski and Margherita Casprini.

If you want to understand the success of the T52, you should start with the technical data: 497 gross tonnes of interior space, spread over 52.32 metres in length and four decks. So far, so ordinary. Then it must be the design: Designer Francesco Paszkowski and his interior counterpart Margherita Casprini packed the technical facts into a handsome overall package, which quite obviously received a lot of favour in a very short space of time. The customers who last signed the building contract will have to wait until 2025. Brokers list the attractive new product, which is being built in La Spezia from steel and aluminium, for around 36 million euros and the first unit attracted a lot of attention at the autumn trade fairs.

The special feature of the T52

Over the past 30 years, the design duo has regularly developed new models for Baglietto - on a permanent basis, so to speak. While the collaboration has proven its worth, the designs for Baglietto are constantly changing in order to interpret and masterfully anticipate market requirements. So what makes the T52 so special?

The look of the T52 is masculine with a high freeboard softened by long horizontal sweeps of black glass. Forward-facing lines are combined with vertical windows on the bridge deck to give the yacht a robust and seaworthy appearance. Contact with the sea is ensured by a three-level beach club that begins just above the waterline, continues over a sunbathing area and then flows seamlessly into the aft guest cockpit, which is dominated by a large glass-bottomed pool. A Baglietto emblem adorns the bathing pool, which significantly increases the deck area at the touch of a button and thanks to the retractable floor. A second pool is located on the forward sundeck. There are two side-opening garages, one on the lower deck between the beach club and engine room and one on the main deck in front of the master suite, providing ample storage space for tenders, jet skis and other water toys.

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The guest cockpit on the main deck receives additional light from a skylight made of toughened, non-slip glass, which Baglietto has integrated into the floor of the deck above. The upper deck features a second guest cockpit adjoining the so-called Sky Lounge, which is also illuminated by skylights. The Sundeck is another outdoor area that offers plenty of living space. It is almost 24 metres long and can be reached via a staircase in the cockpit of the upper deck. Francesco Paszkowski designed a retractable walkway that connects the area with the sundeck and incorporates this often unused space into the natural flow of movement on board so that the spacious foredeck can also be used. The crew can equip the foredeck with large sun loungers at the guests' request.

Successful collaboration

While Paszkowski takes great pleasure in designing yacht exteriors, he realised a long time ago that interior design was not his forte. His studio therefore began working with interior designer Margherita Casprini. This developed into a successful collaboration that has proven itself in numerous projects. These include five of the eight T52s currently sold. Casprini worked closely with the owner of the first build to evaluate the five available layout proposals and select the one that best suited him, his family and his lifestyle.

"The interior respects the owner's personality and his desire for a contemporary environment," explains Casprini, who opted for a classic, straightforward style and modern furniture from Italian brands such as Fendi Casa, Dedon, Talenti and Tribù. The overall impression is one of self-assured luxury, eschewing shiny surfaces and chichi in favour of stain-resistant materials in natural colours such as tobacco and ivory white. Natural leather and travertine, teak and oak can be found throughout the interior, creating a harmonious ambience.

Baglietto T52 also attractive for the charter market

The main saloon literally merges with the aft cockpit, as the aft part of the living area is lined with teak rods, making it look like a transitional area. Floor-to-ceiling XXL windows provide a magnificent view. Although the galley is located on the main deck right next to the saloon, the dining areas are located exclusively on the upper and sundeck. The master suite is located at the front of the main deck and runs across the entire width. In addition to a centrally positioned bed and a work area, there is plenty of storage space including a walk-in wardrobe, which is now standard on yachts of this size. The adjoining bathroom is equipped with a bathtub, two washbasins and a large shower, while the bath and bidet are located next door for more privacy. The lower deck has four guest cabins, two double cabins and two twin cabins with Pullman berths, which also makes the T52 attractive for the charter market. On the upper deck, directly behind the captain's cabin, there is a further guest cabin that can also be used as an office.

Eight crew members are accommodated two decks below in four cabins. The owners decided to use most of their Sky Lounge on the aft upper deck as a dining area. The veranda, which opens on three sides, can be used flexibly as an indoor or outdoor area, depending on how many of the glass doors are opened. A second dining area is located on the sundeck, next to a fully equipped bar and an outdoor kitchen under the hardtop. The dumbwaiter connects the galley with the top deck. Numerous sun loungers and lounge furniture surround a large spa pool, which combines cooling off with fantastic views. The hardtop has a glass insert that darkens depending on the intensity of the sunlight to provide just the right amount of shade.

The shipyard's first model with diesel-electric hybrid drive

Right up to the bridge, everything is of the usual quality. But one look at the futuristic-looking command centre is enough to realise that Baglietto's latest model has much more to offer than the perfect exterior harmony and understated good taste of the interior. In fact, it is the first yacht model from the Italian shipyard to come with a diesel-electric hybrid drive as standard. Perhaps this is what makes the T52 so successful? While the shipyard and the owner were convinced of the advantages of the hybrid drive, the owner's captain was initially unsure. The system offers a choice between all-electric, hybrid or traditional propulsion and requires intensive familiarisation with the new technology. Fortunately, Baglietto was able to work directly with the captain to get him on board in more ways than one. "We developed a customised bridge whose ergonomics we designed around the captain," explains Alessandro Balzi, project manager for the T52.

Three 55-inch touchscreens from Hatteland allow the captain and chief officer to access large amounts of data from the on-board network and form an ideal platform for the feature-rich technology required by a diesel-electric propulsion system. "The bridge is very similar to what you find on board workboats. It can be intimidating at first because it looks very futuristic, but the technology is tried and tested and reliable, with joystick control and dynamic positioning combined with a conventional shaft drive," says Balzi.

For the engine, the owner opted for two MTU engines from the 2000 series, which, with 1630 kilowatts of power each, are slightly more powerful than the Caterpillar C32 engines that are fitted as standard on the T52 model. With this equipment, the 450-tonner reaches a top speed of 17 knots, and the 68,920 litres of diesel in the tanks are sufficient for 3600 nautical miles non-stop at a cruising speed of twelve knots. In diesel-electric eco mode and at a leisurely six knots, the range doubles to 7,600 nautical miles. Two lithium-ion battery packs supply the four-decker at anchor with enough energy to run the hotel for ten hours. This is where it becomes clear that the concept of comfort on board the new top-selling model goes far beyond the cosiness of the outdoor areas and the elegant furnishings and also includes environmental aspects.

Baglietto is heading in the right direction

While Baglietto is relying on a proven team for the exterior and interior design of the T52, the company is breaking new ground with what it is integrating into the engine compartment. For example, the first T52 with a fuel cell on board is due to be launched by 2025. The CO2-neutral system will provide energy for the hotel load, but will not yet be able to provide the main propulsion. In any case, the direction Baglietto has taken with the T52 is the right one. The sales figures also show this.