If you ask Frank Laupman where he would most like to spend time on board his creation, he mentions the 18 metre long sun deck with a jacuzzi, dining area and a horseshoe-shaped bar. The shady hardtop appears to float above the guests, resting on six supports that are anchored in the bulwarks on either side. "This allows an almost uninterrupted view in all directions," says the builder and designer, before immediately praising another favourite spot: the generously proportioned aft deck two storeys below, with a ten-square-metre pool and the typical "Laupman arches" at the stern, which shield the lounge area from the wind and prying eyes and also give the yacht an unmistakable look. "The arches are part of the complex hull and superstructure design, which creates a particularly long and low profile," explains the expert, emphasising once again "this feeling of being well protected".
CRN delivered the 52-metre yacht with aluminium hull and superstructure as a "custom pleasure yacht" for ten guests in 2022, with a volume of just under 500 gross tonnes. However, the owner did not enjoy it for long. As soon as he had "Ciao" in his collection in early summer, he wanted to get rid of her quickly. Just a few months later, at the beginning of this year, she changed hands and the owner has been enjoying the five-decker ever since.
The shipyard was responsible for the structural calculations of the CRN building, while the clients called in professional expertise for the exterior and interior design of the nine-metre-wide Signora. Frank Laupman, the founder of Omega Architects based in Druten in the Netherlands, was joined by Alessandro Massari. His studio is located in Fano, just a few minutes' drive from Ancona, where the Ferretti Group's large yacht shipyard is based.
"Ciao" shows "a wild but elegant exterior"
Laupman opted for angular lines when it came to the look of the yacht and designed an almost vertical stem. She should look strong, dynamic and sporty, "a wild but elegant exterior", as the designer himself puts it, "the yacht is a representative of the 'Ocean Sports' family like the 62-metre CRN 'Rio'". The huge tinted windows on the main and upper decks form a visual unit, skilfully emphasising the hull lines and flooding the rooms with light.
Laupman and his team put a lot of work into the design and layout of the outdoor areas, as the owner's specifications required them to be as spacious, cosy and comfortable as possible. The result is impressive with spacious terraces that merge seamlessly into the interior spaces and thus merge into one area. The design team pursued a different goal with the outdoor area on the forward upper deck. Depending on the time of day or destination, two jet skis are stored here, with mobile sun loungers in between, which can be moved out of the way by the crew in no time at all. It's party time!
A few steps lead down to the nose, which is divided into two halves by a permanently installed crane. On one side, a 6.32 metre long Williams 625 tender is waiting to be used, on the other a much smaller Williams 520. When they are not in use for longer periods, they disappear discreetly into the cavities under the large floor hatches. The result is a multifunctional area that can be easily seen from the wheelhouse, but "without obstructing the view", as Laupman emphasises. The captain and crew use a total of five monitors to steer and monitor the yacht and, with the help of two Caterpillar engines, each with a power output of 1081 kilowatts, propel it to a top speed of 16.5 knots.
Interior of the "Ciao
In the interior, Alessandro Massari skilfully maintains a balance between straight lines and simple shapes in neutral colours plus accessories in bright orange, bright red and black. The abundant use of wood adds warmth to the contrast, with the design team boldly combining different types, colours and textures. Massari chose oak with a plank look for the floors, while the walls are covered in walnut veneer with a horizontal striped structure. Even the metal of the furniture legs does not look cool thanks to the "champagne finish". In the large lounge, the leitmotif of "no interruptions, seamless transitions" can also be seen in the clever details. "We panelled some vertical surfaces with mirrors," says Massari, referring to the narrow wall sections between the windows, for example. "This creates an interplay of light and perspective for a feeling of boundless spaces and a great view of the sea," adds the designer.
Lighting for cosiness
His favourite room is just a few steps further towards the bow. Mirrored walls also play a key role in the richly wood-panelled master suite, two of which turn out to be sliding doors that lead to the two bathrooms. "This enhances the perception of the room," explains Massari. One beautiful detail is the handmade wallpaper with a relief technique, in which wood and leather elements are intricately woven into cotton threads. Another cotton gauze variant can be found in the bathroom furnishings, as a counterpart to the warm bronze Amani marble. Massari summarises his basic design idea as follows: "The design is not pompous, but rather elegant and refined."
The shipyard relied on the specialists at Zago SpA to realise the interior design. The Ferretti Group company was founded more than 100 years ago as a small craft business and is now a well-known Italian name in the interior design of superyachts. Massari's team paid particular attention to the lighting: "The lighting studies were meticulous," says the boss, outlining the effort: "The soft, indirect light harmonises with the furnishings and blends in with the natural light. This makes the rooms cosy."
Technical data
- Length over everything: 51,60 m
- Width:8,90 m
- Depth: 2,10 m
- Material: Aluminium
- Gross tonnage: 499 GT
- Motors:2 x Cat C32
- Engine power: 2 x 1081 kW
- Speed (max.): 16.5 kn
- Speed (travelling): 14 kn
- Range @ 12 kn: 3600 nm
- Generators:1 x Zenoro ekW 127
- Fuel: 53 000 l
- Water:12 000 l
- Waste water: 9000 l
- Guests: 10
- Crew: 11
- Construction: CRN
- Exterior design: Omega Architects
- Interior design:Massari Design
- Class:LR 100 A1
- Shipyard: CRN, 2022
