The sea glistens blue. The players of the Italian national football team wear blue jerseys. The fans, the Tifosi, therefore call their heroes Azzurri, the blue ones. Charles S. Cohen and his wife Clo are also tifosi. "We like the Italian style." They love Italy, the Italian Riviera, Gucci, Ferrari, Lamborghini - and blue.
Now they are also in love with Benetti, at least with their 67 metre long "Seasense" from this large and traditional yacht manufacturer - "since 1873" - in Livorno. And this Benetti is unmissable with its blue accents. At the very top of the sundeck, the first awning is blue. More follow from a bird's eye view downwards on the terraced deck overhangs aft. On the sides of the pool, aft on the main deck, sunshades show off their impressive colouring: barca azzurra.
Up here, the shipyard has set up a fully protected sports club for the muscle tools: a fitness centre on top. After working out on the machines, a circular jacuzzi and sun loungers or an American bar plus pizza from the wood-fired oven provide the relaxation you deserve, depending on your fitness level, preferences and taste. A seating area with sofas allows you to chat over a sundowner.
In September, the wide-body design "Seasense" with the long, sweeping stern area was parked at anchor for the first time for the eyes of curious observers at the Yachting Festival Cannes, then in Monaco for the Yacht Show. After their marriage fourteen years ago, Clo (full name: Clodagh Margaret) Cohen persuaded her husband to try his hand at boating in his spare time. Charles S. Cohen agreed, with background.
Test drives with three Rivas
The US-American from the East Coast, a project developer for office complexes and fine retail addresses based in New York, had already stumbled into a dinghy on the shores of Maine as a ten-year-old, but had subsequently taken care of his education and very successfully looked after his father's property inheritance and multiplied the stock of converted space.
So now another boat had to be found, naturally from Italy. Cohen started with a Rivarama, christened it "Clo Sea" and still sails it today. The Cohens then began to explore the Mediterranean with a 28 metre long Riva Duchessa. A third Riva, an Aquariva, is still moored on the Connecticut coast today, very close to their weekend home. These were the test voyages that finally set course for the Benetti's order.
The Cohens also used their extensive trips in the Mediterranean with the Duchessa to familiarise themselves with the prospects in the world of large yachts. This is how "Seasense" became a joint project for the couple.
"Seasense" also meets the wishes and insights of the owner couple one deck below the sundeck. The upper deck not only serves as a bridge deck with an adjoining captain's flat, but, contrary to its usual use, as a formal deck with a saloon that is less casual than the large hall on the main deck.
An unusual upper deck
Cor D. Rover, the Dutch designer, divided this smaller salon into a room with a seating area and a library. The adjoining dining area for twelve people on a round veranda can be separated from the seating area with a curtain.
Charles S. Cohen is one of those people who take everything very seriously. He immerses himself in his tasks. It took him three years to plan the weekend house and six for "Seasense". "I like to deal with details. The little things excite me."
The owner and managing director of Cohen Brothers Realty Corporation, with over one million square metres of office and commercial space between New York and Hollywood, likes to take his time, including for his passion for film. A few years ago, he produced the film "Frozen River", founded the Cohen Media Group for the distribution of classic restored films and refurbished the Quad Cinema in New York.
Beach experience on board
It was not only the Italian fashions that appealed to the enterprising man. In London, he became financially involved with the Savile Row tailor Richard James and the shoemaker Harrys. The generic term for his activities? Lifestyle.
This includes generosity. The low ceiling heights on the decks of the yachts visited were one of the details often criticised during the tours. Enclosed spaces that were too separate from the open decks were also among the elements that the Cohens would avoid on their own large yacht. A large pool had to be included in the specifications. What do people who are travelling on the water dream of? The party on the beach. Why dream about it when you can swim on your own deck because you don't want to share the water and the beach with other people and you're not a beach party animal?
In order to realise this experience under the sun on deck, however, a large pool must not be shaded by an overhanging deck, Charles said during the planning phase.
Now, in September, he was able to sunbathe for the first time in the "Seasense" pool aft on the main deck. This is where the designer and shipyard realised the desire for open superstructures. Inside and outside merge seamlessly from the saloon to the pool area.
The "Seasense" colour scheme is particularly evident here. It combines the living and lifestyle elements. The upholstery around the pool and in the salon shows almost all variations of blue. The grey wood of the saloon panels serves as a contrast. The interior designers from the Los Angeles office AREA mixed different types of wood throughout the ship. In the bathrooms, they mixed two types of marble. Cohen knows the creative team from his properties. This is the first time they have worked on a yacht.
Full three metres room height
In the lobby in front of the saloon, the spiral staircase proves what can be done with Antartide marble with indirect lighting around the lift. At the very front of the main deck, the AREA crew created the owner's suite in the centre with a full ceiling height of three metres. A candelabra sculpture hangs from the ceiling itself, which is of course a custom-made piece.
Incidentally, the requirement for a huge pool in the open air had consequences: A pool measuring ten by four metres needs space, including around it. So an initial idea that toyed with a total length of 45 metres for the "Seasense" ensured that this was exceeded by half the size.
The lengthened hull construction required for the pool naturally benefits the space on the lower deck, the four brightly coloured cabins for the guests and the garage between the engine room and the aft accommodation. This is where the crew park a limousine tender by Giorgio M. Cassetta, a Roman designer who is currently still working on the extravagant 63-metre Benetti project "Balance".
The Cohens explored the possibilities and offers of the major renowned German and Dutch yacht craftsmen before going into detail, only to end up at an Italian shipyard with a Dutch designer.
Why was Benetti chosen, apart from the fact that the shipyard speaks Italian? South African-born Clo also used the standards and demands she had acquired as a marketing lady for Gucci and Jimmy Choo in London to judge the yachts. Benetti's were always her favourite during the inspection trips through the marinas.
The Cohens will be travelling the Mediterranean in the European summer and then the Caribbean in the winter.
Technical data
- Length over everything:67,00 m
- Width:10,80 m
- Draught (100 %): 3,20 m
- Displacement (100 %):1130 t
- Gross Tons:1175 GT
- Material:Steel, aluminium
- Motor:2 x CAT 3512C HD
- Engine power:2 x 1380 kW
- Speed (max.): 15.5 kn
- Fuel:130.000 l
- Range:5000 nm @ 12kn
- Water:60.000 l
- Generator:1 x CAT C9 200 kW, 1 x CAT C18 282 kW
- Bow thruster:Naiad
- Stabiliser:Naiad
- Tender:Giorgio Cassetta Design
- Construction:Benetti
- Concept:Cor D. Rover
- Exterior:Cor D. Rover
- Interior design:AREA
- Classification:Lloyd's +A1 SSC Yacht Mono g6, LMC
- Shipyard:Benetti, 2017
This article appeared in BOOTE Exclusiv issue 01/2018 and was revised by the editorial team in July 2023.
Also interesting:
- "Go." 77 metre long eye-catcher with extravagant hull colour
- "Solo": Tankoa Yachts creates 72-metre yacht with Italian architect
- 120 metres from Amels: Steel-aluminium hull travels from Romania to the Netherlands
