It’s not every day that a 150-bottle, custom-designed wine cellar commands attention on the main deck of a 125-footer. Or that a staircase wrapping around a sculpture custom-made by an Italian artist, sitting beneath a skylight, is the linchpin for the rest of the yacht’s design and layout. Or that a motorcycle sits in the same yacht’s beach club.
Little about the 125-foot Rosetti Superyachts Emocean is conventional by large-yacht standards. In fact, the unconventional aspects began with the owners signing on the dotted line with the Italian shipyard when it was new to yachting. They carried the project straight through to the yacht crossing the Atlantic on its own bottom this past winter.
Clearly, the owners wouldn’t have undertaken such potential risks if they lacked confidence in the yard or yacht. Arguably, they had more confidence than most custom-yacht buyers because they took a thoroughly hands-on approach that included speaking with subcontractors. These experienced cruisers had a crystal-clear vision for how they wanted to enjoy time aboard and what was needed to achieve their goals.
Likewise, Rosetti Superyachts’ management team was confident that it could deliver. While it only hung out its shingle in late 2017, and Emocean was its first contract, the yard had the backing of nearly 100 years of experience. It’s the yacht division of Rosetti Marino Group—the second-largest commercial shipbuilding conglomerate in Italy—in the northeastern city of Ravenna. The Group engineers and builds vessels for a variety of sectors, including offshore energy, renewable energy and towing.
“The owners of Emocean came to us because of our background in building thoroughly reliable commercial vessels,” says Andrea Giora, the sales and marketing director for Rosetti Superyachts. “This was the first thing they put on their brief.”
Hydro Tec, which introduced the owners to the shipyard, was responsible for Emocean’s naval architecture and exterior styling. “They really knew what they wanted,” Hydro Tec founder Sergio Cutolo says of the owners. Their priorities included spending long periods on board regardless of sea conditions. The idea wasn’t new to them, having had a smaller yacht “which they used quite intensely and updated continuously, even introducing some modifications,” Cutolo says.
Additionally, the owners wanted to push the use of space to the limit, a challenge that Cutolo says Hydro Tec welcomed, given its control of design and engineering. Ultimately, Emocean has 7,535 square feet of space, nearly divided evenly between interior and alfresco areas. The sensation of space is palpable throughout the 432-gross-ton superyacht, including in the galley and crew pantry, which contain nearly 793 gallons of refrigerator and freezer space for long-term provisions.
Even though the owners had distinct ideas, they remained open to suggestions and recommendations. “There was a strong interaction with my team, creating a kind of virtuous circle where all parties felt free to throw on the table new ideas and concepts to incorporate in the design,” Cutolo says.
All parties, including Rosetti Superyachts, suggested outside contractors to execute the overall vision of Emocean. The owners also valued Hydro Tec’s knowledge of the Italian supply chain. “They never imposed their point of view,” Cutolo says, with Giora adding that the owners educated themselves about who was capable of what trades. “They wanted to be able to interact with the builder, to know the suppliers, to speak with them and select the best contractor for each element that was to be installed on board,” he says.
While Emocean might be considered a sporty-chic cruiser because of a few chiseled features and bulwark cutouts, that appearance is really the proverbial sheep’s clothing. Rosetti Superyachts calls it a 38-meter EXP, signifying explorer. Giora readily admits that, “stylistically, this is not your typical explorer yacht,” but he does stand by the abbreviation, adding that Emocean has a reported 5,000-nautical-mile range at 10 knots. Its bulbous bow, extended skeg and voluminous stowage came from a commercial mindset. “So, in terms of the main characteristics of what true explorers are all about, she is definitely an explorer yacht,” he adds.
This won’t be Rosetti Superyachts’ last explorer, either. The shipyard has a few larger designs under consideration. One is the 52-meter EXP, a nearly 171-footer with lattice-type patterns akin to those on leaves flanking Emocean’s elongated aft deck. The 213-foot EXP, meanwhile, is for clients who want to venture from the poles to the tropics. Eventually, Rosetti wishes to take on custom yachts upward of 328 feet.
As for Hydro Tec, it’s working with Rosetti Superyachts as well as other shipyards on exploration-oriented projects. In terms of Emocean being the first yacht his studio designed for these owners, Cutolo says, “I do really hope to design their next yacht too.”
It’s not every day that a naval architect is already thinking about what comes next for recent clients. Then again, ordinary just wouldn’t do for anyone connected to Emocean.
Drawing on History
Rosetti Marino Group, Rosetti Superyachts’ parent and a publicly traded company, dates to 1925. Although its approximately 200 deliveries to date touch a wide range of onshore and offshore sectors, many of the builds venture out in conditions that keep most yachts safely tied to the dock.
Crew Space
The owners closely collaborated with BurdissoCapponi Yachts & Design for the decor, which incorporates light and dark smoked oak. The crew real estate, in addition to having three cabins, includes a dedicated laundry room. The captain’s cabin is finished to the same standard as guest staterooms.
Design Departures
Aboard most superyachts, regardless of length, the main salon is truly the main lounge. However, Emocean’s primary relaxation area is on the upper deck. Yet another design departure at the request of the owners on this level: The tender stows aft, rather than in a dedicated garage.
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