Cantiere delle Marche has announced the launch of a new line of expedition yachts known as the FLEXPLORER series, with the flagship model measuring 40m/131ft in length.
Fantastic beach club
When Cantiere Delle Marche first began operations in 2008 expedition yachts were an exception among luxury yachts, with demand growing within a single decade to take owners and guests farther than ever before. The shipyard has been one of the pioneers within the expedition yacht category and debuted with two very different explorer yacht concepts: The Darwin Class and the Nauta Air series.
Cruising profile of the Flexplorer yacht
The FLEXPLORER series represents an advancement in the application of both technology and design. Her exterior appearance comes courtesy of design by Sergio Cutolo of Hydro Tec, and the near-vertical bow and sturdy profile are designed to endure tough sea conditions while providing guests with excellent stability and comfort within.
The design also ensures that there is plenty of storage for water toys, and a dedicated stainless steel storage space complete with a boards rack will emerge from the deck using an electro-hydraulic system. A carbon fibre 5,000 kg removable crane also assists in the launch of larger toys and tenders.
Aft decks and beach club
While at anchor, the main deck aft can be transformed into an infinity deck by launching the tender and placing the A-frame crane into the deck. The bulwarks lower for uninterrupted views, providing a massive beach club of 115m²/1238ft² for an expedition yacht of this size.
As the FLEXPLORER is designed to accommodate guests over a long duration at sea, the first unit also has a well-equipped gym installed that receives plenty of natural illumination from skylights. There is room for a sky lounge as well as the main salon, and further alfresco living spaces can be found on the upper deck, foredeck and sundeck where a large square Jacuzzi is nestled between two broad sun pads.
The accommodation will sleep up to 10-12 guests across five en-suite staterooms with two Pullman berths, while the crew of five is accommodated over three cabins.
A draft of only 2.6m/8.5ft will allow the FLEXPLORER to navigate through shallow waters powered by a pair of Caterpillar C32 2×746 kW @1600-1800 rpm designed for heavy-duty use. She will be capable of a top speed of 14 knots, a cruising speed of 10 knots and a range of 5,000 nautical miles at an economical 8.5 knots.
The shipyard is currently constructing the first 40m FLEXPLORER for a client called AURELIA, and the delivery date is expected in 2020.
