BEYOND the EXPECTED

THE BENETTI B.YOND SERIES OFFERS LONG-DISTANCE CRUISERS AND CREW-THINGS THEY CAN'T FIND IN OTHER SMALL SUPERYACHTS.

- DIANE M. BYRNE

SPACE IS USUALLY the reason that owners step up to a larger S superyacht-say, a length overall of 197 feet or more. On those yachts, there are easily enough staterooms to accommodate up to 10 family members and friends; there are several lounging areas inside and out, spread across a few decks; and there is enough room for a party or for privacy. Getting all this in a yacht of less than 500 gross tons, which typically caps around 164 feet long, is just not possible.

Or is it?

Paolo Vitelli, president of the Azimut-Benetti Group, was convinced there's a way. Not only that, but he believed yachtsmen would like a semi-custom series with a steel hull, long-range, volume rivaling much bigger boats, and four decks. He was thinking in ways yachtsmen hadn't seen: Steel alone is a radical departure from the norm in this size range. Four decks are unheard of too.

He was right. The 121foot Benetti B.Yond 37M landed about a dozen contracts before Hull No. 1, Goga, appeared at international yacht shows in 2022. As of January, the next available delivery date is in 2027.