Thursday, October 31, 2013

Ancona, October 2013 – Boasting an overall length of 80 metres and a beam of 13.50 metres, megayacht “Chopi Chopi” is the largest pleasure vessel ever built by CRN, the Italian shipyard and Ferretti Group brand specialising in the construction and sale of fully-customised displacement megayachts in steel and aluminium, ranging from 40 to 90 metres in length.

M/Y Chopi Chopi, a displacement megayacht entirely built in the Ancona shipyard and one of the largest ever built in Italy, was launched on 12th January 2013 in Ancona with a great ceremony open to all citizens. It is the 129th hull built by CRN, which in 2013 has celebrated its fiftieth anniversary with a historic milestone: this yacht has indeed broken the previous record of 72 metres set by the “Azteca”, which had held the title of CRN’s flagship since its launch in 2010.

Built in steel and aluminium, the yacht develops over five decks (lower deck, main deck, upper deck, Owner’s deck, sun deck) plus a sub lower deck which is used as a technical area. It can comfortably accommodate 12 guests – in six VIP cabins and the Owner’s apartment – and 31 crew members, including 23 sailors and 8 members of the Owner’s personal staff.

The new flagship is the outcome of the integration of different skills and the fruitful cooperation between the CRN Engineering team, in charge of naval architecture, and Studio Zuccon International Project, the design firm that developed the vessel’s exterior lines and interior layout. Upon specific request by the Owner, the interior concept and all furniture and furnishings have been designed by interior designer Laura Sessa. The vessel was sold also thanks to the precious support of Alain Maraoui – Head of Ferretti Group’s dealer Sea Pros.

Conceived as a family house, the Chopi Chopi epitomises and develops further the distinctive features, innovative character and soul of CRN yachts, and stands out for its immense spaciousness, a light, airy environment, streamlined and yet soft lines, a painstaking care for details and onboard wellbeing, light effects and, last but not least, a direct visual contact with the sea.

The final result is a perfect balance of classic and contemporary style, elegance and refinement, with the unmistakable, original touch added by the use of various precious materials (wood, marble, leather, metal) and the selection of extraordinary colour shades, ranging from the pastel colours of the exterior (the hull eggshell, the brown of some furniture and fabrics) all the way to the bright, cheerful colours found indoor, harmoniously enhanced by natural light and artificial lighting solutions. Taking into consideration Chopi Chopi’s considerable size – this yacht has an indoor floor area of 1,000 sq. m and an outdoor area of 800 sq. m – interior designer Laura Sessa chose to design the yacht’s interiors so as to ensure the utmost comfort and functionality not only for the Owner, but also for the crew.

Like all other CRN vessels, the new flagship is the maximum expression of all the Shipyard's main strengths, offering the Owner new ways of enjoying the sea to the fullest: balconies, open terraces in the guest cabins, the beach club (a stern hatch that turns into a large platform by the water), and extensive glazing. Moreover, solutions that were so far unprecedented in the CRN fleet have been applied on the Chopi Chopi to meet the Owner’s and the Captain’s specific needs, such as a cutting-edge circular pilot house and an entirely dedicated deck for the Owner, between the upper deck and the sun deck.

The great care devoted to ensuring that all guests are welcomed to unprecedented comfort and luxury can immediately be perceived when stepping onboard. When the yacht is at anchor at sea, guests arriving on a tender can use the special access way on the lower deck that opens directly into the sea and, from there, reach the foyer, with a circular lobby and the circular lift connecting all decks. Similarly, the staff can get onboard through a second hatch, perfectly symmetrical to the first.

The main access to the Chopi Chopi is from the very large cockpit on the main deck, which welcomes guests as they board the yacht from the quay and is arranged as a wide living room, almost an extension of the indoor salon. In this area – just like everywhere else outdoor, except on the sun deck – the main shades are white and the chocolate brown of the scratched oak furniture, the two armchairs and the three large built-in sofas by Glyn Peter Machin. Indoor, the main deck is entirely devoted to guests and features a day area and a night area, ideally divided by the central lobby. Leaving the cockpit behind, a glazed door leads into the main salon - a pleasant, incredibly bright and spacious room furnished with four small armchairs by designer Eero Saarinen and four custom-made sofas symmetrically arranged along the longitudinal axis. The wide side glazing lets through plenty of natural light, while the four sculpture-lamps designed by Hervé Van der Straeten add an artistic touch to artificial lighting. The 103" Panasonic plasma TV is pre-set for 3D vision.

In the central part of the yacht is a large, modern-style circular lobby in pickled oak wood which connects all decks thanks to a spacious glass lift and a stylish, imposing spiral staircase fitted with LED zenith lights and a backlit ergonomic handrail. The night area is located towards the bow and includes six double or twin ensuite VIP cabins plus a business room that, if necessary, can be converted into an additional guest cabin. This area is characterised by a careful colour selection, whereby every guest cabin comes in a specific shade. All cabins have dark stained maple and natural maple furniture, while all bathrooms are lined in Perlatino Europa soft cream-colour marble. Décor details include lamps and appliqués by Hervé Van der Straeten, curtains by Loro Piana and Pierre Frey, and door handles by Les Verreries de Brehat, and have all been chosen in the same colour shades as the individual cabins.

The business room – with black shade furnishings and details – and the first VIP cabin – with warm brown and chocolate brown shades – mirror each other and are fitted with a collapsible terrace overlooking the sea that ensures a constant visual contact with the surrounding landscape and can be furnished with a table and chairs when the yacht is at anchor. The second and third VIP cabins, with separable beds, are found further, towards the bow, and come in lilac and in the neutral shades of hemp and white, respectively. The fourth and fifth double VIP cabins are brightened by cheerful electric-blue and orange, the latter delicately finishing some details and cushions. The sixth VIP cabin is located at the extreme bow: its full-beam arrangement and distinctive balcony with small armchairs and a coffee-table, which can be used even when cruising, result in a size and features that are normally found only in the master cabins of 43-metre CRN Navetta 43 crafts. The dark stained maple wood perfectly matches with the white colour and the silver décor details, while parquet, in the same colour shade, replaces the Tai Ping fitted carpet installed in the other VIP cabins.

“Wellbeing” - for both the Owners and their guests - is the key-word on the lower deck, where the extreme aft area is entirely devoted to wellness and fitness. One of the most distinctive innovations, largely appreciated by the Owners of all CRN steel and aluminium vessels, can be found in this area: the beach club. The hydraulically-operated stern hatch opens up to be converted into a large (over 70 square metres) beach by the water, fitted with tables, loungers, and a shower. The pursuit of the utmost wellbeing continues indoor, where a small gym and a spa with sauna and massage room can be found. In the gym area, fitted with Kinesis and an elliptical trainer (all by Technogym), the mirror walls and an original floor in threaded teak and polished steel “magnify” the limited space available, also ensuring great brightness. The spa features a Finnish sauna, a Turkish bath and a shower, all clad in carved alabaster marble, while the outer areas are in scratched Oregon Fir with lacquered finishes. Oregon Fir is also the wood chosen for the massage room floor, where it alternates with lacquered white staves.

Two garages host a Dariel Limo 9.50-metre tender for guests and a 7-metre Dariel Ribo, besides several water toys. As an alternative to the two tenders above, an 8.50-metre Riva Iseo is available for guests. Two more tenders are stored in the forward technical area: a 21-foot Super Air Nautique sky boat and a 4.2-metre Solas Narwhal rescue boat.

Beyond the large engine room, which develops over two decks, the circular lobby divides the aft part of the vessel from the forward one, entirely devoted to the crew and featuring eleven crew cabins and two staff cabins (a double and a twin one), all ensuite. A crew mess and a wide crew lounge are also available for the crew. The lower deck also hosts the spacious industrial galley, fitted with state-of-the-art equipment and appliances.

The sub-lower deck consists of technical rooms, including storage areas, the laundry, and cold stores. Food storage areas include two stores for liquids, each having a 6,000-litre capacity and fitting up to 1,200 bottles, and a 30,000 litre-capacity storeroom for dry food. Continuing towards the bow, the laundry is equipped with five washing machines (including a 10 kg industrial one) and as many tumble driers, plus a Mangano professional ironing machine. A dry room is also present for the first time, allowing for the safe and natural drying of delicate garments thanks to a thermostat that keeps room temperature constantly at 30 degrees Celsius.

Common areas devoted to social life onboard can be found on the upper deck. At the stern, a large cockpit furnished with comfortable armchairs and a coffee table in scratched oak wood by Glyn Peter Machin ensures the utmost relaxation for all guests, while appetisers and pleasant outdoor meals can be organised thanks to two round tables (which can be converted into one large oval table) sitting up to twenty people. The interiors – all in dark stained maple wood except for the lobby which is in pickled oak - feature a second aft salon, conceived as a family salon, furnished with a 103" plasma TV and large sofas and tables where guests can play cards and that can also be used for quick snacks. The large side glazing is really impressive and ensures incredible brightness and a breathtaking view on the sea.

Further, towards the bow, access can be gained to the dining room through large sliding doors that disappear into the walls leading to an original bar area that stands out for both its unusual position and the cheerful Hermes orange and coral shades of décor elements, reminding of the sea. The balcony, with a backlit onyx stone lining, is also very innovative. The dining area, flooded by natural light thanks to the side glazing, is furnished with two large round tables that, if necessary, can be joined together to obtain one single table sitting twenty-four people. Above it, lighting is ensured by a custom-made sculpture-ceiling light. This room is also characterised by built-in storage compartments, obtained in the panels of the two free walls and conceived to efficiently and discreetly store everything required for meals. In this case too, cutlery, glasses, plates as well as linen (table cloths, serviettes, placemats…) have been specially designed and customised to the Owner’s taste by the interior designer. The dining area also features a Magic-Mirror TV, concealed by a precious cloth. A pantry can be found on the left side of the yacht, mirroring the bar.

Walking past the dining room, the corridor - onto which the radio room and the captain cabin open - leads to the pilot house, which stands out for its original military-style circular shape granting the captain and the crew an almost 270° view on the sea and is an absolute innovation in the shipyard’s fleet. With its 80 sq. m area, the Chopi Chopi’s pilot house is truly unique and innovative, and features fully-integrated systems thanks to an I-Chart touch screen table specifically designed by Team Italia with CRN’s support. This is a highly sophisticated, state-of-the-art integrated pilot station equipped with a 42" touch screen display - an interactive system making this display a true professional tablet - that allows to access all navigation instruments and onboard equipment, besides ensuring an efficient Internet connection. This system also manages all integrated systems and functions - such as the radar, chart-plotter, monitoring functions, VHC, engine data conning - through a touch screen menu, a complex and yet user-friendly technology allowing one single person to effectively manage the whole yacht. This exclusive device is not only a brand-new application for CRN, but also an absolute world premiere. It can be constantly updated, also remotely, and fully customised by the Owner together with the captain.

At the extreme bow, outside, is a mooring area including a 4.2-metre rescue boat and a 6-metre tender which join the two tenders stored in the lower-deck garage, resulting in a total number of four available service crafts.

Chopi Chopi is not only the most magnificent vessel ever produced by CRN, a jewel of technology and design, but, first and foremost, a megayacht that strikes for the innovations it features onboard. The most glaring one is the Owner’s deck, located above the upper deck and entirely devoted to the Owners: a private deck - almost a vessel within the vessel – totalling a floor area of 190 square metres and allowing to enjoy cruising in the utmost privacy. A large outdoor cockpit is located aft. It is furnished with small armchairs and a large built-in sofa, all by Glyn Peter Machin, and sheltered by an awning that protects it from the sun. If needed, part of this area can be converted into a helipad. This deck can be accessed by the Owners and their relatives only, via the lift connecting the lobbies on the various decks or from the helipad.

Inside, to port, is a small ensuite double cabin (in addition to the master stateroom), while to starboard are – moving from stern to bow – a TV room and a beauty salon. The latter, conceived upon request by the Owner, is equipped with everything needed for hair styling, including a professional shampoo basin.

The master stateroom is in a classical location, at the extreme bow, offering a panoramic view on the sea. It opens onto an external deck fitted with a large Jacuzzi, sun pads, sun loungers, and a table to enjoy pleasant, intimate breakfasts. Everything is by Glyn Peter Machin. The master suite is accessed from a corridor with backlit side panels featuring a collection of family photos and portraits. On the port side of the corridor is the spacious master bathroom in Perlatino Europa cream-colour marble, fitted with two washbasins with mirrors that conceal two portholes, as well as a large shower box and a bathtub. On the right-hand side is the walk-in wardrobe, divided into the 'his' and 'hers' sections: in this area too, designer Laura Sessa has devoted special care to space division, optimising individual furnishings to make them suitable for both garments and accessories. Just like the guest cabins, the C-shaped master suite too is characterised by an ad-hoc colour shade selection: pickled oak wood harmoniously matches with the bright and yet soft shade of white, further enhanced by the indigo details of the curtains and cushions. Interior décor is made even more precious by the sculpture-night lamps by Hervé Van der Straeten and the white modular braided leather headboard by Foglizzo.

The sun deck, which can only be reached using the lift, is a true ‘oasis’ for perfect relaxation in the open air. This 90 square-metre area hosts, aft, a dining area with a table sitting twelve people, a barbecue, and the bar unit with alabaster marble top and, forward, a sunbathing area with Jacuzzi and large sun pads. Unlike other outdoor areas found onboard, the sun deck is characterised by light, white and beige, colour shades.

The home automation (curtains, light and air conditioning) audio/video entertainment system, developed by CRN in cooperation with Videoworks, applies cutting-edge technologies and can be easily managed through the iPadMini devices found in all VIP cabins and in the master stateroom, which also feature an innovative staff calling system called MyConcierge: the tablets allow to directly interact with the crew members and access a wide range of services and functions, resulting in an exclusive round-the-clock butler service. Moreover, the upper deck cockpit is equipped with two LED TVs resistant to the elements (water, salty mist and the elements); a third equivalent LED TV is installed in the beach club.

The megayacht is powered by two 3516B-C Caterpillar engines pushing it to a cruising speed of 15 knots and a maximum speed of 16 knots. The cruising range at a speed of 12 knots is 6,000 nautical miles.


Technical details
CRN Project Manager: Ferdinando Pilli
M/Y CRN 129 Surveyor: Richard Hodgson – Mega Yacht Solutions Ltd.
Naval Architects: CRN Engineering dept.
Exterior design: Zuccon International Project
Interior design: Laura Sessa