Tuesday, September 1, 2009

A metaphorical journey through the relish of the east, crossing through the silks of Venetian glories and docking in the depths of the Coral Sea among madrepores and shells, sea creatures and colourful corals. Like one of the vessels of the old British Navy which sails the seas towards the east in discovery of the still unknown world, full of grandeur, the most recent 60m long "Blue Eyes" model from the CRN shipyard, follows routes full of memories of the love for the ancient Mandarin China and the various expressions of the sea.
The elongated and racy profile and the imposing blue hull strongly mark the personality of Blue Eyes, hull no. 126 of the shipyard of Ancona, whose externals are signed by Studio Zuccon International Project and internals by the architect Fabrizio Smania.
"Blue Eyes" is primarily an expression of the Owner's wife personality that has actively participated in the creation of every single detail of this ship, from the design of the name which she created herself to the choice of its decor to the tiniest details, for example, the curtain tiebacks, each one different from the other and carefully studied and handmade with evocative themes of ancient China and the sea.
As soon as one gets on board, the theme of the journey becomes clear: an original work of art designed by the shipowner and purposely created as an alternative to the usual conversation area at the centre of the aft cockpit. The globe is incised in glass, illuminated with Swarovski which shines in the sunlight, as though indicating the route between different times and cultures which will be experienced by the guests on board this modern vessel, designed as an apartment with an international taste where modern style easily fuses with antiques from the east and colonial touches, the past experiences of its Owners as well as the modern art which adorns its walls.
The journey begins. "Blue Eyes" is certainly a boat "with a difference": abaft, on the main deck, where the guest area is commonly situated, one is immediately embraced by a huge semicircular library at the centre of which stands an imposing white grand piano which strongly contrasts the dark polished mahogany walls (a characteristic of all the woodwork all over the boat). The floors are made of warm parquet covered with ancient rugs. It is a welcoming home, an intimate and serene place, the refuge of treasured memories that the owner does not want to leave on board. A central sliding door leads to the main hall with comfortable custom-made oriental sofas made from blue-dyed white Venetian silk matching the carpet and the silk curtains. The lamps depict symbolic figures of the Dragons of China.
On either side stands a unit exhibiting a rich collection of stone spheres: symbols of good omen and whose circular designs are reproduced in the various circular shapes all over the boat holding a primary role in various environments just like gemmology and Chinese symbolism.
Two doors with a central gold leaf logo obelisk separate the main hall from the dining area which holds up to 12 guests. In this area the classic polished mahogany is muffled by the extensive use of Perspex for the table and the chairs: being transparent, Perspex enhances the light and "exposes the soul". A Picasso painting adorn the walls of this area.
The leitmotif of the entire boat is a marine chain which is also taken up as a romantic decoration on the perimeters of furniture as well as in the engravings of the table and the marble in the foyer which leads to the bow. Madrepores and corals enliven this intermediate space with engravings on marble and glass doors leading to the four decks of the boat.

A luxurious and personal owner's cabin is preceded by a private English-style office where an old Chinese table with inlays and carvings has the function of a desk. The ceiling features an ancient map of the winds. The owner's suite is also in shades of white and blue exploring the depths of the abyss with the shape of the wall lamps and the textiles with marine knots prints and a white Tai Ping soft carpet with prints from ancient rugs.
The open terrace overlooking the sea, a very private area designed for moments of relaxation with absolute privacy, has become a distinctive mark of the CRN brand.
The area reserved for the owner comes with a full beam spacious bathroom with a large Jacuzzi and a separate shower cubicle.
Finally, a very modern and professional galley for haute cuisine is situated on the main deck itself.
The lower deck has a more classic old English navy style: a journey to distant times evoked by the ancient maps which adorn the mahogany walls. The guest cabins are in shades of gold and white with twin beds and marble bathrooms featuring symbols of the ancient East. Symbols of prosperity and good luck are also present in the bathrooms of the two VIP cabins with double beds which pick up the same main prints on the navy blue bedspreads.
The bow of this deck has 6 double cabins and a crew mess that can host 14 members and has an adjacent laundry area. A big door connects the crew mess directly to the embarkation of the galley.
A play of evocative patterns and symbols, a treasure of an ancient and distant culture, appear in all areas. The sky lounge of the upper deck recounts these details in an ancient and precious Chinese rug. The spacious hall on the upper deck, conceived as a covered extension of the external cockpit, features the cheerful and colourful theme of the Coral Sea, animated by coral reefs and very rare corals that adorn the area and are picked up again in the decor of the lamps and the curtains embellished by matching hand-made tiebacks. Behind this spacious conversation area, with its Venetian silk sofas embellished by the crystals of the cushions, is an original playing area with marble tables designed by the owner featuring the 4 symbols of the playing cards.
Outside is a dining table for 12 with delicate inlays of marine figures and two sitting areas with typical blue and white sea coloured cushions.
In the middle of this deck there is a Vip guest cabin with a double bed, with white and blue shades and a big silk bedstead whose designs are also reproduced in the fringes of the bedspread.
To go towards the bow one crosses the magnificent foyer with its ancient Chinese works of arts and matching sofas reaching the ultramodern wheelhouse with an adjacent radio room and the captain's cabin.
An original spacious sunbathing area welcomes visitors on the bow in front of the wheelhouse, allowing them to enjoy the view while cruising. On the edge of the bow, which is usually used for water toys, there is an armchair requested by the ship owner, a legacy of sailing experience, almost an appendage stretched out over the water facing the destination.
A large sunbathing area with sun beds and couches welcomes guests on the sun deck and can easily be turned into a helipad for touch-and-go 3000 kg helicopters. A dining table for 12 provides pleasant moments in the shade of a Bimini bar. Forward there is a Jacuzzi with a sunbathing area. From the lobby on the same deck, covered with marble and embellished with shell compositions preserved in precious reliquaries, one can access the wellness area and its Technogym - equipped gym and adjacent slate Turkish baths. The wellness area also has an external shower, made of slate, situated on the left side of the boat.
Open spaces and outdoor living areas are given special attention by CRN who was the first to introduce the concept of a terrace overlooking the sea which finds its best expression on the "Blue Eyes": with its folding door it can be transformed into a wonderful beach club of 60 m², with sofas, deck chairs and leisure areas that enliven the area, a friendly space par excellence.
At the back is a garage that accommodates two 7.5m tenders DARIEL with a lateral opening and an engine room with an adjacent control room. "Blue Eyes" is powered by 2 Caterpillar 3512B engines that can reach a cruising speed of 14 knots and a maximum of 15. The vessel is classified in the top class Lloyd's Register of Shipping and complies with the applicable MCA regulations: