Cantieri di Pisa has always set its sights above and beyond. In the 1970s, the shipyard etched its yacht-building legacy with the Akhir series, a range inspired by celestial constellations. Today, the yard is rekindling its theme of astrology, unveiling a new fleet that pays homage to its historical models, and introducing the first of its new line of steel, aluminium and composite yachts, aptly named after a sailor's true north: the Polaris 48.
New leadership, new vision
The revival of the lines comes hot on the heels of the brand's restructured leadership in 2021, when Enrico Gennasio, CEO of Alfagomma, acquired the shipyard, teaming up with the CEO of Cantieri di Pisa, another passionate yachting individual, Marco Massabò. Their vision? To return the yard to its former heyday with the launch of 10 innovative models across multiple categories, signalling a new era for the shipyard.
Expanding horizons
To realise such ambition and fuel the launch of new models, the shipyard is well on its way to an impressive transformation, which began in spring this year. Throughout the multi-year expansion plan, €6 million has already been invested in significantly expanding and modernising the facilities. These facilities, which will exceed 50,000 square metres, are located in the Pisa region on the banks of the Navicelli Canal, an important historical channel strategically connecting Pisa with the yachting hub of Livorno, stretching north to La Spezia.
Keeping the historical integrity of the offices in the main shed, these remain on the same site while expanding upwards by 20 metres. Adjacent to this, a newly raised 20-metre-high shed is joined by a state-of-the-art structure, boasting a 20-metre height and 14-metre width, designed to accommodate the movement of yachts between.
The expansions also include 17,500 square metres dedicated to production and administration spaces, ensuring efficiency at every build stage. A fully equipped 600-metre dock will also be ready to launch the models. Complementing this are a robust 300-tonne travel lift, a 20-tonne service crane and a 300-tonne capacity boat trailer, highlighting the shipyard's readiness to handle yachts of large scales. Alongside the new build capability, the shipyard will also host 24,000 square metres of space for refitting projects.
Reviving a legacy
With these new facilities nearing completion, the brand isn't just expanding its physical footprint but also extending the possibilities of yacht building as it begins rolling out the new series. These models’ designs will focus on weight optimisation and more environmentally conscious hulls while drawing inspiration from the shipyard’s golden age of yachts.
The creative driving force behind the 48-metre exterior lines is the yard's newly appointed chief designer, Antonio Luxardo, alongside Optima Design, who coordinates the engineering capabilities. A veteran yacht designer, Luxardo has over 400 projects under his belt. His design for the Polaris 48 is a testament to his ability to honour tradition while pushing the boundaries, merging the refined lines of Cantieri di Pisa's past with today's technological advancements.
Exploring versatile design
At its core, the Polaris 48 exemplifies versatility. The yacht promises the range of an explorer, coupled with exterior spaces that adapt to any occasion and interiors that reflect sophistication. The result is a yacht that is overflowing with multifunctional spaces and amenities.
The spacious open deck areas offer versatile liveability. The upper deck has a vast social entertaining space, while the main deck has 200 square metres of living space, combining the interior and exterior. One standout feature is the beach club that opens on all sides. When the space isn't being used for relaxation, it can accommodate up to three tenders, with an optional Jacuzzi. For accommodation, the master and VIP cabins are found on the main deck, with a further four guest cabins on the lower deck.
The interior design of this first unit is courtesy of Parisotto + Formenton. As a tribute to the former historic Akhir line, the interiors of this model follow the same suit, including pickled teak, carbon fibre, bronze, glass and brass, resulting in light and warming palettes.
When it comes to performance and improving efficiency, Cantieri di Pisa has included its branded Eco High Power Hull (EHPH) design as a displacement hull to lower fuel consumption, maximise range and contribute to better eco-conscious credentials.
Brighter futures
The Polaris 48 will be followed by a custom 37.5-metre explorer, which has recently been sold to a French owner and is slated for delivery by summer 2026. "We’re very pleased with how quickly we’ve concluded this important sale thanks to the collaboration of all the parties involved and, above all, our sales division and engineering department," says Marco Massabò, CEO of Cantieri di Pisa. This milestone marks the first yacht over 30 metres sold since Gennasio's acquisition, setting the stage for future developments. Plans are also underway for a larger model, the Super Polaris 60, and designs for the new Saturno and Akhir lines.
With its enhanced shipyard facilities and forward-thinking design philosophy, which culminates in iconic designs and embraces new technology, Cantieri di Pisa's stellar ambitions are coming to fruition, brightening the future of yacht building one model at a time.
For more information on the latest Polaris series, contact the team at Cantieri di Pisa today.
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