Benetti announces largest on spec superyacht project to date

Italian shipyard Benetti has announced that it will build the 85-metre Project Life – its largest-ever engineering-platform-based yacht – on speculation. Construction is expected to begin in September 2025, with delivery scheduled for 2030.

"Project Life is the most phenomenal project Burgess has been involved in for many, many years now," said Peter Brown, senior partner and sales broker, at an exclusive press unveiling. "Benetti approached us a couple of years ago with the idea of building a yacht on speculation with as much mass-market appeal as you can get in the rarefied market that we work in. I think it's only a matter of time before our owner steps up."

Project Life was first unveiled as a concept at the Monaco Yacht Show 2023, with the project re-introduced to the market at this year's Palm Beach International Boat Show. The choice to present the project at Palm Beach ahead of the announcement is indicative of the show's growing prominence in the yachting calendar, as Azimut-Benetti Americas president Federico Ferrante explained: "The Americas is a key strategic market for Benetti. This region continues to show strong admiration for our yachts."

Project Life has Francois Zuretti and Espen Øino collaborating on the interiors and exteriors, respectively, marking the first collaboration between Benetti and the Norwegian designer. The superyacht has been conceived with al fresco living at its core and, true to its name, has been designed to satisfy the way that clients really live on board. "We are spending almost all of our waking time [outside] on deck," explained Øino. "Not all yachts realise that vision. As boats get bigger, it becomes harder because you're getting further from the water.

The most distinctive feature is the 270-square-metre beach area, which has fold-out bulwarks and a spacious swim platform that connects guests directly to the sea. An on-water enclave, the beach club itself is illuminated from above by sunlight streaming through a glass-bottomed swimming pool on the main deck.

Accommodation is across seven cabins, including an owner's area that features a private skylounge, 98-square-metre suite and a flexible third room that can be configured as a private office or a "space dedicated to the owner's passions". 

On the interior, Zuretti has chosen to optimise natural light throughout and used curved lines where possible to keep the interior feeling organic and natural. "We tried to soften the boundaries between the interior and exterior – or make them disappear completely," explained Sebastien Gey, CEO of Zuretti Design. "[We wanted] to have this mood of being inside a cocoon."

Other key areas include the bridge deck aft, envisioned as an open-air dining space with a live cooking setup, and the upper foredeck with its helipad, Jacuzzi and plush lounging areas.

The yacht will also be fitted with an optimised hull, diesel-electric propulsion with HVO capacities and integrated hybrid solar panels that collect both solar and thermal energy to power the tenders, toys and appliances.

According to BOATPro, Benetti has an impressive 58 superyacht projects on order or actively under construction. The Italian yard recently celebrated the delivery of the 44.1-metre Juno's 7, the first model in its new "Class" range.