Italian shipyard Cantiere delle Marche has taken the opportunity of the Cannes Yachting Festival to unveil a new 31.1-metre explorer series known as RAW (Recreational All-Weather Watercraft). The first unit has already been sold, with plans to diversify into a full range.
The new model has an exterior by Giorgio M. Cassetta, characterised by geometric lines and a bright orange overhang and bootstripe. Key numbers include a seven-metre beam and a range of 4,500 nautical miles at 10 knots, with RAW billed as a "powerful, honest, direct explorer" by the yard.
"My team and I have noticed a growing trend toward more informal, discovery-oriented yachting," explained Cassetta. "RAW was an opportunity to create a rugged explorer with exceptional content for its size. We wanted [the model] to convey that powerful, commanding look an explorer needs while also being fun and playful."
RAW has several functional features befitting its explorer DNA, including drone and helicopter landing capability, storage for up to two five-metre tenders in the bow and the placement of the ventilation trunks outside to preserve indoor space.
Interior renderings are undisclosed, though accommodation will be across five guest cabins and three crew cabins. The large aft cockpit is envisioned as the main social hub, with floor-to-ceiling glass doors converting the space into a veranda for suitability in all seasons. The aft deck is relatively open plan with the cockpit connected to both the main saloon and the beach area.
Meanwhile, the swim platform is styled as a "panoramic balcony" with a low bulwark and a handrail. This area is accessed by a staircase that can also function as an informal lounging spot with recessed seating or as additional storage space.
The sundeck has two possible configurations: the first is dedicated purely to watertoy storage and drone landing operations, with sofa seating positioned forward. The seconds leans into a more conventional layout with sunloungers aft, a bar, an al fresco dining table and a lounge area.
The model is propelled by twin Caterpillar engines for a maximum speed of 13 knots.
The news follows a string of summer launches and deliveries for Cantiere delle Marche, including the 44.3-metre Mat, the 42.6-metre B2 and the seventh Darwin 86. The shipyard's first Flexplorer 146 model Maverick is currently making her debut at the Cannes Yachting Festival.
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