51m superyacht Masquenada completes refit at Lusben
The 51-metre explorer superyacht Masquenada, previously known as Aspire, has completed an extensive, 9-month long refit at the Lusben Shipyard in Livorno, Italy, following her recent sale to Pier Luigi Loro Piana.
Her refit includes an extension to her stern block designed by Nauta Design, as well as the complete renovation of her interior, and a fresh exterior hull paint job. Pier Luigi Loro Piana spoke at the relaunch, stating, “The most important element of this entire project was time. Time is the most essential factor for an owner and I am enormously satisfied with the capacity of the Lusben shipyard which, together with all the collaborators, managed to complete this incredible transformation in just a few months. Now, the project for the immediate future is to embark with my family and sail around the world.” 
In addition to the extension, Lusben removed the deck crane, and installed a new crane below deck in the lazarette, and this has freed up an expansive area on the main deck. The Jacuzzi has been removed from the sun deck, and has been replaced with an outdoor cooking station.
Masquenada was originally built and launched by Penglai in 2006 as the 45-metre Etra, having gained a 6-metre extension during an extensive refit in 2018. During this refit, a new swimming platform was also added. She features an original exterior design and naval architecture by Blue Fin Yachts. 
Her original interior comes from the drawing boards of Italian designer, Andrea Pezzini, and have now been updated by Misa Poggi, and saw a reorganisation of the interior arrangement. In addition, the furnishings have been updated, as have the ceilings and floors.
The explorer yacht is constructed with both a steel hull and superstructure. Performance-wise, Aspire can reach a top speed of 14.4 knots with a cruising speed of 13 knots. She has a range of 4,500 nautical miles and is operated by a crew of nine.
Mario Pedol of Nauta Design commented, “We are particularly proud of this project that we were lucky enough to follow from the beginning, alongside the owner. The profile of Masquenada is now much more sleek and elegant and, in redesigning the stern block, we have managed to improve the contact with the water and the liveability of this area, now transformed into a “pieds dans l’eau.” In addition to the aesthetic and architectural changes, many of her mechanical systems have been updated and refurbished.