The first of her kind, Benetti's project FB701 is a step in a new direction in terms of styling and level of customisation. The exterior of the project is as defined and determined as the owner’s spirit and suited to the particular yachting lifestyle he has come to love from owning up to four Benetti’s over the years. As a prime ambassador of the Italian brand, working closely together with Domani’s owner Benetti has proved that clients can have tomorrow’s levels of comfort and technology, today.
As an experienced yacht owner who enjoys a close relationship with the Benetti shipyard, the owner of Domani has over the years come to appreciate the various classes of yachts on offer by the Italian builder, but was still in search of a yacht that would bear his personal stamp of personality. For his fifth Benetti he did exactly that and the build of Domani ran very similar to that of a full custom project and the experience led the shipyard to turn this into a fully-fledged line of yachts, with hull number two now in construction.
Autonomy on board and the ability to operate around the world under various sets of circumstances was one of the very first design briefs of the project. This had to be achieved by also delivering large relaxation areas that would accommodate an extensive family of all ages in complete safety and comfort. By creating a smart layout that joins interior and exterior spaces in an organic manner, the 45-metre Domani offers her guests social spaces that is comparable to that of a much longer yacht.
With the transom door folded down, guests have a 33 square metre beach club at their disposal that comes with bar area and day head. Directly forward of this is the tender bay from where Domani’s tender and two jet skis are launched through a side-opening hull door for endless hours of fun on the water.
A semi-flush Portuguese deck is used as a 100 square metre outdoor lounge from where guests can enjoy the cooling sea breeze and unspoilt views.
To ensure maximum freedom and a sense of freshness on all aft-facing decks, railings have been kept low and the durable construction allowed for few supporting stations and fashion plates to be used that could possibly ruin the view. These decks have clearly been designed with large gatherings in mind as can be seen in the oversized furnishings and functional layout that provides ample space to move about.
The sundeck sits at the top of all these spaces much like a luxurious and airy villa would at the top of a hillside in Capri. Here guests can escape to a deck that offers everything for a perfect day at anchor, from an outdoor lounge, forward bar and Jacuzzi area as well as a family-sized circular dining table that is sure to deliver a one-of-a-kind experience whether it’s a Mediterranean lunch or formal dinner under the moonlit sky.
The Studio Galeazzi, together with architect Paola Asaro, has designed the yacht’s interiors with the precise intention of creating a boat that reflects the owner’s personality and showcases a ‘Made in Italy’ excellence. The team made use of loose furniture throughout the interior to match the ever-changing and easy-going nature of the yacht and her itinerary.
As midnight approaches, guests can retire to the four cabins on the lower deck while the owners’ full-beam cabin awaits on the main deck above.
Waking up in the morning is a breeze as a self-deploying private balcony will soon become the breakfast spot of choice for the owner and makes the suite feel twice as large when opened.
The main deck is made up of an outdoor area in the stern that acts as entrance lobby and a spacious lounge featuring full-height windows with a seamless 180-degree view.
Domani’s bridge is what captains’ dreams are made of. Controlling those two powerful CAT C32 engines is a modern navigation console by Team Italia. The owner’s love for cruising and all things high-tech is beautifully captured in the design and execution of the bridge panel and will no doubt lead the family to spend more time up here when underway.
