Custom creation
When Ferretti Group CEO Alberto Galassi was selecting his next yacht, the new Custom Line Navetta 38 was the natural choice – Ocean steps aboard to admire its art collection and speak with Galassi about what it is that makes it so special.
Written by Julia Zaltzman
Photography by Ferretti Group
04 February 2025
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Ferretti Group CEO Alberto Galassi is a self-confessed contemporary art addict. “I like artists like Mimmo Palladino and Fernando Botero. All my yachts have art on board; it’s my passion,” he says, flashing me his warm, signature smile.
We’re sitting in the main saloon aboard Telli, the first in Custom Line’s Navetta 38 series, which Galassi took delivery of in May. Named after his wife Antonella, the boat showcases her flair for interior design.
“She has good taste,” he says. “I mean, there are five shades of brown and beige in the throw pillows, but otherwise, this is a boat with no colour, only white and grey. All the colour comes from the artwork.”
On the morning of my tour while the yacht is in Venice, Galassi and Flexjet Chairman Kenn Ricci are on board to seal a new partnership. It’s another master stroke in Galassi’s plan to cater to Ferretti’s clientele, which he refers to as the most exclusive member’s club.
“We spoil our clients as much as possible, so if they want to come and see their yacht under construction, they can do so now with Flexjet.
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“We’re selling lifestyle, experience, privacy and freedom – we’re not selling boats,” he says. It’s a formula that seems to work.
The company sold three units of the Navetta 38 in one weekend and another three before the first presentation. “We’re now sold out until 2027,” confirms Galassi. The yacht clearly has international appeal, purchased to date by owners from South America, the Middle East and Europe. Two of the hulls will have the same interior as Galassi’s, while the other three will be entirely different.
More contemporary with less wood, Galassi explains, “They can play with the finishing, the trimming and the soft decor as much as they want, but of the six sold to date, three will look like mine.”
The yacht’s understated colour scheme is enhanced with the use of natural, unfinished materials, such as teak, oak and leather. Other more tactile choices like raffia, linen and parchment also play a key role, including ivory wallpaper by Philip Jeffries.
One of the most distinctive features of the design that runs throughout the guest areas and suites is the three-dimensional oak ceiling. It has a hollowed-out, ribbed structure that echoes the oak and teak floors, the pencil-strip window mullions and the rounded oak doors. Even the yacht’s Bang & Olufsen sound system is integrated into the design with a grilled front that matches the ceiling grooves.
The Navetta 38 marks a huge leap forward from the Navetta 37 that launched in 2016. Milanese firm ACPV Architects penned the interiors, with input from Custom Line Atelier, and Italian architect Filippo Salvetti shaped the exterior in partnership with the Ferretti Group’s engineering department. The 38.76-metre semi-displacement superyacht with a white superstructure and grey hull has a generous 299-gross-tonnage interior volume; 10 gross tonnage more than the Navetta 37.
The layout is customisable, with different configurations available and nearly 465 square metres of surface area to play with. On the main deck, the open-plan saloon and dining room has sliding doors that open on each side. It’s just one example of how glass has been used across the entire yacht to create airy, light-filled guest areas.
“It gives the feel of alfresco dining and a continuity between the interior and exterior,” Galassi says. “Most people prefer a sea breeze over air conditioning,” he continues. “They don’t want to feel sealed in.”
Custom-made freestanding furniture includes an L-shaped Maxalto by B&B Italia sofa and leather pouf designed by Antonio Citterio. A lofty 2-metre-high ceiling and an oak parquet floor complete the look.
Forward of the main saloon is the 40-square-metre master with an elegant dressing room and a king bed with a leather-weave headboard. Covered in neutral Frette bedding, the bed faces forward, allowing for a forward-facing ensuite.
Centrally connected by a large steam shower, the ensuite is decked out in pale Pietra d’Orcia stone, Galassi’s personal choice. The bedroom walls are finished in leather and raffia, with views out either side. A further four guest cabins, also with leather and raffia walls, are on the lower deck, for a total of 12 guests, including the master.
Stitched leather wall panelling and an oak staircase with a stitched leather handrail connect the three interior decks. Floor-to-ceiling windows in the skylounge fully open on three sides to further enhance the continuity between interior and exterior.
Close attention has been paid throughout the boat to keep crew service discreet and running smoothly without impacting the guest experience. One of the most successful examples of this is a sliding mirror door in the skylounge that leads to a pantry area, which can also be accessed from the other decks via a stairway reserved exclusively for the crew. There’s also emergency crew access to the technical space in the master suite, though it’s so well hidden it’s barely perceptible.
Galassi’s focus also fell on the use of indirect lighting. “We invested a lot of time and effort into getting the lighting scheme right to ensure guests can dine in a well-lit space without having a spotlight glaring in their face. At night, the result is incredible.”
Sumptuous outdoor lounges adorn the exterior decks, including a sunset lounge at the bow with sofas and sunpads, as well as outdoor dining aft for all 12 on board.
A forward garage can accommodate a 2.85-metre Williams tender or jetski, and a second main garage astern holds a 5.65-metre Williams diesel jet tender and water toys. The stern platform lowers for easy tender launch and convenient access for guests who want to take a plunge in the sea.
The full-beam beach club with fold-out side terraces at the stern is a versatile space with a large sea-facing sofa. Of course, it’s the inviting sundeck split into four virtual outdoor areas that meets Galassi’s need to be in the elements. It features a sophisticated teak-clad spa pool aft with sunlounges, large sofas, barbecue area and central bar. Glass balustrades with teak capping rails add a chic touch.
The Navetta 38’s design more than catches the eye, yet Galassi says it’s the onboard technology that sets it apart from others in her class.
“We’re a step ahead of everyone else,” he says, noting the yacht’s cutting-edge anti-vibration and soundproofing, as well as its Naiad and Seakeeper stabilisation systems. He also highlights the large high-tech helm, which is clad in a scratch-proof material called Fenix and has glazing that reduces infrared rays by up to 65 percent. It means one central helm, with an advanced interface developed with Team Italia.
Powered by twin MAN V12 engines that churn out 1,400 horsepower, the yacht has a top speed of 15 knots and a range of around 2,800 nautical miles at a cruising speed of 10 knots. Galassi’s model isn’t fitted with Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR), but it is built ready for installation, and owners who install the system will see a 70 percent reduction in NOx emissions.
Custom Line is set to debut a new range in summer 2026 and a new 50-metre is scheduled to be unveiled at the Monaco Yacht Show in September. Who will claim the first hull of that line, however, remains to be seen.
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