Photography by Breed Media
13 December 2023
A member of the B.Now family of semi-custom yachts with steel hulls, Alunya is the second B.Now 50M unit with the Oasis Deck®.
Alunya embodies both the solidity of a boat that can withstand all weather conditions and the beauty of a totally relaxed on-board lifestyle in close contact with the water, thanks to the stern beach club with opening side wings that increase the surface area and provide even more space to live in harmony with nature.
Combining safe cruising with a unique on-board experience has always been the mission pursued by Benetti. Doing so with reduced construction times became a practical challenge in 2018, when the Shipyard launched the B.Now family of megayachts with steel hulls.
This line is the result of a collaboration between Benetti and British firm RWD, which designed the sleek, sporty exteriors. The synergy between the two teams has given life to a family of megayachts that meet the needs of today’s owners and guarantee delivery times around 30 percent shorter than the market average thanks to Benetti’s advanced construction technology.
The most eye-catching feature of this family of yachts is the revolutionary Oasis Deck®, the solution developed by Benetti to redesign the beach area, with wings that open out and increase the available space close to the water but sheltered from the waves.
Plus, a built-in pool, a 270-degree field of view astern and from the saloon, a mix of sunlight and shade that enables guests to enjoy the deck at all times of day, and the Social Design of the entire deck as a spacious and convivial oasis.
Alunya is the second model in the B.Now 50M line to introduce the Oasis Deck® solution, which has redefined the traditional stern swim platform by incorporating hydraulic terraces that open out on either side and extend along the entire length of the deck, creating an impressive beach club of over 110 square metres.
With a steel hull, an aluminium alloy superstructure and a gross tonnage under 500 GT, Alunya extends across four decks and has a beam of 9.2 metres.
The exterior styling is by UK design firm RWD and the interiors are by the Shipyard’s Style Department, which worked closely with the owners on the design and layout of the interior spaces, from the furniture to the finishings and right down to the smallest detail.
Alunya’s vertical bow and sleek hull – featuring a profile that brings the yacht’s interior and exterior decks dynamically together with the huge extended windows – are hallmarks of British design studio RWD.
In choosing Alunya, the owner was looking for convivial spaces in which the whole family can enjoy a relaxing on-board lifestyle.
The design of this 50-metre yacht revolves around social interaction, not least in the generous beach club that opens onto the innovative Oasis Deck®, becoming the heart of outdoor life on the yacht.
Just four steps lead up to the highest area of the beach club, which contains a dining table seating six and a storage unit for maximum functionality. The space is closed off by a sliding door that creates continuity between exteriors and interiors, while a staircase on the port side leads to the Upper Deck.
The garage forward on the Main Deck has plenty of space for a jet ski, numerous water toys and a tender up to 5.65 metres in length, which can be launched and hauled up through a hydraulically operated hatch that opens on the starboard side.
The Upper Deck features a sunbathing area with furniture by Paola Lenti and a generous outdoor dining table that’s sheltered on both sides. A sliding veranda door leads to the interior living room, creating a sense of seamless fluidity between the indoor and outdoor spaces.
A lounge sofa forward on the Upper Deck is made to measure for relaxing moments in the open air. Also forward is the second garage, which is open on three sides and contains a rescue tender and an 11-metre chase boat.
A staircase leads from the Upper Deck to the Sun Deck, which has a generous relaxation area aft and, in the centre of the yacht under the hard top, a dining area and an American bar. The sun pad in the bow offers total privacy and spectacular views.
The interiors of Alunya are the result of close collaboration between Benetti’s Interior Design Department and the customer.
The owner came to the shipyard with a very specific request – his yacht should be a living space for the whole family, on which every area is an invitation to conviviality and spending time together in complete relaxation.
As a result, the project developed around a central element: the desire to offer the owner and guests a profound experience that springs from the shared passion for cruising.
Alunya’s design revolves around an aesthetic whose cornerstones are harmony and order, advocating an idea of beauty that is profoundly connected with function. Redundant details and surplus elements have been removed in favour of the functionality and utility of the interior settings, an approach reprised in the exterior design.
The architectural space strives to be efficient and ergonomic; the clarity of the design draws the gaze to essential elements and leaves a deeper and more memorable impression in the observer.
On entering the Main Deck lounge, the fine materials cladding the surfaces and furnishings can’t fail to catch the eye. The choice for the walls is curly maple wood, which has a unique silk-like ivory colour and a naturally wavy grain.
Contrasting with it are ceiling and wall accents made of Ziricote, one of the most highly valued woods of all time and sourced mainly from Brazil and Nicaragua. This rare wood is characterised by a particular dark brown colour and elegant black and gold streaks that give it a unique appearance.
The Main Deck welcomes guests with two facing sofas, one on each side of the yacht, designed by the Benetti Interior Style Department with a razor-sharp focus on details such as the absence of visible seams, a hallmark of the fine craftsmanship lavished on these pieces.
The main lounge is furnished with a series of low tables by Paolo Castelli and armchairs by Minotti and Cassina, which can be positioned anywhere on both the Main and Upper Decks.
The central area of the Main Deck has been entirely restyled to create environments that are closer to the onboard experience sought by the owner: where on previous B.Now 50M units there was the dining area, on board Alunya we find a lounge space with a back-lit Onice Miele marble bar unit and low seating for when it’s time to relax.
Moving further forward on the Main Deck, the galley is on the left and from here the crew can enter their quarters in the bow on the Lower Deck or use a separate route with a private stairway to go to the upper decks.
On the starboard side, preceded by a day head, the full-beam master suite is complete with a study, a generous private bathroom with surfaces clad in Calacatta Borghini marble, and a balcony with an optional outdoor shower. The options include a walk-in closet with a layout tailor-made for the owner. In this area of the Main Deck too, the attention to detail and how the materials are used is undeniable.
The choice of materials and furnishings again reveals the close interaction between the owner and the shipyard, who adopted a choral approach and visited the Tuscan marble district together to choose the best varieties for this project, as well as top showrooms in Milan, the capital of Italian-made design, to select some of the furnishings.
Down on the Lower Deck are the four guest cabins, each with a private bathroom. The finishings and materials used echo those on the Main Deck in an ongoing dialogue between the various settings. A high point is the marble wall console that acts as a self-service bar area for guests. A total of five crew cabins accommodates 10 crew members.
The area reserved for the captain is forward on the Upper Deck, with a spacious wheelhouse containing the helm station and, next to it, the captain’s personal cabin, with a private office opposite that has a pullman bed and can be converted, if needed, into an additional guest cabin.
Walking toward the stern, the lounge is furnished with two side console units facing the large windows, while a table, sofas and armchairs create a relaxing environment for shared moments.
With an innovative and highly efficient hull – designed in partnership with P.L.A.N.A. Design – Eng. Pierluigi Ausonio and the Azimut|Benetti Group Research and Development Department – and two MAN V12 1,400 hp engines paired with two 118 kW Kohler generators, Alunya has a range of 4,500 nautical miles at 10 knots and a top speed of 15 knots. This model is also fitted with a pair of CMC Marine electric fin stabilisers.
Look out for Ocean magazine #112, the March/April issue, which will feature a thorough review of the exquisite B.Now 50M Alunya.