On the Water Making On the Water Making Waves Where the Sea Meets the Sky In collaboration with Rossinavi, designer Lucas Dini has cleverly combined natural elements with the latest technology to create the impossibly chic LEL. By Cornelia Marioglou LEL represents the first successful collaboration between the Dini studio and Rossinavi PHOTOS CXXXXXXXXX 66 CENTURION-MAGAZINE.COM
Natural light pervades every space, complementing Dini’s contemporary interiors, which feature oak, ebony and macassar PHOTOS CXXXXXXXXX PHOTO © ROSSINAVI T he owner’s main request was to emphasise the open spaces to make the most of the air and water,” says Florence-based designer Luca Dini of LEL, an exceptionally attractive 49.7m tri-deck motor yacht that launched in February. It was a challenging brief, focused as it was on making the ship as unobtrusive as possible, but Dini waxes lyrical on the successful result: the yacht is, he says, “like an actual terrace overlooking the sea, un pied dans l’eau, where nature meets technology”. It’s an apt description of the semidisplacement yacht for which Dini’s eponymous firm took charge of both exterior and interior stylings, working in collaboration with the Rossinavi shipyard and naval architect Arrabito. Two years in the building, the former Project FR038 is perhaps most remarkable for its dynamic exterior lines featuring, unusually, grates – an influence from the automotive industry that completes the yacht’s sporty look. The standout feature however – and one that certainly fulfilled the owner’s wishes – is the extensive beach club, which folds out on three sides, affording guests ample space to feel the sea breeze kiss their cheeks as they hover above the water. Further innovations abound through the yacht. For instance, the main deck is different from most yachts of its size in that it features no dining area, with two owner’s cabins taking up the entire space (a further four guest cabins are on the lower deck). Meals are served on the upper deck, where floorto-ceiling sliding doors open to provide an alfresco dining experience. Natural light pervades every space on the yacht, complementing Dini’s contemporary interiors, which feature oak, ebony and macassar as well as sleek bathrooms elegantly finished in onyx. In addition to the chic stylings, LEL also impresses on a technical level. The aluminium hull and superstructure allows for a sub-500 gross tonnage, while the twin MTU 12V4000 M93L diesel engines power her to a top speed of 23 knots – and at a reduced speed of 11 knots she can cruise 4,000 nautical miles. LEL is the 77th superyacht design that Dini’s studio has worked on, having joined forces with the likes of Heesen, Tankoa, the Palumbo Group and, perhaps most intriguingly, on a small yacht with Codecasa. It’s a number soon to grow, as six new constructions are underway. One certainly would never guess it from the beautiful result, but LEL marks the first collaboration between Dini’s team of 40 with Viareggio-based Rossinavi. And it might just be the perfect partnership: the familyrun shipyard has a down-to-earth attitude that eschews the current industry norm for supersizing everything. Instead, the goal of its atelier in Pisa – Officina Meccanica, or simply “magazzino”, as they refer to it – is to create ideas yachts of stylish simplicity and reliability to make dreams possible and create works of ocean-going art. With LEL, the owner’s wishes, Dini’s vision and Rossinavi’s know-how have come together to create a truly remarkable craft.• Technical Specifications LOA: 49.7m Beam: 9.0m Draught: 2.6m Top Speed: 23kn Cruising Speed: 19kn CENTURION-MAGAZINE.COM 67
