TMINVICTVS

William Ernest Henley

Issue 10 - Winter 2015By Invitation Only

I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul

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OWNER’S PERSPECTIVE

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By C

raig

Bar

nett

Having inspired millions around the worldwith his touchingly emotional vocal and

writing talents, the internationallycelebrated tenor and multi-award winningsong-writer Andrea Bocelli is currently

enjoying the freedom of the seas aboard hislatest triumph: MY Libertas. In an exclusive

interview with INVICTUS Mr Bocellidiscusses his cruising ambitions aboardwhat he considers is a perfect score.

With you I will leave

Andrea Bocelli:

Gamma 20

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Con te Partiro–arguablyBocelli's most famousrecording–is inspired bythe sea... much like the artist himself.

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Con te partiròQuando sono solo e sogno all'orizzonte

e mancan le parolesi lo so che non c'è luce

in una stanza quando manca il solese non ci sei tu con me, con me

su le finestremostra a tutti il mio cuore

che hai acceso chiudi, dentro mela luce che hai incontrato per strada

Con te partirò paesi che non ho maiveduto e vissuto con te

adesso si li vivròCon te partirò su navi per mari

che io lo so no, no, non esistono piùcon te io li vivrò

Quando sei lontana sogno all'orizzontee mancan le parole

e io si lo so che sei con me, con metu mia luna tu sei qui con me

mio sole tu sei qui con me, con me, con me, con me

Con te partiròPaesi che non ho mai veduto e vissuto con te

adesso si li vivròCon te partirò

su navi per mari che, io lo sono, no, non esistono più

con te io li rivivròCon te partirò

su navi per mari che, io lo sono, no, non esistono più

con te io li rivivròCon te partirò...

Io con te!

With you I will leave…When I'm alone I dream on the horizonand words fail;yes, I know there is no lightin a room where the sun is absent,if you are not with me.At the windowsshow everyone my heartwhich you set alight; enclose within methe light you encountered on the street.

I'll go with you, to countries I never sawand shared with younow, yes, I shall experience them.I'll go with you on ships across seaswhich, I know no, no ,exist no longer;with you I shall experience them.

When you are far away I dream on the horizonand words fail,and, yes, I know that you are with me;you, my moon, are here with me,my sun, you are here with me.

I'll go with youto countries I never saw and shared with you,now, yes, I shall experience them.I'll go with you on ships across seaswhich, I know, no, no, exist no longer;with you I shall experience them again.I'll go with you on ships across the seaswhich, I know, no, no, exist no longer;with you I shall experience them again.

I'll go with you, I with you.

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Emblazoned in gold across the sapphireblue transom of the latest delivery byDutch shipyard Gamma Yachts is oneword: Libertas. Considering the freedom

its new owner is currently enjoying aboard her, thename couldn’t be more appropriate. “More than amuse, the sea is the place where I can relax,” AndreaBocelli sighs. “It’s a place to recharge those energiesthat are essential for those who have to deal withthe stage, and with an increasingly demanding andselective public.” A worldwide icon, Andrea Bocelliknows something about breaking boundaries,courageous pioneering and the freedom of expres-sion. Possessor of a tenor voice so soulful it regularlywrings tears of emotion from his audiences, as anartist Bocelli has transcended musical genres andstraddled the cultural divide between classical andpopular music in a manner few have ever achieved.Generously affording us of his time, our conversation

with the singer songwriter is not spent discussing hisstellar multi-award winning career, his dedication tophilanthropy through the Andrea Bocelli Foundation,or his forthcoming performances in the USA… but in-stead waxing lyrical about his new yacht: M/Y Lib-ertas. Designed and built in Holland, the product of acollaboration between the Vripack design studio andGamma Yachts, Bocelli’s modest 72’ (22m) ‘mini su-peryacht’ is the third delivered to date in a boutiqueseries. An experienced boat and yacht owner, weask the maestro to recount his past vessels andwhat draws him to spend time on the ocean? “Oh, itwould be long and so boring,” comes the modestreply. “Endless tales of travels, cruises and to re-count them all would terrify me more than a dentist'schair; I certainly wouldn’t want to submit your read-ers to such an ordeal!” When gently encouragedhowever, Bocelli begins to open up on why timeaboard is so special: “Let me just say, very briefly,

OWNER’S PERSPECTIVE

Designed by Vripack for the Dutchshipyard Gamma Yachts, Bocelli's 76'

yacht is named MY Libertas.

"It is a place torecharge thoseenergiesessential todealing with the stage anddemands of my work..."

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A clean and contemporary salon. The pianotestifies to the maestro's penchant for

working onboard.

that the sea is a paradise. It is a place where it is eas-ier to understand, or consolidate, the idea that life isan amazing gift and that it would be a sacrilege towaste even a single moment.”One certainly couldn’t consider time onboard theGamma 22 certainly to be wasted, with the design-ers and shipyard combining talents to produce a spa-cious and well-appointed craft within the footprintavailable. Wrapped within a curvaceous hull that an-

nounces its presence with a plumb bow are all theamenities one could wish for family day cruises andeven extended periods spent onboard. Exterior en-tertaining is conducted in either the sizeable cockpitor up top on a very generous flybridge. Meanwhile inthe bow a snug banquette served by a dinette is cutinto the forward section of the coachroof, making fora more private and secluded retreat both when un-derway and berthed in a marina.

OWNER’S PERSPECTIVE

TECH SPEC: LOA: 72’ 6” (22.10m) • LWL: 66’ 3” (20.20m) • Beam (max): 19’ 4” (5.90m) • Draft (half load): 4’ 9” (1.5m) • Displacement (half load):138,891lb (63 tons) • Classification RINA-CE: A (Below 24m) • Hull Material: Steel 42, Grade A – Stainless Steel AISI 316 L • Deckhouse Material: Steel 42,Grade A – Stainless Steel AISI 316 L • Fly Bridge Material: Aluminum Alloy H321 •Max Speed: 16-knots • Cruising Speed: 14-knots • Rang: 1,270nm • FuelConsumption: 9.5 US Gal/h (36L/h) • Fuel Capacity: 1,453 US Gal (5,500L) • Freshwater Capacity: 528 US Gal (2,000L) •Wastewater Capacity: 211 USGal (800L) • Engine: CAT C12 ACERT • Power: 715hp • Stabilizers: Naiad • Electrical: 220V AC – 24/12V DC • Gensets: 1x 17.5kW Onan, 1x 7.5kW Onan

THE SEA IS A PARADISE. IT IS A PLACE WHERE IT IS EASIER TO UNDERSTAND, OR CONSOLIDATE, THE IDEA THAT LIFE IS AN AMAZING GIFT AND THAT IT WOULD BE A SACRILEGE

TO WASTE EVEN A SINGLE MOMENT.

“I love the way space has been arranged so that ourlarge extended family can be together, enjoyingcloseness and intimacy, while at the same time re-specting everybody’s privacy,” Bocelli agrees. “Ayacht must meet precise needs and be able to makeus feel at ease; it must comply with–and expressboth architecturally and technically–the same prior-ities as those living on it. I am very happy with mychoice in the Gamma 20.”We enquired as to how he discovered and decided onone offered by Gamma? “I found the Gamma Yachtsshipyard in a specialized magazine,” he replied. “Itwas Amos, my son, who saw and read the specifica-tions of the boat to me, and so I started to think ofcontacting them. When I fall in love with a boat, itmeans that the shipyard has already conquered mytrust.” Established by ex-speedboat racer Guido Bo-nandrini with over three decades of performanceboating experience, Gamma offers a range of semi-custom yachts measuring between 56 and 82’ (17 to25m). All four models produced by the yard havebeen designed by Vripack and constructed on steelhulls are, as the founder states, designed to be ‘smallships that differentiate themselves from the crowdby drawing admiring glances and the appreciation ofcraftsmen.”Despite being the third launch in the Gamma 22 se-ries, Bonandrini enthusiastically points out that thelevel of customization included in each launch en-

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"Meeting myprecise needsand making mefeel at ease whileonboard, I'm veryhappy with myGamma 20."

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What is your background and how did you get into boat/yacht building? I grew up close to Sarnico in Italy, on the shoresof Lake Iseo, which was the birthplace of thepowerboat at the turn of the last century. Builtby Serafino Riva, these pioneering boats are trulyunforgettable machines. At the end of the 70s, I founded a sailing club with some friends,working closely with a group of manufacturers to develop our own unique models. But I wasalways most drawn to high-speed powerboatracing and actually took the world title in the T/850 class. It wasn’t until 2000 that I made the move into yachting, having beenconvinced by some friends about the naturalopportunity in the market.

What inspired you to start building the Gamma 20 vessels? I was keen to develop a concept in this size rangefor a solid, spacious and sturdy yachtconstructed in steel to provide maximum safetyand longevity, with lower power consumptionand a focus on self-sufficiency. A vessel this sizecan fit that fantastic niche where the owner isstill able to be the captain of the yacht, and theyacht is not in control of the owner. I wanted toaccomplish all of this, as well as give it an eye-catching shape.

What was it about the 'mini’ superyacht that you felt had not been captured before in essence,and how is the Gamma 20 different from the other yachts of this size/length? To start with, all the yachts in the Gamma 20 series have a very distinctive bow, allowingfor better efficiency. Beyond the performanceand features, as well as the simple aesthetics of the bow lines, it has allowed us to achieve an internal length practically identical to thelength on the waterline. The result is an internalvolume within the same range as a 75’ (23m), and that of the Gamma 24 (at 26m) is asspacious as a yacht of 98’ (30m). We call theGamma 20 a ‘mini’ superyacht because of thelogic of the design, the construction, the qualityand the approach to client service that is usuallyonly seen in larger vessels.

These are semi-custom vessels, so which elements are the flexible ones? This was our new philosophy when we started onthe Gamma 20: we wanted to be able to create ayacht that feels totally tailored to each owner’swishes in terms of the specifications, featuresand interior; this should not be restricted toowners of much larger yachts. Of course, youcannot change all the substantive and structuralparts of the yacht each time, because of the

increase in costs and time. But we found thateach customer is mainly focused on design,optimization of internal spaces, creating outdoorareas, modifying the flying bridge, and choosingthe main technological equipment. In each case,we have seen family members join the ownerand contribute to the realization of the project. Throughout the process, our clients are not onlyby our staff but also by the prestigious designfirm Vripack. It is made possible thanks to thegreat work of the initial design, the identificationof today’s most advanced constructiontechniques, and the organization of work thatallows us the necessary flexibility. Above all, weare please to say we have been able to deliverthe yacht within an average of 11-months, whichis quite remarkable bearing in mind the yacht ismade of steel.

What does the future hold for Gamma Yachts? Willyou be expanding the range and increasing in size? Contrary to what one might expect, we areinstead looking to expand our range of models tobut in a smaller size of about 15m. We havereceived many requests for yachts of this size, inpart as a result of the financial crisis, in partbecause many owners are manifesting the desireto own a ‘small’ vessel constructed in steel thatallows them to experience the sea in comfort.

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Time with…GUIDO BONANDRINICEO of Gamma Yachts

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sures discerning clients are delivered unique vesselsthat comply with their individual desires and require-ments. “The main elements of the Gamma 20 thatare dictated to a client are the hull and superstruc-ture shape; almost all other aspects can be adaptedto the client’s tastes, much like you would expect ona yacht of a larger size. Particularly to the exterior flybridge, we have seen major variations in each of thevessels delivered so far. Mr. Bocelli, took the cus-tomization even further than the previous Gamma20 customers with M/Y Libertas,” Bonandrini toldus. So what were the specific criteria Signor Bocelliwas seeking when considering the commission of hisyacht? “Coziness, warm materials, safety, low noiselevels and comfort: these were my needs,” hereplies, before adding: “And they have been fully met.I needed a solid, safe and comfortable boat and that’swhat they delivered.” The owner continues by point-ing out some of the additional features that wereadded at his request, including “a table and sofa to beplaced forward of wheelhouse to offer true immer-sion into the surroundings, particularly when under-

way.” On the extended flybridge there is also a cus-tom-built diving board so family and guests can jumpoff the uppermost point of the yacht. As per theowner’s request Libertas’s hull shimmers in an eye-catching metallic electric blue. The optional hydraulicswim platform has been fitted at the stern.Ensuring some input into the project to reflect theowner’s Italian heritage, interior furnishings and ma-terials have been sourced from Italian suppliers. Thefine white leather headliner and furniture contrastwith the warm grains of matte oak joinery and nat-ural oak flooring and clean angular lines creating acontemporary but comfortable design. Double-glaz-ing insulates the interior, allowing a piano and record-ing studio equipment to be used in the main salon.Working onboard is very much part of Mr. Bocelli’sintended use of his yacht, both for writing and prepa-ration for forthcoming performances. “In the silenceof the sea, to listen to music is particularly sugges-tive and full of emotion,” the maestro explains. “Ihave often chosen the sea as a place to retreat to forlong study sessions, or for very complex opera. The

OWNER’S PERSPECTIVE

Being semi-custom builds,each Gamma 20's interior is

designed to the owner'srequirements and

specifications.

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board. This includes individuals with mobility chal-lenges.” In terms of accommodation and layout,Signor Bocelli confesses he was happy to primarilyallow the experts to take the lead. “There are detailsthat I usually suggest, based on my family's specificneeds, but in general I leave the task of identifyingthe most practical and intelligent solutions to thosewho, for many years, have been engaged in the con-struction of boats. A boat is no different from ahouse; it looks like those that live in it. The idea of liv-ing at sea on a standard boat is like buying a housealready furnished… even though it is without foun-dations or rooted in the land like our homes, the boatmust meet precise needs, be able to make us feel atease; it must comply with–and express both archi-tecturally and technically–the same priorities asthose living in it.” Making full use of the volume pro-vided by the wave-piercing bow with quarters fortwo crew, the Gamma 20 offers over 1,800sqft(170sqm) of living space including the lower deck,main deck, fly bridge and walk-around. The additionof a fourth cabin on M/Y Libertas increases the ac-commodation to up nine guests, and the windows inthe master cabin have been increased to let in more

experience and results have always been fantastic.”With sound playing such a vital role in the owner’slife, Marnix Hoekstra and Bart Bouwhuis, directors atVripack told us: “We worked on the noise and vibra-tion testing with the Dutch firm Van Cappellan Con-sultancy, which also provided the insulation.The Vripack Directors pointed out they alsoworked with Naiad for another important of guestcomfort; stability. This led us to muse whether anyelements had been added or subtracted for thisyacht, in consideration of the owner’s visual im-pairment? A question we directed to the builder:“We didn't change anything compared to the basicversion,” Bonandrini replied. “All our yachts are al-ready designed to provide the highest level ofcomfort, safety and livability in all conditions. Infact, the exterior walkways are without steps,each deck is perfectly flat and without obstaclesof any kind. In addition to this the interior compan-ionways between decks feature the same dimen-sions and proportions as steps and staircases weare all familiar with on shore. Anyone, especiallyyounger children, can run around the boat evenwhen underway, without the risk of falling over-

OWNER’S PERSPECTIVE

The yard and designers collaboratedwith experts on noise, vibration andstability studies. Ultimate guestcomfort was their primary objective.

to be reduced to a remarkable 10-months.Having taken delivery of his yacht and already en-joyed her for several months, we asked the ownerabout his experiences so far and how he usually useshis time on the water? “Time spent onboard dependsfirstly on my work commitments, which luckily arestill many. Secondly, it also depends on the type ofboat: for a few years, for example, I previously had a30’ boat, very convenient and fast, but not particu-larly comfortable for everyday use. With a boat likeMY Libertas the greatest thing is moving aboard andspending both day and night in peace, perhaps with-out even setting a foot ashore.”Continuing, Andrea Bocelli smiles as he recalls a re-cent cruise the family completed. “The most beau-tiful experience at sea was certainly one from thissummer, a journey that took my whole family to Va-lencia. We spent many hours sailing and enjoyed anight passage across the Gulf of Lions. During thecruise I combined work and vacation, allowing me toenjoy my yacht completely… just like a home.” As weleave the Bocelli family to enjoy the liberty of bothland and seas we take one last longing glance at theGamma 22 and hum the refrain of Andrea’s greatesthit. Con te partirò… With you I will leave.

light and views of the surround environment. In terms of performance Vripack carried out exten-sive testing and modeling of the hull, with the goal ofcreating the comfort and range of a superyacht ex-perience in a more compact vessel. As well as addingadditional space for crew accommodation forward,the bow shape also provides excellent fuel economyfor the yacht, which has a range of 1,270nm from her1,425 US Gal (5,500L) fuel tank capacity.“The Gamma 20 has more to her than meets the eye.Below the curvaceous shape lies a luxury yacht con-cept that we approached with our holistic designphilosophy. We believe that a great boat functionsas a whole instead of a loose combination of sepa-rate parts,” Marnix of Vripack told us. “There are anumber of striking features that prove the power ofsuch holistic thinking,” continues fellow Vripack di-rector Bart. “For instance, the approach goes as faras the actual structure of the yacht to minimize thebuild time, applying our proprietary Smart Kit build-ing technology. This allows the boat to be built fasteras well as for a more rigid end product, which reducesnoise and vibration to improve the guests’ experi-ence.” The employment of this system allowed forthe construction and delivery lead time for Libertas

OWNER’S PERSPECTIVE

From the transformer in the bathingplatform to the bow seating area andflybridge diving platform, Bocelli'sGamma 20 is the most heavilycustomized of the three units

launched to date.