Story Maria Roberta Morso Photos Alessandro Braida

There are records of a Gianbattista Codecasa shipwright in Viareggio in 1825. But it was Giovanni Battista Codecasa, one of the descendants of this Italian shipwright family, who founded the Codecasa shipyard in 1902. “Tistino,” as the founder was called, was the first of many caretakers of the Codecasa shipyard, still in the hands of the founding family. Currently at the helm is Fulvio Codecasa, who works with his two daughters and sons-in-law; he has guided the shipyard since the early 1970s when Codecasa launched its first steel vessel. The Codecasas’ longevity says something about their passion and devotion to their craft, which contributed to the growth of the brand and the company.

The yachts built by Codecasa belong to some of the most influential people in Europe and around the world but due to strict confidentiality agreements rarely do we come across their names. This is not the case of stylist Giorgio Armani, whose very name has come to signify impeccable taste. Armani had two yachts built by Codecasa, Mariù, a 164-footer named after his mother; more recently, Main, a fully custom 213-foot yacht he designed in conjunction with the shipyard. Fashion moguls Dolce & Gabbana own the 167-foot Regina d’Italia, a Della Role-designed yacht with interior by Lazzarini & Pickering.

Despite recent market ups and downs, Codecasa has been able to count on its faithful clientele, sold on the quality and elegance of custom and semi-custom vessels that the builder produces at four facilities around Viareggio. In addition to these four, Fulvio Codecasa recently inaugurated four additional industrial sheds in the Navicelli area in Pisa, used mostly to preassemble hulls and superstructures.

Aside from custom yachts, Codecasa also builds a series of all-aluminum express yachts. Andrea Bacigalupo, who is also known for his design of Leopard (Arno) and Mangusta (Overmarine) models, has worked with Codecasa on the styling of this sporty series. The latest model to be introduced is an impressive 164-foot (50-meter) yacht scheduled for a 2013 summer launch. It will be the flagship of a series that includes three elegant models, the 35S, 41S and 45S. Concurrently, the shipyard is building Hull No. 2 of the Codecasa 42 Vintage, which will be delivered summer 2013, and the first 50 Vintage, a 164-footer with a spring 2015 delivery date. On the drawing boards are new designs for yachts up to 276 feet (75 meters). The 213-foot (65-meter) Family Day and the Codecasa 42 Vintage that we present in these pages perfectly express the philosophy of this shipyard renowned for its style and quality.

CODECASA 65m FAMILY DAY

Anchored in the middle of the Bay of Angels during the 2012 Cannes boat show was a very distinctive yacht standing out thanks to its unadorned and streamlined elegance—the 213-foot Codecasa Family Day. Its ability to capture attention is exactly what Fulvio Codecasa tried to achieve with the design. “I always try to build yachts able to cast a spell on all who see them. With Family Day I surely met my goal,” he said at the 2010 launch. Codecasa designed and built Family Day for a repeat client who worked closely with Italian interior designers Anna Maria and Franco Della Role and the shipyard’s design team. The interior is a tasteful contemporary interpretation of a genuine maritime style, using plenty of rosewood for both flooring and bulkheads. The yacht offers roomy living spaces for 14 guests who are luxuriously accommodated in seven suites spread over the lower and main decks. The main-deck master stateroom provides panoramic views and a balcony accessed through shell doors. A sense of space and relaxation is the key theme throughout the yacht, both inside—in private and social areas—and outside.

LOA: 213ft. 3in. (65m)
Beam: 36ft. 9in. (11.20m)
Draft: 12ft. 2in. (3.70m)
Construction: steel/aluminum
Displacement (full load): 900 tons
Gross tonnage: 1,045 GT
Engines: 2 x 2,448hp Caterpillar 3516B
Propellers: 2 x Schaffran 6-blade S Class
Fuel capacity: 42,267 gal. (160,000L)
Speed (max.): 17 knots
Speed (cruising): 12 knots
Range: 6,000 nm @ 12 knots
Generators: 3 x 175kW Caterpillar + 1,104kW Volvo Penta
Freshwater capacity: 7,925 gal. (30,000L)
Stabilizers: Quantum Zero Speed
Classification: Lloyd’s Register Maltese Cross 100 A1, SSC Yacht Mono G6, LMC + UMS, MCA
Naval architecture: Codecasa
Exterior styling: Codecasa
Interior design: Della Role Design
Guest cabins: 1 owner’s suite + 6 guest suites
Crew cabins: 7 twins + 2 singles
Builder: Codecasa
Year: 2010

CODECASA 42 VINTAGE

In 2011, Codecasa launched the 42 Vintage Magari, the first of a semi-custom series offering owners a contemporary interpretation of a gentleman’s yacht. Codecasa has achieved a look that is cohesive and timeless. The Codecasa 42 Vintage (140 feet long with a beam of more than 29 feet) boasts a vertical bow, reminiscent of early 20th-century vessels. The shipyard chose a classic blend of a navy blue hull and white superstructure for the paint, but the deck layouts focus on social and guest areas, which are spread over four decks, including a partially shaded sun deck. Despite its charming retro flavor, the MCA-compliant Codecasa 42 Vintage is a modern yacht equipped with top quality navigation and communication instruments, including Quantum CQ 1500 Zero Speed stabilizers. The twin Caterpillar 3512C engines (1,650 hp @ 1,800 rpm) coupled to Schaffran S class five-blade propellers, can push the yacht to a top speed of 16.5 knots and provide a range of 4,000 nautical miles at 11.5 knots, in spite of a displacement load of 400 tons.

For more information, visit codecasayachts.com

LOA: 139ft. 5in. (42.50m)
Beam: 29ft. 6in. (9m)
Draft: 7ft. 10in. (2.40m)
Construction: steel/aluminum
Displacement: 400 tons
Gross tonnage: 490 GT
Engines: 2 x 650hp Caterpillar 3512C
Propellers: 2 x Schaffran S class five-blade propellers
Fuel capacity: 18,492 gal. (77,000L)
Speed (max.): 16.5 knots
Speed (cruising): 11.5 knots
Range: 4,000 nm @ 11.5 knots
Generators:
2 x 86kW Caterpillar C 4.4
1 x 69kW Caterpillar C 4.4
Freshwater capacity: 3,698 gal. (14,000L)
Stabilizers: Quantum CQ 1500 Zero Speed
Classification: Lloyd’s Register Maltese Cross 100 A1, SSC Yacht Mono G6, LMC, MCA
Naval architecture: Codecasa
Exterior styling: Codecasa
Interior design: Della Role Design
Guest cabins: 1 owner’s suite + 4 guest suites
Crew cabins: 1 captain’s + 3 twin cabins
Builder: Codecasa
Year: 2011