Ferretti Group CEO Alberto Galassi is a self-confessed contemporary art addict. “All my yachts have art on board, as it’s my passion,” he says, giving a nod to the Salvatore Mangione painting hanging on the wall behind him.
We’re sitting in the main salon aboard the 127-foot (38.8-meter) Telli, the first hull of Custom Line’s Navetta 38, which Galassi took delivery of in May. Named after his wife of 26 years, Antonella, the yacht showcases her flair for interior style.
“She has good taste,” he says. “There are five shades of brown and beige in the throw pillows, but otherwise this is a boat with no color, only white and gray. All the color comes from the artwork.”
The yacht is in Venice, Italy, for the annual boat show, where it made its international debut and Galassi signed a partnership deal with the private aviation firm FlexJet. That deal is part of his plan to cater to Ferretti’s clientele, which he describes as “the most exclusive members’ club.”
It’s a formula that seems to work. The company sold three Navetta 38s in one weekend and another three units before the first presentation. “We’re now sold out until 2027,” Galassi says. The yacht has international appeal, too, with hulls purchased by owners from South America, the Middle East and Europe. Two hulls will have the same interior as Galassi’s. The other three will be more contemporary with less wood.
Telli has natural, unfinished materials such as teak, oak and leather. Other more tactile choices such as raffia, linen and parchment play a key role, including an ivory wallpaper by Phillip Jeffries. One of the most distinctive features that runs throughout the guest areas and staterooms is the three-dimensional oak ceiling. The hollowed-out, ribbed structure echoes the oak and teak soles, the pencil-strip window mullions and the rounded oak doors. The Bang & Olufsen sound system also has a grilled front that matches the ceiling grooves.
The Navetta 38 marks a new era for Custom Line compared to the Navetta 37 model that launched in 2016. (The Navetta range also includes a 30, 33 and 42.) Milanese firm ACPV Architects penned the interiors, with input from Galassi’s wife. Italian architect Filippo Salvetti shaped the exterior, in partnership with the Ferretti Group engineering department.
This is a semi-displacement yacht with a white superstructure and gray hull that has 299 gross tons of interior volume—10 more than the Navetta 37—which is felt across the three decks.
The layout is customizable with about 5,005 square feet (465 square meters) of surface area to play with. On the main deck, the open-plan salon and dining room has sliding doors that open on each side. They are among Galassi’s favorite features.
“It gives the feel of alfresco dining and a continuity between interior and exterior,” he says. “Most people prefer a sea breeze over air conditioning. They don’t want to feel sealed in.” A 6½-foot (2-meter) ceiling height and oak soles add to the ambience.
Forward of the main salon is the 431-square-foot (40-square-meter) master stateroom, with a dressing room and a king-size bed that has a leather-weave headboard. Covered with neutral Frette bedding, the bed faces forward—another departure from the Navetta 37’s layout. There’s also a forward-facing ensuite with a steam shower. The pale pietra d’Orcia stone was Galassi’s choice.
(He eschews the use of marble.) The stateroom’s walls are finished in leather and raffia with views out to sea.
Four guest staterooms are on the lower deck, accommodating eight to 10 additional guests.
Stitched leather wall paneling and an oak staircase with a leather handrail connect the three interior decks. Sole-to-ceiling windows in the sky lounge open on three sides. Crew can enter and exit discreetly through a sliding mirrored door that leads to a pantry, which can also be accessed from other decks via a crew stairway.
Galassi further wanted indirect lighting on this yacht. “We invested a lot of time and effort getting the lighting scheme right, to ensure guests can dine in a well-lit space without having a spotlight glaring in their face,” he says. “At night, the result is incredible.”
Outdoor guest spaces include sofas and sunpads at the bow, and dining aft. A forward garage can accommodate a 9-foot, 4-inch (2.9-meter) Williams tender or a personal watercraft. A stern garage holds an 18½-foot (5.6-meter) Williams diesel jet tender and water toys. The stern platform lowers for tender launch and retrieval.
The full-beam beach club with fold-out side terraces has a sea-facing sofa. There is stepped access to seating on the main deck aft. Up top, the sundeck is split into four zones: a teak-clad hot tub aft with loungers; sofas; a barbecue; and a central bar. Glass balustrades with teak caprails add a chic touch.
According to Galassi, Telli also has significant anti-vibration and soundproofing, as well as Naiad and Seakeeper stabilization systems. The helm is built with a scratch-proof material called Fenix and has glazing with filtering that reduces infrared rays by up to 65 percent. The captain can manage the propulsion systems and navigation from a central interface by Team Italia.
Galassi went without a selective catalytic reduction system, though the model is built ready for installation if owners want to see a 70 percent reduction in harmful emissions.
As for future launches, Custom Line is planning to debut a range in summer 2026, and to launch a 164-footer (50-meter) at the end of the year.
CUSTOM LINE NAVETTA 38 TELLI
LOA 127ft. 2in. (38.76m)
Beam 26ft. 3in. (8m)
Draft 7ft. 5in. (2.27m)
Construction GRP
Engines 2x 1,400-hp MAN V-12 LE446
Speed (max./cruise) 15/12 knots
Range 2,800nm @10 knots
Gross tonnage 299
Naval architecture Ferretti Group
Exterior design Filippo Salvetti
Interior Design ACPV Architects
Builder Custom Line
For more information: customline-yacht.com
Photography by Maurizio Paradisi | Custom Line
Winter 2024
