The aptly-named BLADE has been carving through the seas since her delivery in 2009 by the Cantiere MMGI yard in Montfalcone, Italy. This sleek 44m (144.4ft) aluminium-built yacht features naval architecture by Navirex, Mario Grasso's Genoa-based studio, with striking exteriors designed by The A Lab and contemporary open-plan interiors by Michela Reverberi'sstudio in Rome.
Her clean-lined sun deck, surrounded by glass breeze screens, has a fully-equipped sit-up bar forward of an al fresco dining area for 10 with a spacious and versatile lounge area aft, ahead of a flybridge. An all-decks elevator makes her wheelchair friendly and steps lead down to the main deck aft where a gentle cascade of teak terraces leads down to the swim platform.
Sliding mirrored-glass doors forward open into a main saloon whose floor-to-ceiling windows and teak flooring create the impression of still being outside but with all the shelter of an interior. There is a fully-equipped bar port aft and a forward-facing TV starboard aft facing a lounge area with a large white leather Chesterfield-style sofa to starboard opposite deep-blue suede armchairs. Forward of that is a formal dining area for 10 beneath a Jeff Koons-style chandelier and steps to port lead to the accommodation on the lower deck.
Her vast, full-beam owner's suite is aft, with three hull ports filling the space with natural light. The double bed is offset to port, there is an intimate private lounge to starboard, and an ensuite showeroomadjacent to a walk-in wardrobe. Three further similarly stylish double cabins and a single cabin complete versatile accommodation for nine guests in five cabins, and up to nine crew take care of them.
Her raised foredeck conceals a crane that launches her CastoldiJet 23 tender with 315hp inboard engine and a range of other water toys.
Twin Caterpillar engines are complimented by a gas turbine, for when speed is of the essence, and can propel her to a top speed of 30 knots. For longer passages, cruising at 12 knots will allow for a range of 1,000nm. Zero speed stabilisers ensure comfort at anchor.