Dear Mario, it seems that Nauta is the design firm of the ‘biggest yachts’: after having launched the incredible AZZAM project as the biggest yacht ever built in the world (180 m – built at Lürssen), you are designing the biggest yacht ever built at CdM, the Nauta Air 136! Can you tell us how this started and what was the whole concept behind this magnificent Explorer Yacht? In designing the CdM Nauta Air 136’, flagship of the series that reaches up to 40 mt, Nauta Design’s aim was to give shape to their vision of a large motor yacht, a vision defined by the relationship between interior and exterior spaces and by our idea of lightness in both senses of the word: in terms of visual weight and of brightness. The Nauta Air 136’ epitomizes the best of the both the Explorer and the White Yachts Worlds: huge volumes and overengineering do not affect at all the lightness of the lines and the elegance of the style of this yacht. Designing the biggest Nauta Air has definitely given us the possibility to create the most balanced merge of these two worlds, indeed.

We have noticed that the transom of the Nauta Air 136 is quite different and gives the idea of a big yacht which puts its guests in direct contact with the ocean: can you explain us how, if this was part of the brief from the yard/client and what was the design process which led to such a result? The idea of a transparent relationship between interior and exterior, of an elegant balance between the superstructure’s spaces that are open on nature and the sea are at the base of Nauta Design’s style and design philosophy. In the CdM Nauta Air 136’ we have created a concentration of important characteristics that maximize on board comfort during the kinds of long, round the world cruises that the owner wants. In this particular case, as many owners are intrigued by the idea of a beach club in the transom, we had to find a good solution to avoid designing a room enclosed by three walls, 60 cm below the water level and difficult to serve properly, seen the dimension of the yacht itself. That’s why we simply decided to redefine the function of the main deck exterior area on the aft, opening it up to the sea through a magnificient stair leading directly to the sea: this way we created a huge beach club, with 270° view, in open air, perfectly served and in direct contact with the sea and all the water activities. As usual, at Nauta, we love simple redefinitions of use of spaces instead of complicate and user un-friendly solutions!

It is clear that the Nauta Air 136 is following the path of CdM in creating sturdy, over engineered and seaworthy vessels, without compromising the lines and the elegance typical of your firm. Which are the main design features, which have intrigued you more during the process? Expedition boats are ever more popular and have a few common characteristics: wide stern areas, superstructures carried well fore, highly stable hull lines. Add to these the ocean going autonomy that comes with ample storage areas for provisions, water and fuel. It’s the case of the owner of the first CdM Nauta Air 136’, who is really an enthusiast of water sports and especially of scuba diving. He shared with us our “light” concept of the yacht and the bright relationship between interior and exterior, which perfectly matches with his passion for nature and environment, and we have been fascinated by his round the world cruise program.

Mario, you are known all over the world as Nauta: two bodies, one soul. Could you explain us how you distribute the design responsibilities during the process (if you distribute them) and how you have built up this incredible teamwork along the years? Friendship, shared vision, common passion for the sea, for boats and for design. Then each of us has, luckily, his own personality, his own skills and his own knowledge. When we blend them at the best... well then we are able to do a good work.

CdM is definitely a shipyard very much characterized as far as their intrinsic quality and type of yachts. If tomorrow they would ask you to design another line for their range of vessels, what kind of yacht would you propose them? Well, one of the Nauta’s special touch is versatility. Nauta Yachts can design a small 47’ lobster boat, an impressive high-tech, high performance 155’ sailing racer-cruiser, an elegant 136’ expedition yacht or a 74m sturdy explorer vessel and even the largest superyacht in the world. All of them are easily ascribable to Nauta Yachts, since the common thread is the mark of timeless elegance. Flip through our corporate brochure and you could choose the kind of yacht that fit your dreams.

As usual, please, let’s conclude this interview with three adjectives which come to your mind when thinking about CdM... Reliable, safe, powerful.