Monday, September 10, 2012
During the 35th Festival International de la Plaisance in Cannes Ferretti Yachts - one of the icons of Made-in-Italy luxury yachts worldwide and a historic brand of the Ferretti Group – will present the new Ferretti 690, yet another outstanding result of the cooperation between Studio Zuccon International Project, AYT - Advanced Yacht Technology (the Group’s naval research and design centre), and the team of skilled architects and designers at Centro Stile Ferrettigroup, who constantly search for new aesthetic, functional and innovative solutions.
The Ferretti 690 marks a further step forward for the Ferretti Yachts fleet under 70 feet in length: its outer lines have been redesigned, resulting in a sportier and sleeker profile. The extensive use of glazed surfaces, in particular, makes the yacht’s exterior look lighter and ensures that plenty of natural light can brighten the interiors.
The new model is thus a really catchy craft, featuring continuous glazing from stern to bow, which widens in the central part, reaching the gunwale. In the hull, the large open-view windows at the height of the master stateroom have now been joined by more glazing in the guest cabins and the forward VIP cabin. The sleek outer lines are further enhanced by the innovative flybridge, which features an elongated tail and ends in a small roll bar for the recessed installation of the SAT domes: the base of the satellite antennas is thus hidden, minimising the domes’ aesthetic impact on the yacht’s profile.
“We are extremely pleased to present the Ferretti 690 at the Cannes Boat Show – this is undoubtedly the most innovative yacht below 70 feet ever built by Ferretti Yachts and marks another step forward in our range" – said, Alessandro Tirelli, Ferretti Yachts’s Brand Manager. “The Ferretti 690 is a very sporty yacht, but is also characterised by a deep "family feeling”, in line with the brand’s most recent models, which combine a classic-contemporary style with the modern flair of interiors, featuring highly functional spaces, and an impressive external look. We have renewed the outer profile in particular and further improved the typical internal layout with an aft galley on the main deck and a full-beam master cabin, and we propose two possible interior layouts, with three or four cabins. This choice is meant to allow us to better meet the needs of different Owners, who can now choose either the version with three double-cabins and large private heads or the four-cabin version, designed to meet the requirements of those customers who appreciate the functionality of four comfortable cabins in a craft below 70 feet”.
The interiors of the Ferretti 690 - approximately 21 metres long and more than 5.5 metres wide - are spacious and wisely arranged, in order to exploit living areas at their best. Grey oak has been chosen for this new yacht and can be combined, upon request, with parquet along the entire main deck or, as an alternative, with carpet flooring.
The cockpit features interesting innovative solutions, some of which had already been adopted on the brand’s latest models, while others are brand-new on a yacht of this size. The main innovation lies in the access gangway, which is now fully retractable and is installed aft, on the port side, leaving more free space in the cockpit for the large sofa and the fixed teak table seating eight people. Moreover, a fully-retractable gangway preserves the elegance and sportiness of the outer profile. The tender davit is stored in a closed compartment behind the aft sofa, optimising the use of external space.
The Ferretti 690 features another absolute innovation at the stern, which will certainly be appreciated by those owners looking for functionality combined with the more “entertaining” aspects of life onboard: part of the swimming platform can now be lowered just below the sea surface and serves as a convenient platform allowing to “stand in the sea” or comfortably sit and relax in the water. This solution also makes lowering the tender much easier and enables the Owner to place a larger one on the yacht.
From the cockpit, access to the salon is gained through a sliding glass door; on the left, close to the galley, stands a convenient bar unit with a pull-out top: beside it, a tilting hatch opens directly into the galley, a solution (applied on all Ferretti Yachts boats below 70 feet) which makes life onboard even more enjoyable. The crew area can be accessed from the right-hand side of the cockpit and includes a single cabin and a head. Two bunk beds may be fitted upon request.
The main deck, which is almost identical in both layouts with the exception of the access stairway to the lower deck, features a rational space arrangement. The grey-oak, very stylish galley is located to portside, just after the entrance. It is fitted with Bosch household appliances and a practical light-shade quartz-resin worktop, as well as many storage compartments. A sliding frosted Plexiglas partition opening up on the corridor allows to separate the galley from the rest of the salon; if left open, it will turn the main deck into a large open space. On the right-hand side, in front of the galley, stands a cabinet that can contain an additional fridge/bottle rack.
Walking towards the large central section of the boat, the dining and living areas are reached. The latter, furnished with two sofas, extends to starboard. A low glass “Bridge” table by Sovet has been installed upon request by the Owner, while in the standard version there are two glass “Swan” tea tables, also by Sovet. To port is the “Extralight” glass dining table by Roncato, normally seating six people, but extendable so as to seat up to eight guests. The TV set can boast a “strategic” position, as it rests against the oblique wall of the galley and is therefore perfectly visible from both the dining table and the sofa.
Continuing towards the bow, the helm station is locatedon the right-hand side and offers direct access to the outdoor areas through a door located along the starboard sidedeck. A co-pilot seat can be installed beside the main pilot seat, allowing to share the excitement of cruising with the captain. The position of the helm station and the decision to have a projecting, unsupported section of it towards the staircase makes the entire fore area far roomier and eliminates any possible barriers, so that the eyes can now sweep freely from the pilot station, below deck, all the way to the cabin access corridor. In the four-cabin layout, this solution results in a free corner near the pilot station, where a chart table has been installed, while the three-cabin layout features a double stairway leading to the cabins.
Below deck, the Ferretti 690 proves once more its incredible versatility. The differences between the two layouts – besides the location of the staircase – mainly lie in the different design of the lobby and of the guest cabins, while the master cabin and the forward VIP cabin remain unchanged. All cabins – very bright thanks to the wide windows with portholes – are characterised by the same interior décor, with great care for the tiniest details, leather headboards and leather furniture tops. The heads too feature a homogenous style and identical solutions, like the supported washbasins and accessories by Capannoli.
The full-beam master cabin, located amidships, is very roomy and functional. The two open-view windows with opening portholes, finely decorated with large polished wood frames, further enhance the beautiful geometric features of the glazing and let in plenty of light. The spacious bathroom – with large separate shower box, grey oak floors and furniture - has a supported washbasin in cold glass supplied by Glassdesign. The decision to place the bathroom and the large walk-in wardrobe behind the bed increases the distance between this cabin and the engine room, which are now separated by the cabin's head, the sailor's cabin and the tank - a solution which also results in improved noiselessness. The cabin’s furniture is completed by a chest of drawers with leather top and a vanity unit on one side and a sofa with two cabinets (also with leather tops) along the opposite broadside. There is room enough for a TV screen up to 32” to be installed.
The VIP cabin – fitted with a double bed - is located at the extreme bow and benefits from two large side windows with portholes. In the four-cabin version, all guests can reach the cabins from the central corridor. Two steps lead to the master cabin, while two side doors give access to the spacious guest cabins, both furnished with twin beds. Upon request, the guest cabin located to starboard can be fitted with a double bed.
In the three-cabin layout, the guest cabin features a double bed in the standard version, which, upon request, can be replaced by two separable single beds. This cabin is ensuite, with separate shower box. In this layout, the lobby is located along the port broadside and is lightened up by a large glazing with two portholes.
The flybridge has been extensively renovated and accurately designed to ensure maximum relaxation outdoor. Beside the access staircase are the bar unit and a dinette. The second pilot station is fitted with a large seat, so that several guests can share the unique experience of cruising. On the left is a sofa, located beside the fore sundeck, and offering a wonderful view on the sea, while on the right, behind the steering station, stands a comfortable C-shaped sofa with tea table, which exploits the flybridge area to the fullest.
Two drive options are available for the Ferretti 690. The yacht is equipped with two MTU 8V 2000 M84, 1102 mph engines in the standard version or can be fitted, as an option, with two MTU 8V 2000 M94, 1268 mph engines. When equipped with the standard engines, this yacht will reach a maximum speed of 30 knots (with a range of 280 nautical miles) and a cruising speed of 27 knots (in this case the range increases to 300 nautical miles). When the optional, more powerful engines are installed, the maximum speed will be 33 knots (with a range of 250 nautical miles), the cruising speed 30 knots (range - 280 nautical miles). The new set of compact, highly performing engines also allows to save space in the engine room, where a second optional genset can therefore be installed, making the Ferretti 690’s technical features comparable to those found on much larger yachts.