Ferretti, an icon of Made in Italy yachting and a historical brand of the Ferretti Group, has chosen China for the Asia-Pacific Première of the “Tai He Ban by Ferretti” special edition of the Ferretti Yachts 690. This yacht is indeed the first in the Yachts line to implement the new “Design Philosophy” inspired by the famous Hall of Supreme Harmony, one of the most prestigious and luxurious palaces in Beijing’s Forbidden City, where the most important ceremonies were held in the presence of the Emperor and his dignitaries. The yacht has met with huge success in the two years that have followed its world premiere at the 2012 Cannes Boat Show and is now going to be officially presented at the China Rendez-Vous 2014 - one of the most prestigious venues for leading luxury brands - in its new layout, characterised by interiors specifically designed to host business meetings, official receptions, informal events and entertainment, harmoniously combined with ad-hoc décor solutions.
The Ferretti Yachts 690, the outcome of the cooperation between Studio Zuccon International Project and AYT&D - Advanced Yacht Technology & Design (Ferretti Group’s research, design and product development centre), marks an important step forward for the Ferretti fleet of crafts between 60 and 80 feet in length. This model stands out for its extensively restyled lines, which result in a sporty, refined profile. Moreover, the numerous glazed surfaces convey a general sense of lightness while increasing interior brightness by letting through plenty of natural light. The yacht, indeed, features a continuous glazed surface from stern to bow, which in the central part of the yacht widens up to the gunwale. In the hull, the large open-view windows at the height of the master stateroom are joined by those of the guest cabins and the galley. The yacht’s slender outer lines are completed by a sundeck with an elongated tail ending in a small roll bar. The Owner of this model has also decided to install a flybridge with a bronze-shade hard top that ensures perfect sheltering from the sun and provides a supporting base for the installation of satellite systems.
“We are really proud to be presenting the first ‘Tai He Ban by Ferretti’ yacht at the China Rendez-Vous, one of the most prestigious events for the luxury sector in the Asia-Pacific region - states Ferruccio Rossi, Ferretti Group's CEO. The layout of this Ferretti Yachts 690 is the result of the in-depth studies carried out by the teams involved in the design and development of solutions aiming to meet the needs and requirements of the owners, particularly those in the Far East, who are showing an increasing interest in the boating sector and are looking for iconic products reflecting their way of enjoying life at sea. In developing this ‘special edition’ Ferretti has drawn inspiration from concepts that are deeply rooted in the local culture, such as prestige harmony and progress, which are also the driving principles of our approach to boat building, together with the search for the utmost quality and safety. Our commitment - continues Mr Rossi - has been enshrined in a ‘design philosophy’ that balances style and functionality in any and all aspects of life onboard for the Owners and their guests, be it for business purposes or leisure”.
“Ferretti Yachts 690 is a sporty yacht but has also Ferretti’s unique style in its DNA, which ensures unmatched versatility also thanks to the various possible interior layouts - adds Alessandro Tirelli, Ferretti Group's Asia-Pacific Sales Director. Ferretti’s classic-contemporary style goes hand in hand with modern solutions that are reflected in great functionality and a truly impressive design. We are sure that the launch of this model and of the next yachts in the ‘Tai He Ban by Ferretti’ layout in the Asia-Pacific region will attract great interest from our customers. Everyone will be able to see with their own eyes the outcome of the great efforts we have devoted to meeting any possible needs to the fullest. Thanks to the wide range of possible layouts and décor solutions we are making available on the market, every Owner will be able to find the version that best suits their requirements".
MAIN DECK
The Ferretti Yachts 690 - which is almost 21 metres long and over 5.5 metres wide - stands out for its spacious, skilfully arranged interiors, where every area is exploited and organised at best. The Owner has chosen grey oak wood, which has also been used for the interior parquet flooring replacing the carpeting.
The cockpit features several interesting innovations, some of which have already been adopted on the most recent models, while others are unprecedented solutions on a yacht of this size. The most important one is the concealing access gangway installed aft, on the port side, which leaves more room in the cockpit for the large sofa and the fixed teak table seating eight people and contributes to preserving the yacht’s sporty and stylish lines. The davit for tender haulage has been installed in a sheltered compartment beside the aft sofa, thereby making the best possible use of outdoor spaces.
The Ferretti Yachts 690 features another interesting solution at the stern, meeting the needs of those Owners that love to combine the utmost functionality with leisure time and relaxation onboard: a mobile part of the swimming platform can be lowered below the water surface and serve as a convenient platform to “stand in the sea” or comfortably sit and relax in the water. The possibility to lower the swimming platform also makes tender haulage easier and allows to have a larger tender onboard.
The salon can be accessed through a sliding glazed door which, on the left, makes room for a convenient bar unit with a retractable top where food and drinks can be placed. From the starboard side of the cockpit access is gained to the crew area, featuring a single cabin and a head. A bunk bed can be installed upon request.
The main deck interiors are extremely original: here, the “Tai He Ban by Ferretti” layout has been perfectly harmonised with the specific solutions selected by the Owner to further customise the yacht. Unlike in the traditional layout, which features the dining area with a round table on the left-hand side and a cabinet on the right, a living area can be found on this yacht as soon as one steps inside, furnished with a linear sofa to starboard - behind which is the concealing TV screen - and a C-shaped sofa on the port side. The low “Swan” glass table by Sovet adds a final touch to the stylish furnishings. Walking further, towards the bow, one step takes to the open space, where the dining area, to port, can seat up to 10 people. The large “Karnak” table by the Italian company Roncato has an extendable glass top and satin lacquered bases and is surrounded by a large C-shaped sofa and as many as four foldable chairs. In front of it, to starboard, is a large low cabinet with a refrigerator. In the traditional “Tai He Ban” layout, the model includes a large living area with sofas along both bulwarks and several coffee tables. The TV display is on a partition panel on the right-hand side, behind the pilot station.
The pilot station is located to starboard and is directly connected to the outdoor areas by a door along the starboard walkway. A co-pilot sofa can be installed beside the pilot seat, allowing to share the thrill of cruising with the captain. In this layout, a corner area has been obtained left of the pilot station, with a convenient storage compartment to be used by the crew. In the central section are the stairs leading below deck.
LOWER DECK
The lower deck layout is exactly the one conceived by the shipyard for the “Tai He Ban by Ferretti” layout of this model. It includes a full-beam master stateroom in the central part of the boat, a guest cabin on the starboard side, and a VIP cabin at the extreme bow, all ensuite. The décor is the same in all cabins and shows all the painstaking care that has been devoted to each and every detail, an example of which being the use of leather for all furniture tops and the headboards. All heads too share flawlessly harmonised style and details, from the supported washbasins to the various accessories, all supplied by the Italian company Capannoli.
The galley, in oak wood like the rest of the yacht and featuring very stylish lines, is located along the port bulwark, beside the guest cabin. It is equipped with Bosch household appliances, a functional light-shade resin quartz top, and several storage compartments.
Two steps take from the central lobby to the spacious and skilfully-arranged master stateroom. Plenty of natural light shines through the two open view windows with opening portholes, finely decorated with painted wooden frames which also highlight the elegant geometric shape of the windows panes. The large master head features oak wood furniture and floors and a supported washbasin in VetroFreddo® (a blend of glass pigments and resin) by Glassdesign, as well as a spacious separate shower box. The bathroom, together with the large walk-in wardrobe, is located behind the bed, a solution that further increases the distance between the master quarters and the engine room, which are now separated by the sailor’s cabin and the tank, resulting in enhanced noiselessness. Furniture also includes a cabinet with leather top with vanity set and a pouf along one of the bulwarks and a sofa and two sets of drawers (also with a leather top) on the opposite side. The TV cabinet is large enough to host a screen up to 32” wide.
The double VIP cabin is located at the extreme bow. It is extremely bright thanks to two large side windows with portholes. The door on the right-hand side opens into the spacious guest cabin, furnished with twin beds, which, upon request, can be replaced by a double bed.
FLYBRIDGE
The flybridge has been extensively restyled and, once more, bears witness to the painstaking studies performed during the design stage to ensure maximum relaxation in the open air. Right of the access stairway are the bar unit and a spacious dinette with a C-shaped sofa and a table, entirely sheltered by the hard top and extending throughout the flybridge area. The second pilot station is fitted with a large seat, allowing more than one guest to enjoy the fun of cruising to the fullest. A small sofa facing the sea stands beside the forward sunbathing area, on the port side.
ENGINES
The Ferretti Yachts 690 is equipped with two MTU 8V 2000 M94 1268 mhp engines - a very powerful solution that pushes the yacht to a maximum speed of 33 knots (with a range of 250 nautical miles) and a cruising speed of 30 knots (with a range of 280 nautical miles). These two high-performance and yet limited-size engines also allow to save space in the engine room and install an optional second genset, thereby allowing this yacht to compete - in terms of technical equipment and features - with much larger crafts.