Len Villano
Unbridled
Ah, made in Italy. Three small words that set a grand expectation, suggest the unexpected and make dreams come true.
This is especially true when it comes to a yacht’s design and performance.
“This yacht has a new Italian design. It is minimalistic and up-to-date with what is going on in the world,” said Darren Datson, a consultant for Pershing yachts.
He was referring to the sleek and elegantly outfitted Pershing 72’ model at Yacht Works in Sister Bay.
Named Unbridled, the 72-foot-long silver yacht was built in Italy over nine months and completed in April 2008. The owner/operator, who is in the hotel business in Chicago, purchased the boat at Yacht Works, where it is maintained and stored.
The $4.8 million yacht has three staterooms, multiple outdoor living areas, a main salon that opens to outdoor space, crew quarters and more.
Customers first meet with an engineer to design the equipment-related features of the boat. Then, they sit down with an architect to discuss changes they want to make in a model’s interior. Finally, interior designers help customers select furnishings, fabrics and color palette.
Italian style
On Unbridled, the decorating scheme is contemporary and classy: light and neutral fabrics and upholstery contrast with dark hardwood flooring and leather wall panels.
Furnishings, linens, leather wall and dashboard treatments, and even the window blinds, were made in Italy. A focal point in the main salon is the creamy leather seating crafted in Italy by Poltrona Frau, a prestigious Rome-based company.
The main salon’s low-slung leather sofa gives a “lounge-y” feel – perfect for entertaining. It surrounds a handsome expandable wenge wood table. The owner/operator and his family have meals here or on the rear deck. Meals can be prepared in the crew quarters, which have a small kitchenette with a microwave, hot plate and refrigerator.
Nearby, in the master and guest cabins, lovely Italian-made textured linens cover the beds. They add a feminine note to Unbridled’s tailored look and impression.
A burst of color – shades of green and blue – come forward in the master bathroom’s mosaic tile scheme.
“The tile is also Italian. The guy who lays it is a tile artist. No two layouts are the same,” Datson said.
Back in the master cabin, the design and placement of the windows affords views of water rushing by.
“This boat is like a sports car in the marine industry – because of its performance,” Datson said.
More than good looks
Indeed, Unbridled has more than good looks. German engineering helps ensure operational efficiency and low emission, Datson said. Two 1,823 horsepower MTU common rail engines are combined with Arneson propulsion, making it possible for Unbridled to reach tops speeds of up to 45 knots or about 52 miles per hour, according to Pershing.
“That’s extremely fast for a boat this size. Being a high-end luxury yacht, this boat uses the best equipment. The MTU engines are very efficient and low emission,” Datson said.
The yacht is also equipped with satellite television, telephone, radar. There are five flat-screen televisions on the boat. Wireless Internet service is available, too.
Connecting with the sun and water
Of course, this is a place to connect with nature and not only sit inside and watch TV. Sun pads – perfect resting spots – are situated on the yacht’s front and rear. Also, a small boat is stored in the back and is accessible for cruising to the beach.
“When the weather is beautiful, it is a lot of fun. It is a whole different lifestyle,” Datson said.
Even when inside Unbridled, passengers get the feeling of being in harmony with the water and sky. The windows have a long unbroken line, giving people on board intimate water views. Also, a skylight is featured in the cockpit area.
The salon’s back wall opens up to the outdoor rear deck, where there is a stylish teak table and seating. And a roof above those furnishings can be used or tucked away – depending upon the weather or the mood one wants to set.
“If you want to have dinner by moonlight, you can bring the roof all the way in,” Datson explained.
Russ Forkert, president of Yacht Works, made seven trips to the Pershing factory in Italy during the boat’s construction. He also brought the boat to Door County from New York, where it was shipped. He said the owner uses Door County as a jumping off point for cruising.
“Every summer he takes a trip to the North Channel with his family. And every fall, he goes on a golf trip with his buddies,” Forkert said.
Donna Marie Pocius writes about interiors and other subjects. Contact her at donnamarie@dcwis.com.
