37 metres of classics from the 1960s reinvented

Italian Benetti recently published the photographs of its newest 37-metre Legend yacht, which will be delivered in 2024 

It might seem rather a regular event, as it is the sixth hull of the Motopanfilo 37M model. However, this yacht features such an expressive finish that it is definitely worth taking a closer look at her.

Motopanfilo 37M

The Motopanfilo 37M’s design is quite remarkable. She is not a fast, but an elegant, very modern-looking boat with a displacement composite hull. However, the “roots” of her design go back to the 1960s, when Benetti developed and built its famous projects like the Delfino, the Gabbiano and the Mediterraneo. These yachts were called “navettas”, and in the 60 there appeared another buzzword – “motopanfilo”. It stood for rather large for the time (up to 30 m long) pleasure motor boats, which quickly became an object of desire for the rich and famous. And that is where the name of the model comes from. 

Francesco Struglia designed the external lines of the Motopanfilo 37M, taking the shapes and style of the past, but joining the hull and superstructure in a single harmonious “shell”. The neat and clean profile got elongated and refined. 

The Motopanfilo 37M is not a replica of famous yachts, and not even a retro interpretation, but an absolutely “today’s” project, enriched with stylistic and technological solutions. Compared to the yachts of the 1960s, the Motopanfilo 37M offers far more ample, lighter spaces, terraces descending to the water and a constant visual contact with the sea thanks to the expansive glazing, which was just impossible to implement in the 1960s. 

Interior 

The interiors for the Motopanfilo 37M were designed by Lazzarini and Pickering studio that drew inspiration from the aesthetics of the 1960s, too, but with modern technical and stylistic solutions. Loro Piana Interiors linens were chosen for the finishes in traditional shades of warm white and blue.

As the walls in the saloon “dematerialized” (they were replaced with large side windows) the designers made a decision to use traditional wood in a new scheme and decorate the ceiling with it. But what is most interesting is that the desire to rethink the traditional elements of the past gave Lazzarini and Pickering an idea to design the interior of the new motorboat like a skeleton of a large whale. Its “bones”, which look like beams of a wooden hull, give rhythm to space and enlarge it visually. 

Below deck, the idea of sticking to natural shapes revealed in the decision not to rectify the walls of the cabins, making them repeat the shape of the hull. The whale skeleton theme goes on here in the choice of different colours and textures. 

M/Y Legend

Having preserved the main elements of the “basic” Motopanfilo 37M’s interior, the Legend, which is the sixth hull in the series, stands out for the use of interesting extras and exquisite fishing materials. 

One of the most unusual features is a pull-out bar on the spacious beach club aft. The sundeck houses a sunpad, resembling a grand piano, which was custom-designed for the Legend’s owner by Lazzarini and Pickering.

Alpi teak was used for the wooden decoration of the ceiling and flooring. The traditional white and blue palette was diluted with some shades of malachite and some rare pink Antarctide marble. Embossed leather lining was used for the wall behind the bed in the owner’s cabin.

As for the technical innovations, the Legend boasts a Selective Catalyst Reduction system to reduce environmental impact and comply with IMO Tier III exhaust gas emissions standards. The yacht is also equipped with a double-capacity desalination plant, so she can spend longer periods at sea, and a fuel purification system for refuelling in exotic locations, where the quality of diesel leaves much to be desired. To ensure stable internet access the Legend is equipped with a Starlink system. 

Judging by the attention to detail, the Legend was conceived as a true and very “personal” house on the water, where the owner is planning to spend a lot of time, including really long voyages: the Motopanfilo 37M’s range is 3800 nautical miles at a speed of 10 knots. So she is not just “another” yacht with a neutral look, convenient for chartering and further resale. And today, when yachts keep changing owners, it is worth a lot.