Project Thunderball became quite a challenge for Italian CRN (part of Ferretti Group), as the owner wanted his yacht to look similar to another well-known vessel, as well as to feature luxurious yet creative interiors but not to look like a “floating palace”
The design of the Thunderball took two years. The owner insisted that the vessel should replicate the exterior of the 71-meter V2V yacht, previously known as The One and Carinthia VI, which was the first major project designed by legendary Jon Bannenberg (the vessel was built in 1973 by Lürssen, suffered a major fire in 2016 and was brought back to life after a complete refit in 2023 – Editor's note).
Moreover, the owner had plans to use the Thunderball not only for recreation, but as a base for diving, spearfishing and sailing – with a sailing yacht always nearby as a support vessel, while the intention to navigate between the Mediterranean, the Bahamas and Florida definitely required excellent seaworthiness and an oceanic range.
The sharp lines of the steel hull and the shape of the bottom drew inspiration on sailing yachts. Thanks to this innovative architecture, the new build will boast high efficiency and low fuel consumption.
“We took the utmost care to create a set of hull lines that focus on highly economical cruising combined with a very soft and comfortable ride,” said Marnix J. Hoekstra, co-creative director and partner at Vripack.
According to the project, the Thunderball will be powered by twin MAN V12-1213 kW engines that can deliver a top speed of up to 15.5 knots and a cruising speed of 12 knots, but the exact figures will be published after the seat trials that are scheduled to take place in the nearest future.
With a length of 70 m and a beam of 11 m, the vessel has an impressive internal volume of 1,100 GT, allowing for super comfortable accommodation for up to 12 guests across six cabins and a crew of 15. As the owner’s family “enjoys activities on and in the water”, the yacht is fitted with a gym, a pool, a spa, a winter garden, a beach club and a generous garage capable of accommodating two nine-metre tenders, kiteboards, paddleboards, surfboards and other water toys.
While designing the living spaces, Nauta Design team tried transcending latest trends and stick to traditional maritime culture. As the owner is keen on classic sailboats, there are lot of references to them, combined with contemporary style details and artworks.
Mario Pedol of Nauta studio pointed out that several areas were “specifically thought for properly positioning the artworks or loose furniture elements”.
The delivery of the Thunderball is scheduled for the summer of 2026.
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